Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are involved in car accidents , many of which result in significant injuries—even death—to drivers and passengers.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of thirty-four. It is estimated that each year, car accidents are responsible for over 40,000 deaths. Frighteningly, these statistics indicate that you are likely to be involved in at least one car accident in your lifetime.
Car accidents can mean collisions between cars, and also can occur with other vehicles such as bicycles or trucks, with pedestrians, and with stationary structures or objects, such as trees, guardrails or road signs. The most common types of car accidents are rear-end collisions, side collisions, rollovers, head-on collisions, single-car accidents and pile-ups.
The most common factors that leading to car accidents include:
· Driver distraction (eg, cell phone use, attempting to pick up dropped items, etc.)
· Driver impairment by fatigue, illness, alcohol or drugs
· Mechanical failure (eg, blown tires, brake failure, etc.)
· Road conditions (eg, foreign obstacles on the road, wet or slick roads, etc.)
· Speeding
When a car accident occurred, usually the injured victim will make a claim. In most of the cases it is the passengers of the car who had personal injuries and claims made by them have greater chances of success. However, if the car driver was responsible for the accident, then he can’t make the car accident claim.
In a successful car accident claim, the evidences that can prove the victim’s innocence and the negligence of the third party are very important. Besides, the claim for a car accident should be filed within three years from the date that the accident occurred.
As for the compensation, it will be made up of two parts. One is for special damages, which refers to the compensation to loss of earnings, medical costs and other general expenses; the other is for general damages, which refers to the compensation that calculated by the judge of the changed life of the victim as the result of the accident. However, if the passenger was not wearing the seat belt or if he knew that the driver was not fit for safe driving, the compensation might be reduced.
In some cases, the driver at fault may not be insured, and in such cases, the Motor Insurance Bureau will pay the compensation.
Everyone is likely to be involved in a car accident, and statistics show that most people are involved in at least one car accident in their life. If you are injured in a car accident, making a claim can ensure that you receive compensation for your injury and lost earnings.
When you are involved in a car accident that was not your fault, the accident should be immediately reported to the police and insurance company. You should seek medical assistance as soon as possible as well as collect evidences to support your claim. Evidence can be the names and phone numbers of witnesses or photographs of the accident site.
Remember, in order to make a successful claim, you must collect enough evidences that can prove your innocence. In addition, the claims for a car accident should be filed within three years from the date of the accident, so if you decided to make a claim, do as soon as possible.
As a car accident victim, you could seek legal help on a “no win no fee” basis, which means you won’t have to pay in the event that you lose.
In cases where the driver at fault was uninsured, the Motor Insurance Bureau will provide compensation to the victims of the uninsured or untraced drivers.
So if you encounter a can accident, feel free to contact an experienced car accident lawyer from to help you.
