Car Accident Lawyer

Injuries sustained from a car accident have a sneaky way of going undetected, only to pop up a few days, weeks, or months later. If you are not sure whether or not you have been injured in a car accident, follow the guidelines below to make sure you haven’t sustained any major injuries.

First, Seek Immediate Medical Attention

No matter how well you feel or how minor your injuries appear, always seek immediate medical attention after a car accident. Whether that means riding in an ambulance to the hospital, being observed by an EMT at the scene, or visiting an urgent care on your own, make sure a medical professional performs the exam. Internal injuries and traumatic brain injuries are not always apparent on the surface, a professional medical exam can help determine if you are in danger of suffering from such an injury.

Next, Monitor Your Physical and Mental Health

In the days and weeks after the car accident, be aware of the following common signs of an underlying car crash injury:

Headaches

While very common after car accidents, headaches/dizziness can also be indicative of serious problems, like a blood clot, concussion, spinal injury, or head injury.

Loss of Memory, Vision, Hearing

Any sort of noticeable difference in your cognitive and sensory abilities may indicate a serious underlying injury, like a concussion or traumatic brain injury.

Neck Stiffness

Pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders are common symptoms of whiplash, which often occurs in slow speed rear-end collisions, but can be very painful and dangerous.

Numbness in Arms and Hands

Numbness in the arms and hands is another symptom of whiplash, often caused by a neck or spinal cord injury.

Persistent Back Pain

Back pain is common after an auto accident, often it will go away on its own. But if the pain persists, it might be the result of a pinched nerve or torn ligament.

Abdominal Pain or Swelling

If dark purple bruises or swelling appear in the abdominal area, that may be a sign of internal bleeding and should be treated by a medical professional immediately.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Car accidents are traumatic experiences. Afterwards, many people experience nightmares, insomnia, flashbacks, and unpredictable emotions. If these symptoms persist for longer than three months, cause great distress, and/or disrupt a person’s personal life, seek help from a mental health professional.

Next, Document Your Injuries

If you pursue a personal injury claim, you will want to create a record of your injuries and treatment. This includes:

• Obtaining medical records from the ER, Urgent Care, medical exams, MRIs, surgeries, physical therapy sessions, etc.
• Taking photos of visible injuries and their progression
• Keeping a journal cataloging your pain and progress.

Remember, the most important goal is to make you healthy and whole again.

Car Accident Lawyer

Every year there are too many car accidents that result from road rage. Being behind the wheel for an extended period of time, particularly in a traffic jam, can be frustrating, causing drivers to get aggressive. Road rage could include driving unsafely, showing other drivers rude gestures, making verbal threats and even confronting other drivers. If you begin to think negative thoughts toward other drivers, begin disobeying traffic laws, start speeding or flashing your lights, or begin cutting between lanes, it’s possible you could be experiencing the first signs of road rage. The following are three ways you can avoid causing an accident.

1. Give Yourself Extra Time

Often, the cause of road rage is simply someone being late for an appointment. When you feel you’re not going to arrive to your destination on time, you could begin to stress. If traffic gets backed up, or if you fall in line behind an extra slow driver, your blood could begin to boil because it’ll make you even later. If you leave the house 20 minutes early, you won’t have to stress over being late to your appointment. If traffic backs up, it’ll still be obnoxious, but that same stress won’t overcome you.

2. Listen to the Right Music

Everyone loves some good tunes while on the road, but the type of music you listen to could effect your mood. Reach for classical, slow-moving music that calms the nerves. Think of something you’d listen to during yoga class or meditation, and consider putting that on the radio before pulling away from the house. This type of music will calm your nerves, so when you are placed in a high-stress situation on the road, you’ll be able to think rationally. If your music is loud, high-energy and obnoxious, your blood will already be rushing when you are put in that difficult situation.

3. Obey Traffic Laws

Even when other drivers are doing things wrong, it’s important you obey all traffic laws. Use your signal when you switch lanes. Give other drivers plenty of space rather than cutting them off. Avoid using your horn to get another driver’s attention. Give the driver in front of you an adequate amount of space. If someone is tailing you from behind, calmly pull over to let him or her pass. Finally, keep your eyes on the road. It might be tempting to take in the sights around you, but you should always be focused on driving when you’re behind the wheel.

Contacting a Lawyer

Whether you were the victim of a road rage accident, or caused it yourself, you deserve proper representation. Get in touch with a car accident lawyer, like the offices of MartinWren, P.C., to learn more about handling these situations.

Car Accident Lawyer

Getting in a car accident can leave you jostled and confused from the impact, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg for what you might have to face later. The fallout from an accident could mean brining a lawsuit against the other driver, dealing with a settlement or even going to trial to ensure you’re rightfully compensated for the effect the accident will have on your future. Here are the top questions you may need the answers to if you ever find yourself in a wreck.

