Accidents in City Near Me

You may be eligible for compensation if you have been injured in a car accident. Hiring an experienced car accident attorney in a city near you significantly increases your chances of obtaining favorable results. At Morgan and Morgan, we have helped thousands of car accident victims seek the compensation they need and deserve following a car accident. If you have a valid claim, we can fight for you.

But how do you know whether you have a valid claim? Do not stress; all you need to do is fill out our free case evaluation form. One of our legal representatives will review your case and get in touch to discuss your options.

Morgan and Morgan also constantly receive various questions from concerned car accident victims. For this reason, we have answered some of the most commonly asked questions about car accidents, hoping you will find the answers you or your loved ones need. If you still have more questions, do not hesitate to contact us directly.

What Are Some Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Car accidents happen due to many different reasons, sometimes unavoidable circumstances such as bad weather, other times due to negligence. Some common causes of car accidents in cities throughout the United States include:

• Distracted driving: This mostly happens due to the use of mobile phones while driving.
• Mechanical problems: Some accidents occur due to mechanical problems, such as faulty parts.
• Speeding: When drivers speed, they risk their lives, including passengers and pedestrians.

• Impaired driving: This is usually one of the leading causes of car accidents in the US. Examples include driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

   

Can I Sue After a Car Accident?

Yes, you can file a lawsuit if you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident. Here is how it works:

When you get injured in a car accident caused by someone else's negligence, you will need to file a claim with their insurance company. In some states, such as Florida, you must file a claim with your insurance company first after the accident. This is because these states follow the "no-fault" legal doctrine. In other words, the state assumes that no one is at fault for the accident; therefore, each driver should file a claim with their insurer.

In a "no-fault" state, drivers must have Personal Injury Protection insurance. This insurance covers medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage after the accident. For example, drivers must have at least $10,000 worth of PIP insurance in Florida. So what happens if the coverage is not enough to settle your damages after the accident? In that case, you will need to file another claim with the other party's insurance company.

If they refuse to settle the claim and yet it is valid, you may be able to sue them. The same applies if you live in an "at-fault" state like Washington. If you get injured in a car accident in an at-fault state, you will file a claim with the other driver's insurance company (assuming they are at fault for the accident). If they refuse to settle, a lawsuit might be the next option.

What Damages Can I Sue For?

It all depends on the specifics of your case. At Morgan and Morgan, we typically help accident victims recover economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages cover the financial losses or expenses stemming from the accident. Examples of these damages include medical expenses, ambulance costs, cost of medical equipment, lost wages, lost earning potential, etc.

On the other hand, non-economic damages cover non-quantifiable damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, etc.

If the court determines that the defendant was extremely negligent in their actions, they might award you punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish the defendant for their extreme recklessness and warn others in similar situations against such conduct.

Can I Sue if I Lost a Loved One in an Accident?

Yes, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the defendant. However, it is important to note that such cases are extremely complicated. Other than a car accident attorney, you will also need the help of a wrongful death lawyer. Luckily, when you hire Morgan and Morgan to fight for you, there will be no need to hire separate attorneys to investigate the case. This is because Morgan and Morgan is home to an army of over 900 injury attorneys. For this reason, you can rest assured that our firm has the experts you need to investigate your claim, all under one roof. 

What if the Other Party Cannot Afford to Compensate Me After the Accident?

When you file a claim or lawsuit, the insurance company is mostly responsible for processing the compensation. Therefore, you will not be filing a direct claim against the defendant. This, however, does not entirely rule out the possibility of filing a direct claim against the liable party.

A direct lawsuit may be filed if the defendant's insurance coverage is insufficient to compensate the injured after the accident. They might also be sued directly if they did not have insurance when the accident occurred.

What Should I Do if Injured in a Car Accident in My City?

Although an attorney can help you get compensation, the steps you take after the accident will determine how much compensation you may be entitled to. These steps could even decide if you deserve compensation at all.

This is because personal injury laws are complex. It does not matter if you got injured in a car accident or on someone's property; the steps you take could make or break your claim.

In the case of a car accident, you should take the following steps:

Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Call 911 or have someone do it if you have suffered serious injuries.

Document the accident scene if you can. This includes but is not limited to taking pictures and videos of the scene and writing down what you remember about the accident, including everyone involved. You should include every detail, even those you are not likely to forget.

This is because some accident victims develop memory loss moments after the accident, especially if they suffer severe head injuries. Therefore, rather than rely on your memory to prove your claim, it is better to document everything well in advance. This tactic ensures that you have someone fighting for your best interests, even if you cannot remember certain details about the accident.

Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you can. An experienced attorney will review the unique circumstances of your case and offer much-needed legal advice. Since each case is unique, you are better off consulting an attorney than following specific steps you found on the internet. For example, the attorney will tell you what you can or cannot say to the other party after the accident.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim or Lawsuit?

This will depend on the statute of limitations for such cases in your state. The statute of limitations is the time limit an injured party has to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If this statute expires, you will lose your right to pursue compensation. This explains why it is especially important to contact an attorney right after the accident.

Remember, your attorney will not have enough time to investigate your claim and build a strong case for you if you take too long to contact them. The sooner you contact them, the better.

What if I Cannot Afford an Attorney?

You should not have to worry if you cannot afford an attorney. Most personal injury lawyers and firms, including Morgan and Morgan, charge their clients a contingency fee. This basically means that the attorneys only get paid if they win the case.

Where do I Find the Right Attorney to Represent Me in My City?

When looking for the right attorney to represent you, chances are you will encounter numerous options to choose from. However, remember that the goal is not to find just any attorneys. Rather, you need a competent attorney passionate about fighting for accident victims.

But that is not all.

When looking for the right attorney to represent you after an injury or the death of a loved one due to an accident caused by someone else's negligent, ask them the following questions:

• How long have they been practicing personal injury law? In most cases, the longer they have been practicing, the better their experience in this field.
• Do they have experience with your specific type of case, e.g., car accident claims? If they do, ask them to briefly explain their experience.
• Do they have the resources to fight for you?
• What is their track record of winning such cases?
• Do they have any quantifiable results to prove their track record?
• Will they fight for you in court if the other party refuses to settle out of court?

Can I Still Sue if I Was Partly Responsible for the Accident?

When you get injured in a car accident you believe was partly due to your fault, that should not bar you from fighting for the compensation you are entitled to. However, as a general rule, it is never advisable to admit fault after the accident, even if you feel you are partly responsible. You may be surprised to discover that you are not even at fault from a legal standpoint. But admitting fault prematurely gives the defendant a good reason to dispute your claim. The insurance company will likely use that confession to evade their responsibility of compensating you for your injuries.

Injured in a Car Accident? Morgan and Morgan Will Fight for You

At Morgan and Morgan, we understand the pain you or your loved one might be going through after a car accident. The pain aside, we understand the kind of financial mess such accidents can put you through. You will have huge medical bills, not forgetting your personal bills such as rent, car payments, tuition, etc.

It is even worse if your household depends on you for financial support; a single accident could be all it takes to turn your life upside down. But that should not be the case. You deserve proven and aggressive attorneys on your side when fighting for your rights. You understand attorneys who have handled such cases before and know what it means to suffer due to someone else’s carelessness. You also need an attorney who knows how to handle bullish insurance companies in your times of need.

At Morgan and Morgan, we can help fight for you, ensuring you receive the compensation you need and deserve.

To begin this process, all you need to do is fill out our free case evaluation form. Then, one of our legal representatives will review your case and discuss the next steps.

Remember, you do not pay us unless we win.