The number of vehicles and drivers on the roads is increasing day by day. That also carries an increased risk of car accidents. Have you had a traffic accident? Want to make up for your damage and not know what to do? We are here to answer some of the most common questions people ask in these situations. Therefore, how the car accident settlement process works in 2024 – find out in the text before you.
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Car Accidents And Traffic Security Parameters
Car accidents represent the unintended consequences of traffic. Although they mostly affect participants – they also have a major negative impact with many other social aspects. Some of them are health, economic and humane aspects. The number of car accidents that occur in a particular period – form a picture of the traffic safety situation in an area. Many other indicators are also included in the analysis of the traffic safety situation.
However, the number and consequences of car accidents are most often used to show the traffic safety situation in an area. Most people also face high costs or attempt to recover damages resulting from a car accident.
What If A Car Accident Occurs? Legal And Moral Obligations
The fact is, we should do everything possible to prevent a traffic accident. However, if a traffic accident occurs – we should do everything we can to reduce the consequences – and do what we can to help save the victims. This is a significant role for every traffic participant when and if an accident occurs.
Certainly, the Law regulates the legal obligations of participants in traffic, whether they are direct participants or persons who have just found themselves on the scene of a traffic accident. On the other hand, in addition to legal obligations, there are moral duties.
Moral values cannot be imposed – but they can be encouraged and nurtured in humans. Ethical behaviour in traffic is especially important when accidents occur, and when the life of the injured person may depend on another participant in an accident or assistance to the injured person.
Car Accident Injury Compensation
The statistics available to the public indicate that annually more than 6 million traffic accidents occur in the United States annually. Florida is no exception, so the average number of accidents annually is more than 400,000. The largest share is caused by traffic accidents caused by the collision of two cars. In such damaging events, persons may suffer material and non-pecuniary damage.
However, it is often the case that after they have suffered damage, citizens do not know to whom to turn for compensation, what are the conditions for it, and what kind of procedure they can expect. Material damage means damage to the vehicle, as well as the cost of treatment for injuries sustained or lost earnings – that is, earnings that a person misses during treatment.
On the other hand, there is non-pecuniary damage that includes physical pain, fear as well as mental pain due to physical impairment, or influence on general life activity, etc.
How To Obtain Your Legal Rights In Car Accident Settlement?
To obtain your rights in car accidents and have legal treatment for collecting damage payment – you cannot enter this procedure alone. It is quite certain that you need legal assistance.
What is of great help at the outset is the fact that some specialized websites can help you understand this legal matter – as well as selecting law firms whose specialities are car accident settlements. This way, you can be sure that you will have free legal advice and, of course, professional legal assistance if you need one.
Injured Driver’s Rights
If you are injured as a driver in a car – it is necessary to determine the fault of the driver of the other vehicle for obtaining compensation for the damage suffered. To know which insurance company to contact – first, you have to wait for the outcome of criminal or misdemeanour proceedings against that person.
However, the fact that such a procedure has not been completed does not prevent you from initiating civil proceedings – during which misdemeanour or criminal proceedings will probably be terminated.
Injured Passenger/Pedestrian Rights
The fault of the person who caused the accident – is completely irrelevant for a third party who has suffered that accident. The passenger or pedestrian, who has suffered the injuries is not obliged to wait for the completion of criminal or misdemeanour proceedings.
These people can compensate for the damage right away. For example, if two cars were involved in an accident – the passenger or pedestrian can compensate for the damage suffered. It will be done by the insurance company in which either of the two cars is insured against auto liability.
If one of them is subsequently found guilty, then the insurance can be regressed against each other – but this does not affect the rights of the passengers or pedestrians, nor is it important for them.
Reporting Damage
After a car accident, in case of major damage or if there are injured persons – you are obliged to call the police. Then you file a claim against the insurance company of the car that caused you damage. It is important to emphasize the fact that insurance companies have expert services involved in estimating the material damage. They will evaluate the possibility of certain injuries resulting from damage to a car.
For example, if a car is struck from the side – there is practically a very low chance that a person can injure the neck, etc. Therefore, it is advisable to address an insurance company to resolve a claim during the out-of-court procedure – and try to avoid unnecessary litigation costs.
Litigation
In case the insurance company rejects your claim or partially recognizes it – you can initiate litigation procedure. You may initiate and conduct out-of-court and court proceedings yourself – but it is certainly advisable to hire a lawyer. It is mostly because of the complexity of the matter – so you can be able to fully compensate for the damage suffered. It is best to immediately contact a lawyer who specializes in car settlements for any issues related to this topic.