When a negligent person causes an accident, it can put your life on hold. If you’ve been in an accident, you may be dealing with significant injuries and damages. Balancing your recovery with paying medical bills, missing work, and filing a claim is a lot for one person to deal with. Victims of negligence need trustworthy representation so they get the compensation they deserve. That’s where our Fayetteville car accident lawyer can help.
McMath Woods P.A. is proud to provide excellent legal services to those who were wrongfully injured. We understand how uncertain this time can be and we’ll do everything we can do give you peace of mind. When our lawyers represent you, you’ll know you have professionals on your side who will fight for your rights.
When you’re filing a claim, it’s imperative to have as many details as possible. You’ll want to know what happened and why. Let’s take a look at what can cause auto collisions.
Fayetteville Car Accident Statistics
Fayetteville has had its fair share of car crashes. In the 2018 Annual Traffic Report, the Fayetteville Police Department reported 301 injury collisions and 4 fatal collisions. While the fatal crashes decreased by 33.33% from 2017, injury wrecks increased at 48.28%.
There are many reasons why these accidents may happen. Auto wrecks can occur when negligent drivers:
Speed
Speeding accounted for 1,197 traffic violation citations in 2018. Unfortunately, when people are in a rush, they may try to make up the time while driving. They’re more focused on getting to their destination as quickly as possible than driving safely. Speeding reduces a driver’s control of the vehicle. If they need to avoid another vehicle or debris in the road, the sudden motion could make the driver lose control and crash into another vehicle or run off the road.
Speeding accounted for 1,197 traffic violation citations in 2018. Unfortunately, when people are in a rush, they may try to make up the time while driving. They’re more focused on getting to their destination as quickly as possible than driving safely. Speeding reduces a driver’s control of the vehicle. If they need to avoid another vehicle or debris in the road, the sudden motion could make the driver lose control and crash into another vehicle or run off the road.
Drive Distracted
Nearly everyone has a smartphone. These devices are major distractions in the car. If a driver is more concerned about texting, checking notifications, or changing the song they’re listening to, their eyes are off the road, at least one hand is off the wheel, and they’re not thinking about driving. Distracted drivers may look up and try to brake at the last second but not have enough time or they may crash without looking up at all.
Drive Intoxicated
Responsible drivers know if they’ve been drinking, they need to get a ride home with a sober driver, whether it’s a friend or a car service. But some drivers make the decision to get behind the wheel when they’re inebriated. In 2018, the police issued 670 violations to drivers who were intoxicated. A drunk driver cannot process information or react quickly. They may swerve out of their lane and into another vehicle or collide with a fixed object off the road.
Ignore Weather Conditions
Drivers should adjust to weather conditions. For example, if it’s raining heavily and a driver cannot see out of their windshield, they should safely pull off to the side of the road and wait for the rain to pass. Slick, wet roads put cars at risk of hydroplaning and braking may be more difficult.
There are so many factors that can cause a car wreck. It takes an expert eye to look over police reports and investigate the scene to figure out what happened. Our attorneys have years of experience putting together claims with strong evidence.
How A Skilled Attorney Can Help You
Our lawyers know how overwhelming this time can be for any accident victim. You should be able to focus on your treatment and getting better, but that’s difficult to do when you’re worrying about how you’re going to afford treatment and still stay on top of your other financial responsibilities. You may think a complicated legal claim is the last item you’d want to add to your list. But you don’t have to handle a claim on your own.
Our lawyers serve those in Fayetteville and throughout Arkansas. We will look into what the accident cost you. This includes your medical expenses, including care for treatment you’ll need, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. We’ll make sure that your settlement reflects what you’ve been through and we’ll be with you every step of the way.
Some may feel intimidated at a lengthy legal process and this may lead to agreeing with the first offer the insurance company proposes. However, the insurance company is working in their best interests, not yours. Their settlement offer could be significantly lower than what you deserve, which can lead to trouble when you’re trying to pay back your expenses. Let’s take a closer look at the damages a car wreck can cause.
The Costs of an Auto Collision
After a car accident, your various forms of medical treatment can make your medical expenses pile up. You may:
- Stay in a hospital
- Undergo tests or procedures
- Require medication
- Require future rehabilitation
- Require medical equipment
- Need long-term care
However, these numerous possibilities only apply to the physical aspect of the wreck. Car accident recovery can be a long road that entails more than healing a physical injury. You may also be dealing with psychological injuries, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Seeing a psychologist or getting some form of therapy may be the way you take care of your mental health as well.
If someone feels that they have to choose between physical and mental care, they may pick physical. But you shouldn’t have to choose between your injuries. You deserve to be able to get the full care you need.
What Are the Different Types of Auto Collisions?
When your car accident lawyer is looking into the negligent actions that led to your injuries, we’re also going to see what kind of accident you were involved in. This can provide more information about how the other party acted negligently and the severity of your injuries.
While there are different types of accidents, there are a few common ones our attorneys have seen. You may have been involved in one of the following:
- Head-On Collision. This occurs when the front of both vehicles collide. These accidents can arise when someone is driving the wrong way on the highway, veers out of their lane and into oncoming traffic, or incorrectly drives down a one-way lane. At high speeds, these accidents can be fatal or cause debilitating injuries.
