Car accidents can happen for various reasons, but one of the most common causes is driver negligence. Drivers are often negligent when they operate their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or while distracted. Some drivers also violate the traffic laws when they are in a hurry or just don’t feel like paying attention to posted traffic signs and regulations.
When drivers are operating their vehicles in a negligent, reckless, and careless manner, they significantly increase the chances that they will cause a collision. In some accident cases, one vehicle collides with another vehicle. However, a negligent motor vehicle operator might cause their vehicle to strike a pedestrian or cyclist at other times, resulting in severe injuries or a fatality.
If you have suffered injuries in a car accident, you must seek prompt medical treatment as soon as possible. You should do this even if you are unsure about the extent of your injuries. Even relatively minor injuries can become much more severe over time. Therefore, you should get checked out right away at a hospital emergency room or urgent care center, preferably on the accident date.
Another critical step that you should take following your car collision is to speak with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer. Your lawyer can help you file a claim, negotiate with the insurance company, and, if necessary, file a lawsuit and begin the litigation process.
Your accident lawyer can then help you litigate your case to a conclusion and get you a result that compensates you fairly for your injuries. If the insurance company refuses to offer you fair and full compensation for your car accident injuries, your injury lawyer can take your case to trial or an alternative dispute resolution proceeding.
Types of Car Driver Negligence
Several types of driving maneuvers and actions/inactions constitute negligent driving. In a motor vehicle crash, negligence essentially means operating a vehicle carelessly under the circumstances. Three of the most common causes of traffic accidents include intoxicated driving, violating traffic regulations, and engaging in distracted driving.
Intoxicated Vehicle Operation – One of the most common ways that negligent drivers cause accidents is by operating their vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When a driver has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher, they are per se intoxicated. However, even if they have a lower BAC, they may still engage in impaired driving. Under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act, there are administrative sanctions for drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between .05% (50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood) and .079% (or 79 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood).
Substances like alcohol can impact a driver’s ability to operate their vehicle safely. It can slow down the central nervous system’s ability to function, resulting in delayed reaction time. A driver who is under the influence might also experience physical symptoms, such as blurred vision, which may prevent them from driving carefully. Drivers under the influence of illegal drugs or even prescription drugs might experience side effects that prevent them from operating their vehicle safely, resulting in a collision.
Violating Traffic Regulations – Traffic regulations are on the books to keep drivers and passengers safe. When motor vehicle operators violate these regulations, they can bring about a severe traffic accident that leads to injuries. Some of the most common road rule violations include failing to use turn signals, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating vehicles, and failing to yield the right of way at the appropriate time.
For example, a driver might try to beat a red light and speed through a traffic intersection, striking an oncoming vehicle broadside. In addition to being subject to criminal penalties, a driver who breaks the law can also be civilly liable if they cause an accident that leads to injuries.
Distracted Driving – One final common cause of car accidents is distracted motor vehicle operation. Drivers engage in distracted driving when something in a vehicle diverts their attention away from the roadway. For example, a distracted driver might be trying to send a text message or make a phone call on a smartphone without using a hands-free Bluetooth option.
A distracted driver might turn their head to discipline children sitting in the backseat roughhousing. Loud music playing in the vehicle can also distract certain drivers. When a driver diverts their attention away from the roadway, they may not see an approaching vehicle or pedestrian, negligently causing their vehicle to collide with the vehicle/pedestrian and causing severe injuries.
If you have suffered injuries because of driver negligence, a knowledgeable car accident lawyer can be an invaluable asset.
Your injury lawyer can investigate how your car accident happened and explain your legal options for moving forward. If liability is clear, your lawyer can file a claim on your behalf, usually with the insurance company for the at-fault driver, and pursue the compensation you deserve through settlement or litigation.
Accidents That Result From Driver Error and Negligence
Numerous types of car accidents can result from driver negligence and error. These accidents include rear-end crashes, head-on collisions, sideswipe accidents, and broadside collisions, to name a few.
A rear-end accident happens when the front of one driver’s vehicle collides with the rear of another vehicle. In some instances, the force of the collision is so strong that it creates a chain-reaction-type collision, injuring many motor vehicle operators and their passengers.
The significance of a rear-end impact can also cause an accident victim’s body to move around inside a vehicle or possibly strike something in a vehicle, such as the steering wheel, window, door frame, console, or headrest, leading to severe injuries.
