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Handling the many legal, insurance, and administrative aspects of a motor vehicle accident can be difficult and frustrating. You may have injuries that can take months or years to fully heal, and you will also likely be faced with substantial medical bills and the stress of dealing with insurance companies.
If you or a loved one sustained injuries of any kind in a motor vehicle accident on the highway, we may be able to help. Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can be reached today at (828) 286-3866. Call us for a free case evaluation. Based on the specifics of your case, our Marion highway accident lawyer can help you file a claim or lawsuit for damages to cover you for your accident-related injuries and losses.
Types of Highway Accidents
Figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that there were roughly 33,000 fatal accidents and between 1.5 and 1.9 million non-fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States every single year between 2010 and 2018.
Common types of highway accidents that occur include:
- Drunk driving accidents
- Frontal collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Intersection accidents
- T-bone/side-impact accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Truck accidents
- Undercarriage accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bus accidents
- Underinsured or uninsured motorist accidents
- Service delivery accidents
- Employee vehicle accidents
- Ridesharing accidents
Common Injuries
Highway accidents can lead to serious injuries. Some injuries, such as brain and spinal cord injuries, can cost tens of thousands of dollars to treat. Other injuries, such as broken bones, can prevent you from working or performing basic tasks for weeks or months. Any compensation you may be entitled to for your accident will take the severity of your injuries into account. With that, it is important to understand how different injuries can affect the victims of an accident.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Concussions, brain contusions, bleeding in the brain, and injuries caused by the penetration of the skull as a result of blunt force trauma or sharp objects are examples of traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can lead to serious physical, social, emotional, and sensory ailments, including headaches, nausea, dizziness, an inability to focus or concentrate, memory loss, depression, and communication issues.
Neck Injuries
Motor vehicle accidents can lead to stretching, pinching, or spraining of the nerves, muscles, bones, and tissues of the neck. These injuries can lead to stiffness in the neck, an inability to move the head, and pain that radiates in and around the neck and shoulders. Whiplash is an example of a common neck injury that can be caused by a vehicle accident, especially a rear-end accident.
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs)
According to the Mayo Clinic, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of new spinal cord injuries every year, accounting for about half of all reported cases. Depending on whether your spinal cord injury involves only the bones, nerves, or muscles of your spine, you can experience pain, a temporary loss of sensation, or long-term paralysis and incapacitation from a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries can also lead to respiratory issues and a loss of bowel or bladder control.
Limb Injuries
It is not uncommon for highway accident victims to suffer broken bones, sprains, fractures, dislocated joints, bruising, lacerations, and injuries to the upper and lower extremities. Limb injuries are common in T-bone, frontal, rollover, and undercarriage accidents.
Psychological Injuries
Highway accident victims can suffer mental and emotional trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and general fear and anxiety. Some victims of motor vehicle accidents are so affected by their accident that they are uncomfortable or find themselves completely unable to drive or sit in a car. These types of issues can seriously affect the victim’s ability to work, get around, and live an independent life.
Get in touch with Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC at (828) 286-3866. A Marion highway accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Compensation for Highway Accidents
Compensation for your highway accident will depend on many factors. First, you need to ascertain who was responsible for the accident. This step is known as identifying the at-fault party. Next, you need to determine which of your injuries or damages are compensable. You then need to consider which of potentially several insurance policies apply to your case.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), North Carolina drivers are required to carry:
- At least $30,000 in bodily injury liability for injuries to one person in a crash
- At least $60,000 in coverage for all personal injuries in a single crash
- At least $25,000 for property damage per crash
- At least $750,000 for commercial vehicles
In addition to these minimums, you or an at-fault driver may carry personal injury protection or comprehensive coverage. A victim’s personal health insurance policy can potentially be used to cover various accident-related expenses as well.
The amount you may be entitled to in compensation will depend on the damages you suffered and the severity of your injuries. The higher your medical expenses are–both past, current, and future, as long as they are accident-related–the more in compensation you may be entitled to.
The same applies to non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, that are often calculated using a multiplier that calculates non-economic damages using your economic damages as a base figure.
Legal Guidance and Assistance
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, our Marion highway accident lawyer can help you determine:
- Who was at fault for your accident
- The value of your damages
- The insurance policies that apply to your case
Based on the above, we can help you:
- Gather evidence: we can help you obtain police reports, eyewitness statements, cell phone usage data, and other forms of proof to support your claim.
- File a claim or lawsuit: you can file one or both of these if you can prove that the at-fault party’s actions caused your accident.
- Negotiate: we can help you negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurer and represent you in court if a settlement cannot be reached.
North Carolina General Statutes §1-52 dictates that you have three years within which to file a lawsuit for personal injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident, so do not hesitate to reach out to our team today. Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC at (828) 286-3866 for legal guidance and assistance with your highway accident.