- Sideswipe. Two cars traveling next to each other can collide if one of the drivers goes out of their lane and gets too close to the vehicle beside them. The sideswipe can also cause both drivers to try to correct their steering and get out of the way. If they’re already moving at high speeds, an overcorrection can cause loss of vehicle control.
- Broadside. This is also known as a “T-bone” collision. A car makes impact with the side of a vehicle. Typical areas for this to happen include intersections, especially left-turns. The person making the turn may not see oncoming traffic and vice versa.
- Rear-End Collision. When someone is following too closely, speeding, or looking at something else other than the car in front of them, they can easily hit the back of the vehicle. Rear-end collisions are common at stop signs, red lights, traffic, and can even cause chain reaction accidents if there is a long line of cars. Rear-end collisions are also likely to result in whiplash injuries, which can cause pain in the head, neck, and shoulders.
- Backover Collisions. When cars are backing out of parking spaces or driveways, they need to look before they move and need to move slowly in case another vehicle or person goes behind them. If a person doesn’t check their mirrors, blind spots, or assumes they have a clear lane, they can strike the vehicle or person behind them and cause injuries.
If none of these sound familiar, you should still reach out to our Fayetteville car accident lawyers. We’ll find out the details surrounding the crash and help you get the justice you deserve.
What Should You Do After a Car Wreck?
Your actions after a collision can help you protect both your health and your future. While you will likely feel shaken, it’s important to remain calm and do what you can. This following list can help you get the help you need and record evidence from the scene.
- Check for Injuries. Before moving, assess if you have an injuries. If you are able to move, you should do so to get out of the road and away from the car. If there are others, you can assist them as well. However, if you cannot move, it’s important to stay still so you do not injure yourself further.
- Call for Help. Call for emergency responders so you can get medical professionals and police on the scene. If you’re unable to call, tell someone to call for you. Remember that many cell phones have voice activation, so if you cannot reach your phone, you may be able to tell it to call for help.
- Allow Emergency Responders to Help You. When medical professionals arrive, allow them to provide first aid and assess your injuries. If there are signs of something serious, they can assist you with getting the help you need.
- Speak with Police. If you’re able, you can give your statement to police. Tell them exactly what you remember about the accident. The details will be fresh in your mind. Your lawyer can use this report to help fight for you.
- Exchange Information. You should exchange information with the other person involved in the accident. Get their name, contact information, and you’re also going to need information about their car insurance and vehicle. Their insurance company, policy number, their make, model, driver’s license and license plate number are also important for your case.
- Take Photographs. Evidence from the scene can provide more information for your claim. Taking photographs of the scene, close-ups of damage, the road conditions, and weather conditions are all helpful for your attorney.
- Speak with Witnesses. Someone may have seen the accident happen. If an eyewitness is willing to provide their name and contact information, make a note of that as this may help you in the future.
After you’ve done what you can at the accident scene, you need to prioritize your health first. See a doctor as soon as possible, even if you think you’re uninjured. The shock of an accident can mask painful symptoms, so you may feel like you’re fine when you’re not.
Your doctor will evaluate how you were hurt and begin treating you. The sooner you begin to treat these injuries, the sooner you can recover. Allowing injuries to go untreated can result in them worsening and lengthening your recovery time. If you wait until your injuries worsen, you may not be able to recover compensation for these injures because you didn’t take care of them sooner.
Your Fayetteville car accident lawyer will use the evidence from your medical records to show that you needed to seek treatment for your injuries. We’ll fight for your compensation to reflect the injuries and costs you’ve suffered.
Contact a lawyer at McMath Woods P.A. so you can start pursuing justice. While you do have time to do this, you may have expenses and other bills piling up. When you get in touch with a law firm, you begin the process of putting this matter behind you.
How Long Will It Take to Resolve Your Case?
Many people often wonder how long it will take to resolve their case. Everyone’s claim will be a unique situation with its own set of details and circumstances that your lawyer will investigate and consider.
If your injuries were catastrophic and you will need extensive treatment, this may affect how long it takes to reach a resolution. The other party’s involvement, or if there were multiple parties involved in the accident, can also affect the time, too.
The other party may try to say they did not act negligently or you may not be offered a fair settlement. Your car accident attorney will help you go through the process so you’re getting full and fair compensation for your damages.
If your lawyer needs to fight for you in the courtroom, we’re ready to do so. McMath Woods P.A. has years of experience representing clients in court in Arkansas. We’ll present the facts of your case and give you the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
You should be wary of lawyers who guarantee compensation before even speaking with you. If you are in a meeting with a lawyer and they promise you quick results before hearing your case, you may want to consider seeking representation elsewhere.
Reach Out to Our Firm Today
McMath Woods P.A. is passionate about representing those who sustained injuries because of someone else’s negligence. We’ll make sure your voice is heard and we’ll fight for you to get justice. To get started on your legal journey, reach out to our office today.
When you schedule a free consultation, one of our dedicated car accident lawyers will review your case and explain your options. We’re prepared to answer your questions and help you protect your best interests.
