How can a traffic accident lawyer help me?
Between police involvement, documenting and treating your own injuries, determining fault and sorting out insurance claims, traffic accidents can affect your life for months and even years after the collision, especially if you try to navigate the process alone. Experienced traffic accident lawyers can help assist and advise you as you gather the documentation to help your case, and can help determine if you are entitled to damages.
By calling Conexión Legal at 1800 201 1220 or write to us through WhatsApp as soon as possible after an accident, you can receive free legal advice, and if needed, we can connect you to a member of our network of attorneys who specialize in traffic collisions.
Before contacting Conexión Legal, ensure that you first receive immediate medical attention for any injuries suffered, and document each injury and treatment. Remember: Symptoms of injuries like concussions, whiplash and brain trauma may not show up until days, weeks or even months after they are suffered.
What do I do after an accident?
Document everything. Take note of the license plates of all the vehicles involved, and record the names and contact information of all parties involved (both drivers and passengers). Take photographs of the road, traffic conditions, signage, damage and the positioning of the cars themselves. Call the police if necessary. Receive immediate medical attention and document every medical cost.
Report the accident to your local DMV (some states require reporting only if any person incurred more than $1,000 in property damages as a result of the crash), and call your insurer. Then, call Conexión Legal as soon as possible.
What do I need a traffic accident lawyer for?
Most minor one-on-one traffic accidents can be resolved between the two parties involved and their insurance companies. However, of the over six million traffic accidents that occur in the United States every year, 72% result in property damage, and 27% result in at least a non-fatality injury.
When property damage or injury occurs in traffic accidents, compensation is necessary to offset the damages caused. Damages are not just limited to the cost of repairing or replacing property. They can include payment of lost wages as a result of the accident or injuries suffered as a result of the accident. They can also include special medical care, physical therapy, specialized care for life (in case of disability), surgeries, hospitalization, compensation for pain and suffering and, of course, auto repair.
Remember: An experienced traffic attorney has handled cases similar to yours, and will be able to guide you through an often confusing process.
Many states have a statute of limitations when it comes to filing personal injury lawsuits — two years in California, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and three in New York — so having an attorney experienced in your state is key to making sure you file on time.
- Injuries or death
In the case of injuries, a traffic accident attorney can help analyze medical records to determine the degree of injury, which will be key to making a legal claim. In addition to civil action, fatal car accidents may also involve criminal proceedings. Having an attorney leading up to and during such proceedings is crucial.
- Determining culpability
In order to find other drivers liable, you must first determine and prove that they were actually at fault. Determining who is at fault for a traffic accident can be a fraught and complicated process given the money involved, and requires documentation and evidence, which includes police reports and witness statements.
Determining fault is made even more complicated when there are more than two parties involved. Other drivers may not be insured, may want to blame the victim(s), may refuse to acknowledge physical or psychological injuries, or, together with their insurer, might try to show that there is no clear at-fault party. A traffic accident attorney will know and understand the rules that determine culpability, and will be able to assist in recovering the maximum amount of damages.
- Other Factors
An experienced traffic accident lawyer can help navigate these and other factors, including drugs, alcohol and other impairments.
One such factor is distracted driving, the cause of 8.7% of all traffic fatalities in the United States in 2019. Eating, talking on a cell phone, applying makeup, texting or talking to passengers while at the wheel all constitute distracted driving, because they take the driver’s attention off the road.
Fatigue and micro-sleep — the phenomenon where a driver can doze off for less than 30 seconds without even being aware of the episode — can also factor into car accidents, particularly involving long-haul truck drivers.
By calling Conexión Legal at 1-800-201-1220 or writing to us through WhatsApp as soon as possible, you can receive free legal advice on your case. If needed, we can connect you to a member of our network of attorneys who specialize in traffic collisions. Schedule your free consultation below.
El equipo de redactores de Conexion Legal está compuesto por un grupo de abogados especialistas en casos de accidentes de tránsito, laborales e inmigración para latinos. Cada miembro del equipo cuenta con amplia experiencia en su área de especialización, y todos ellos están comprometidos en ofrecer la mejor información y asesoramiento legal a la comunidad latina.
