Serious car accidents can leave drivers and passengers with debilitating injuries and financial and non-financial losses. If you suffered injuries in a car crash due to a negligent driver, you must seek out and retain an experienced attorney who can handle your case.
A car accident lawyer will first meet with you and discuss your accident circumstances. They may then retain an investigator to determine how your accident occurred and who was at fault. Lastly, your lawyer can handle the paperwork to file a personal injury claim with the right insurance company for you or take your case to court for a quick resolution.
Your Phoenix car accident lawyer doesn't just look out for your legal interests and represent you at different legal proceedings during your case. Your car accident lawyer can answer your questions and guide you to make important decisions throughout your case, including whether or not to accept a particular settlement offer from the insurance company adjuster.
Your lawyer will go the extra mile to ensure you receive the highest possible compensation after your car accident, helping you recover financially and in terms of your well-being.
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Why Do Car Crashes Happen?
Car crashes frequently occur when other drivers behave carelessly. Some accidents happen when drivers exhibit road rage or exercise reckless driving maneuvers while behind the wheel.
When drivers are anxious to arrive at their final destination, they may resort to various reckless maneuvers to move ahead of other traffic. For example, an enraged driver might tailgate other vehicles, cut off other vehicles in traffic, or weave around vehicles without using turn signals. However, reckless driving may quickly lead to a serious motor vehicle accident that injures other drivers and passengers.
Another common cause of car accidents is distracted or inattentive driving. When a driver does not give sufficient time and attention to the road, they may not see another vehicle and thereby bring about a serious accident.
Common motor vehicle distractions include texting, navigating, tending to children in the back seat, eating and drinking, and more. A driver may also become distracted when they argue with passengers, comb their hair, apply makeup, or even daydream while driving.
All these activities may cause a driver to lose their physical or mental focus, bringing about a serious crash.
Car accidents may also happen when drivers violate various traffic laws.
Common road-rule violations that lead to traffic accidents include:
- Breaking the speed limit.
- Failing to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle when it is proper.
- Failing to use a turn signal.
- Failing to use backup cameras and other technological devices on a vehicle.
- Failing to use rearview and side view mirrors.
Finally, some car crashes directly result from DUI or driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When other drivers consume alcohol and then quickly get behind the wheel of a car or truck, they significantly increase their chances of causing a traffic accident.
Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher are legally intoxicated. At the same time, lower cut-offs apply to minor drivers under twenty-one years old, tractor-trailer drivers, and other commercial vehicle operators.
Alcohol can seriously affect a driver's judgment and ability to drive safely. Consequently, a convicted DUI offender may be subject to criminal and civil penalties and a loss of their driver's license.
In addition, a driver may have to pay civil damages to an accident victim through their insurance company if they cause a motor vehicle crash, leading to injuries or fatalities.
Intoxicated drivers are likely to cause accidents because they frequently experience physical and mental symptoms that affect their driving ability. Possible physical symptoms include dizziness, lack of muscular coordination, and blurred vision.
Mental symptoms may include limited concentration, delayed reflexes, and delayed reaction time. Because of these symptoms, an intoxicated driver may have difficulty judging the distance between vehicles or stopping their car in time to avoid a collision.
You are not alone if you recently suffered injuries in a car crash that a negligent driver brought about. A skilled car accident attorney in your area can promptly investigate your accident circumstances, file a claim with the appropriate insurance company on your behalf, and begin pursuing the full monetary compensation you need for your injuries.
What Are the Most Common Car Crashes?
When people drive carelessly, they may cause several different types of car accidents that lead to debilitating injuries.
Some of the most common car accidents that result from the negligence of other drivers include:
- Rear-end crashes happen when one driver causes their vehicle to strike the back of another vehicle, usually because the at-fault driver is speeding or fails to leave enough stopping distance between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them.
- Head-on collisions happen when the front of one vehicle strikes the front of an oncoming vehicle that is traveling in the opposite direction.
- Sideswipe accidents where the sides of two vehicles traveling in the same direction but in different travel lanes collide with one another.
- Broadside or T-bone accidents occur when the front of one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle, usually because the at-fault driver fails to yield the right-of-way at the proper time.
If you recently sustained injuries in a car accident, a knowledgeable car accident lawyer can handle every aspect of your case.
Your lawyer can file a personal injury claim with the insurance company on your behalf, negotiate with adjusters, and work to maximize the settlement compensation you receive for your injuries.
What Injuries Are Likely in Car Accidents?
Car crashes can lead to extremely serious injuries that leave accident victims incapacitated for a long time. The injuries that a car accident victim sustains will usually depend on the type of car accident, the forcefulness of the collision, the number of collisions that occur, and the driver or passenger's movements inside the vehicle during the crash.
For instance, if a driver or passenger's head strikes a vehicle component, such as the headrest or window, they may suffer a concussion or other traumatic head injury.
