Auto Accidents
Automobile accidents are extremely common in the United States. In fact, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that every 10 seconds someone in the U.S. is involved in car accident. More than half of these accidents result in some sort of injury to the persons involved. In light of these facts, it should come as no surprise that auto accidents are the leading cause of personal injury claims in the country.
The chances of you or someone you know being involved in an auto accident is extremely high. As the statistics show, if you are involved in an accident, it is very likely that you will be injured. There are number of ways you can protect yourself. First, be a cautious driver and follow the laws. Violating the California Vehicle Code will increase your chances of being in an auto accident and will be a factor considered in any lawsuit that may follow. Second, always make sure your vehicle is properly insured. It is estimated that 25% of drivers on the road are uninsured or under-insured. Having your vehicle properly insured is not only the law in California, it is critical for the protection of you and your family in the event of an accident.
If you are involved in an auto accident in California there are two things that you should do immediately. First, get medical attention as soon as possible, even if you do not think you are badly hurt. Some injuries take a long time to surface. Early treatment can minimize your risk of an undetected injury and may reduce the pain you experience later.
The second thing you should do is get quality legal advice immediately. Waiting too long to speak with an attorney, even days, can potentially limit your recovery. An experienced auto accident attorney can help you preserve your legal rights and assist you in collecting money damages. A lawyer is the only person who will be on your side and work to protect you. Insurance companies will do everything they can to minimize what they have to pay, even if it is your own insurance company. For more information on Insurance issues or What You Should Do After An Auto Accident please see those sections of our website.
When you are involved in an auto accident in California, the law allows you to recover damages to compensate you for a wide range of losses under the theory of Negligence. Determining whether a driver was negligent is a question of fact. Each auto accident is different and requires a thorough review of the specific facts and circumstances to determine if a driver was negligent. This is something that should be analyzed by an attorney as early as possible.
Auto accidents come in many types. The most common type is a rear-end collision where a car is struck from behind by another vehicle. In most cases, the driver that struck the car in front is at fault. Following too close to the car in front is the most common cause of these accidents. Side-impact collisions are also very common but determining fault in these types of accidents is often more complex. Head-on or front-end collisions are quite serious and frequently result in significant bodily injuries or death. The velocity of the vehicles involved directly affects the extent of the injuries. Roll-over accidents can result in major injuries and even ejections from the car. All of these types of accidents are serious and present a variety of legal issues. Who was at fault, what was the cause of the accident, and what are the damages? These are all questions to discuss with an attorney.
There are many types of damages you may be entitled to recover after an auto accident. The damages depend on the facts of each individual case but can include medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Severe injuries will often require unique solutions and substantial expense to resolve. The goal of awarding damages to the injured person is to make them whole. Talk to an experienced auto accident attorney to get an explanation of the damages you may be entitled to.
The range of injuries from auto accidents in California can be quite wide. There may be no injury at all, cuts and bruises, whiplash, broken bones, scaring, back and neck soft tissue injuries, paralysis, brain damage, and even death. Some injuries are minor with no long term damage and others can have life-long permanent effects. Some people are more fragile than others but this is not a valid reason for limiting their recovery. An experienced auto accident attorney will thoroughly investigate the extent of all physical injuries suffered prior to settling a claim. Determining the nature and extent of injuries is a critical component to a person’s physical recovery as well as the recovery of monetary damages in a lawsuit. Even low impact accidents can produce serious and long-lasting physical injuries.
Determining the cause of an injury in auto accident is not as simple as it may seem. Most often, it is the Negligence of another driver that caused the damages and injuries. However, there are an infinite number of other potential causes, many of which are not easily discovered. For example, defective car design, road and weather conditions, vehicle maintenance, defective products, unsafe road design or maintenance, and even your own negligence must be considered. Seat belts and shoulder harnesses, car seats, bumper systems, tire defects, airbags, computer sensors, and countless other potential causes of injury must be investigated. All of these factors can affect your ability to recover damages and must be carefully analyzed by an experienced auto accident attorney.
Unfortunately, many people assume auto accidents are simple and do not seek the advice of an attorney until it is too late. As explained above, auto accidents are far more complex than they may look. Properly determining the cause of an accident, the nature and extent of injuries, the liability of the parties, and the appropriate damages can be very complicated and will require the skill of a seasoned litigator. In order to protect your rights, it is critical to have an experienced auto accident attorney on your side as soon as possible. Do not delay in contacting a qualified attorney. Claims related to auto accidents are subject to various Statutes Of Limitation. These laws limit the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit and must be evaluated by an experienced attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident, call The Scranton Law Firm and speak with one of our experienced auto accident attorneys for free today.
