A car accident can be a traumatic experience. One moment you are headed to or from work, taking your children to school, or running errands. The next moment, a negligent driver has altered your life—whether temporarily or permanently. Perhaps you were headed to the Kroger grocery store on Cherry Street to pick up groceries. In an instant, you are rear-ended by a driver driving too closely and could have been distracted, overly fatigued, impaired, careless, or reckless. Rear-end accidents—even at relatively low speeds—can leave you with severe whiplash or even more severe injuries.
Since insurance companies often fail to afford whiplash injuries the proper respect and attention, the at-fault driver’s insurer may offer you a meager settlement. This settlement may not even begin to cover your actual damages. Your whiplash injury may have left you with mobility issues (an inability to turn your neck properly) and chronic pain that has altered your ability to work, participate in, and enjoy everyday activities. Depending on your job or career, a severe whiplash injury could prevent you from returning to work for weeks, months, or even longer. Daily pain can color your entire life, taking away the future you had planned.
It is imperative that you speak to experienced Kruger & Hodges Blanchester, OH, car accident lawyers as quickly as possible. Our attorneys will immediately begin a comprehensive assessment of your injuries and how those injuries will affect your ability to make a living and live your normal life. We will then enter into negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurer, insisting you are paid what your claim is worth. If the insurer balks, we will take your case to court, fighting for your rights and your future at every turn. Once you have a Kruger & Hodges attorney in your corner, you can let us handle the legal side while you focus on getting better and getting the medical treatments you need.
Car Accident Statistics
The NHTSA found a slight decrease in fatal car accidents in 2022 over 2021—even though more people were on the roads as the pandemic continued to decline. The Dayton Daily News reported that 2022 was one of the deadliest in recent years for traffic fatalities—especially those resulting from distracted driving behaviors. At least eight of the 172 car accident-related deaths in 2022 were directly tied to distracted driving behaviors. These behaviors included texting while driving, talking on cell phones, eating, changing car controls, turning around to see what the children or pets were doing, talking to passengers, or simply daydreaming and not paying attention to the road and other drivers.
Preventative Measures for Avoiding a Car Accident
If you are an “average” driver—and most of us are—you will have approximately one car accident every 17.9 years. Sometimes you simply cannot avoid a car accident when another driver is careless or reckless. You can, however, remain extra vigilant and alert when you are on the roadways. Always ensure you are well-rested when you drive—many auto accidents result from a drowsy or overly fatigued driver. Of course, you should never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and when weather conditions are adverse, stay home if possible. Distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of car accidents. Americans are multi-taskers (and proud of it). Driving is one time you should skip multi-tasking.
Distracted driving behaviors include talking on a cell phone, sending or reading a text, posting on social media, eating and drinking, turning around to see what your children or pets are doing in the back seat, and even fiddling with your car controls or GPS can all result in a serious accident. Follow all the rules of the road when you drive, along with traffic laws. Never tailgate other drivers, and adhere to the posted speed limit. If you follow all these tips, you are at least much less likely to be involved in a car accident.
What to Do Following a Blanchester Car Accident
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, your number one task is ensuring that everyone involved receives medical attention. You may not believe you are hurt that badly. This often occurs because adrenaline floods the body during a car accident, masking injury symptoms. If you fail to seek medical attention, your future car accident claim could be compromised. The at-fault driver’s insurance company may claim you received your injuries later since you did not seek medical attention after the accident.
While you are at the accident scene, you should exchange information with the other driver and obtain contact information from any witnesses to the accident if you can. Taking photographs with your cell phone is also a good idea. Depending on the location, your attorney may be able to secure video that captured the accident. Still, it’s always good to have photos showing the damage to your vehicle and anything else that might have contributed to the accident.
Once you are home, take a few minutes to write down anything you remember about the accident. Even the smallest detail could turn out to be important. Call your own insurance company to let them know about the accident. One of the most important steps following a car accident is to call the Blanchester, OH, car accident lawyers from Kruger & Hodges. We will immediately begin building a case on your behalf, giving you the time you need and deserve to heal.
What is the Claim Process Following a Car Accident?
Once your attorney has gathered all the evidence and proven liability, your injuries will be assessed to determine how much your claim is worth. The extent of your injuries will determine your claim’s worth, how long you will receive treatment for those injuries, how long you will be off work, and the extent of your pain and suffering. Once damages are assessed, your attorney will send a demand letter to the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Negotiations will occur, and if the insurer refuses to pay what your claim is worth, your attorney will file a lawsuit against the insurer. Even after a lawsuit is filed, the claim can (and likely will) be settled at any time until a jury verdict. Whether your case is resolved through a settlement or a jury verdict, you should receive a check for your damages within about six weeks from the date of the settlement or verdict.
How Do I Know If I Have a Car Accident Case?
You cannot accurately assess whether or not you have a valid car accident case. This requires an experienced car accident attorney to understand all the nuances of a damage claim. The most crucial aspect of your claim will be liability. If the other driver is clearly liable, then you likely have a solid car accident case. If the police report states that the other driver was at fault for the accident, this will help prove liability. If liability is unclear, your attorney may secure any videos of the accident or involve an accident reconstructionist. In some cases, newer vehicles may have a “black box” that records hard braking incidents and speed during the few moments before an accident.
What is My Claim Worth?
Your claim’s worth primarily depends on your injury level, how long you will receive treatment for those injuries, whether any of the injuries have left you partially or fully disabled, and whether any of the injuries caused some level of disfigurement. Other than your injuries and medical expenses, your claim’s worth will hinge on whether you lost work due to your car accident—or you may never be able to return to work. Pain and suffering are the third components of your claim. Pain includes actual physical pain and emotional trauma, and involves whether your injuries have altered your future, your day-to-day life, and your enjoyment of life.
How to Choose the Best Lawyer after a Car Accident
Choosing a car accident attorney can seem like a burden when you are already overwhelmed. You need an attorney who will relieve your stress, giving you time to heal. At Kruger & Hodges, our attorneys believe strongly in honest communication with their clients. We are highly skilled negotiators and successful litigators who will use their positive track record for your benefit. Kruger & Hodges dedicates itself to providing their clients’ personalized attention with its lawyers so you will know who represents you from day one. We invite you to discuss your situation at a free consultation. We believe that once you do, your choice will become clear. We will fight for you and your future at every turn.
How the Blanchester, OH Car Accident Lawyers from Kruger & Hodges Can Help
If you have been injured in a car accident, your future can look very uncertain. Once you hire Kruger & Hodges, we will immediately begin a comprehensive investigation of your accident’s facts and circumstances. We will definitively prove liability, then calculate your damages accurately. We will then demand that the insurance company pay you a fair settlement amount to cover all your damages. If the insurance company balks, we will not hesitate to fight for your rights in court. Contact Kruger & Hodges today for exemplary legal representation.
