Recent studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) show that individuals under the age of thirty-four years old are among the hardest hit of injuries and fatalities in vehicle-related accident occurrences. Every year, approximately 40,000 deaths are the result of auto accidents. The average rate per day of the fatalities reaches up to 115. Auto accidents also cost American taxpayers the outstanding amount of 150 billion dollars, every year.
In 2005, here is the percentage of accidents on various motor vehicles leading to injuries and fatalities.
You face the risk of being involved in at least one auto accident during your lifetime. Thus, it is still important to be aware of your rights related to different cases of auto accident involvement.
What should rank high on your priorities if involved in an auto accident?
•Reporting the incident to authorities •Filing an accident report, both for purposes of filing insurance claims and for identifying who had been at fault •Seeking immediate medical treatment •Gathering related information in connection with the accident •Writing down pertinent details like names, addresses, telephone numbers and statements of other parties involved in the accident and witnesses, if any
Usual injuries sustained by victims as a result of a motor-vehicle related accident:
-whiplash -head and brain injury -paralysis -joint, bone and muscle injuries
Even if you did not feel that you were injured, you must take the precaution of seeking medical attention as soon as possible. You can claim for damages from the insurance company of the person found to be at fault for the accident, depending on how you and your family's life are affected by the incident.
You may also become interested in filing personal injury lawsuit against the parties at fault or with liability for the accident in case the auto accident you have been involved in resulted to extensive property damages or loss, wrongful death or other extensive or lasting injuries and losses.
Make sure to consult or hire only the extensively experienced lawyer with specialized practice related in auto and other vehicle accidents prior to doing any legal action.
In recovering auto accident insurance, either from your own or the other driver's, it is important to remember to get the help of an auto accident insurance attorney.
Recovering auto insurance is never easy. It involves complex insurance policies and provisions of law, which by the looks of it tends to favor anyone except you, the victim.
The likelihood of getting successful insurance claim will not only depend with your auto accident insurance attorney but with you.
Experts suggest the following things to do, design to help lawyers help you get the best possible insurance claim:
1.In the accident, remember to call your insurance representative.
You can make your call while in the scene, unless you have more pressing matters to attend to like serious bodily injuries.
2.Relate the facts as they were.
Do not express any opinion. Do not admit anything either. If your insurance agent poses some question, answer them straight without revealing so much that may incriminate you.
3.Get as many as you can.
Take pictures of damages including skid marks and other evidence proving the accident. Gather the names of witnesses then record their names and contact numbers.
4.Record the insurance details of the other driver, including his name and contact numbers.
Some states require that insurance papers be inside the car ? ask to see them. Otherwise, exact so much information by asking.
5.If you have time, try to read and understand your insurance policy.
6.Mind the time. The longer the time that lapse after the accident, the harder it is to recover from your insurance company.
7.Remember everything you could about what had been said in conversations with the investigator and the other party. You can write them later.
8.Gather and keep every receipts and bills you have incurred. They will be helpful during recovery of the cost of the repair of the vehicle, medical and hospital expenses, treatment, etc.
9.Be honest and straightforward. Do not lie. Remember that you are dealing with experts who do it for a living. There is no sense telling lies as they can find out eventually.
10.Do not just take the word of your insurance adjuster. Your insurer will try to lower your claim as much as it could to prevent greater liability.
Lastly, immediately confer with your auto accident insurance attorney when you are required to sign any document. Have him/her read the document first. Make him/her do all the talking and negotiating with the insurance company.
In this way, you can avoid tempting offer of settlements, which turn out inadequate in the end. Bear in mind that insurance companies retain hordes of lawyers ? so should you. But one will be enough.
Both Lala C. Ballatan & Jamil Estorninos are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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