There are many types of car accidents, each one with the potential to cause severe or even fatal injuries. Thousands of people face the aftermath of car accidents every day, leaving them to deal with injuries and resulting medical bills along with lost income and other hardships.
Every car accident has a cause. It could be another driver’s carelessness or recklessness, a faulty car part, or hazardous road conditions. Whatever the case, if you weren’t mostly responsible for causing the crash and suffered injuries, you may qualify to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
Navigating the complex world of insurance claims and legal proceedings following a car wreck requires in-depth legal knowledge and experience dealing with insurance companies. You need an experienced car accident attorney on your side to help you pursue compensation. A lawyer will fight to protect your rights and maximize your financial recovery.
If you suffered injuries or losses in a car accident someone else caused, contact a car accident lawyer near you for a free consultation. They can evaluate your situation, advise you of your options, and represent you throughout the process to increase your chances of getting the full compensation you deserve.
Kinds of Car Accidents
Some common car accidents personal injury attorneys handle include:
- Rear-end collisions: Among the most common types of car accidents, they often occur when a driver is distracted or following too closely. While they might seem minor, rear-end collisions can cause serious injuries, especially whiplash.
- Head-on collisions: Among the most dangerous types of accidents, head-on collisions occur when two vehicles crash into each other front-to-front. These accidents often result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the combined force of both vehicles.
- Side-impact (T-bone) accidents: Also known as broadside collisions, these accidents happen when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another. Those sitting on the side of the car that’s hit usually suffer the most severe injuries.
- Sideswipe collisions: These occur when two parallel vehicles make contact with each other's sides. Sideswipe collisions can lead to other more severe crashes if one or both vehicles lose control and fly off the road.
- Rollover accidents: Rollovers are particularly frightening and dangerous. They can happen when a vehicle trips over an object or when a driver loses control in a turn. SUVs, trucks, and other tall vehicles are more prone to rollovers due to their higher center of gravity.
- Single-vehicle accidents: Not all accidents involve multiple cars. Single-vehicle accidents can occur when a driver loses control and hits a stationary object like a tree or guardrail. These can be just as dangerous as multi-vehicle crashes. Drivers are not always at fault in single-car accidents. Other factors can cause them, such as defective auto components or poor road conditions.
- Multi-vehicle pileups: Often occurring on highways or in bad weather conditions, multi-vehicle pileups involve three or more vehicles. These complex accidents can result in multiple injuries and fatalities, and determining fault can be challenging.
- Hit-and-run accidents: One of the most frustrating types of accidents is when the at-fault driver flees the scene. Hit-and-run accidents can leave victims feeling helpless, but it's important to know that you still have options for seeking compensation.
Car Accident Statistics
Car accidents are a leading cause of injuries and deaths throughout the country. Consider the latest crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 2022:
- 42,514 people died in traffic accidents throughout the country.
- 2.38 million people suffered injuries in car accidents in the U.S.
- Law enforcement agencies responded to 5.93 million traffic collisions nationwide.
Although each of these statistics shows a decrease in the number of car accident injuries and fatalities from previous years, they still illustrate how prevalent serious car accidents are throughout the country. In fact, traffic fatalities involving large trucks or resulting from pedestrian accidents increased from 2021 to 2022.
Serious traffic accidents are also a major concern for many states. Consider these state-specific crash statistics:
Wisconsin
- In 2022, Wisconsin saw 128,830 total crashes.
- These resulted in 547 fatalities and 25,071 injuries.
- Alcohol-related crashes accounted for 6,230 of these accidents, resulting in 155 fatalities and 3,008 injuries.
Minnesota
- Minnesota reported 70,266 total crashes in 2022.
- These crashes led to 444 fatalities and 23,704 injuries.
- There were 3,992 alcohol-related crashes in 2022, resulting in 145 fatalities.
- Distracted driving caused 22 traffic-related deaths.
North Dakota
- North Dakota reported 10,734 traffic accidents resulting in property damage, injuries, or death in 2022.
- 3,763 suffered injuries in North Dakota car accidents, and 98 died.
- Impaired drivers were involved in accidents that injured 419 people and killed 36.
- Alcohol impairment is a factor in around 38% of all North Dakota traffic accidents each year.
Iowa
- Iowa reported 52,852 total traffic accidents in 2023.
- Nearly 9,000 people sustained injuries in Iowa car crashes, with 1,389 suffering serious injuries.
- 377 people died on Iowa roads due to the catastrophic injuries they sustained in car accidents
- Alcohol impairment, distracted driving, and speeding were all major causes of car crashes throughout the state.
What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Car crashes happen for a variety of reasons, including:
- Distracted driving: With the rise of smartphones, distracted driving has become a leading cause of accidents. Texting, eating, or even adjusting the radio can take a driver’s attention off the road long enough to cause a crash.
- Speeding: Driving over the speed limit or too fast for conditions reduces reaction time and increases the severity of crashes.