What Should You Do Immediately Following the Accident?

Depending on the severity of the accident, you may be discombobulated and unsure of yourself, but it’s essential to be thorough with these steps. They may become important when filing a claim with your insurance company or settling out of court later:

• Make sure no one involved in the accident is injured, and call emergency services if necessary.
• Exchange information with the other driver involved in the crash, like names, insurance policies and contact information.
• Give the police your statement of what happened; this could be used later in a trial.
• Take pictures of the accident scene and vehicle damage as proof for your insurance.
• Contact your insurance agency to inform them of the crash.
• If anyone saw the accident happen, take witness statements that can be used later to corroborate your story.

What Does a Car Accident Trial Involve?

If you end up going to trial, you can expect some common steps from the process. First, the jury will be chosen to sit in on your trial. The trial will begin with opening statements first from the plaintiff, since they are the one’s trying to prove their case, and then from the defendant. Next, the plaintiff will provide all their evidence for the case, followed by the defendant’s evidence; this may include calling witnesses to the stand. Closing arguments will be made in a final attempt to convince the jury of each side’s case, and the jury will convene until they reach a decision, which could take hours or days.

How Do You Get Paid Once You’ve Won a Case?

The other driver’s insurance agency is responsible for paying you once a monetary amount has been decided. If you’ve won in a settlement, the agency will be given a certain number of days to send you a check, after which you can start accumulating interest. Settling in court often takes much more time, and a check is usually mailed 15 to 45 days after the trial.

Don’t be afraid to discuss your case with a car accident lawyer, like from David & Philpot P.L.,  if you’re unsure who’s responsible for the accident or how to proceed. Insurance agencies will often try to settle quickly while paying the least amount possible, so it’s important to know your stance and how much you truly deserve for your accident.

Car Accident Lawyer

Driving across any road can be hazardous. Any number of factors may affect current conditions, from weather to other drivers. Road hazards present themselves in many forms, especially in areas where the streets are actively undergoing improvements. Construction zone accidents can be deadly, especially when there are workers present. Avoid becoming a statistic and keep these tips in mind the next time stretches of your drive are impacted by road construction.

Slow Your Roll

One of the most critical actions you can take going through a construction zone is to slow down. Usually, posted speed limits are significantly reduced, but this does not always translate to drivers abiding by them. Speeding through these areas may result in deadly consequences for you as the driver, other vehicles and for the workers. While cones and barricades are likely present, these will do little to protect workers from a car that loses control. Reducing speed allows you to:

• Better avoid impediments
• Follow the new road
• Avoid construction workers
• Stay in your delineated lane during a shift
• Follow Directions

Some road construction requires all traffic in both directions to share a single lane. To achieve this, some workers must become flag holders and stop traffic in one direction so the other side can proceed through. Being a flagger can become dangerous if a driver is not paying attention or does not follow work-related signs. Failure to yield to warnings and directions may result in head-on collisions with other cars or construction vehicles.

Act Sooner Rather Than Later

You have no doubt come upon signs alerting you to a lane closure ahead and a need to merge. How many times have you immediately merged? While many drivers do follow the direction fairly quickly, others wait until the lane ends. The reason for this is a lack of patience. The vehicles waiting to cut in at the last minute force all the other cars behind to stop and wait longer. If every vehicle merged at the warning, many rear-end accidents, and some road rage incidents might be avoided.

Remaining safe through a construction zone is easy if you exercise sound judgment. Follow the posted signs, stay aware of what is ahead, and do not take unnecessary risks in roadway areas under construction. While some drivers may not think these veritable obstacle courses are a big deal to speed through, others understand that the cost of making a mistake is too high. If you find yourself the victim of a crash in a construction area, a car accident lawyer in your town can prove beneficial to your case. If you have questions about a car accident case, contact a car accident lawyer, like from Barry P. Goldberg, for a consultation.

Car Accident Lawyer

Getting into an accident can be overwhelming, especially if you sustain injuries or damage to your car. This is why American law has streamlined the process: if you are injured in an accident you have to file a police report and use that police report to make a claim on the driver’s insurance. But what happens if the driver who hit you is uninsured? It is illegal to drive without insurance for this exact reason: driving while uninsured disrupts the system and makes it difficult for the victim to be compensated for their injuries.

If you are the victim of an uninsured driver accident and want to take legal action, there are two main options to try to get the compensation you deserve.

