AUTO ACCIDENTS
EXPERIENCE WITH CASES INVOLVING AUTO ACCIDENTS
The Law Office of William Justice Whitaker has worked on cases ranging from slight fender benders to serious drunk driving accidents, and each type has its own complexities and challenges. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will ensure that your case is handled properly. Contact us to learn more about our legal representation for clients involved in car accidents, as well as for medical malpractice and slip and fall cases in the Washington, DC, area.
COMPENSATION FOR YOUR INJURY
There are over 6 million auto accidents every year in the United States. Unfortunately, this means that there is a good chance that you, or someone you know, will be involved in a car accident sometime in your life. Regardless of whether you suffer mild whiplash or a loved one is killed, you are entitled to compensation for all damage caused by the negligent driver. Compensation can include not just reimbursement for medical bills, but also compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, and punitive damages.
WHAT ARE PUNITIVE DAMAGES?
Punitive damages punish an individual’s wrongdoings and are used to discourage others from similar actions. In Virginia, you may be able to collect for punitive damages in a variety of situations, including drunk driving offenses, reckless driving accidents, hit and run cases, and other acts that can cause bodily injury while operating a motor vehicle.
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
Due to the size and weight of commercial trucks, most accidents involving trucks are very serious, causing permanent injury or even death to the individuals in a passenger vehicle. Automobiles are designed under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations only to encounter like-sized vehicles, not 100,000-pound trucks. There are many reasons accidents occur involving trucks, including negligence on the part of the truck driver. Truck driver negligence can include:
- Aggressive Driving
- Speeding
- Unrealistic Schedules
- Failure to Inspect Tires
- Brakes & Lights
- Tailgating
- Long Work Shifts
- Driver Fatigue
- Failure to Install
- Blind-Spot Mirrors
- Cell Phone Use
- Jackknifing
- Ignoring Reduced Truck
- Speed Limits
IF YOU ARE IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT, YOU SHOULD DO THE FOLLOWING:
FILE A POLICE REPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE: Always file a police report, regardless of the severity of the incident. This is important for the timely recovery of damages.
GATHER WITNESSES: Try to find an eye witness or witnesses and get their contact information.
GET MEDICAL ATTENTION: See your primary care physician or visit the hospital within 48 hours for an examination. Even if you do not feel as if you were injured at the time of the accident, problems can occur days or even weeks later. Early detection of these problems can ensure that the person at fault will not escape liability.
AVOID PROVIDING A RECORDED STATEMENT: Never agree to a taped conversation with an insurance company. They are not doing this for your benefit, but rather as an attempt to deny or reduce any settlement paid to you.
COLLECT EVIDENCE: Take photos of the damage to your vehicle. These pictures can be used to strengthen your case. Also take photos of your injuries and keep a detailed journal of your recovery process. This information can be crucial to your case and to any recovery.
CONTACT OUR LAW FIRM: Call the Law Office of William Justice Whitaker immediately.