Are you struggling to recover after a severe car accident? At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we understand the challenges accident victims face as they try to figure out the insurance process. Accidents are scary and can leave you feeling a wide range of emotions.
Following a severe motor vehicle accident, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself is to talk to an experienced car accident attorney. Your attorney can help you navigate the legal process and help you understand your rights. If your accident resulted from someone else's negligence or actions, you might be due financial compensation.
To learn more about your rights and what comes next, call
Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers: Fighting for justice
At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, one of the most important things we want our clients to know is that you are not alone. When you work with our firm, your concerns become our concerns. We know your challenges, and our job is to help relieve some of your burdens.
Since 2007, our founder, Russell Nicolet, has been a zealous advocate for victims' rights and has worked to build connections to help ensure our clients get the help and services they need.
Insurance companies may claim they work for the victims, but in our experience, that’s not the case. After an accident, most insurance companies will do everything they can to lower the amount they have to pay, preventing you from getting the care you need. Our attorneys won’t stand for this and will always fight for what’s right.
Injured in Hudson? Get Nicolet.
Our promise: You don't pay if we don't win
There’s no denying that fighting the insurance company can seem like an impossible task. And trying to figure out how you will pay for everything can discourage you. Our promise will always be that you don’t pay unless we win. You should never feel like you will be in a deeper financial hole because you are choosing to stand up for your rights.
Every case is different, and we can’t guarantee any outcome. However, we can provide previous results to help illustrate how hard our attorneys work to get victims like you what’s fair and what’s right.
While no guarantee of future success, previous case results include:
- $1.2 million car accident settlement
- $815,000 for a victim injured in a drunk driving accident
- $1,117,000 car accident settlement
- $850,000 car accident settlement
Reckless actions leave victims shattered
The sad reality is that the overwhelming majority of car accidents are preventable. Accidents typically happen as the result of a person’s negligence. Understanding why they happen won’t take away the accident, but it will help hold the negligent parties accountable.
The most recent statistics show 540 fatal accidents in Wisconsin a year. Over 23,000 more result in injuries. The most common causes of car accidents include:
Speeding
The legal definition of speeding is driving above the posted limit or too fast for conditions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 11,258 speeding fatalities over the most recent one-year period for which data is available.
Speeding is dangerous, and accidents that don't result in death lead to severe injuries. Not only does speeding increase stopping distance, but it also reduces the amount of time the driver has to react. Increased speeds increase the likelihood and severity of injuries and reduce the effectiveness of safety devices a devastating combination.
Driving under the influence
It is incredible how driving under the influence continues to be a problem. Yet it is a bigger problem than most people realize. A state-by-state analysis of alcohol-related accidents revealed that 39 percent of all traffic fatalities in Wisconsin involved a person driving under the influence.
When alcohol is in the system, it can influence a person’s ability to drive in several ways, including:
- Slowed decision-making
- Delayed responses
- Vision changes
- Difficulty staying awake at the wheel
- Decreased reaction time
- Diminished muscle control
Driving under the influence is selfish and puts the lives of others at risk. When a driver chooses to show gross disregard for the lives of others, there may be a case for punitive damages.
Distracted driving
Drivers face a wide range of potential distractions on the road. But it is up to each individual to remove those distractions and maintain focus on the road. Sadly, this doesn’t always happen.
Distracted driving is a serious problem in Wisconsin. The CDC reports that approximately 3,000 people die yearly in crashes involving distracted drivers.
Texting and driving is one of the biggest issues, with the CDC reporting that older teens are more likely to be guilty of participating in this behavior. But texting isn't the only distraction drivers face.
Other causes of distracted driving include:
- Talking to passengers in the vehicle
- Adjusting the radio
- Using the car or phone’s navigation system
- Looking at objects outside of the vehicle, such as billboards, animals, or an accident
Failure to yield the right of way
You expect other drivers to obey the law when traveling down the road. Other drivers should know when to yield when you approach a stop sign. Merging onto the freeway? You should know how to do so safely. We rely on the safe actions of others to get from place to place.
Unfortunately, failure to yield the right of way is one of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents. Whether a driver doesn’t know when they are supposed to yield, they are not paying attention, or they don’t care, these accidents continue to happen.
