Auto Accident Legal Matters Contact an experienced attorney immediately If you've suffered injuries in a car crash Your attorney can explain your rights and assist you receive the compensation you need All drivers are responsible for adhering to traffic laws They can be held accountable if they do not abide by this obligation and cause harm Damages In general, there are two different kinds of damages that could result from an automobile accident The first, referred to as special damages, have a specific dollar value that is easy to determine Special damages are medical bills, lost wages and repairs to vehicles The second type of damages, also known as non-economic damages is more difficult to quantify These include things like pain and suffering In order to be eligible for compensation for non-economic losses it is essential to be able to show that the injuries suffered were severe enough to merit the award This is a difficult task and the injured person must be represented by an attorney Loss of enjoyment is among the most commonly reported non-economic losses It is usually a monetary sum that reflects the lower quality of life experienced as a result of injuries resulting from accidents This can include the inability of the victim to participate in activities that were once enjoyable, such as driving In some cases victims could be capable of suing for punitive damage This kind of damages are designed to punish the defendant for a particularly egregious act and to deter other people from doing the same in the future Punitive damages may not be available in all instances A successful claim will require strong evidence that the defendant's actions were carried out with conscious disregard for the safety of others Liability If you're injured in an accident in a car the person or entity responsible for your injuries will be held accountable to compensate you This includes reimbursement for medical expenses as well as property damage, lost income, and non-economic damages such as discomfort and pain In the majority of cases, the driver that caused the crash will be accountable However, it is not unusual for two drivers to share some blame Certain states have laws that are called comparative negligence a jury determines the respective percentages of each driver and adjusts the amount of damage accordingly It is crucial that you show to the satisfaction an insurance company or judge and jury what occurred This is known as the burden of proof The plaintiff bears the burden of proof You must prove to prove that your accident occurred A government entity can also be held accountable for an accident This can be the case when a road is not maintained or constructed properly, and this contributes towards an accident These claims are also called roadway defect cases These types of claims may also be brought by manufacturers They could be held accountable for the defects in cars, like brakes, tires and mechanical failure At- https//vimeocom/707186634 will usually determine who caused an incident by analyzing the scene and interviewing witnesses They may write an accusation if they believe a driver violated traffic laws Insurance companies can also use police reports to determine fault After an accident, it's normal for drivers to glare at each other However, this can be harmful In addition to giving the driver a negative impression it could result in an admission of guilt that could be used against you in court Most car accidents can involve two or more persons with varying degrees of responsibility The majority of states have modified comparative fault rules that allow claimants to recover damages that are less than their percentage of blame A traffic citation could be used by an insurance adjuster to increase the percentage claimant blame in an accident This could reduce the amount of compensation for injuries The fact that a person is mentioned in a vehicle accident could be evidence that they were responsible for the crash It is not any guarantee that a personal injury lawsuit will be successful Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may require other types of evidence to show that the negligence of another driver caused you harm Witness testimony, evidence at the accident scene and medical records to show your injuries Police reports When law enforcement officers visit the scene of a car accident they will complete an official police report The reports will contain both facts and opinions gathered by officers who were on the scene at the time of the crash This is a crucial document to be used in any auto accident claim Insurance companies also will review the report to determine fault and compensation According to the jurisdiction, police reports can or may not be considered admissible to court The police report may contain statements from people who aren't certified as witnesses For these statements to be considered as evidence in a legal case they must fall under one of the exceptions to hearsay law A typical report from a police officer contains information about the driver, vehicles and victims involved in the accident as well as the details of what happened and any evidence discovered on the scene A majority of police reports contain an officer's opinion on the reason for the crash and who's at fault Even if you don't feel injured, it is still in your best interests to file a police accident report, even if the accident seems to be minor Some injuries don't show up in a hurry and having a thorough record can make a big difference in helping you get the amount you are due for medical expenses