When you’ve been in a car accident, you likely need help getting the compensation you’re owed. Call a Brandon car crash lawyer for the help you need.
When you’ve been in a car wreck, you’re more than likely suffering. Whether your car was totaled or you suffered life-threatening injuries, you’re dealing with all the expenses, pain, and mental trauma that come from being seriously harmed by a negligent driver.
It’s difficult to deal with, and it’s worse when you know the other driver caused your accident. When someone else’s negligence leaves you badly injured, you deserve compensation that will help cover your costs. To get that compensation, you may need a Brandon car accident lawyer on your side.
At Lopez & Humphries, PA, we know car crash cases can be complex, especially when dealing with fault laws and insurance. If you’re struggling with your case, give us a call.
Common Contributing Factors to Auto Collisions in Brandon
Many different things could cause a vehicle wreck, but not all of them are caused by negligence. For instance, when a strong gust of wind blows your vehicle into another vehicle, this would not be considered negligence.
There are many factors that are related to someone’s negligence. Figuring out what caused your crash and who was responsible is important in the personal injury claim process. So, what could have caused your crash and how do you know if negligence was involved?
First, you must figure out the cause. Was it rain, for example, or a drunk driver? If it was a drunk driver, you can see that negligence, or downright recklessness, was involved in your case. Once you find the cause, you can usually pinpoint who or what is liable.
The following are some of the most common causes of vehicle accidents in which negligence was a contributing factor.
- Distracted Driving – Cell phone use, eating, drinking, changing the radio station, and engaging with other passengers in the car are all forms of distracted driving.
- Hazardous Roadways – Dangerous road conditions can cause accidents, such as potholes, too-steep shoulder embankments, poorly placed signs, and faded lane markings.
- Poor Mechanical Work – Errors in auto service work can cause a vehicle to malfunction while driving, which often leads to accidents.
- Intoxicated Driving – Drunk or drugged driving is dangerous and the person responsible can be held liable if they cause an accident.
- Defective Auto Parts – Vehicle parts are vital to your vehicle’s operation. When these parts are defective, accidents can ensue.
- Reckless Driving – Speeding, unsafe lane changes, tailgating, and red light running are examples of reckless driving that can cause wrecks at intersections and on highways.
Common Brandon Car Wreck Injuries
Auto accident victims commonly suffer serious injuries that can affect them for decades. These accidents often happen at high speeds, which could leave you suffering life-threatening injuries that will haunt you for a long time—if not for the rest of your life.
It’s important to consider all of the injuries you have suffered. Not only will this help you calculate the medical bills attached to the accident, but it will also help your car wreck lawyer in Brandon get an idea of what other damages you’ve suffered.
Considering your injuries and what you’ll need in order to recover from them will be a major part of determining your compensation. The following are some common car accident injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
- Crushing damage, which can lead to amputations
Insurance Laws That Can Affect Your Brandon Auto Crash Case
Your injuries will also be important in helping you determine whether you’ll be able to sue for your damages. Florida is one of a handful of states that has no-fault laws when it comes to auto insurance.
No-fault laws prevent all the fault from being put on a single person—instead, making sure that each person’s insurance company covers his or her own injuries and expenses. This is mainly meant to cut down on the number of lawsuits in the system, as well as to streamline the process for you. If you’re in a fender bender, your insurance company should cover everything.
Unfortunately, these no-fault policies are limited, and your insurance might not cover all of your expenses, let alone the intangible damages you’ve suffered. If you’ve suffered from serious injuries, call a car accident lawyer in Brandon to discuss whether you might be eligible to file a personal injury claim outside the no-fault system. Doing so could help you recover maximum compensation.
Gathering Evidence to Prove Your Brandon Auto Injury Case
After a vehicle crash, you will likely come to realize that you want to file a claim against the party that injured you. Filing claim paperwork isn’t all that’s required. You must provide evidence that proves the other party was to blame for your accident. How do you collect evidence, and what types of evidence are needed to prove your claim?
Every car crash is different and the evidence will be different in each case. For instance, if you are seriously injured in a crash that takes place at an intersection, you might have dozens of witnesses who can testify as to what happened and who was to blame for the wreck.
If you’re injured in a vehicle crash that happened late at night on a lonely road, the chances of a witness seeing what happened are slim. You would need other evidence to prove your case in that type of situation, such as photos of the crash scene.
One of your Brandon vehicle crash attorney’s duties is to assist you in investigating your car crash and collecting any available evidence to use during insurance negotiations. The following are some of the common types of evidence used in car accident cases:
- Police reports
- Crash reports or logs
- Medical evidence
- Witness statements
- Photos and video
- Physical evidence
Compensation for a Brandon Car Crash
Once you’ve determined that you’re eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit, it’s important to begin building your claim as soon as possible. One of the first steps will be determining how much your injuries and related expenses will be worth.
These will typically be sorted into economic and non-economic damages. The former basically means damages you’ve paid for financially, and the latter refers to damages that affect you mentally and emotionally.
Below are a few examples of the damages you might collect compensation for in your Brandon auto crash claim:
- Medical Expenses – When you’re injured, you’re rarely looking at one-time medical expenses. You need compensation for all of them, from your initial injuries to any future surgeries or therapy that will be necessary.
- Lost Wages – A serious injury typically leaves you unable to work for some time. Your lawyer can calculate the wages you’ve lost during your recovery to include in your claim.
- Pain and Suffering – When you suffer severe or chronic pain, it can affect your life from that point forward. When this happens, you need to be compensated for the severity of your suffering.
- Mental Trauma – Many people develop mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an accident. This will affect many aspects of your life, from your sleep patterns to your social life. If fear or trauma has affected you after a wreck, be sure to include this damage in your claim for compensation.
Talk to a Brandon Vehicle Collision Attorney
If you’re struggling in the aftermath of an auto or motorcycle accident that altered your life, you don’t have to be told how difficult it is for injury victims to recover fair compensation. The costs of the property damage alone can make life difficult, so it’s important to act as soon as possible to make sure you get the compensation you need.
When you’re dealing with a major car crash, call Lopez & Humphries, PA. Our lawyers are experienced with navigating insurance laws and what you’ll need to know when handling a wreck. Fortunately, we can help—starting with a free consultation.
To begin, reach out to a Brandon car accident lawyer. You can reach us at (863) 774-3573 or you can fill out our online contact form at the bottom of this page.