Reasons Why Car Accidents Take Place

We all take a chance each time we get behind the wheel. No matter how defensively you drive, dangerous drivers surround you every day. There’s no way of predicting another driver’s actions or behavior. When a distracted, drunk, or angry driver crashes into you, causing you serious harm, you deserve justice. You may want to consider contacting a car accident attorney to discuss pursuing a claim.

Types of Dangerous Drivers

Dangerous drivers are everywhere. While we all try to avoid them, sometimes there is simply no time to get out of their way. A driver can crash into you for a variety of reasons that involve negligence. The following are just a few of the more common causes of car accidents:

Distracted Driving – According to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), distracted driving kills approximately nine people each day in the United States. More than 1,000 people receive serious injuries daily in crashes involving distracted drivers.

The CDC cites three main types of driver distractions that occur behind the wheel: visual, manual, and cognitive. Anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off driving is generally considered distracted driving.

The CDC reports that sending or reading a text while traveling at 55 mph takes approximately 5 seconds—long enough to cover the length of a football field in a car. Programming a navigational device, reaching for objects, or driving while upset are also all examples of distracted driving. By not focusing on the road, distracted drivers take chances with everyone else’s personal safety. Holding them accountable for your serious injuries by filing a personal injury claim is your right under Texas law.

Driving under the influence (DUI) – Despite years of public service campaigns, people still choose to drive while inebriated. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found through surveys that 43 percent of drivers believe drunk driving is a bigger problem today than it was three years ago.

Underage drivers are of special concern on our nation’s highways and city streets. The statistics are alarming. Sixty percent of teen deaths in car accidents involve alcohol. And in a national survey, 24 percent of teens admitted to riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. Peer pressure and social acceptance are two factors that contribute to these statistics. Combined with driver inexperience, teen drinking is a serious problem and a threat to everyone’s personal safety.

Road Rage—Aggressive driving can quickly escalate into road rage as tempers flare over someone’s careless driving. Examples of aggressive driving and road rage include running red lights, tailgating, and throwing objects at other vehicles.

All drivers have a responsibility to share the road. Passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and large trucks must travel in a responsible manner that protects everyone around them from harm. If you’ve been seriously injured by a negligent driver, a personal injury attorney may help you.

Discussing your case with an attorney will help you learn your options. By gathering evidence, including witness contact information, accident scene photos, and police reports, you can present your case to an attorney to review. While you may have a lot on your mind during this difficult time, don’t delay in giving careful consideration to contacting a personal injury attorney.

Types of Serious Car Accident Injuries

A serious crash can greatly impact how you function on a daily basis. For some, the results are so devastating that a full recovery isn’t possible. Here are just two examples of how a car accident caused by a negligent driver can change your life forever:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – The CDC defines a TBI as a sudden bump, blow, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts normal brain function. A severe TBI is especially concerning due to its potential impact on cognitive and motor function.

A severe TBI can also affect the victim’s ability to taste, leaving them unable to enjoy their favorite foods. A victim’s hearing, vision, and even their sense of touch can change. Behavioral issues are another change that often occurs in patients with TBIs. A victim who was once happy and easy-going may become prone to bouts of depression or anger.

Depending upon the severity of the TBI, a victim may require around-the-clock care. Therapists, personal care attendants, and/or nursing home care can cost thousands of dollars each month.

Spinal cord injuries – A spinal cord injury is often referred to as complete or incomplete. With a complete injury, the victim has no sensory or motor function below the point of injury.

Spinal cord injuries often result in some form of paralysis, frequently making a power chair necessary for mobility. To accommodate the power chair, home modifications are usually also necessary. Accessible transportation and the need to replace expensive medical equipment adds up over time.

Medical costs continue to rise and you deserve access to quality care. Pursuing civil litigation is a smart idea for protecting your future medical needs.

How a Car Accident Attorney Might Help You

Insurance companies and their aggressive representatives are looking out for the company and not you. Their goal is to settle the case quickly and for the least amount possible. It is best not to speak with them without legal representation. Should you sign and accept a settlement offer, you may forfeit the chance to pursue a civil action later should your condition worsen.

Insurance companies are too skilled at what they do to take them on alone. A personal injury attorney can handle those communications so that you can focus on healing. If a personal injury attorney cannot secure fair compensation out-of-court, they should be ready to go to trial. If you’ve been seriously injured by a careless driver, give careful consideration to contacting a personal injury attorney.

Time is of the essence so don’t delay. The statute of limitations for filing your claim starts the moment you become injured. Time passes quickly as you learn to deal with your new normal. While each case is different, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Most car accident attorneys offer free case evaluations, leaving you nothing to lose. Reviewing your evidence and interviewing witnesses takes time. The sooner a personal injury attorney reviews your case, the sooner they can get to work for you.

No one should pay out-of-pocket expenses because of someone else’s careless actions. Discussing your case with a personal injury attorney can help you assess your options for moving forward. Don’t let another person’s reckless actions go without holding them accountable. By pursuing justice, you might just prevent the same type of accident from happening to someone else.