A head-on collision happens when the fronts of two vehicles collide with one another. These accidents can happen on a roadway separated by a median strip or a double centerline. One driver may be intoxicated or distracted and negligently cause a vehicle to cross the median strip or centerline, crashing with an oncoming vehicle head-on. When these crashes occur at highway speed, one or both drivers can die.
Another common accident that results from driver negligence is a sideswipe accident. These accidents typically happen on multi-lane roadways where all traffic proceeds in the same direction. These collisions are common when a driver is distracted and veers off into another lane of travel, colliding with the side of another vehicle. These accidents can also happen when drivers overzealously weave in and out of traffic or fail to use turn signals.
A broadside motor vehicle accident happens when the front of a vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle that is proceeding forward on an adjacent roadway.
These accidents, which are appropriately named T-bone accidents, are common in traffic intersections where a negligent driver tries to rush through the intersection at a red or yellow traffic light. The driver may not get through the intersection in time, striking a vehicle that legally has the right-of-way and is proceeding on a green light.
The force of a broadside collision may cause the car on the receiving end to spin around or overturn in the middle of the traffic intersection, leading to severe injuries.
If you or a person you love suffered injuries in a negligent driving accident, speak with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer right away.
Your lawyer can determine if you may file a claim that seeks monetary compensation for damages. If so, your lawyer can assist you throughout the process and even litigate the case in court if that becomes necessary to get the compensation you deserve.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents happen totally out of the blue and catch the affected drivers and passengers off guard in many instances. They may not have time to prepare for or brace themselves for an accident.
The extent of an accident victim’s injuries will depend upon many different factors, including the speeds of the involved vehicles, body positioning, age, physical state and how the crash occurs. Some common car crash injuries include traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue injuries, whiplash injuries, sprains, strains, cuts, abrasions, bruises, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis injuries.
If you have suffered any of these injuries in a car crash, seek same-day medical treatment. While at the emergency facility, the healthcare provider on duty can examine you, take the necessary imaging studies (including MRIs, x-rays, and brain scans), render emergency assistance, and recommend follow-up medical treatment.
After your accident, follow through with all your healthcare provider’s treatment recommendations. Otherwise, the insurance company might assume that your injuries were not all that severe or that you did not take your medical treatment seriously following the accident. While you are treating your accident-related injuries, a knowledgeable car accident lawyer can begin advocating for you and working to pursue the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
What Damages Can I Recover From My Car Accident Case?
Car accidents that result from negligence can lead to many injuries that require hospital treatment, medical procedures (including surgeries), and physical therapy. Victims of car crashes may need to miss work to receive the treatment they need to get better. Some accident victims also suffer permanent injuries and experience symptoms for the remainder of their lives.
If you can establish the legal elements of your car accident claim, you might be eligible to pursue various damages. Potential damages in your case might include lost wage compensation, loss of earning capacity damages, compensation for inconvenience, pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of the ability to use a body part, loss of housekeeping, future care needs, special damages and loss of life enjoyment.
When it comes to pain and suffering damages, you might recover past pain and suffering, representing the time between the accident and future pain and suffering damages. In addition, if a healthcare provider has determined that you might need to undergo a future medical procedure for your injuries, you can recover those anticipated costs.
Finally, car accident victims may rarely seek punitive damages in some cases. These damages punish an at-fault driver who behaves in a particularly reckless or grievous manner.
For example, the driver who caused the accident might have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and they might have caused an accident that led to one or more fatalities. Another purpose of punitive damages is to dissuade others from engaging in similar wrongful acts as the at-fault driver.
A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can work to maximize the damages that you receive as part of your car accident claim or lawsuit.
Talk With a Skilled Car Accident Lawyer About Your Legal Matter Today
If you suffered one or more injuries in a car accident that resulted from another person’s negligence, a skilled accident and injury lawyer can work to get you the compensation that you need for all of your injuries.
A car accident lawyer can investigate your accident and determine if you can file a personal injury claim. If so, they can assist you with every step of the claim and negotiate a favorable settlement offer for you.
If the insurance company is unwilling to cooperate, we at MNH Injury Lawyers welcome the opportunity to represent you and if necessary, to litigate your case to a favorable conclusion. Our lawyers are experienced litigators who will stand up for your rights throughout the process. Contact us to begin the process.
After a car accident and injuries, you need an advocate who will fight for maximum compensation for your damages and your injuries. For a free legal consultation and case evaluation, please call a car accident lawyer today or for more information. Do not wait to begin protecting your future.
