Car Accidents
An Overview on Car Accidents in the U.S.
Car accidents can be extremely devastating for the victims involved. With the possibility of severe injuries and damages that a person may incur, the chances of recovery may also seem so impossible.
In the United States, car accident occurrences have already reached an annual number of more than six million cases. On this account, approximately three million people suffered injuries – over 65% of which are permanent. More unfortunately, above 40,000 individuals die from these incidents. Yet, the statistics shows decreasing rate these past years.
Major Causes
Generally, accidents involving car and other types of motor vehicles happen for these reasons:
- Driving above and beyond the speed limits
- Excessive intake of alcohol and other illegal substances that affects a driver’s capacity to handle his car competently
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Driver’s failure to abide by the traffic rules and regulations
- Driver distractions such as improper use of cell phones, excessive conversations with the other passengers, among others
- Poor visibility due to bad weather conditions
- Road defects
- Defective car manufacturing
Legal Issues behind Car Accidents
Anyone who has suffered losses and damages from a car crash may always look on the legal remedies available for them. In fact, majority of the injured victims result in consulting a car accident lawyer to guide and represent them in whatever legal action they may pursue under the limits of the applicable laws.
In a personal injury or wrongful death claim associated with car accidents, a plaintiff may recover Economic and/or Non-economic damages from the responsible parties to cover the following effects:
Economic Damages
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Loss of wages
- Damage to properties
- Burial cost (in case of death)
Non-economic Damages
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental distress
- Loss of comfort
- Loss of companionship
In some cases, the liable parties may also be compelled to pay for the plaintiff’s attorney.
On the other hand, before an injured victim may obtain these possible remunerations, he must be able to prove elements of his case. Here, an assistance of a credible legal advocate is vital to establish the following:
- The defendant has been negligent and careless in any manner
- Such imprudent behavior or traffic violation was the “proximate cause” of the accident
- The extent of losses and damages that the plaintiff has suffered
- The plaintiff has not performed any contributory factor to the accident