If you have been injured in a car accident, you might find yourself facing mounting costs from repairing your vehicle, extensive medical treatment, and missed time from work. More importantly, though, an accident can lead to substantial injuries, resulting in crippling pain that can last a lifetime.
No matter the circumstances, you need to know what to do following your car accident, both immediately afterward and in the long term. If you have been severely injured, then you need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney in order to have the best chance at winning your case. The attorneys at Litster Frost are here to help you recover the compensation you deserve to help pay your losses and medical expenses.
Common Types of Car Accidents
Car accidents come in many forms, and are often caused by several different factors. Common types of car accidents include:
- Distracted Driving Accidents: Oftentimes, the most dangerous hazards on the roads are other drivers. Whether texting, fiddling with the radio, or trying to wrangle small children who are being unruly in the backseat, not focusing fully on the road strongly increases the chances of an accident.
- DUI: If the driver who caused your accident was under the influence while behind the wheel, then he or she may face serious repercussions for his actions and can be liable for any injuries which you suffer.
- Speeding: If you are injured by someone who was speeding at the time of your accident,el then the driver may be held liable for any injuries his or her speeding caused you. Proving a driver was speeding at the time of an accident can be difficult, but a personal injury attorney can help with this process.
- Accidents involving an uninsured motorist: Although insurance is mandatory when operating a vehicle, some drivers nevertheless choose to drive while uninsured. If you are injured by an uninsured driver, recovering compensation for your injuries can be a difficult process. Your own insurance policy will cover your injuries, and if your treatments are more expensive than the policy limits, then you may encounter difficulty recovering damages.
- Head-On Collision: Head-on collisions can be particularly devastating in terms of injuries and fatality. Determining the location of each vehicle is crucial in proving fault in a head-on collision; if the other driver drifted into your lane, then you may be able to recover for injuries he or she caused you.
- Multiple Vehicle Accidents: Many accidents involve more than two vehicles, which can make proving fault a nightmare. If you have been injured in a multi-vehicle accident, an attorney can help you sort out the many factors involved in these accidents and help you win the compensation you deserve.
- Single Vehicle Accidents: Even if you were the only vehicle involved in your accident, you may still have a case. If road conditions were unsafe, if negligence was shown in a construction zone, or if your accident occurred on property belonging to a private person or entity who may have been negligent or careless with their upkeep, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim to recover damages for your injuries.
While these are not the only types of accidents that a driver can face on the road, they are very common, and often result in serious injury.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
Following your accident, there are several steps which you should take to ensure your own health and safety and to increase your chances of being compensated for damages.
Call the Police
Whether you believe the other driver was at fault or not, never deal directly with the driver of the other vehicle in your accident, except to make sure that they are ok. Whether emergency medical assistance is needed or not, the police should always be called after every accident, and a report should be filed.
Get Medical Treatment
Any medical treatment you need for the accident is best received directly following your accident. The longer you wait to seek medical treatment, the harder it will be to prove that your conditions are a result of the accident. This can decrease your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries in a personal injury lawsuit.
Gather Evidence
When filing a car accident claim, your attorney will need a variety of types of evidence. It pays to start gathering these as soon as possible following your accident. Some types of evidence needed can include:
- Insurance claims
- Pictures of the damage to vehicles, skid marks, road conditions, and injuries sustained
- Vehicle repair quotes or invoices
- Car rental quotes or invoices
- Police reports
- Medical records, diagnostics and bills
File an Insurance Claim
After an accident, you should not wait to file an insurance claim. Your accident will likely have caused damage to your vehicle which will need to be repaired. This can be very costly to pay out of pocket. You may also have a multitude of injuries such as whiplash, brain injury, seatbelt bruising, or airbag burns which will need to be addressed. Your accident, injuries, or loss of vehicle may also have caused you to missed time from work resulting in lost earnings for which you deserve compensation.
There are two main types of insurance that come into play: first party claims and third party claims. A first party claim is one in which you file a claim with your own insurance company, while a third party claim involves filing with the the other driver’s insurance provider. In most accidents in which you are not at fault, you will file a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Insurance claims can become very complicated, and you may feel overwhelmed trying to fight for the compensation you deserve. A personal injury attorney can gauge whether you have a case and determine what your rights and responsibilities are. In many cases, you may want an attorney’s help before you even file a claim so you can ensure you do everything right and give yourself the best chance of a good outcome.
What Is the Comparative Negligence Rule?
Idaho follows the comparative negligence rule, which means that a court will looks at both parties’ actions and level of fault in the case of a car accident. Even if you were both driving irresponsibly, if the other driver was driving more carelessly, then you may still have a case. It’s important to recognize, however, that any fault on your part will limit your the amount of damages which you can receive.
Injured in a Car Accident? Let Us Help You Today
Whether you are filing a claim against a driver or property owner, or seeking a settlement with an insurance company that you suspect is not offering what you are entitled to, an attorney can help. It can be extremely difficult to wade through all of the procedural rules and gather the right kind of evidence to prove your case, but the attorneys at Litster Frost are ready and willing to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. To schedule a consultation about your accident, call our office at (208) 333-3330 or fill out a case evaluation form today.