In addition to traumatic head injuries, car accident victims may also suffer any of the following: bruises from airbag deployment, open lacerations and cuts, soft tissue muscular injuries, bone fractures, rib fractures, internal bleeding, internal organ damage, spinal cord damage, complete and incomplete paralysis injuries, mouth and teeth injuries, eye injuries, and death.
You should focus on obtaining the medical treatment you need after suffering injuries in a car accident. A medical provider at a hospital emergency room or urgent care facility will likely recommend additional medical treatment, especially if your symptoms worsen.
For example, you might need to follow up with your primary care physician or a medical professional following your accident. Additionally, you may need to undergo surgery or other medical procedures so that you can make a full recovery.
When treating your injuries, follow your treatment plan to the letter. Never miss appointments or discharge yourself from a medical facility. Instead, you should wait for the medical provider to discharge you from care. Otherwise, the insurance company evaluating your case may become skeptical of your injuries, believing they are not serious.
A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can begin advocating for you while you focus on recovering fully. Specifically, your attorney can start gathering important documents to prove all legal elements of your case, including police investigation reports, witness statements, medical treatment records, and medical bills.
Once you complete most of your medical treatment, your lawyer may submit these documents to the insurance company for evaluation and review.
What Will a Car Accident Lawyer Do While Handling My Personal Injury Case?
In a personal injury claim or lawsuit that involves a car accident, a skilled attorney can be an invaluable help.
First, your lawyer can investigate your accident circumstances by reviewing police reports, speaking with witnesses, or, if necessary, retaining an accident reconstructionist who can evaluate your claim.
An accident reconstructionist can visit the accident scene, review camera footage, and speak with witnesses to determine the likely cause of the accident. In your case, They may draft a report and testify at a discovery deposition or civil jury trial.
In addition to investigating your accident circumstances, your lawyer can assemble a settlement demand package on your behalf and gather the documents necessary to prove your case. After submitting a demand package to the insurance company, your lawyer can start negotiating on your behalf with insurance company adjusters.
Despite what insurance companies say in their advertisements, they are not truly interested in assisting you or getting you the monetary recovery you need for your injuries. However, a personal injury lawyer will be on your side and can advocate for you during every stage of the proceedings.
Specifically, your attorney can highlight the strengths of your case, downplay weaknesses, and threaten the insurance company with in-court litigation if they refuse to compensate you fairly.
Finally, if litigation becomes necessary in your car accident case, your lawyer can support you at every stage. For example, your lawyer can represent you at legal proceedings, including discovery depositions, pre-trial or settlement conferences, and civil jury trials.
Alternatively, to a jury trial, your lawyer might recommend alternative dispute resolution, or ADR, to the insurance company. ADR proceedings frequently include mediation or binding arbitration and can significantly shorten the time it takes to litigate your case.
Your lawyer will inform you of all updates in your case and will work to maximize the monetary recovery you receive through a favorable settlement offer or litigation result.
What Amount of Monetary Damages Will I Recover for My Injuries?
In a car accident claim or lawsuit, you may recover various types of monetary damages, depending upon the nature and extent of your injuries, along with other factors, including the total cost of your medical treatment and the specific medical procedures you had to undergo because of your injuries.
First, car accident victims can recover economic damages, compensating them for their related medical costs, lost earnings, and loss of earning capacity.
Additionally, they may be eligible to pursue compensation for their intangible losses, including inconvenience, loss of use of a body part, lost quality of life, pain and suffering, mental distress, long-term care costs, permanent disability or disfigurement, and loss of spousal companionship and consortium.
Since every car accident case is different, not all accident victims will be eligible for the same amount and types of monetary damages. Your lawyer can set realistic expectations for your case and estimate the value of your claim.
Speak to a Car Accident Lawyer Right Away About Your Legal Rights and Options
Following a motor vehicle accident, time is of the essence. In fact, according to the state statute of limitations, accident victims must file a lawsuit within two years of their accident date. After that period expires, they will no longer be eligible to pursue and recover monetary damages for their injuries.
A car accident attorney can benefit you by advocating for you during every stage of the proceedings, negotiating with insurance company representatives, or, if necessary, litigating your case to an efficient resolution. While they handle every step, you can focus on your medical treatment and restoring your life.
In addition to managing the practical aspects of your case, your attorney offers valuable advice and support throughout the entire process, ensuring you have a knowledgeable guide by your side every step.
First, most car accident victims do not immediately know their rights under the law. When you meet with a lawyer, they will assess your circumstances and advise you of all your rights. This alone can provide peace of mind.
Further, when you have questions or concerns about the legal process, your attorney will be there to address them. You do not have to feel in the dark about your case or wonder what the next steps might be. All you have to do is speak with the right car accident law firm, and it can relieve significant stress.
David Abels
Partner
David Abels has carved a niche for himself in the personal injury law sector, dedicating a substantial part of his career since 1997 to representing victims of various accidents. With a law practice that spans over two decades, his expertise has been consistently recognized within the legal community.
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