Car Accident Attorneys

Automobile accident personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death actions are the most common type of court case in the U.S. Car accidents probably account for more deaths each year than any other type of motor vehicle accident, and they cost individuals and insurance companies more than $164 billion in losses annually. Even non-fatal crashes yield hospital expenses, loss of work, diminished quality of life, and loss of property.

When an auto accident occurs, a thorough investigation and evaluation of its cause(s)–conducted by a personal injury attorney with direct experience handling motor vehicle accidents and car accident injuries–is always the best way to proceed. To find an experienced car injury lawyer in your area, contact the law offices of The Roller Law Group. Our personal injury lawyers and auto accident attorneys have handled hundreds of auto injury lawsuit claims nationwide and helped car injury victims recover damages and receive full, fair compensation for their losses.

What You Need to Know About Auto Accident Personal Injury Claims

Each year more than 6 million traffic accidents involving cars occur in the United States, ranging from mild fender benders without injures to fatal wrecks. A person is injured in an auto accident every 14 seconds; and someone dies in a car accident every 12 minutes. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of two and 34, and approximately two million of the people who are injured in an automobile accident each year are left with permanent injuries. In fact, car accidents are the leading cause of acquired disability nationwide.

How an Auto Accident Lawyer Can Help You

An experienced car injury lawyer will tell you that most motor vehicle accidents entail some element of negligence–ranging from driving while distracted to excessive speed, driving inappropriately for weather conditions, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and traffic law violations. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 37,261 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2008 (latest figures available), including an estimated 11,773 people who died in alcohol-impaired driving accidents. Drunk driving fatalities accounted for 32 percent of all traffic deaths, and an alcohol-impaired driving crash killed someone about every 45 minutes.

The majority of automobile accident litigation involves at least two vehicles, with a driver or passenger from the first vehicle claiming that the driver of the second vehicle caused the accident through some kind of negligence or dangerous and possibly unlawful behavior. Sometimes a car injury claim will involve the driver and passenger of a single vehicle, with the passenger claiming injury caused by the driver’s actions. Car accident litigation also may involve a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the car or part of the vehicle. The basis for these suits is an allegation that some kind of design or manufacturing defect contributed to the accident or the extent of a person’s injuries. Claims also may be brought against a mechanic or service center whose work left a vehicle in a hazardous condition. In addition, lawsuits can be brought against governmental agencies for failure to properly design or maintain a roadway, intersection, or traffic controls and signage.

Why You Need an Experienced Auto Injury Attorney

Auto accidents are the number one source of personal injury claims in the United States. In most auto accident cases, the parties involved immediately inform their insurance companies about the incident. Often while victims of the accident are still receiving initial medical treatment, those insurance companies launch investigations to determine who was at fault and the extent of their liability. Every insurance company has a team of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys at the ready whose primary responsibility is to find a way to limit the liability of the insurance carrier and minimize the amount of money paid to injured parties.

In many states, auto accident victims who have suffered personal injury may be entitled to recover damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, permanent disfigurement, dismemberment, wrongful death, scarring, loss of opportunity to enjoy life, interference with marital and/or parental relationships, and other types of general damage. Many states also allow for recovery of “special” damages–present, and future medical bills, wage loss, loss of earnings potential, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Some states require the payment of certain “no-fault” benefits following a traffic accident. In general, no-fault insurance laws prevent the filing of personal injury claims and lawsuits from trivial accidents. While this type of benefit usually guarantees immediate insurance payment for medical bills and lost wages, many other expenses are not covered or covered only partially.

As a rule, if there are injuries or if damage to the vehicles exceeds a certain amount (usually $200-$500, depending on the state), the parties involved in an automobile accident must file a police report in addition to informing their insurance companies. Some states also require drivers to file a report with the Department of Motor Vehicles. If someone is severely injured or killed, or if one or both drivers were intoxicated at the time of the accident, the state is likely to prosecute the person at fault. In these types of prosecutions, the court usually determines the amount awarded to an accident victim for extensive personal injuries, medical bills, and loss of property.

Finally, anyone considering a legal claim resulting from a car accident also should be aware that, after an accident occurs, there is a limited period of time in which a personal injury lawsuit may be filed. The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits varies from one to six years, depending on the state or jurisdiction in which the accident occurred.

Given the complexity of the legal issues involved in car accidents and auto accident injuries, hiring a skilled car injury attorney to investigate, litigate, negotiate, and resolve automobile accident claims is especially critical. If you have been involved in a car crash or received an auto accident-related injury, use the convenient form on this Web site to contact the personal injury attorneys at The Roller Law Group and receive a free, confidential evaluation of your case and your eligibility for compensation.

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