The last thing anyone wants to deal with is a car accident. The initial impact and resultant injuries can be traumatic in and of themselves, and the claims process that follows can be upsetting in its own right. When you’ve been injured in an accident at no fault of your own, you may want to seek out the assistance of an automobile accident attorney – one that can help you fight for fair compensation.
A solid lawyer can help you gather pertinent documentation, reach out to relevant parties and build a case proving liability. Car accidents have many different causes and can lead to any number of injuries.
In what follows, we will outline the fundamentals of automobile accidents.
Causes
So why do car accidents happen? Well, there are a number of reasons such an accident might occur. Alcohol is one potential cause. It’s not uncommon for a drunk driver to lose control of their vehicle, leading to a potentially disastrous car crash. Though alcohol is a common culprit, other drugs may also lead to unruly driving. Needless to say, it’s important to stay sober behind the wheel, especially when you’re carting around other people.
Fatigue can lead to similar results. According to one study, drowsiness and inebriation both diminish cognitive psychomotor skills, and low levels of fatigue can lead to “higher levels of impairment” when compared to inebriation. Other possible causes include poor weather conditions, road design, defective car parts, and road rage.
Aggression
Aggression on the roads can be particularly problematic. In New York, for example, aggressive driving accounts for 59 percent of collisions and 66 percent of fatal accidents. It is thus important to keep a cool head, no matter how stressful driving can be. Considering the fact that 5 seconds of driving is equivalent to the length of a football field, it’s always a good idea to stay focused and calm when navigating the road.
Effects
These causes can lead to any number of brutal effects. You might end up in a rear-end collision, a T-bone accident, a rollover, a multicar pileup or any number of unsavory scenarios. Each of these comes with its own set of risks. For example, T-bone collisions, which generally occur at intersections or in parking lots, can lead to severe injuries. Because of the physics behind these accidents, victims tend to suffer intense injuries affecting the brain, face, ears, eyes, spinal cord or other vital body parts. What’s more, people who find themselves in this type of accident may end up getting stuck in the vehicle, requiring special equipment to extract them.
What to Do When an Accident Occurs
If you find yourself in a car accident, the first thing you want to do is ensure the safety of you and your passengers. Assess your injuries and the injuries of the other people in your car. If someone is severely injured, call 911 immediately. If your car is in an unsafe position – e.g. in the middle of the highway – you may want to move the vehicle to the side of the road. Safety is always a number one priority.
After you’ve taken the proper precautions and after you’ve called the authorities, you want to exchange information with the other driver and begin documenting the scene. You can take photos of your vehicle, the other car (including the license plate) and the surrounding area.
When you’re done giving a statement to the authorities and after you’ve taken photos, you want to seek out medical attention as soon as possible. This is vital to your health. It is also essential for avoiding problems down the road, as insurance companies could use your failure to see a doctor as evidence against your claim.
In the end, it’s a good idea to seek out the help of a skilled car accident attorney. With the right help, you can obtain compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages (both present and future), diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering damages and any other associated losses. When you hire an experienced attorney, you can also allow yourself to focus on what matters: recovery.