- Drunk driving: Despite years of public awareness campaigns, alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a major cause of accidents and fatalities.
- Reckless driving: Behaviors like tailgating, weaving through traffic, or running red lights put everyone on the road at risk.
- Weather conditions: Rain, snow, ice, and fog can make roads treacherous and contribute to accidents.
- Poor road conditions: Potholes, missing signs, or malfunctioning traffic lights can lead to accidents.
- Vehicle defects: Sometimes, accidents are caused by mechanical failures or design flaws in vehicles.
- Fatigue: Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, impairing judgment and reaction time.
Determining Liability in Car Accident Cases
When it comes to car accident claims, your attorney needs to know the cause of the crash to determine liability. This isn’t always as straightforward as you might think. Your lawyer needs to gather and analyze a lot of evidence and information, including:
- Police reports: Officers responding to the scene will create a report that often includes their assessment of fault. While not definitive, this can be a valuable piece of evidence.
- Traffic laws: Violations of traffic laws, such as running a red light or speeding, can be strong indicators of fault.
- Eyewitness accounts: Statements from people who saw the accident can help establish what happened.
- Physical evidence: Skid marks, vehicle damage, and debris patterns can tell a story about how the accident occurred.
- Expert analysis: In complex cases, accident reconstruction experts may be called in to analyze the evidence and determine fault.
- Comparative negligence: In some cases, multiple parties may share fault. Many states use a comparative negligence system, where each party's compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault.
Remember, insurance companies will conduct their own investigations and may try to minimize their payout. That's why you must have an experienced car accident attorney on your side. They can conduct the due diligence to support your claim and establish liability while also dealing with the insurance companies and at-fault parties.
What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident
The moments following a car accident can be chaotic and confusing. However, the actions you take right after the crash can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Here's what you should do:
- Check for injuries: Your safety and health come first. Check yourself and others for injuries.
- Call 911: Even if the accident seems minor, it's important to have police document the scene.
- Move to safety: If possible, move your vehicle to the side of the road to avoid further accidents.
- Exchange information: Get the name, contact information, and insurance details of all drivers involved.
- Document the scene: Take photos of the vehicles, any visible injuries, and the surrounding area.
- Get witness information: If anyone saw the accident, get their contact information.
- Don't admit fault: Even if you think you might be responsible, avoid saying so. Let the investigation determine fault.
- Seek medical attention: Even if you feel fine, some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
- Notify your insurance company: Report the accident, but stick to the facts and don't give a recorded statement without consulting a lawyer.
- Contact a car accident attorney: Before talking to the other driver's insurance company, consult with a lawyer to protect your rights.
How Do I Obtain Compensation After a Car Accident?
Securing fair compensation requires the skills and knowledge of a seasoned personal injury lawyer. An attorney will have the necessary resources to handle your case effectively along with insight into how to handle your case to get the best possible results. A lawyer can:
- File an insurance claim for you correctly and within any legal deadlines.
- Collect all relevant documentation, including medical records, repair estimates, and proof of lost wages.
- Calculate damages and determine the full extent of your losses. This includes future medical expenses and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
- Handle communications with insurance companies and negotiate with them to secure a fair settlement.
- If negotiations stall, a lawyer can file a lawsuit for you and represent you in court. They can also represent you in any pre-trial mediation.
Remember that insurance companies are businesses focused on their bottom line. They may try to minimize your claim or pressure you into accepting a low settlement. Having an experienced car accident attorney can level the playing field and help ensure you receive fair compensation.
What Types of Compensation Can a Lawyer Help Me Get?
A skilled car accident attorney can help you pursue various types of compensation, depending on the specifics of your case. These may include:
- Medical expenses: Coverage for all accident-related medical treatments, including future care needs.
- Lost wages: Compensation for time missed from work due to injuries.
- Loss of earning capacity: If your injuries affect your ability to work in the future.
- Property damage: Costs to repair or replace your vehicle and other damaged property.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injuries prevent you from enjoying hobbies or activities you once loved.
- Loss of consortium: Compensation for the impact on your relationship with your spouse.
- Wrongful death damages: If a car accident killed a close family member, an attorney can help you pursue damages through a wrongful death action.
- Punitive damages: In cases of extreme negligence, the court may award additional damages to punish the at-fault party.
Your attorney will work to calculate the full value of your claim, considering both the current and future impacts of the accident on your life. They'll fight to ensure you're not left shouldering the financial burden of someone else's negligence.
Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
Don’t wait to get the legal help you need to obtain compensation for the injuries and losses a negligent driver caused. At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, our experienced team is dedicated to fighting for the rights of car accident victims in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa.
We offer free consultations to discuss your case and explain your options. There's no obligation, and we work on a contingency basis. You don’t pay anything upfront for us to handle your case, and we only receive attorney fees if we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation about your claim. We’ll inform you of the best course of action and fight for the full financial recovery you need. You can rest easier knowing a dedicated and highly qualified legal professional is taking care of all the legal aspects while advocating for your rights and best interests.