Car accident recovery

An estimated 42,000 people died in car accidents in 2022 in the United States alone. Whether you’ve been involved in a minor fender bender or a serious crash, the aftermath of a car accident can be confusing, stressful, and even traumatic. That said, knowing what to do after a car accident can help speed up your recovery and ensure you have a smoother claims process.

This post will provide an in-depth review of a car accident recovery process, shedding light on what to do after the crash, how to determine liability, and the role a car accident lawyer can play in ensuring you recover maximum compensation for your damages.

How a car accident lawyer can help your case
Overall, recovering compensation after a car accident is not an easy task. In addition to your own insurance company, you also need to deal with the other driver’s insurer to guarantee you’re fairly compensated for all the losses you’ve incurred following the crash. This is why it’s in your best interest to hire an attorney to help you navigate the entire claims process and protect your legal rights.

An experienced and reputable car accident attorney will do the following to help your case:

Investigate the events leading to the accident and locate all liable parties
Request your medical records and use them to prove the extent of your injuries
Interview any witnesses present at the accident scene and record their statements
Obtain the police report and video footage of the accident
Hire accident reconstruction experts to recreate the events of the accident and prove your claim
File the insurance claim on time
Help you settle your personal injury claim with the parties involved
Handle the necessary legal paperwork and all communication on your behalf
Enlist financial experts to compute your economic and non-economic losses and determine the rightful value of your case
Defend you against any attempts by the insurance company and the defendant’s legal team to blame you for the accident
Take your case to trial, if necessary

Common causes of car accidents
There are various reasons why car accidents occur. The following are the most common ones:

Mechanical failures
Speeding
Distracted driving, whether by operating the GPS system, sightseeing, eating, smoking, texting, or talking on the phone
Driving while intoxicated
Careless and reckless driving
Unfamiliarity with the local roads and traffic laws
Poor road conditions, including broken streetlights and potholes
Bad weather conditions, such as rain and fog

What to do after a car accident
Being involved in a car accident can leave you traumatized and in a state of shock, making it difficult for you to make sound decisions.

However, you need to know that what you do immediately after the crash can easily determine the outcome of your claim.

The following are some of the steps you should take after a car accident to protect your health and legal rights:

Check yourself and others for injuries and move to safety.
Call the police to report the accident and request emergency medical services if you or any other person are injured.
Remain at the accident scene until the police arrive.
Take pictures and videos of your injuries, vehicles involved in the accident and their license plates, nearby traffic signs, skid marks on the road, and the street’s name.
Once the police arrive at the scene, note their names, badge numbers, phone numbers, and accident case numbers to make it easier for you to obtain a copy of the police report once it becomes available.
Collect the contact information of the other driver involved in the accident, including their name, phone number, address, insurance details, and driver’s license number.
Collect the contact information of the witnesses present at the accident scene, including their names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Seek immediate medical attention and have your injuries documented.
Contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Proving liability in a car accident case
To recover compensation as a car accident victim, your lawyer must demonstrate the following elements of negligence:

Duty of care: Your lawyer must prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to drive safely, observe traffic laws, and keep you and other road users safe.
Breach of duty of care: Your lawyer must prove that the defendant breached their duty of care to you by acting negligently. Some of the actions that constitute negligence in a car accident case include driving while intoxicated, texting while driving, speeding, tailgating, and many others.
Cause in fact of the injury: Your lawyer must prove a correlation between the defendant’s negligence and the crash.
Proximate cause of harm: It must be proven that the defendant’s negligent actions resulted in your injuries.
Damages: It must be proven that you suffered economic and non-economic damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence.

Recoverable damages after a car accident
Suppose you’ve been involved in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence. In that case, a car accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. These damages include:

Medical expenses: These include expenses for hospital stays, surgical care, prescription medication, rehabilitation, emergency room visits, and physical therapy.
Pain and suffering: You’ll be awarded a monetary reward for the physical pain and suffering you’ve endured following the car accident.
Lost income and benefits: You also recover compensation for the sum of the lost earnings, bonuses, and benefits you’ve incurred after missing work due to the accident. You may also qualify for additional compensation if your injuries prevent you from working full-time like you used to.
Emotional distress: You’re entitled to a monetary reward for the emotional and psychological trauma you’ve endured due to the crash.
Punitive damages: The judge may award a monetary reward to punish the defendant for extreme negligence and discourage such behavior in the future.

Get your life back on track
Recovering from a car accident is a complex journey that involves physical, emotional, mental, and financial healing. Although you may want to get back on your feet as soon as possible, remember that full recovery may take time, which means you must be patient with yourself. Remember that you’re not alone. Any form of support from loved ones, medical health professionals, mental health providers, and legal advisors can make a great difference as you navigate your recovery journey.

The article Car accident recovery first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.