If a negligent driver causes injuries in an auto accident, navigating the claims process and dealing with insurers can be complicated and stressful.
A Granite Falls car accident lawyer can act as a buffer between you and the insurance company, handling all negotiations on your behalf and helping you avoid common errors that can harm your claim. A personal injury attorney can accurately evaluate your case, calculate the full value of your damages, and fight to maximize your compensation.
What Are the Top Negligent Causes of Auto Accidents?
If a negligent driver injured you in a car crash in Granite Falls, speak to an attorney as soon as possible. You may have several legal options for pursuing compensation for your damages. Some of the most common causes of car accidents involving negligence include:
- Distracted driving: This involves activities such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or interacting with passengers
- Running red lights and stop signs: Ignoring traffic signals and stop signs can lead to severe collisions, particularly at intersections
- Impaired driving: Whether by alcohol or drugs, impairment severely impacts a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and ability to control their vehicle
- Failing to yield the right of way: This is a common cause of accidents at intersections, leading to side-impact collisions and other dangerous scenarios
- Speeding: Driving above the speed limit or too fast for the road conditions significantly increases the risk of crashes and the severity of injuries
- Reckless driving: This could involve aggressive driving, tailgating, weaving through traffic, and ignoring traffic signals
- Drowsy driving: Driving while fatigued can impair a driver’s abilities to a similar extent as being under the influence of alcohol, leading to slowed reaction times, poor judgment, and even falling asleep at the wheel
Calculating the full extent of damages after a car accident can be complex. Without skilled legal representation, you may undervalue your claim and accept a settlement that does not adequately cover all your damages.
Types of Injuries and Recoverable Damages in Car Accident Claims
After a serious car accident, you may be able to recover various damages, depending on the nature and severity of your injuries. Commonly reported injuries include:
- Soft tissue injuries: These involve damage to ligaments, tendons, muscles, skin, and other tissues excluding bone and cartilage, and include whiplash, sprains, strains, lacerations, and contusions
- Arm and leg injuries: These can range from scrapes and bruises to dislocations, fractures, and burns, and may, in some cases, require amputation
- Mental and emotional injuries: These include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, insomnia, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Head injuries: Concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and skull fractures can result in long-term consequences and can even be fatal
- Internal injuries: Damage to internal organs and bleeding may not be immediately noticeable, but can be serious and potentially fatal
- Neurological and spinal injuries: These include severe whiplash that damages the spinal cord, potentially causing paralysis, and neurological trauma from damage to the spine and nerves
A personal injury attorney can help you recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages after a Granite Falls car wreck.
Economic damages are quantifiable. They include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and other out-of-pocket costs.
Non-economic damages are subjective and cover intangible consequences of your accident. They can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and disfigurement.
Contact an Attorney After an Auto Collision in Granite Falls
A Granite Falls car accident lawyer can navigate the legal process on your behalf, meeting all procedural requirements, adhering to the required deadlines, and effectively presenting evidence in your case. Contact Maschka Personal Injury, based in Mankato and serving the surrounding areas, today to request your free consultation.
