Collisions between passenger cars have the potential to change the course of your life forever. While serious physical injuries are more common, the potential for emotional and financial hardships is also present. With the help of a dedicated personal injury attorney, you can make your case for compensation from the at-fault party.
Having the guidance of legal counsel means you can avoid common mistakes in the litigation process. Schedule a free consultation with Childers, Schlueter & Smith to see how a Morrow car accident lawyer can improve your chances of a favorable outcome.
What To Do Immediately After a Vehicle Crash
If you have just been in a crash, your first priority should be to seek medical attention. Keep a record of your visits to the doctor so you can use it as evidence when filing for damages. While recovering, you should take it easy and follow any orders that medical professionals give you.
If physically possible, call law enforcement to the scene. Your chances of seeing a favorable outcome are greater with more evidence.
To pursue a claim, you will need to preserve as much evidence as you can, including any damaged property, accident reports from the police, and photos or videos from the crash or its aftermath. Call a car accident lawyer who handles cases in Morrow.
Proving Negligence in an Auto Collision
To prevail in a civil lawsuit, a Morrow car crash attorney must prove the other driver was negligent. Negligence refers to any careless, intentional, or reckless act that results in harm to another person. In the context of a vehicle collision, negligence could mean texting and driving, speeding, or driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
There are a couple of elements a plaintiff must prove in order to win an injury case.
Duty of Care
First, you and your lawyer must establish you were owed a “duty of care” by the defendant. This is not usually in dispute in these cases, since all motorists owe each other an obligation to drive safely. The central dispute in many auto collision claims is whether there was a breach of the duty of care. A driver could breach their duty in a variety of ways, such as driving at unsafe speeds or running a stop sign. A ticket or citation from law enforcement for this event is valuable evidence of a breach.
Compensable Losses
Next, you must prove the other driver’s negligent actions led to the collision and that you suffered “compensable losses” as a result. Common examples of losses include hospital bills, therapy and rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Failing to prove these elements will make it much more difficult to secure a settlement.
Talk to a Morrow Car Accident Attorney for Legal Advice
If an automobile collision has resulted in your physical injuries, you have the right to seek legal counsel and file a claim. Although there may be a trial if the defendant and their insurance company do not agree to end the matter, most claims get settled out of court.
You do not have to do it alone. Allow a Morrow car accident lawyer review your case during a free consultation and determine if you are likely to secure compensation.
