All posts in Auto Accident

Slick Road Slip-Ups: Five Fender Bender Dos and Don’ts

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/01/11 in Auto Accident with Comments Off

A fender bender can put you into a potentially dangerous situation. What seems like something minor could explode into a very serious incident if you aren’t careful. The key to staying safe is knowing what to do. Here are five dos and don’ts when you are involved in a fender bender, especially on slick or icy roads this winter.

Do Contact the Police Immediately

Always contact the police immediately after an accident. Do not try to settle things quietly, or just brush off the accident. You want to call the police, request medical attention if necessary, and file an official report. This helps to protect you and the other driver. It is also a necessary step if you need to file an insurance or personal injury claim later.

Do Not Remain Standing in the Road

The last thing you want to do is stand in the road next to the vehicles, assessing the damage after an accident. Do get out of the road as quickly as you can. There will be plenty of time to look at the damage when the police arrive. Get to a safe place with everyone involved in the accident. This might even mean crossing the street to get to a sidewalk or parking lot.

Do Speak To a Lawyer

You will want to speak to a personal injury lawyer after the accident if you were hurt in any way. A Pocatello Attorney from a firm you trust will make certain your rights are protected. A lawyer will also help to determine whether you have valid damages that can be recovered through filing a personal injury claim. Always contact a lawyer if you were in a car accident.

Do Not Attempt to Drive Your Vehicle

There is no way to tell what parts of your vehicle might have been damaged as the result of a fender bender. You do not want to attempt to drive your vehicle right away. Wait until a tow truck arrives and have the car inspected. If you try to drive away, then damage to the car might cause you to lose control and get into another accident.

Do Document What You Can

Do try to document everything you can. This includes taking pictures or videos of the scene and the damage done. Get the names of witnesses in the area. Get all the contact information from the opposing driver and the license plate of the other cars. This information can be very helpful later.

You need to take action right after a fender bender in order to protect yourself and your rights. Do not assume that a small accident will not have far-reaching consequences in the coming days. Use these five tips to do the right thing after an auto accident.

Image credit: Fender Bender, 101 FWY, on Flickr

How to Protect Yourself after Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

by Anica Oaks on 2015/11/06 in Auto Accident with Comments Off

Car accidents are dangerous. The aftermath of a car accident can often be a significant portion of the overall danger, because it is then the financial realities, medical issues and the overall burden of car repairs, wasted time and inconvenience manifest themselves.

All of these things are only magnified if the accident involves a drunk driver.

Technology to the Rescue

In the age of mobile technology, phones and tablets, every human being is equipped with virtually unlimited capacity to document any event on their own. Photographic and video evidence are both incredibly powerful and often conclusive in any legal matter.

The practical ramifications of this are clear. After an accident, you should be taking pictures of everything, especially anything with letters or numbers on it. License plates, VIN numbers, driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and so forth.

Secondly, don’t forget to take pictures of the surroundings, starting with the road in both directions. Take pictures of the pavement and nearby structures. Photograph the accident from every angle and be sure to photograph any accident evidence: skid marks, glass, metal, paint, dents, scrapes, car parts, etc.

The Authorities

If it is at all possible, anyone involved in a drunk driving accident should interview all of the relevant authorities, starting with the responding police department. However, you should not answer any questions until you have a chance to speak with legal counsel, even if you aren’t at fault.

Firefighters and ambulance drivers or emergency medical personnel should be at least identified. Get numbers and names if possible. All of these people will become crucial sources of information and possibly testimonies at a later date.

Legal Advice

Even if you don’t think you’ll need an attorney, it is often a good idea to at least speak with someone involved in personal injury or vehicle accident litigation. Firms like Racine Olson will often alert you to things you may not have considered. A qualified and experienced attorney can also often be a good candidate for organizing all the information related to your case.

Insurance

It goes without saying that if you are ever in a car accident, your second call should be to your insurance company. This is doubly and triply true when dealing with an accident with potential criminal liability, even if you are not at fault. Your insurance company can coordinate their efforts with your legal representatives and assist you in obtaining any official documents related to the accident, the aftermath and your case. You pay premiums for this service. You might as well use it.

Keeping your cool and making sure you approach an accident with a calm and reasoned attitude will often be the difference between major financial problems an accompanying legal trouble versus a favorable outcome.

Lights in the Rear View: How to Manage a Traffic Violation with Grace

by Anica Oaks on 2015/10/13 in Auto Accident with Comments Off

You want to feel safe and comfortable in every decision you make, but everyone makes mistakes. Your most recent mistake has led to a traffic violation, and now you feel confused and lost. You never intended to do anything wrong, and the consequences looming in front of you seem unduly strict.

So what can you do to mitigate the consequences without stirring up further trouble?

Below, you’ll find a few strategies you can use to handle your traffic violation gracefully and effectively. Use this information to give yourself the best chance at reducing or even eliminating your legal burden.

1. Analyze the Codes and Laws that Deal with Your Violation

Before you do anything else, research the laws surrounding the traffic violation on your ticket. You need to know what consequences you face. You also need to know if the officer pulled you over for a legitimate reason. The officer may not have followed correct procedure, or he or she may have pulled you over for an action that didn’t quite merit a violation.

2. Hire a Defense Lawyer

Even if you don’t see anything that the officer did wrong, you can still contest the ticket and get a reduced or even dropped sentence. But to accomplish that goal, you will need legal assistance from a professional who knows more about the process than you do.

