auto accident law firm Accident Legal Matters

Contact a seasoned attorney immediately If you've suffered injuries in a car accident. An attorney can explain your rights and assist you receive the compensation you need.

Every driver is responsible for adhering to traffic rules. They are liable if they breach this duty and cause harm.

Damages

In general, there are two different types of damages that can result from an accident. The first kind of damage, known as special damages, have the value of a dollar that can be easily determined. Examples of special damages include medical bills loss of wages, vehicle repairs are examples for special damages. The second type, which is referred to as non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify. These include things like suffering and pain.

In order to receive compensation for non-economic losses, you must be able show that your injuries were severe enough to warrant an award. This is a difficult task, and the injured must be represented by an attorney.

Loss of enjoyment is one of the most common non-economic damages. This is usually a financial amount that is a reflection of a diminished quality of life as a result accident-related injuries. Also, it can result in the inability of participating in certain activities, such as driving, which were once enjoyable.

In some cases, victims can sue for auto accidents punitive damages. The purpose of this type of damage is intended to punish the perpetrator and discourage future acts that are equally egregious. The possibility of punitive damages is not available in every case and a successful case relies on strong evidence showing that the defendant committed a crime with a clear disregard for the safety of others.

Liability

If you are injured in an accident in a car, the person or entity responsible for the injuries you sustained will be responsible to compensate you. This will include money for medical expenses as well as property damage, loss of income as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering. In most cases, this will be the driver that caused the crash. It is not unusual for two drivers to share blame. Some states have laws known as comparative negligence, in which the jury decides on the respective percentages of each driver and adjusts the damage amount according to the percentage.

It is essential to prove what happened to an insurance company, or to a judge and jury. This is known as the burden of evidence. The burden falls on the person making the claim - the plaintiff - and requires you to show proof of how the accident happened.

A government institution can also be held accountable for an accident. This can occur when a roadway isn't properly constructed or maintained, and this contributes to an accident. These types of claims are also referred to as roadway defect cases. These kinds of claims can also be brought by manufacturers. They could be held liable for defects like brakes, tires and mechanical failure.

At-fault driver citations

Most of the time, police officers can determine the cause of an accident by looking at the crash scene and interviewing witnesses. They could issue an order if they believe a driver violated traffic laws. Insurance companies may also examine police reports to help determine the cause of the incident.

After an accident, it is normal for drivers to point at each one another. But, this can be harmful. In addition to giving the driver the wrong impression, it could lead to an admission of guilt that can be used against you in court.

The majority of car accidents involve two or more individuals who share some degree of responsibility. This is why many states use modified comparative blame rules that permit the claimant to claim damages less their percentage of fault. A traffic citation may be used by an insurance adjuster to increase the percentage of responsible for an accident. This can decrease the possibility of a payout for injuries.

The fact that a person is mentioned in a vehicle crash could be proof that they were responsible for the crash. However, it's not an assurance of the outcome of an injury lawsuit. Based on the circumstances of your case you may need other types of evidence to show that the negligence of another driver caused you harm. This could include witnesses' testimony, evidence from the scene of the accident, and medical records detailing your injuries.

Police reports

When officers from the police arrive at a crash site they will fill out an official report. The reports will contain both facts and opinions noted by the officers who were on the scene at the time of the accident. This is an important document to be included in any claim for auto accident attorneys accidents (more resources). Insurance companies will scrutinize the report in order to help determine fault and the amount of compensation for the parties who have been injured.

Based on the jurisdiction, police reports are acceptable or not admissible in court. The police report contains statements of people who haven't been legally sworn as witnesses. These statements must fall within an exception to the hearsay law in order to be used as evidence.

A typical police report contains information about the driver, vehicles and the victims involved in the crash, in addition to the details of the incident and any evidence that was found at the scene. Many police reports also contain the officer's opinion on the circumstances of the crash and who's to blame.

If you're not injured, it is recommended that you always file a police report for any incident you're involved in even if it seems to be minor. Documentation is important since there aren't all injuries obvious immediately.