If you’ve been in a car accident, you’re not only hurt, but you’re probably also very frustrated. You’re 100% certain the wreck was the other driver’s fault, but you don’t know where to turn. The medical bills keep pouring in, and you can’t work. How will you get the compensation you deserve for the suffering you’ve been forced to endure through no fault of your own?
Your best chance of doing that will be to speak with an expert attorney, one like you’ll find when you turn to Sand Law. Whether you’ve been hurt, or you’ve experienced the tragic loss of a loved one, we will get to work immediately in an effort to help you get what you deserve.
If you would like to schedule a free consultation, please give us a call at 651-291-7263 or contact us online.
Maplewood Car Accident Statistics
Between 2015-2019, 8 people died in accidents that occurred in Maplewood. Three of those deaths were directly attributed to drunk driving. Ramsey County as a whole has seen more than its fair share of accidents. In 2020, there were 6,293 of them, resulting in 19 deaths and 1,917 injuries.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
There are lots of different reasons that car accidents occur. In most instances, the negligence of a careless or reckless driver is to blame.
For example, a driver who is impaired due to alcohol or drug use could easily cause a devastating wrong way accident. The most common example is a head-on collision, which will almost always lead to either a severe injury or a death.
When drivers speed, the results can be just as catastrophic. They’re in such a hurry that they’re often oblivious to the danger they’re causing. As a result, they can’t react as quickly as they could if they were driving the speed limit, and can overcompensate. This, of course, will often lead to them striking another vehicle.
Distracted driving is also a huge risk. Even a momentary lack of focus can lead to horrible consequences. Texting and driving, eating, reaching for something, or even changing the radio station could lead to tragedy.
Types of Car Accidents
These and other negligent behaviors will often lead to several different types of accidents. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the more common ones that happen far too often.
- Rear-end collisions. This type of accident can often occur when someone is speeding, impaired or distracted. When a driver isn’t focused on the road ahead, they can easily slam into the back of a car that has had to stop. It could be due to traffic on a highway, or a stop sign or red light.
- Sideswipe accidents. These are common on roads that have two or more lanes. The biggest culprit is aggressive driving. When someone is so enraged behind the wheel that they can’t think straight, they might cut off another driver. They will often change lanes without bothering to use their turn signal, or not looking at their blind spot.
- T-bone accidents. This kind of accident occurs when one car slams into the side of another. The resulting “T” shape formed by the vehicles involved is how it gets its name. The most common reason is a driver running a red light or stop sign, and plowing into the other vehicle as a result.
Associated Injuries
Any car accident, or course, can lead to horrific, life-altering injuries. The following are some of the more typical ones that occur.
- Skin and muscle damage: These are more commonly referred to as “soft tissue” injuries. Broken bones can, in some instances, damage surrounding muscles or even break through the skin. Puncture wounds can also take place due to glass, metal and other objects.
- Brain injuries: A TBI (traumatic brain injury) is one of the worst types of injuries caused by a car wreck. It occurs when the head slams against a hard surface, such as a window or the pavement. The brain moves inside the skull, which can lead to tears that cause severe nerve damage. The debilitation that results can last for the rest of the victim’s life.
- Head and neck injuries: While a TBI can lead to terrible consequences, a concussion can also result in serious problems. These include a loss of consciousness, severe pain, confusion and more. These symptoms can last for months, if not longer. Neck injuries can be serious as well, leading to chronic pain as well as debilitation.
Types of Evidence Used in Car Accident Cases
In order to have the best chance of obtaining full and fair compensation, you’re going to need a great deal of strong evidence to prove you weren’t to blame for the accident. If possible, take pictures and videos of the accident scene, and get the contact information of any witnesses who may have seen what happened.
Your attorney can uncover other types of evidence as well. They may, for instance, be able to obtain footage from any nearby surveillance cameras that may have captured the accident. An attorney can also call in an expert witness to support your claim and make your case even stronger. For example, a medical expert can testify regarding the severity of your injury, and show that the accident was the cause of that injury.
How to Recover Damages After a Car Accident Injury
If you’ve suffered an injury in a car wreck, you’ve also suffered monetary losses. These are known as “damages” in legal terms. These include medical bills, wages you’ve lost from work, future lost income (if you can’t return to your job) and many others.
In order to recover those damages, however, you’re going to have to hire an attorney as soon as you can. Insurance companies protect their policies very aggressively, if you don’t have legal help, there’s no way you’ll be able to stand up to the insurer’s tactics.
How Much is the Average Car Accident Settlement?
There is no such thing as an “average” settlement. There are a lot of factors that go into determining how much you may receive. These include the severity of your injuries, the value of your damages, whether or not you played a role in causing the accident, and many others.
In most cases, however, the worse someone is hurt, the more they will receive. It only makes sense, considering their medical bills will be higher than someone who wasn’t as badly hurt. Their lost wages will also be higher.
Sand Law’s Team of Experienced Car Accident Attorneys are Here to Help You
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Sand Law as soon as possible so that we can get to work helping you obtain maximum compensation for your injury. Use our online contact form or call 651-291-7263 for a free case evaluation.