Common Car Crash Statistics From An Attorney

About 6 million people are involved in car accidents on average in the US every year. More than 90 people die in these accidents every day and about 3 million people are injured every year. While most of these accidents are minor, some of them cause life-altering injuries. The most common cause of car accidents is the opposite party’s negligence.

It is normal for you to not know what to do immediately after an accident. You must know that you have legal options in case you have been injured because of someone else’s fault.

You must have information about car accidents, your legal rights, the kind of compensation you can claim, and the process involved.

What Causes an Accident on the Road?

Some of the common causes of car accidents include:

Speeding
Distracted Driver
Wrong turning
DUI
Defects in the Vehicle
Fatigued or Tired Driver
Ignoring Traffic Signals
Road Rage
Badly Maintained Roads
Teenagers Driving
Bad Weather

Types of Injuries in a Car Accident

Car accidents can lead to different types of injuries depending on the severity of the collision. Some of the most common injuries include:

Cuts and Bruises
Lacerations
Fractures
Neck and Head Injuries
Whiplash
Injuries to the Spinal Cord
Brain Injury

Some accidents can cause paraplegia and quadriplegia. If you have internal injuries, they may not be obvious immediately. But you will start to see symptoms after a few days.

What Should I Do Immediately After an Accident?

The first and most critical thing to do after a car accident is to inform the police and seek medical attention. The police reports will be crucial when you file for a personal injury case. If you can, collect contact and insurance information for the other driver, as well as any other witnesses who might have been present at the time of the accident. Take enough pictures of the accident scene, your damaged vehicle, the other party’s vehicle, and your injuries.

Keep proper records of all your doctor visits, medical reports, surgical procedures, any kind of tests, medications, records of any rehabilitative support that you may take up, and medical bills.

The last but important thing in a car accident is the driver’s insurance company. An insurance claims adjuster from the company will call you immediately after the accident and will want to talk to you. Don’t talk to the person without a personal injury lawyer.

What Can I Claim Compensation For?

Here is a comprehensive list of settlements that you can get from a car accident:

Medical Bills: Any medical expense that was incurred because of your accident can be claimed. This includes any bills for treatment that you have taken in the past, as well as treatment that you will need in the future.
Loss of Property: Accidents can cause property damage. Repairing your damaged property involves a lot of expenses. Your claim for damage or loss of property can include your vehicle as well as anything else that was there in it.
Lost Wages: You may have to miss a lot of work when recuperating from an injury. This means you won’t be earning anything at that time. You can claim these lost wages in your lawsuit
Loss of Future Earnings: Car accidents may sometimes considerably impact your ability to work and earn a decent living. In such cases, you can claim for lost future earnings.
Pain and Suffering: Accident injuries not only cause physical pain but also mental and emotional trauma. You can claim compensation for these as well.
Reduced Enjoyment of Life: When you have injuries that will last a lifetime, it impacts how you will enjoy your life in the future as well. Your entire lifestyle can change because of a car accident that was caused due to someone else’s fault. Your ability to participate in, or enjoy activities can be highly compromised. You can also claim compensation for this lack of lifestyle
Punitive Damages: You can get compensation for punitive damages if you can prove that the other party’s actions were extremely negligent. These damages are meant to punish the opposite party and prevent any such behavior in the future.

How Will A Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me

Car accident cases can escalate quickly and even before you know it, you will find yourself in a complicated mess, defending yourself and trying to prove that you are not responsible. Even though the other party is at fault, their legal counsel and the insurance company can try and pin the fault on you. It is extremely important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer to handle the case for you. A good personal injury lawyer will:

Thorough Investigation: The lawyer will gather all available evidence like photos, videos, eyewitness accounts, and accident reports
Collection of Medical Records: The personal injury lawyer will get your medical records reviewed by a third party trusted medical professional who can determine the complete extent of your injuries
Calculate Your Losses: Once an attorney has calculated your past and current losses, they will be able to base the future impact of the accident to your finances upon this data. The lawyer will take into account whatever income you have lost and how much you have spent so far, and will determine your current and future losses.
Filing Insurance Claims: The lawyer will help you file your insurance claim and carry out any communication or negotiation with the insurance company
File A Lawsuit: Finally, if the insurance company refuses to give you a fair settlement, the lawyer will file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.

When Should I Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer?

All accident cases may not be severe and may not cause critical injuries. However, if you feel that the other party’s negligence caused the accident, then you must speak to a personal injury lawyer for legal guidance. An injury attorney will be able to tell you whether or not your case is worth pursuing, the amount you are likely to receive in compensation, and even the amount of time it could take to complete your claim. Your attorney will also be able to represent you in court if your case comes to that, so working with a lawyer right from the outset of your accident could even give you an advantage as opposed to only hiring an attorney to represent you once your claim is taken before a judge. The right injury and accident lawyers know the difficulty that each case can present and will always work hard to make sure that you understand the value of your claim and the chance that you will have a positive outcome whether your case goes to trial or not. When you are in doubt as to what can be done for your medical bills and peace of mind after an accident, call a local attorney.