It is your lawful right as a guardian to take legal action against the person who, through his misconduct, caused the accident. After an auto accident, you’re not just dealing with physical pain: You’re facing financing strain, emotional distress, and an uncertain future. With the aid of an auto accident case, you can get justice and reimbursement.
Here’s a short guide on auto accident cases to help you deal with an unfamiliar and downright scary situation:
Understanding Auto Accident Cases
Auto accident cases are legal disputes that arise when a person is injured or their property is damaged due to a car accident. The process involves highlighting the other driver’s careless actions, such as:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Drowsy driving
The only way to ensure that the person at fault is punished is by filing a personal injury case. In most cases of auto accidents, the disputants settle their disputes by means of insurance claims, bargaining, and settlements. However, you can also file criminal charges like hit and run and reckless driving.
Common Auto Accident Injuries
From minor bruises to life-threatening disabilities, auto accidents can cause a wide range of injuries. Here are some injuries you might sustain:
- Soft tissue injuries affect skin, fat, blood vessels, and muscles. Common soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, sprains, and lacerations, are caused by sudden jolting motions during a car accident.
- Broken bones – Broken legs, arms, ankles, and wrists are common in car accidents. Depending on the severity of your injury, you might require a cast or surgery.
- Traumatic brain injuries – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year in the United States, nearly 50,000 people die from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Other forms of brain injuries include concussion, skull fracture, and brain contusion.
- Internal injuries – These are difficult to recognize and can be fatal if left unchecked. During a car crash, your body is hit by an object or flying debris. This can incur damage to the internal organs.
- Emotional trauma – While physical injuries can heal with medical treatment, managing emotional distress isn’t easy. It can manifest as a range of feelings, including anxiety, fear, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and a persistent fear of driving.Â
Getting better from a car mishap is very difficult and takes a long time. To recuperate, medical help, physical therapy, and counseling could be the best choices for getting your body and soul back to normal.
Evidence to Support an Auto Accident Injury Claim
The appearance and data gathering of the evidence are important factors in the auto accident injury case process. You must collect the subsequent evidence to lay down a solid legal basis for your case.
Medical Reports
Medical records are provided by the treating physician, which shows your injuries, prognosis, and medication. They are the primary key in convincing them of the severity of the physical and emotional injuries you have undergone because of the driver’s inattentiveness.
Police Reports
Police reports are the basis of the documents. They include the driver’s information, witness statements, and the officer’s first evaluation of the accident scene.
On-scene Photographs
Take on-scene photos of the accident site. These will be evidence of the damage caused to your vehicle, including skid marks and road signs.
Crash Footage
You could contact the relevant entities and ask for the traffic camera footage or the dash cam footage from the other cars.
Witness Statements
While the police reports, on the one hand, include the witness statements, independently contacting the eyewitnesses and requesting their accounts can still enhance your case.
Expert Testimony
Testimonies from experts like financial experts and accident reconstructionists will offer you some facts about your case. They are the same people that you often hear about in the news.
Why You Should Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer
Working with an attorney who specializes in auto accident cases can offer numerous benefits, such as:
They are familiar with State-specific Personal Injury Laws
In the United States, different kinds of laws are in effect for auto accidents in different states, such as statutes of limitations, insurance needs, and other legal proceedings. A lawyer who knows this in detail and can represent your interests in the best possible way could help you get the fair compensation that you are entitled to.
For example, if you’ve suffered injuries due to a driver’s negligence in Charleston, West Virginia, consider working with a team of competent West Virginia auto accident attorneys.
They Will Gather Evidence
As mentioned earlier, properly documented evidence can strengthen your case. A competent auto accident lawyer will gather evidence on your behalf, including police reports, eyewitness statements, and accident site photos. They will ensure every piece of evidence is authentic and admissible in court.
They Will Determine the Damages You’re Owed
A personal injury lawyer will evaluate the advantages & disadvantages of your claim and will calculate your compensation. Economic damages are the more common ones, such as non-economic, pain, and other individual economic awards. Financial assessment includes:
- Medical care and treatment, like surgery, medication, outpatient treatment, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages due to time off work
- Repair costs for the vehicle
- Reduced earning capacity due to disability
Non-economic damages include reduced quality of life, mental anguish, loss of consortium, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
They Can Handle Insurance Companies
Directly post an accident, most people directly phone their insurance companies. This is not the best option. Insurance adjusters are the primary staff of most insurance companies who will discuss the accident in full with you and then negotiate to settle the claim.
It is important to always regard these insurance adjusters: they have a single goal: to get the fastest deal at the lowest price, and they will do so by any means.
Auto accident lawyers possess years of experience and are involved in such legalities. They will note the policy and discover all the pertinent evidence to get a higher compensation rate.
They Will Represent You in Court
If the party at fault or their insurer denies giving you fair compensation, you may file your case in court. A car accident attorney will build a case on your behalf and oppose any proof that may harm your case.
In the event that the trial goes on, your attorney would also represent you before a judge or jury.
Moving Forward
There is no need to say that a traffic accident is a hard and confusing event. The ambulance that takes you to the hospital, the police who get your report, and relatives who rush to see you- you could feel that everything is a blur.
When you are in a state of shock and pain, the law is just a bit too complex for you. Dependable auto accident lawyers will help you to avoid a stressful situation. By gathering evidence and representing you in a court setting, the attorney will do the hard part for you, and you, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to deal with your pain and return to your usual activities.
