Finding yourself caught up in a car accident is a frightening experience, and one that can leave you with life-changing injuries, not to mention putting you at a significant financial disadvantage. To help ensure that you get the support and assistance you need, you will need a qualified, experienced lawyer on your side.

What Are The Most Common Types of Accident?

There are a number of ways that you could find yourself involved in an accident, and the most common include:

• Not Staying In Your Lane

According to statistics regarding highways in Idaho, moving out of your lane accounts for around 25% of all accidents, and are usually the result of drowsy or distracted drivers, or those who are making lane changes without due care and attention. In many cases, these types of accidents can be fatal.

• Distracted Driving

Accidents caused by distracted drivers account for 22% of all accidents in the state and may be the result of drivers using their phone while driving to talk, text, browse social media or even check and respond to emails. Loud children or unruly passengers can also cause accidents, so be prepared to lock the phone away and pull over if you need to – this could save your life.

• Speeding

Perhaps unsurprisingly, speeding is another common cause of accidents. The faster you are speeding, the less time you have to respond to a hazard or potentially dangerous situation – especially if the weather is bad or visibility is poor.

• Tailgating Other Drivers

If you are too close to the car in front, your ability to stop in time is dramatically reduced, increasing your chances of being involved in an accident. Idaho law states that you must leave a 3-second gap between your car and the one in front – this should be doubled during bad weather. According to statistics, tailgating is responsible for 19% of all accidents.

• Collisions With Animals

Sharing our world with animals means that they sometimes find themselves on human roads and, in some sad cases, this can result in an accident. You can reduce the risk of hitting an animal by maintaining constant vigilance, being aware of your surroundings, and using high beams to allow you to see verges and roadsides clearly. Stick to the speed limit to ensure that you have a chance to stop in time.

Do I Need A Lawyer?

It is important not to rely on your insurance company if you are involved in a car accident – while it can be tempting to simply turn everything over to their hands, this could actually be detrimental to you, leaving you settling for a figure that is far lower than you deserve, and with no chance of additional compensation later on – even if you need ongoing medical care or therapy, or are forced to quit your job as a result of your injuries.

If your medical bills or loss of earnings continue to build and grow, you could find yourself facing bankruptcy or at least long-term financial hardship. Insurance companies can also be sneaky and play tricks such as demanding access to your medical records or snooping into your social media to see how healthy and well you truly are. They may also issue a fast, “one time only” settlement while you are still in shock, and in no state to advocate for yourself.

To help avoid this, it is imperative that you have a respected, professional lawyer on your side, to help ensure that you get the justice and compensation that you deserve.

What Can I Be Compensated For?

There are a number of reasons why you may require compensation after your accident, and these include:

• Medical bills and expenses, both at the time of the accident and in the future
• Loss of earnings and wages while you recover
• Financial compensation if you are forced to leave your job or change career
• Adaptations to your home if required following your accident
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional or psychological distress
• Occupational or physical therapy
• Your spouse may also be entitled to recover damages if you claim for loss of consortium

How Can We Help?

If you find yourself the victim of a car accident, you will need qualified, experienced attorneys on your side. We can help by analysing facts and evidence to help identify the party responsible for the accident, looking at police reports and eyewitness statements, and studying photographs of the vehicles involved and the scene of the accident. Once we have the required information, we can work with you to determine who was at fault, and build a case to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

 

If you have been involved in an accident, there is no need to worry – our team has a wealth of experience in this area, and can help you through this challenging time.