Car Accident

Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys works on a contingency fee basis. In other words, you don’t need to worry about paying for the support and services provided unless your case is successfully resolved. When this happens, your attorney retains a percentage of the settlement you are awarded.

Additionally, the initial consultation to get things started is free. Therefore, whether upfront or otherwise, you never really have to worry about affordability. Since the initial consultation is free, you have no risk in calling!

Car accidents can happen to anyone at any time. It is critical to always keep your eyes and attention on the road. Sometimes, even a focused, cautious driver can cause an accident. Most often, car accidents are caused by a driver’s negligence.

Common examples of negligent driving are drunk driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, erratic driving, and driver fatigue.

Car accidents can cause a variety of injuries. Top personal injury lawyers can help victims with minor injuries to wrongful death cases. Even a minor car accident can cause injuries, such as whiplash, which can occur in slow-moving accidents.

The most common car accident injuries include whiplash, Traumatic Brain Injury, soft-tissue injuries, broken bones, burns, and neck and back injuries.

These are some examples of physical injuries a car accident victim can endure, but there is also often emotional trauma associated with car accidents as well. An experienced car accident attorney understands this and can get the insurance company to pay compensation for both physical and emotional injuries.

Every auto accident case is worth a different amount based on the circumstances surrounding the claim. Depending on your details, the typical amount of car accident compensation is between $4,000-$80,000.

Obviously, this is a large range, and compensation can extend beyond this, especially if the car accident involves a semi-truck, causes catastrophic injury, or is a fatal accident resulting in a wrongful death.

The duration for car accident settlements varies based on the specifics of your case, including:

Case Preparation: To build a solid foundation for your claim, your attorney needs to meticulously gather all pertinent evidence and details. Even straightforward cases usually require a few months to ensure all facts are in place.

Negotiations: The primary goal is to settle outside of court to expedite the process. Your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to secure a timely and fair settlement.

Potential Court Proceedings: If negotiations falter due to the complexity of your case or if the insurance company’s offer isn’t satisfactory, your attorney might decide to take the case to court.

Factors Affecting Duration: The timeline can extend further, sometimes even years, especially when severe injuries with extensive medical costs are involved, there is a need to ensure full compensation for ongoing expenses, or insurance companies are pushing for a lower settlement.

Remember, the key is not just to settle but to obtain the compensation you rightly deserve, even if it requires a bit more patience and skill.

Depending on the situation, not all these may apply. Even so, your attorney requires some vital information to properly put a solid case together for your car accident claim. These are covered below.

Insurance

Insurance companies commonly distribute compensation and will investigate the specifics of a car accident. To assist, your attorney will need details from both your insurance and that of the at-fault driver.

If you don’t have a copy of your policy, your lawyer can obtain one from your insurer with your permission. Evidence showing that your premiums have been paid helps since it confirms that you were driving with an active insurance policy.

Additionally, if you give your insurance company a formal statement, you are entitled to a copy of it, which you should also provide your attorney with.

Evidence and Witnesses

After an accident occurs, it is advised to collect as much information from the scene as possible, as this is the most compelling evidence of your accident.

Your lawyer needs all the data and critical evidence you collected, including the other driver’s insurance information, the contact information of potential witnesses or passengers involved in the accident, pictures you may have taken, any recordings you may have, etc.

Police Accident Report

Reporting your auto accident to the police is crucial. In most cases, the police are called in and complete an accident report on the scene. This document provides details on property damage, vehicle position, theories on how the accident may have occurred, assumed at-fault driver, etc.

Again, your attorney can get this from the police department if you don’t already have a copy. You may also want to ensure that your lawyer gets a copy of any traffic citation you may have received from the accident.

Medical Records

As indicated before, not all medical needs occur immediately. However, as your case is being built, the chances are that you have already received some level of medical attention for your injuries. Getting prompt medical treatment is crucial in your car accident claim.

Therefore, you should provide your attorney with complete documentation detailing the extent of treatment and all medical bills that you may have incurred.

Your medical bills go beyond the physical element, as psychological care should be included, too. Providing contact information for your medical providers may also be an asset.

Proof of Earnings

This element becomes important for those who may be trying to recoup lost earnings. Here, proof must be provided of what you were earning both before and after the accident.

The settlement you receive is proportionately related to the impact that the car accident has had on you. This establishes the scope of damages that your attorney can attempt to recover on your behalf.

Of course, there is a burden of proof here. However, that’s not the kind of thing you need to be primarily concerned with, as that responsibility is with your lawyer. There are two types of damages in car accident cases: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are damages that can be quantified, such as property damage, medical bills, car repair bills, and lost wages, to name a few. Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify and must be generalized, such as pain and suffering and loss of consortium.

A few types of common damages are:

Loss of Income

Whether it’s days in the hospital or mandatory rest at home, the fallout can lead to missed days, weeks, or even permanent absence from work, particularly in specific industries. Your car accident lawyer will factor in all these scenarios when determining the lost wages portion of your settlement.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering aren’t just about physical ailments. They encompass the tangible, like pain from a broken bone, and the intangible, such as anxiety or emotional distress. Even minor accidents can lead to prolonged pain or emotional trauma. While quantifying these damages can be challenging, a seasoned car accident attorney can ensure that victims are adequately compensated for physical and emotional suffering.

Medical Expenses

Among the most immediate costs post-accident are medical bills, encompassing everything from ambulance fees and medications to physiotherapy and long-term treatments. However, not all consequences of an accident are immediately apparent; some medical issues can emerge over time. With the expertise of a car accident attorney, victims can ensure they’re compensated for both current and future medical costs.

Loss of Consortium

Reserved for the spouses of car accident victims, loss of consortium compensates for the absence or inability of a loved one to fulfill marital obligations due to a fatal or incapacitating accident. If an accident has affected your marital life, an attorney can evaluate the situation for a potential consortium loss claim.

Navigating the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident requires a meticulous approach to ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve. Insurance companies often aim to minimize payouts, emphasizing the importance of a strong case constructed by an experienced lawyer.

Establishing Non-Fault: A paramount step in your car accident claim is proving that you weren’t at fault. Your lawyer must confirm your non-negligence convincingly.

Determining the Negligent Party: Typically, the party at fault is deemed negligent and can be held liable. To determine this, your attorney might consider:

Traffic law violations involved.

Extent of vehicular damage.

Nature of the collision.

Details from the police report.

Insights from accident reconstruction experts.

Your role? Provide your attorney with all pertinent details, ensuring they have the most compelling evidence to affirm you weren’t the negligent driver.