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If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below
for your free consultation or call us at 208-517-7670
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Your steps after a car accident can enhance your safety and protect your right to compensation.
The events of a crash can leave you struggling with severe injuries and hefty medical bills. An attorney can establish the facts about the incident and provide legal support in your pursuit of compensation. You must provide the attorney with accident-related information to facilitate investigation on the cause and liable parties.
After a crash, you should be proactive to obtain the following information, which you can supply to an attorney:
Taking the proper steps, including staying calm, can enhance your safety and that of other road users. However, specific actions can complicate the process of resolving an incident.
Here are a few steps you should avoid doing following a motor vehicle collision:
Idaho traffic laws require drivers to stop at the crash scene as long as it’s safe. Fleeing the scene can attract criminal charges. A hit-and-run offense may also lead to the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. Therefore, stay at the crash scene, check if anyone is injured, and call the emergency response unit if necessary.
The driver should notify the local police department of an accident by the quickest means possible if:
Even in instances involving minor damage, like a fender bender, you should always inform the local police department about the accident. A police officer will generate an accident report you can rely on to establish the liable party.
Your physical well-being should be your top priority after an accident. Some injuries are not immediately apparent after an accident. You should, therefore, seek medical attention even if involved in a minor crash.
An examination by a healthcare provider can reveal hidden injuries and initiate a treatment plan. Most importantly, a physician will create medical records you can rely on to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
You may feel a sense of guilt or responsibility after a car crash. However, admitting fault to an insurance adjuster or the other party may worsen your outcome. Do not apologize or accept fault because the information may work against you during investigations.
The at-fault party’s insurer may contact you with a settlement proposal following an accident. While it may seem like a speedy resolution, you’re less likely to receive a fair settlement value for your losses. An attorney will demonstrate the extent of your losses and evaluate the merits of each settlement proposal.
A law enforcement officer is among the first responders at the accident scene. A police officer creates a police accident report with vital details of the crash scene and how the accident occurred.
Here are the benefits of a police accident report:
A police accident report is an essential document in the aftermath of an accident. You can rely on it for evidence in the event of a lawsuit. Insurance companies also depend on the content of a police accident report to solve a claim.
Most injured victims obtain compensation from the insurer of the at-fault party. Sometimes, an insurer may table a settlement proposal that barely meets your injury-related losses. You can go to court if you can’t reach an agreement with the insurer. Filing a car accident lawsuit is an opportunity for a fair hearing before a judge or a jury. The outcome of a lawsuit is a court compelling the responsible party to cover the losses.
You can obtain various damages depending on the facts and circumstances of your car accident. The damages applicable to car accident cases include economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Here are common questions associated with car accidents.
If you are injured in a car accident, you may not work according to your everyday standards. You’re likely to take sick leave, miss work, or leave your job, leading to the discontinuation of wages. You, therefore, deserve compensation for the financial losses you incur due to missed work, sick leave, or working at a reduced capacity. You may also be entitled to compensation for a reduction in your earning capacity.
If the injury affects your ability to earn a living in the future, your settlement value should include lost earning capacity. The extent of impairment, age, nature of work, and future earning potential are vital in determining future earnings due to your injuries.
Based on the nature of a car accident, you can sustain severe injuries with life-threatening consequences. If the physical injury occurs due to another party’s negligence or deliberate actions, you may obtain compensation for your losses. The expected settlement value can inform financial planning and recovery efforts. Car accident settlements have no average value, as each case differs based on applicable facts and circumstances.
Here are the factors that influence the value of a car accident settlement:
A car accident attorney can demonstrate the extent of your injuries and negotiate for a higher settlement value that covers your losses.
Although you’re entitled to compensation for injury-related losses, you must prove fault, liability, and damages.
You can use different types of evidence to support a car accident claim, including:
Gather as much information as possible to support your car accident claim. You’re likely to obtain a fair settlement value for your losses in the presence of clear evidence to prove the crash.
In 2022, there were 42,514 deaths due to motor vehicle crashes in the United States. In Idaho, motor vehicle accidents contributed to 215 fatalities, an average of 11.1 deaths per 100,000 population. A significant percentage of these deaths occur because of human error. Learning the common causes of crashes is vital information for staying safe on the road:
Here are the common causes of accidents:
You may be facing substantial losses if you’re involved in an auto accident with a vehicle without insurance. Underinsured and uninsured coverage is designed to cover such unforeseen losses.
The following coverage can protect you in case of loss:
Matt Andrew has been an attorney and member of the Idaho Bar since 2007 and has a varied and fascinating legal career. Since 2013, Matt has focused on representing seriously injured people in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. Matt has successfully tried multiple cases to verdict before the Idaho District Courts and the Idaho Industrial Commission.
Member of the Idaho Bar since 2007
Bar Number: #7698
Location: Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell, Idaho.
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Most people have never needed a lawyer when they find themselves injured and in need of legal advice. We hear the following questions from many of our clients. We hope the answers help clarify your options and considerations.
Lawmakers pass legislation to prevent injured parties from waiting too long before initiating claims. Excessive delays can cause a backlog of cases, affecting justice delivery. Idaho has a two-year statute of limitations for filing car accident claims. If you fail to initiate a car accident lawsuit within two years, you will likely lose your right to compensation.
However, there are a few exceptions to the rule, including:
Yes.
You can initiate a lost wages claim if you cannot earn due to injury. However, you should substantiate your lost wages claim with the necessary documentation. Some documents to verify a lost wages claim include pay stubs, tax returns, a post-accident journal, or a letter from an employer.
Idaho is a comparative negligence state, a legal doctrine that means that when an accident occurs, the fault or negligence of each party is based on their extent of contribution. Therefore, all involved parties can be partially to blame for the accident.
Under the comparative negligence doctrine, each party is assigned a percentage of fault with damages awarded based on their contribution.
Suppose Driver A hit Driver B from behind, and the court established that Driver A was 80% at fault and Driver B was 20% at fault. In that case, driver A would cover 80% of driver B’s injury-related losses, including medical expenses.
How you deal with an insurer after an accident can determine whether you’ll receive fair compensation.
Here are a few tips for dealing with an insurer:
Some of the common injuries in car accidents include back injuries, head and brain injuries, limb loss, fractures, facial injuries, burns, and internal injuries.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Attorney Matthew Andrew, who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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Commercial trucks are critical to Idaho’s economy, but they also put everyone at risk of serious collisions and injuries. We stand up to trucking companies.
Motorcyclists love the wide open spaces of Idaho, but other drivers are not always careful and can hit motorcycles, causing devastating injuries and losses.
Whether you work in construction, logging, or in an office, injuries can happen. We assist injured workers in seeking maximum compensation for their injuries.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below for your free consultation or call us at 208-517-7670
No Fees Unless We Win Your Case