Accidents on the highway can leave drivers, passengers, and families facing substantial losses. But how do the higher speeds and more serious injuries influence the car accident settlement amounts for accidents that occur on the highway? We’ll attempt to examine the question in this article.
Accidents on the interstate result in serious and fatal injuries at disproportionately high rates. This is largely due to the speed at which these accidents occur. A vehicle traveling at 60 to 70 mph will travel the length of a football field in a few seconds… more than enough time for something to go catastrophically wrong. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a collision on the highway, you should speak with a car accident accident attorney about your legal rights and potential compensation.
Due to the devastating effects of most California highway accidents, drivers, passengers, and families will often be entitled to significant financial compensation. On average, car accident settlements are higher when the injuries are more serious – usually meaning more medical bills, a longer time to recover fully from the injuries suffered in the crash, and more time away from work, family activities, and hobbies. All of these are major factors in calculating a car accident settlement.
- How Much Is Your Car Accident Settlement Worth?
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- How Much Is My Car Accident Settlement Worth?
- How Much Is Your Car Accident Settlement Worth?
5 Important Facts about Car Accidents on the Highway
When you need to seek financial compensation for a serious or fatal highway car accident, there is a lot you need to know. Here are five important facts about these accidents:
1. The Financial Costs Can Be Substantial
The financial costs of sustaining serious injuries or losing a loved one in a car, truck, or SUV accident on the highway can be substantial. These costs include current and future medical bills, prescriptions, loss of income and benefits, and other out-of-pocket expenses. This also includes prescription medication, injury rehab like chiropractors or physical therapists, and more.
2. The Non-Financial Costs Can Be Even More Substantial
In many cases, the non-financial costs of serious and fatal highway car accidents are calculated as a multiple of the victim’s or family’s financial losses. As a result, compensation for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life will make up a large part of most auto accident claims.
3. Multiple Parties Could Be Liable for Your Losses
While another driver may be liable for your losses, there are also other possibilities. If a vehicle manufacturer, government authority, or other third party is liable, you will probably want to speak with an attorney to help you sort through the complexities of the case.
4. You May Need to Act Quickly to Recover Just Compensation
Collecting evidence, getting treatment, and dealing with the insurance companies all require prompt attention after an interstate highway car accident. To make sure you have everything you need and do everything that is necessary, you should contact a lawyer right away.
5. Speak to a Lawyer to Assert Your Legal Rights Effectively
While you can try to deal with the insurance companies on your own, this is not always a good idea. Not only are you unlikely to receive the maximum coverage that is available; but, without a lawyer, you won’t know whether you are entitled to additional forms of financial compensation, which could cause you to leave a substantial sum of money on the table. .
What To Do After a Serious or Fatal Car Accident on the Highway
In order to protect your legal rights after a serious or fatal car accident on the interstate, there are some steps you should take as soon as possible. These steps include:
- Take Stock of Any Evidence You Have. Do you have photos or videos on your phone? Do you have a copy of the police report? Make sure you keep any evidence you have to give to your attorney.
- Take Care of Your Medical Needs. Whether you need treatment for a physical injury, post-traumatic stress, or depression, you should always prioritize your medical needs following a serious or fatal collision.
- Write Down Everything You Can Remember. What do you remember (or know) about the accident? Take the time to write down everything you can remember. Don’t worry about whether or not it might be useful, just write it down.
- Contact Your Insurance Company, But Be Careful. While you need to report the accident to your insurance company, you also need to be careful to avoid saying something the insurance companies can use against you.
Get a Free Consultation With A Local Attorney. Due to the high speeds crashes on the highway often occur at, the scope and complexity of the damages will make it worth hiring an attorney in most cases. They will take a fee but in most instances, the higher auto accident settlement amounts they’re able to obtain will pay for the attorney fees and then some.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Settlements on Highways
Highway Car Accident Settlements
Getting a fair semi truck accident settlememt is a difficult task anywhere the accident occurs, but being out of town adds more complexity and challenges to the situation. Below we’ll address
If You Were Injured While Driving on the Highway in Another State
If you were injured while driving on the interstate in another state, you will need to hire an attorney who practices in the state where the accident happened, and any rules around insurance coverage, statute of limitations etc will defer to the state where the accident occurred.
If The Truck Driver Lives (or the company is based out of) in a Different State
If the driver who hit you lives in another state, you should still hire a local attorney in the state where the accident occurred. Your attorney can deal with any issues that come up as a result of the driver being from out of state—including any issues pertaining to insurance coverage.
Typically, yes. Most insurance companies require their policyholders to report all auto accidents. This is especially important if you were injured and think you’ll need to file a claim and negotiate a car acciddent settlement with the at fault driver’s insurance. In commercial vehicle accidents where you’ll be dealing with a company rather than an individual, this is even more crucial. Trucking companies and other businesses using vehicles for commercial purposes generally have larger insurance policies in place, but the process for filing a semi truck accident claim can be a lot more complex and can take longer, so it’s important to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible.
You may have a certain number of days, or your policy may simply require you to report your accident “promptly.” If you don’t report your accident on time, you could potentially lose your coverage. Additionally, in many states, the law requires drivers to report car accidents to the police and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
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