While it proves difficult to pinpoint the exact odds of dying in a car crash, motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S. total about 90 every day and more than 32,000 every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that traffic deaths decreased in 2018 but 36,560 people still died in car crashes.
Many factors play a role in the risk of sustaining fatal injuries in car accidents, such as vehicle type, the number of cars involved, and accident type (such as a roll-over accident), according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Car Accident Injuries Are More Likely Than Dying After an Accident
When car accidents do not result in fatalities, drivers and passengers may still sustain life-changing—and sometimes, incapacitating—injuries. The NHTSA reported that about 161,000 incapacitating injuries and 711,000 non-incapacitating injuries resulted from car accidents across the country in 2018.
Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, you can spend a few hours to several weeks in the hospital receiving treatment. Some people require inpatient rehabilitation and therapy to recover lost skills; others never fully recover and may require ongoing care and support.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-537-8185
Seeking Compensation Based on Your Car Accident Losses
If you suffered injuries in a car accident or you lost a loved one in a fatal accident, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your economic and non-economic losses. When making a claim, you may negotiate an out-of-court settlement with the insurance adjuster or other representatives from the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance policy provider.
The awards available in this type of case vary depending on your losses, and an initial settlement from an insurer may not fairly cover your expenses resulting from the accident. An attorney can help you navigate the legal options you have to receive any compensation entitled to you.
If you sustained injuries in the accident, you may qualify to recover:
- Medical care costs
- Lost wages
- Property losses
- Pain and suffering
If your loved one died as the result of an accident, money will not lessen your grief or take away your pain. Recovering a fair settlement, however, may allow you to focus on your family and pay your bills without undue financial stress. Recoverable losses in a wrongful death claim may include:
- Loss of support
- Grief and anguish of the surviving family members
- Economic losses, including medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages, loss of inheritance, and other expenses
Financial recovery differs with each accident case, and a lawyer may help you determine which awards you can pursue.
Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
If the insurance company fails to negotiate a fair settlement to cover your losses, you may file a civil lawsuit to recover your losses. If you are thinking of filing a civil lawsuit, accepting any initial offer for compensation before seeking guidance from your attorney may disqualify you from seeking further compensation in the future.
Some states have statutes of limitations that set deadlines on the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. In Louisiana, for example, you have one year from the date of your car accident to file a lawsuit. Waiting to file a claim or lawsuit too long may lead to you losing your rights to take further legal action.
Seek Legal Representation for Your Car Accident Case
At Morris Bart, LLC, our car accident lawyers can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation for your accident-related injuries based on the facts of your case. We may help you build a case for minor injuries and property damages, serious injuries that require ongoing and future care, or wrongful death damages. We can also explain the deadline that applies in these cases based on your location.
Our team serves car accident victims across the Gulf South in 15 locations, which includes offices in New Orleans, Gulfport, and Birmingham, as well as other offices that serve Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.
Let a member of the Morris Bart, LLC team review the facts of your case. We offer free initial consultations. Call Morris Bart, LLC at 1-800-537-8185 for your free case review.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