A few of the most common places for these types of accidents include:
- Four-way stops
- Stoplights
- Highway onramps and offramps
- Commercial and residential driveways
- Parking lots
The devastating consequences of a car accident
While some accidents may result in minor property damage, they often involve serious injuries. When you suffer an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover financial damages. The amount of your recovery will depend on many factors, including the type and severity of your injuries.
Common injuries after a car accident include:
- Soft tissue injuries, including sprains and strains
- Whiplash
- Bruises and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
If you suffer an injury after a car accident, it’s essential to seek medical attention immediately. This will allow your care provider to conduct a thorough examination and rule out life-threatening injuries.
Financial concerns should never be a reason to delay medical treatment. If you are worried about your medical coverage or paying for your future medical care, contact the office of Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers at 715-226-6158 to see how we can help.
Your rights to financial compensation
A car accident can leave you facing mounting medical bills and lost time from work. For this reason, the law allows you to pursue financial damages from an accident resulting in actual damages. In personal injury cases, including car accidents, the insurance company (or court, depending on how far your case proceeds) will consider economic and non-economic damages. This can vary from case to case, but common examples include:
Economic damages
Economic damages include any cost for which you could provide a receipt. These are common goods or services but also include financial losses.
Common costs include:
- Medical debt: Medical costs often make up a good chunk of a car accident case. After an accident, your attorney will likely fight to include all medical costs, with the goal for you to pay zero out of pocket. Included costs may vary depending on the insurance provider and may require pre-approval. However commonly include doctor visits, hospital stays, surgical procedures, medications, medical devices, and rehabilitation.
- Loss of earnings: Even minor accidents can result in missed time from work. If you lose income because you are unable to go to your regular job, you may be able to recover lost wages. This generally includes any time lost from the date of the accident until you can return to work. If you cannot return to work in any capacity, you may qualify for future lost wages.
- Loss of services: If you do not work or take on additional responsibilities outside your job, your claim may cover these costs if you can no longer take care of them. This may include housekeeping, cooking, or lawn care services.
- Home modifications: If you suffer a severe injury such as a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury, you may need to permanently modify your private residence to get around. In this case, these costs may be included as part of your personal injury case.
Non-economic damages
Non-economic damages cover the invisible costs. These costs do not have a direct cost, but they hold value.
Examples include:
- Mental anguish: No matter what type of injury you suffer or how severe the accident is, it's normal to have an emotional response. Sometimes, an accident can cause a response that has long-lasting effects. You deserve compensation when you suffer emotional trauma from an accident or injury. Common examples of mental anguish considered non-economic damages include depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
- Physical pain: All injuries usually cause some degree of pain. The law recognizes this and allows you to recover appropriate compensation. The compensation your pain is worth will depend on the type and degree of pain and how it interferes with your day-to-day life.
- Loss of enjoyment: A physical or emotional injury can make participating in activities you once enjoyed difficult. For example, if you are an avid runner and can no longer run because of a spinal cord injury, this is a loss. Similarly, if a traumatic brain injury makes it difficult to focus, making it difficult to read, this needs to be acknowledged.
- Loss of relationships: As humans, we value relationships. So the loss or change in a relationship can be devastating. Loss of relationship claims may come after a severe injury such as a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury, where the injury affects the relationship's physical and emotional components.
Punitive damages
Not all car accident cases recover punitive damages. However, the court may choose to award punitive damages in the case of gross negligence or intentional acts.
Technically, punitive damages are a penalty against the at-fault party, not an actual award. However, they are still included in your final settlement or judgment.
Examples of when a case may consist of punitive damages include:
- Driving under the influence
- Road rage
- Extreme speeds
Get the help you need. Contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers
When facing the difficult road to recovery following a severe accident, you need someone by your side who you can trust. At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, our mission is to help victims have the tools they need to rebuild their lives.
When you work with us, you can trust that we make your case a priority and always let you know what you can expect. Now is the time to take action. For questions or to get started on your car accident case.
Contact Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers at (715) 226-6158 or online to request your free initial consultation.
Client Testimonial
"Working with the insurance company was challenging and complicated. Nicolet was essential in helping us through it. They were open to our needs, transparent with what was happening and explained options. I was very happy with the results of the settlement and would highly recommend Nicolet." - James C. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Hudson Office
517 2nd Street
Unit #205
Hudson, WI 54016
Phone: 715-226-6158