If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you may be able to seek damages for your medical costs, lost wages, rehabilitation expenses, and pain and suffering. However, your settlement will depend on whether the other driver was at fault for your crash. Many accidents could have been prevented had drivers paid attention to the road, followed the law, avoided drunk driving, and exercised more caution behind the wheel. If another driver’s actions resulted in your crash, you and your family may be entitled to make a claim. The Cooper Law Firm are car accident attorneys in Canton, Van Zandt, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, Paris, and Marshall, Texas who may be able to assist you with building a case and making a claim.
What are some causes of car accidents? Here are a few situations where you may be entitled to make a claim:
- Distracted Driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving kills an estimated 3,166 people each year. Texting and driving is particularly dangerous. In the time it takes to read a text message, a driver can travel the length of a football field. Distracted driving kills and injures. If you or a loved one were hurt by a distracted driver, you may have the right to make a claim for your losses.
- Speeding. Speed kills. At higher speeds, injuries following a car accident can be far more serious. When drivers exceed the speed limit or safe speeds for conditions, they can put other drivers on the road at risk. If another driver’s speeding resulted in a car accident or your serious injuries, you may have the right to seek damages for your losses and injuries.
- Drunk Driving. Drunk driving is not only against the law, it kills and injured thousands of drivers and passengers each year. The choice to drink and drive endangers everyone on the road. If you were in a drunk driving accident in which the other driver was drinking, you may be entitled to seek damages from the driver. You may also be entitled to seek money from crime victims’ funds. The Cooper Law Firm may be able to help you with your claim.
- Breaking the Law. Running red lights, running stop signs, improper turns, improper or illegal lane changes, speeding—the rules of the road are in place to protect all drivers and their passengers. When drivers break the law, they risk endangering the lives of others on the road.
- Inexperience. Younger drivers are more at risk of making mistakes behind the wheel. This is why younger drivers often are required to pay more for insurance. When younger drivers break the law, drink and drive, or text and drive, they run the risk of hurting others on the road.
- Drowsy Driving. Research has shown that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. If another driver failed to get adequate rest before getting behind the wheel, you may be entitled to make a claim under the law.
- Road Rage. Anger and driving don’t mix. Even worse is when a driver’s aggressive actions results in injuries to other drivers and their passengers. If you were the victim of another driver’s road rage, you may be entitled to make a claim under the law.
- Vehicle Malfunction. Drivers have a responsibility to keep their vehicles in good working order. Failing to properly keep vehicles repaired can lead to malfunction which can result in accidents. If another driver’s vehicle malfunction resulted in your accident and injuries, you may have the right to make a claim under the law.
- Road Conditions. Cities and states have a responsibility to keep roads repaired and free from hazards that can lead to accidents. If improperly-maintained roads resulted in your injuries, you may be able to make a claim against the city or state agency responsible for maintaining the road. While suing the government can be a complex process due to the legal concept of sovereign immunity, the Cooper Law Firm is a car accident lawyer in Texas who may be able to help you.
The amount of money you may be able to collect after a car accident will depend on who was at fault for the crash, and the degree of fault of each driver. The more at fault the other driver is for your crash, the more money you may be able to collect after a crash. The above factors can seriously impact the value of your claim. If another driver’s distraction, drunkenness, speeding, violations of the law, road rage, or failure to maintain his or her vehicle resulted in your crash, then you may be entitled to make a claim under the law. Contact the Cooper Law Firm, car accident lawyers in Texas today. Our firm can review the details of your accident, and offer you an honest assessment of your case.
