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Auto Accident Legal Matters

If you’ve been injured as a result of a car accident, contact an experienced attorney as soon as you can. auto accident attorney grand rapids can help you to understand your rights and receive the compensation you deserve.

Every driver is responsible for obeying traffic laws. When they breach that duty and cause harm, they are liable.

Damages

In general there are two types of damages that can result from a car crash. The first kind of damage, known as special damages, has the value of a dollar that is easily calculated. Examples of special damages include medical bills loss of wages, repair work on vehicles are examples of special damages. The second type, which is referred to as non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify. They include things like pain and suffering.

To receive compensation for noneconomic losses it is necessary to establish that your injuries were serious enough to warrant an award. This is a difficult task, and the person who has suffered must be represented by an attorney.

The loss of enjoyment is among the most frequently reported non-economic damages. Generally, this entails the amount of money reflected in the reduced quality of life as a result of accident-related injuries. It also includes the inability to participate in certain activities, like driving, which were once enjoyable.

In some cases victims may sue for punitive damages. The purpose of this type of damage is designed to punish the defendant and discourage future acts that are equally egregious. Punitive damages are not available in every case, and a successful claim depends on the strength of evidence that proves the defendant was acting with conscious disregard for the safety of others.

Liability

If you suffer injuries in an accident involving a vehicle the person who caused your injuries is liable to compensate you. This includes compensation for medical expenses as well as property damage, lost income, and non-economic damages like pain and discomfort. In most cases, this is the driver who caused the crash. However, it’s not unusual for two drivers to share some blame. Some states have laws called comparative negligence, where jurors determine the proportion of each driver’s share and adjusts the damages awarded accordingly.

It is vital that you can demonstrate to the satisfaction of an insurance company or a jury or judge what took place. This is known as the burden of proof. The burden falls on the person who makes the claim – the plaintiff and it demands that you provide proof of how the crash happened.

A government institution can also be held responsible for an accident. This can be the case when a road is not maintained properly or designed, and this contributes towards an accident. These kinds of claims are also referred to as road defect cases. These types of claims may also be brought by manufacturers. They could be accountable for car defects such as tires, brakes and mechanical failure.

At-fault driver citations

Usually, a police officer can determine who caused an accident by analyzing the crash scene and interviewing witnesses. If they believe that a driver has broken traffic laws, they can issue a citation. Insurance companies could also use police reports to determine the fault.

After an accident, it is normal for drivers to point at each other. However, this can be harmful. Besides giving the other driver a bad impression, it could result in an admission of guilt, which could be used against you in court.


The majority of car accidents involve two or more individuals who share a portion of fault. Most states have modified comparative-fault rules, which allow claimants to recover damages that are less than their percentage of fault. An insurance adjuster may use a traffic citation to increase a claimant’s percentage of blame for the accident which may reduce their compensation for their injuries.

The fact that a person is mentioned in a vehicle crash could be a strong proof that they were responsible for the crash. It’s not a guarantee that a personal injury case will be successful. Depending on the situation additional evidence may be required to show that the other driver was negligent and caused injury to you. This could include witnesses’ testimony, evidence from the site of the accident, as well as medical records detailing your injuries.

Police reports

When officers from the police arrive at a car crash site, they fill out an official report. These reports include both the facts and opinions noted by the officers on the scene at the time the incident occurred. This is an important document for any claim for auto accidents. Insurance companies will also review the report for fault and compensation.

In accordance with the location, police reports are admissible in court or not. The police report contains statements from individuals who haven’t been legally sworn as witnesses. To be able to be considered as evidence in a legal case, they must fall under one of the exemptions to hearsay law.

A typical police report will include information about the driver’s identity, the vehicles and the people involved in the accident along with a description of what happened and any evidence discovered on the scene. A majority of police reports contain an officer’s view on the cause of the crash and who’s responsible for the incident.

Even if you’re not injured, it is still the best option to file a police accident claim, even if the accident appears to be minor. Not all injuries are apparent immediately and having a solid record can help in getting you the compensation you deserve for medical expenses.