The number one killer today is car crashes. Auto wrecks are the leading cause of death for U.S. residents under 34 years old.
The number of auto wrecks that happen each year is enough to curdle your blood – over 40,000 people die in metal carnage every single year. That means that there are, on average, at least 115 deaths every day. That is the devastating loss of people that were loved and will be mourned for many years to come.
It’s not just the loss of life that is costly; it’s also the fact the car crashes cost at least $150 billion a year. While you might think this won’t happen to you, the statistics show that you are likely to be in at least one wreck in your lifetime. It is numbers like this that generally turn up in court when you are represented by an Arkansas accident lawyer attempting to obtain compensation for your injuries.
There are some things you should know if you are in an accident and the first thing is, even if you apparently have no injuries, call the police. You need to file an accident report, because if you do turn out to have injuries as a result of the crash, you need to have a paper trail. Part of that paper trail is a police report. In addition, these reports (usually used for insurance adjusters) usually determine fault. You will want to make certain your report is not only accurate but thorough. Any loopholes will cause a major headache for your Arkansas accident lawyer later.
What about witnesses? Yes, you need to have a record (interview) of all the witnesses and of any other parties involved in the wreck. If there is a diagram of the scene and/or pictures, get a hold of those as well. If the police aren’t interested in getting all this information, make sure you try to track it down yourself, complete with cell phone photos of the crash site.
Be aware that the most common injuries that you might suffer in an auto accident are muscle tears and strains, bone and joint injuries, paralysis, whiplash and head and neck damage. Most of these injuries are not seen and therefore are hard to prove to a jury later, never mind the insurance company who wants to minimize your injuries and/or reduce or deny your claim.
Get medical attention right away, even if you think you are fine. Ask the doctor to keep thorough records that may be needed for court later and ask that they note that your injuries are the result of your accident, if that is how they diagnose your condition(s). If you don’t have your injuries properly documented, this will be a problem in court.
Sometimes, when it comes to car crashes, the simple things that need to be done to cover your case later are overlooked. Pay attention to the details, because they will make or break your case when and if your Arkansas accident lawyer takes it to trial. Your damages may include recovering the cost of medical expenses, loss of property, loss of wages, pain and suffering and/or costs for long-term care if you sustained a life-altering injury.
Michael G. Smith is anArkansas personal injury lawyer and Arkansas business dispute lawyer, practicing personal injury law and veteran’s benefits in Arkansas. Learn more by visiting Arkansaslawhelp.com
