I was in a Car Accident. Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim?

After a car accident, especially one that results in an injury to you, one of the first questions that victims ask is, “Who is at fault?” Determining fault and liability is not always easy, but it is a crucial part of building a case for a personal injury suit to address your medical costs and any other expenses or losses you suffer because of the accident.

If you recently suffered injuries in a car accident, and believe that the other driver is responsible, then you may have grounds to build a personal injury lawsuit. However, this is not a simple matter, and may take a very long time to reach a conclusion. You may see the matter resolved in a matter of weeks if everything goes as smoothly as possible, but it is more like a matter of months, or even more than a year, until you reach a settlement and actually receive an award.

Building a strong personal injury case means taking the time to truly understand not only the elements of the accident, but the full scope of the injuries.

In most cases, it is wise to seek out the guidance of an experienced attorney who can help walk you through the various elements of a personal injury lawsuit and examine the details of your experience. Professional legal counsel allows you to focus on the physical recovery that only you can do for yourself while the attorney works on your behalf to build a strong claim and fight for fair compensation using the strength of the legal system.

Determining fault

In some cases, the fault is clear — you were driving down a street, and a drunk driver blows through a stop sign and strikes your car in an intersection as you pass through it lawfully. In this sort of accident, the issues are fairly straightforward. You can show that there was an accident, the other driver clearly caused it and that accident resulted in injuries.

However, not all accidents are this simple, and even when they are, few people willingly assume fault. You may face some difficulty proving that the other driver is liable for your injuries, so some professional legal counsel may come in handy. An attorney can help you assess the elements of the accident and build a strong claim, even if the other party fights against assuming liability.

Assessing injuries

Even if the other driver is at fault, is the injury worthy of a lawsuit? You must consider whether or not your injury is severe enough to warrant a lawsuit, even if you have technical grounds to build it.

If, for instance, you experience a car accident and receive some bruises, but no other notable injuries, a lawsuit may technically be viable, but not likely to yield an award that is worth the time and energy of the lawsuit.

Enlisting the help of a professional attorney can help you understand the strength of your suit and determine strong strategies you can use as you fight for justice.