Hire a defense lawyer to look at the evidence and violation with a more practiced eye. He or she may find flaws that you couldn’t see on your own. Even if you were charged with a more severe infraction like driving-under-the-influence, DUI attorneys at Suhre & Associates and other specialty firms can give you sound legal advice.

3. Record All Details from the Circumstances Surrounding the Violation

Do you have pictures and written testimonies from the incident that led to your ticket? The police likely do, but you’ll do better in court if you have your own records of what happened. So, before you leave the incident scene, take pictures, talk to bystanders, and write down your version of what happened. You’ll need this information later when you build your defense.

But if you don’t have that information, a personal written testimony can still point your lawyer toward the best possible defense.

4. Find out What Devices the Responding Officer Used

Some devices, like certain breathalyzers, could have flaws that undermine the ticket you received. If you know what devices the responding officer used, your lawyer will investigate those devices to see if an error could have occurred. If an error could have led to the officer pulling you over, you may get out of the ticket. Your lawyer can tell you more.

5. Decide If You Should Contest the Violation or Pay Fines

Sometimes it is more graceful—not to mention easier—to pay the fines rather than fight your ticket. For example, if the officer didn’t make any mistakes and the ticket came from a legitimate violation, you might not profit from contesting. You might waste time and resources when you could have just paid the fines.

But before you decide to contest or pay fines, meet with your legal counsel. He or she will advise you on the right decision so you know what steps will take you towards the best outcome.

6 Signs Your Auto Accident Wasn’t Your Fault

by Anica Oaks on 2015/09/14 in Auto Accident with Comments Off

The aftermath of a car accident can feel disorienting and unsettling, especially if the wreck resulted in injuries to you or extensive damages to your vehicle. Whether you’re reading this article at the scene of the accident or while waiting to speak to an insurance representative, one of the most important characteristics you must identify is legal fault.

You should never admit fault for an accident, since this can lead to penalties regardless of the veracity of the statement. But how can you know for sure that you weren’t at fault? Below we list some common indicators of fault.

1. The Other Driver Admitted Fault

Most insurers and legal professionals recommend not admitting fault after an accident. If the other driver willingly admits fault, either he or she has never heard that advice or he or she really is at fault.

2. Witnesses Place Fault with the Other Driver

Witness statements can hold a lot of sway in accident claims proceedings. Listen to the witnesses talk to each other and the police. If they actively identify the other driver as the accident’s cause, you probably aren’t at fault.

3. You Didn’t Have Time to Brake

If you saw the accident coming, but didn’t have time to brake, you may not legally be at fault. However, this depends on your state and local laws. In some areas, braking does not affect assignment of guilt. Contact attorney Jonathan Groth for more information on Milwaukee accident laws.

4. You Didn’t See the Accident Coming

If you were blindsided, chances are good the accident wasn’t your fault. However, this is not the case if you caused an accident by neglecting your duties as a driver.

5. You Were Hit from Behind

In some states, if a driver is rear-ended, he or she is never considered legally at fault. If you were hit from behind, this law may apply to you.

6. You Were Not Issued a Ticket at the Scene

While this rule is far from universal, you may not be at fault if the police issued a ticket to the other driver at the scene, but not to you. Keep in mind, however, that the police do not issue tickets after every accident.

If you don’t know whether or not you were at fault (or you were wrongfully blamed for the accident), talk to an accident attorney. He or she can help you determine your rights, your legal responsibilities, and the compensation you are due.

How Do You Know If You Need A Personal Injury Attorney Following An Auto Collision?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/05/04 in Auto Accident with Comments Off

An auto accident can leave you with large medical bills and injuries that change your life. The person responsible for the accident may be liable for your damages. Unfortunately, collecting fair compensation from a liable party or an insurer is not always easy. There are several situations when you will need a personal injury attorney following an auto collision.

You Have Serious Injuries

You need an attorney if the accident resulted in serious injuries. These could be broken bones, organ damage or another injury that becomes a permanent disability. You need the experience of a lawyer in order to explain your injuries and get fair compensation. Relying on your insurer will not be enough when dealing with serious injuries.

Insurance Companies Are Causing Problems

There are times when your insurance company might cause problems in an attempt to not pay your claim or pay only the minimum. This can include constantly delaying your claim or requesting unreasonable amounts of documentation that is difficult to acquire. You need a personal injury attorney if this occurs.

Liability Is Being Disputed

Something that can be a real problem is if the other driver is denying liability and blaming the accident on you. This means that you are likely going to end up in court. If liability for the accident is being disputed, then call a personal injury lawyer right away.

Additional Parties Were Involved

Something that can complicate matters is if more than you and the other driver were involved in the accident. Pedestrians, a third driver or people on bicycles might also partially be liable for the incident. Get in touch with a lawyer if this is the situation.

Commercial or Government Vehicles Were Involved

A special situation is if you were in an auto collision with a commercial or government vehicle like a bus or delivery van. You could have trouble collecting anything from those parties. A personal injury lawyer will know exactly how to pursue the fair compensation you deserve.

Your Damages Exceed Your Coverage

If your damages exceed the amount of your insurance coverage, then you must call a personal injury attorney for help. Your attorney will be able to go after the insurer or the liable party for everything you are owed. This will likely involve going to court.

Do not hesitate or give up on collecting fair compensation when you have been injured in a car accident. You need to be persistent and get help as quickly as possible. A personal injury attorney will fight to hold the liable parties responsible for your damages.