Eden Prairie Auto Accident Law Firm Accident Legal Matters

Contact an experienced attorney immediately if you have been injured in a car crash. Your lawyer can assist you learn about your rights and help you get the compensation that you deserve.

All drivers are obliged to obey traffic laws. If they violate that duty and cause injury, they can be held responsible.

Damages

Generally speaking there are two kinds of damages that may result from a car accident. The first, known as special damages, have a clear dollar value that is easy to determine. Special damages include medical expenses as well as lost wages and repairs to vehicles. The second type of damage, referred to as non-economic damages, are more difficult to quantify. They include things like pain and suffering.

To receive compensation for noneconomic losses you must establish that your injuries were severe enough to warrant such an award. This is a challenging task and the person who was injured should be represented by an attorney.

One of the most frequent kinds of non-economic damage is the loss of enjoyment of life. This is usually a monetary amount that indicates a decreased quality of living because of injuries resulting from accidents. This can include the inability of the victim to perform activities that were once enjoyable, such as driving.

In some cases victims may be able to sue for punitive damage. This type of damage is designed to punish the defendant for an egregious violation and to deter other people from doing the same in the future. Damages for punitive intent may not be available in all instances. A successful claim requires evidence that the defendant acted with conscious disregard for others' safety.

Liability

When you are injured in an accident in a car and are injured, the person or company responsible for the injuries you sustained will be responsible to pay you compensation. This includes money for medical expenses as well as property damage, loss of income, as well as other injuries like suffering and pain. In most cases, the driver that caused a accident will be responsible. However, it's not uncommon for the two drivers to share some responsibility. Certain states follow what's called comparative negligence laws. In these, the jury will decide the percentage of fault each driver is responsible for and adjust the damage award according to that.

It is crucial that you can demonstrate to the satisfaction an insurance company or jury or judge what took place. This is referred to as the burden of proof. The plaintiff has the burden of proof. You must present evidence to prove that your accident occurred.

A government entity can also be held accountable for an accident. It can happen when a roadway is poorly designed or maintained and this results in an accident. These types of claims are also known as road defect cases. These types of claims can also be brought by manufacturers. They may be responsible for car defects such as brakes, tires and mechanical failure.

At-fault driver citations

An officer can often determine the cause of an incident by analyzing the scene and interviewing witnesses. They might issue a ticket if they think a driver violated traffic laws. Insurance companies also examine police reports to help identify the source of the fault.

Following an accident, it is normal for drivers to point fingers at each other. But, this can be harmful. This could not only give the other driver a negative impression, but it could also cause you to admit guilt in court.

In most car accidents, there are two or more people who share a percentage of blame. A majority of states have modified comparative-fault rules that allow claimants to recover damages less their percentage of fault. A traffic ticket can be used by an insurance adjuster to increase the percentage claimant responsible for an accident. This can reduce the chance of recovering compensation for injuries.

The fact that someone is cited in a car crash could be a strong proof that they were the cause of the crash. It is not a guarantee that a personal-injury case will be successful. Depending on the situation the other evidence may be required to establish that the other driver was negligent and injured you. Witness testimony, evidence from the scene of the accident, and medical documents to show your injuries.

Police reports

When law enforcement personnel attend the scene of a car crash they will fill out an official police report. The reports contain both the facts and opinions that were taken note of by the officers who were on the scene at the time the incident occurred. This is a crucial document for any north logan auto accident lawyer accident claim. Insurance companies will study the report in order to determine fault and compensation for the injured parties.

Depending on the area of jurisdiction, police reports can be admissible in court or not. The main reason is because the police report includes statements made by individuals who are not sworn witnesses in court. These statements have to fall under an exception to the hearsay law to be admissible as evidence.

A typical police report contains information regarding the driver, the vehicles and the victims who were involved in the crash, as well as an account of the incident and any evidence discovered at the scene. A majority of police reports contain an officer's view on the reason for the accident and who is at fault.

Even if you're not injured, it's in your best interests to file a police accident report even if the incident seems to be minor. Documentation is essential because there aren't all injuries evident immediately.