Is There a Car Accident Near Me?

If you have been injured in a car accident, you might be wondering if you have a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim can help you recover damages for your injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To determine whether you have a valid personal injury claim, you will need to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. At Morgan & Morgan, we will review the facts of your case and help you decide whether to pursue a claim. We can file a lawsuit on your behalf and represent you in court and negotiate with the insurance company for you. If you were injured in a car accident, contact Morgan & Morgan today to schedule your free consultation.

An Overview of Car Accident Statistics in the United States

Car accidents are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. In 2017, there were 6.3 million car crashes, which resulted in over 37,000 fatalities and 2.9 million injuries. This averages out to over 100 car accidents every single day, with nearly 40,000 people injured and over 1,000 killed.

There are a number of factors that contribute to these numbers. First and foremost is the sheer number of cars on the road. In 2017, there were 264 million registered vehicles in the United States alone. With more cars on the road, the chances of an accident happening increase. Add to that the fact that people are driving more miles each year.

Distracted driving is another major factor in car accidents. In 2017, distracted driving was responsible for 8% of all fatal crashes and 15% of all injury crashes. There are three main types of distracted driving: visual (taking your eyes off the road), manual (taking your hands off the wheel), and cognitive (not being mentally focused on driving). Common distractions include things like talking or texting on your phone, eating or drinking, talking to passengers, fiddling with the stereo or navigation system, daydreaming, and rubbernecking (looking at other accidents).

Speeding is also a major contributing factor to car accidents. In 2017, speeding was a factor in 26% of all fatal crashes and 14% of all injury crashes. Males aged 15-20 were the most likely to be involved in speeding-related crashes, followed by males aged 21–24 and 25–34.

In 2020, there were 6,427,000 car accidents reported to police, which is a decrease from the 6,516,000 car accidents reported in 2019. This decrease can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing stay-at-home orders and decrease in travel. However, even with this decrease, car accidents are still a major problem in the United States.

In 2020, there were 36,096 fatalities due to car accidents, which is also a decrease from 2019 when there were 36,560 fatalities. This again can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it is still a significant number of lives lost. Of these fatalities, 66 percent were motor vehicle passengers, 14 percent were motorcycle riders, 13 percent were pedestrians, and 7 percent were bicyclists.

There was also a slight decrease in the number of injuries due to car accidents in 2020 as compared to 2019; there were 2,851,000 injuries reported compared to the 3,036,000 injuries reported in 2019. These numbers show that even with a decrease in the overall number of car accidents occurring, they are still dangerous and can have serious consequences.

There are a number of other factors that can contribute to car accidents as well, including weather conditions, recklessness, road rage, drowsy driving, and intoxication.

What Steps to Take if You're in a Car Accident?

Get medical attention. This should be your first priority after an accident. Even if you feel fine, it’s important to see a doctor or go to the emergency room. Some injuries, such as whiplash, might not be immediately apparent. And if you don’t get treated right away, your insurance company could argue that your injuries aren’t related to the accident.

Call the police and file a report. In many states, you’re required to call the police if there’s been a car accident. Even if it’s not required, it’s a good idea to call so that there’s an official record of what happened. The police report will also be helpful when you file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Collect information at the scene of the accident. If you’re able to do so, collect the contact information for the other driver(s) involved in the accident, as well as any witnesses. You should also take photos of the damage to both vehicles and get a copy of the other driver(s)’ insurance information. If you can’t collect this information at the scene of the accident, don’t worry—your attorney can help obtain it later.

See your own doctor as soon as possible after the accident. In addition to seeing a doctor right away, it’s important that you continue to see your own physician (preferably one who specializes in treating car accident victims) for all your medical care relating to the accident. Be sure to keep all records and bills related to your medical treatment, as you will need these for your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Call your insurance company and report the accident. You may be required by law to notify your own insurance company about the accident, regardless of who was at fault. But keep in mind that insurance adjusters work for the insurance company—not for you—and their goal is to settle your claim for as little money as possible (or preferably, no money at all). Therefore, it’s generally not a good idea to give a recorded statement or sign anything without first consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney who can advise you of your rights and help protect your interests throughout the claim process.

Consult with an experienced personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement offer from an insurance company, even if it seems like a fair amount of money initially. Once you have hired an attorney, he or she will handle all communications with the insurance companies on your behalf so that you can focus on getting better physically and emotionally from the accident itself. Your lawyer will also negotiate with the insurance companies to try to get you full and fair compensation for all of your losses resulting from the accident, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages and income, pain and suffering damages, emotional distress damages, property damage losses, etc.

If necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver (or their insurance company) in order to recover full and fair compensation for all of your losses resulting from the car accident. Remember, time is always of the essence when it comes to filing personal injury lawsuits, so don’t delay in seeking legal assistance from an experienced personal injury lawyer near you

What Should I Do if I Witness a Car Accident Near Me?

If you witness a car accident, the best thing you can do is remain calm and call 911. You should give the dispatcher your location and tell them if anyone appears to be injured.

If possible, move your vehicle to a safe location out of the way of oncoming traffic. Once you have moved your vehicle, you should turn on your hazard lights. If it is not safe to move your vehicle, or you are unable to do so, you should stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened and your hazard lights turned on. Do not attempt to leave the scene of the accident until law enforcement has arrived and told you it is okay to do so. They may want to speak to you since you were a witness.

How Do You Prove Fault in a Car Accident?

After being involved in a car accident, you may be wondering how you can prove who is at fault. In some cases, it may be obvious who is liable—for example, if the other driver ran a red light. However, in other cases, liability may not be so clear. You may need to gather evidence to support your claim that the other driver was at fault. This evidence can take many forms, but some of the most common include:

Eyewitness Accounts

If there are any eyewitnesses to the accident, their testimony can be very helpful in proving fault. Eyewitness accounts can provide an impartial account of what happened and help to shed light on what really transpired. Eyewitnesses can also help to corroborate other pieces of evidence, such as photos or videos of the accident scene.

Photos and Videos of the Accident Scene

If you have any photos or videos of the accident scene, these can be used as evidence to show what happened. For example, if there are skid marks on the road, this can indicate that the other driver was speeding or brake-checking just before the collision occurred.

The Police Report

The police report is one of the most important pieces of evidence in a car accident case. The police report will document what happened at the scene of the accident and will often contain information about who they believe is at fault. The police report can also be used to track down witnesses or gain access to video footage from nearby security cameras.

Contact Morgan & Morgan Today

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, it's important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve. In any personal injury claim, it is important to have all the facts in order. This includes knowing what to do after a car accident and understanding the process of filing a personal injury claim. Consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney can help ensure that you are taking the necessary steps to protect your rights and maximize your potential compensation. Morgan & Morgan has been handling car accident claims for more than 2 decades and we have recovered billions of dollars for our clients. No matter where you’re located, we can help you. Contact Morgan & Morgan today to schedule your free consultation.