File an Uninsured Driver Claim 

The most common and straightforward option is to file a claim on your own insurance. This claim is specifically for accidents in which you were not at fault. Since the driver does not have insurance, your insurance company is responsible for setting the claim amount and how much you will receive for damages. This is different than a normal car accident procedure because there is very little wiggle room. Once the amount is set that the driver will have to pay, there is no room for negotiation. If you think the amount is too low, or if the driver thinks it is too high, there isn’t anything you can do.

Sue the Uninsured Driver

The rigidity of filing an uninsured driver claim with your own insurance is why some people consider suing the uninsured driver directly instead. Having the power of the judicial system on your side could ensure that you get the damages you deserve. However, the kind of person who drives while uninsured is usually not someone with a wealth of assets. Suing them directly could be an effective legal move, but they may not have enough resources to provide the compensation you need. Even if the court declares that you are owed money, the person can’t pay you with money that they don’t have.

Suing the driver to receive damages and filing an uninsured claim on your own insurance are the two most straightforward ways to make sure you still receive damages when the driver who hit you is uninsured. But neither of these can guarantee that you will get the money you need since the settling of claims is most effectively done between the victim’s and driver’s insurance companies.

Contact an auto accident lawyer, like from Yearin Law Office, today to find out which option will work best for you.

Car Accident Lawyer

A police report is usually taken by a responding officer at the scene of an accident. While it might seem intimidating, you should never avoid calling police about a significant accident, as their report could be used later as evidence in your claim. Some states have laws that require a police report for a claim to be filed, so you’ll need to know how to obtain a copy of one should you need it. Here’s the basics about crash reports and how to get your own.

What’s in a Report

The police officer(s) who responds to your call will make an assessment of the accident based on several factors. They will also write down basic facts about the crash, such as time and date, location, information on who was involved, damages and weather. Expect the officer to interview you, as well as everyone else involved, in what will become your statement in the report. Never admit guilt during this, just provide the facts as you remember them. The officer will state their opinion of who is at fault for the accident.

What the Report Means for Your Case

A police report can be used to help prove your innocence in a car accident claim. Since the officer will state their opinion based on the facts provided, the report can shine a light on whose insurance can provide compensation. That said, the insurance company may higher their own investigator to inspect your case, and the company does not have to use the police officer’s opinion when deciding who was at fault. However, the report, combined with other information and evidence, can still be useful in supporting your case.

How to Get the Report 

After the officer has taken your statement, request a receipt for their report. Wait a few weeks after the accident to give the officer time to complete the report, then contact their office and use the receipt to get a copy of the report. This may cost about $15. You can also ask your insurance agent to see if they have already pulled a copy of the police report, in which case you can ask them for a copy and avoid paying the copy fee.

If you are uncertain whether a crash report can help your case or not, discuss it with a car accident lawyer, like from David & Philpot, PL. Car accident lawyers are knowledgeable about your state laws and can guide you in understanding fault.

Car Accident Lawyer

Injuries from a car accident can be either physical or psychological in nature. Symptoms often do not show up right away, which may lead you to believe that you are less seriously hurt than you really are. In the interest of keeping yourself safe and healthy, you should see a doctor as soon as possible after your accident and keep an eye out for the following symptoms that are often delayed following a car crash.

Psychological Symptoms

A car accident is a trauma, even if it is relatively minor. People who walk away from a collision seemingly without a scratch can suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Sometimes these show up almost immediately after the accident and sometimes they may not emerge for months or even years afterward. However, it is most common for PTSD symptoms to emerge within the first three months following the traumatic event. PTSD symptoms include flashbacks and anxiety. The condition can be unpredictable but is most likely to affect children.

Following a car accident in which you suffer a blow to the head, you may experience symptoms of other psychological disorders, such as depression. You may exhibit changes to your personality, memory, or thinking ability. Though these symptoms are psychological in nature, they may have a physical cause. Damage to the brain can result in symptoms such as these.

Physical Symptoms

When it comes to traumatic brain injury, there may be some overlap between physical and psychological symptoms. Another physical sign of TBI is severe, persistent headaches. These can have multiple causes, such as a serious concussion or a blood clot or hematoma in the brain. Sometimes an injury to the neck can cause pain to radiate to the head.

Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe that can occur from a car accident, but they are by no means the only physical injury that can result. A blow to the abdomen can cause internal bleeding, but the characteristic pain, bruising, and swelling may take a while to develop. Numbness or tingling of the extremities can indicate an injury to the spinal cord. Low back pain is common after collisions involving impact to the side or rear of your vehicle. The cause may be damage to the vertebrae of the spine or the soft tissues that surround it, e.g., ligaments, muscles, or nerves.

Be careful not to accept a settlement from the other driver’s insurance company until you have received a medical evaluation and are certain that you are free from any serious injury. One of our attorneys can assist you in dealing with insurance adjusters. Contact a car accident attorney, like Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. for a consultation.