Holiday Traffic: When to Call an Accident Lawyer

Holiday traffic is always an issue this time of year, but what happens if that traffic turns into a major accident leaving you or your loved ones with injuries? If this happens because of holiday traffic or any other negligence-related issue, a personal injury lawyer can help you sort this out.

Everyone expects holiday traffic, but after the pandemic when so many people's schedules changed, it can be hard to know if you still need to be concerned about an onslaught of holiday travelers. Knowing what to expect when you go out on the road is important, but it is just as important to know when to call an accident lawyer. If you've been seriously hurt in an accident, you need the support of an attorney who has been in this situation before and who has guided other people to recover compensation. 

Understanding the Risks of Holiday Traffic

Holiday traffic isn't just a problem because of more drivers on the road. It's also a problem because many of these drivers are rushed and possibly stressed. Some drivers may not be paying attention to the road, and others may have not driven a long distance in quite some time. Furthermore, unpredictable weather of the winter season can also contribute to a greater likelihood of an accident. 

But no matter how an accident happens, you may need to be prepared to consult with an attorney if your life has been turned upside down directly as a result of a devastating accident. Most people know to allot extra time with holiday traffic and to be as patient as possible when traveling, but you might still wind up on the side of the road calling the police because you've been seriously hurt in a wreck.

How to Know if You Need to File a Lawsuit

Some car accidents leave victims with relatively minor injuries. If this applies to your case, consider yourself lucky. Many more people are critically injured and are unable to put the pieces of their life back together quickly enough to return to work. Particularly when there are extenuating circumstances like slippery roads or slow response times from the authorities, this can contribute to a greater likelihood of severe injuries. 

You might not want to think that you have been seriously injured and instead want to put this matter behind you so that you can move on and get to your family functions. But what happens if you're seriously injured? In minor accident situations you might not need the support of an experienced personal injury lawyer. You might be able to keep your wits about you and to use your health insurance to get immediate medical treatment. 

Sometimes taking basic aspirin can help you to recover from mild whiplash, but if your injuries are more severe than this, you need to be prepared to file a civil lawsuit as this might be your only opportunity to get the support that you need for your medical care and other related expenses. If your injuries are anything beyond mild and you are dealing with serious damages to property or lifelong consequences, this is when you need to call an accident lawyer. 

You deserve to get the opportunity to discuss all of your options with a civil litigation lawyer immediately after being hurt. Waiting too long could jeopardize your ability to get the compensation that you need and could also delay your recovery period.

Complicated Case Types 

Even what appears to be a relatively simple car accident claim can become much more complex when you bring it to the court. You might assume that your insurance company will get back to you relatively quickly with a fair settlement offer, but this is really the case for someone who's been hurt in a serious accident. Especially if you’re looking for more info on holiday traffic and when to call an accident lawyer, you might already be feeling the pressure of handling your entire claim on your own. 

Even if you feel that you have a run-of-the-mill car accident claim, you should still take advantage of an initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Meeting with a lawyer during an initial consultation does not obligate you to either file a lawsuit or to work with that attorney directly. However, it might open your eyes to some of the specific factors in your case that illustrate the complexity. For example, perhaps you never consider that more than one party might be responsible for your injuries. This can fall to the support of an experienced personal injury lawyer to guide you through that process and to help you craft a compelling case. Your lawyer might need to involve expert witnesses or outside parties to reconstruct the scene of the accident to show how it likely happened. Simply involving a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can greatly increase your chances of a positive recovery of damages. 

If you feel that there are any aspects of your claim making it harder for you to get the compensation you need to move on into this next chapter of your life, now is a good time to involve a lawyer who has ample experience. 

If you also have a product liability claim or there were multiple cars in the accident or if a defective road contributed to your injuries, these are all examples of escalated situations that call for the involvement of a dedicated attorney. 

Seek out an attorney who has been practicing for years in this practice area and one who can tell you more about what happens after your case is filed. Many lawyers have experience in both settlement conversations and trial cases, so make sure you discuss the specifics with your intended attorney in that first meeting. Discover who will be managing your communication and helping you with your claim, too, since some bigger firms might leverage resources like paralegals, co-counsel, or associate attorneys within their own firm. 

What if Someone Else Is at Fault?

It is not always easy to illustrate that another person is at fault for the injuries you've sustained. It falls on you to get medical attention right away to start to begin your case. You might not realize at this time the severity of your injuries or the potential expenses. In these circumstances, however, it pays to be mindful of your rights and to get checked out by a physician anyways to be sure that you do not have severe or critical injuries. If you can show that another party was partly or fully responsible for your injuries, this can become the basis of your lawsuit. 

This can include negligent actions such as drunk driving, reckless driving, distracted driving, drowsy driving, and more. In each of these individual circumstances, you'll want to speak with an attorney who has an appropriate background in managing these types of cases. Victims need to gather evidence promptly and might not even have access to all of the evidence they need to launch a claim. For example, your attorney might order an accident reconstruction specialist or other expert witnesses to testify as to how the accident likely happened or the severity of the injuries.

Factors That Influence Your Claim 

If you can tell that someone else caused the accident you suffered in, you might be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit in your state. It can be difficult to understand the circumstances if you travel during the holidays and get hurt. This is because you might need a local attorney who is familiar with the statute of limitations and other laws that influence your ability to recover compensation. Do not assume that your home state’s laws apply especially when it comes to the time. In which you must file a claim to protect your right. Allowing this claim to lapse could mean your entire claim is disbarred. You must do everything possible to protect yourself if you get hurt when traveling during the holidays, and one of the best ways to do this is to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible.

Have you already been hurt because of holiday traffic? To take your next steps, contact the experts at Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation and to get the information you need to get started with your case.