Tag: Wrongful Death

What Causes an Auto Accident?

If you are in an accident, it is important to remain calm. Make sure that you and any passengers are uninjured and call the police.

Having the officer create an official police report helps prevent the other driver from changing their story later on, which could negatively impact your claim for damages. Contact your local Auto Accident Attorney Duluth GA for more information.

Causes

Auto Accident

The vast majority of car accidents can be attributed to driver error, but a smaller number are caused by vehicle-related issues like brake failure. It is important to understand what causes a car accident in order to avoid being involved in one yourself.

Drivers are often distracted when behind the wheel, and this can lead to a serious collision. Distracted driving refers to any activity that diverts a person’s attention away from the road, and it includes activities like talking on the phone, texting, changing the music or radio, eating, brushing hair/putting on makeup, interacting with backseat passengers, reading, using a GPS device, adjusting the vehicle’s settings, and even fiddling with the climate controls.

Drunk driving is a huge contributing factor to auto accidents, and it is a major cause of death and injury in the U.S. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are injured by drunk drivers. Even if a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below the legal limit, any amount of alcohol can impair a driver and lead to an accident.

Speeding is another common cause of car accidents, and it can contribute to significant injuries. Driving above the speed limit limits a driver’s reaction time, and it can lead to a rear-end collision or losing control of the car.

Tire defects and weather conditions also play a role in a large number of car accidents. In bad weather, cars are more likely to spin out of control or skid when braking. Additionally, tires that are defective or improperly inflated can be dangerous.

Sometimes it is the road itself that causes an accident, and this can include a poor road’s design, construction or maintenance work. Local governments, private companies and contractors that perform road work can all be held liable if their negligence leads to an accident. In some cases, the cause of an accident is a result of a manufacturing defect such as faulty air bags or child safety seats. These types of claims are referred to as product liability claims. A qualified personal injury attorney can help determine what caused an accident and who is liable.

Symptoms

A car accident is a frightening event. It can cause damage to your vehicle, your bank account and sometimes your body as well. The most obvious symptoms of a car accident include pain, bruises and swelling. However, some injuries do not appear until hours or even days after a collision. When this happens, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately, as the delay in the onset of symptoms could be a sign of a severe injury.

One of the most common and dangerous symptoms after a car accident is a head injury. This type of injury is often fatal, and it can be caused by any type of crash, including low-speed crashes and side impact collisions. Head injuries are especially dangerous in head-on collisions, which occur when two vehicles travel in opposite directions.

Another common symptom of a car accident is back pain. This can be a symptom of spinal injuries, herniated discs or whiplash. It is important to treat back pain right away to prevent it from getting worse.

Neck or shoulder pain is also a common symptom of car accident injuries. This is usually a result of the whiplash that occurs on impact. If the pain is accompanied by numbness or tingling, it may be a sign of nerve or tissue damage.

Finally, fatigue or sleep problems can be a sign of a serious injury. These problems may be caused by a brain trauma, concussion or other health conditions. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to visit a doctor specializing in car accident injuries as soon as possible.

In addition to physical symptoms, a car accident can have emotional effects as well. If you are experiencing nightmares, flashbacks or other psychological problems after a car accident, it is important to visit a doctor to get help. This is especially important if you were not directly involved in the crash.

Symptoms that do not show up until days after the crash can indicate serious injuries, such as a blood clot in the brain or neck injury. It is important to pay attention to any changes in your feelings and emotions after a car accident and speak with an attorney to discuss your legal options.

Treatment

Even if you aren’t bleeding from your head or back or feel a severe pain, it’s important to visit the doctor as soon as possible after a car accident. Getting a full body assessment can help prevent the onset of serious, late-appearing injuries. It also allows the doctor to assess you for less-visible damage that can worsen over time.

Injuries related to spinal cord damage, nerve damage and head trauma often take a while to show symptoms. Symptoms can range from mild to excruciating, but they should never be ignored. Pain in the neck or back may indicate whiplash, while pain in the head can be a sign of a concussion. Numbness and tingling can signal damaged nerves.

The adrenaline rush following a car accident can mask many painful symptoms. Err on the side of caution and seek medical attention if you experience any unusual sensations. Prompt treatment not only aids your physical recovery, it establishes a medical record that will be valuable in any future legal action.

A skilled auto accident doctor can pinpoint the source of your injury and develop a pathway to recovery. He or she will conduct a thorough neurological examination, combining careful physical examination with state-of-the-art technology for comprehensive diagnostic testing. This is critical for diagnosing car accident injuries, especially those that have neurologic origins.

Treatments can include medication for pain, swelling and inflammation. In some cases, doctors will prescribe long-term medication management to help manage chronic pain and other symptoms that may persist after the collision.

Conservative treatments like physical therapy and acupuncture can be effective in reducing pain, increasing mobility and promoting healing. These methods are often available for a fraction of the cost of invasive surgery and can improve your quality of life long after the accident.

Getting prompt medical care can also help you comply with your car insurance’s personal injury protection requirements, or PIP. This coverage can pay for some or all of your medical bills related to the crash, including those that might not be covered by your health insurance. It can also help you avoid costly out-of-pocket expenses if you’re too hurt to work, and it may offset your loss of income.

Attorneys

In the aftermath of an accident, victims need to make sure they prioritize their health and safety by seeking medical attention. After that, they should seek legal representation to ensure their rights are protected. A law firm with a deep history of success in car accident cases is the best choice. It understands the intricacies of the law and empathizes with the emotional and physical challenges clients face.

A skilled New York City car accident attorney should be able to help you pursue maximum compensation for your losses. These include your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Your attorney should also be able to help you file for uninsured motorist coverage if the offending driver does not carry or has minimal insurance coverage.

When selecting an attorney to represent you, consider the number of accidents he or she has handled and his or her record of winning settlements for his clients. A trustworthy attorney will not hesitate to share his or her track record with you during a free consultation. You should also look for an office that is well-organized and has sufficient staff capable of handling the needs of your case.

During the initial stages of your case, attorneys should help you gather and preserve evidence. This includes witness testimony, medical records, and photos from the scene of the accident. They should also work with specialists who can reconstruct the accident to help establish a clear picture of what happened and who was at fault. Lawyers should also assist in negotiating with insurance companies to prevent their clients from agreeing to lower than adequate compensation offers.

In the event that your case does not settle through negotiations, your attorney will prepare to litigate the matter. This may involve taking the offending party or their insurance company to court. If your attorney successfully wins a judgement, he or she will be entitled to a percentage of the personal injury award, which typically varies by state.

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