The average American files a claim for a collision about once every 18 years. That might not sound so bad when we consider the fact that most motorists drive on a regular basis for over half a century. In total, a driver should expect to be involved in at least three accidents before they hang up their keys. Once again, that isn’t a shocking number, but we must consider how many automobiles there actually are in the United States.
According to recent statistics, there are more registered passenger vehicles in the U.S. than in any other country on earth. Overall, there were 254 million at last count, which is more than one automobile for every licensed driver! Because there are so many and because Americans drive greater distances than most other nationalities, accidents are inevitable. According to the National Safety Council, there are around 10 million car crashes each year. They range from minor fender benders to fatal accidents.
In most cases, only property is damaged in these collisions. But in one out of every five accidents, or about two million per annum, someone is hurt. Rising medical costs and the continued presence of older drivers have resulted in more claims for injuries and a greater likelihood that a lawsuit will be filed in civil court. The following is a brief list with descriptions of the most common car accident cases.
Property Damage
No matter whose fault the accident was, if neither party was hurt, you should be able to settle the case in short order. The opposing insurance adjuster will most likely offer you the same settlement an attorney could obtain for you in these typically open-and-shut cases. Therefore, there is no reason to contact a personal injury law firm in a situation where no one was hurt and culpability has been established.
Minor Injury Cases
According to the law, a minor injury is one that you fully recover from in a few days and results in less than $1,000 in medical bills. Usually, these cases involve cuts, scrapes, and contusions. They may force the accident victim to miss a day or two of work, but no more than that. It is normally not necessary to contact a personal injury law firm for these cases, since the settlement will barely cover their bills.
Major Injury Case
It is always advisable to contact a lawyer if the damage is significant and causes you to miss more than a couple of days of work. Broken bones, whiplash, joint damage, or head trauma are quite common in these complicated cases. Because the risk of permanent impairment is much greater when any of the aforementioned injuries are sustained, a personal injury law firm should be contacted as soon as possible after the accident.
How Can They Help?
When an insured driver is deemed responsible for a collision in which the other party was hurt, his or her insurance provider will always try to settle the case before lawyers get involved. These providers generally begin by offering low-ball settlements that, if accepted, will shield the driver from future lawsuits. An experienced accident attorney can help you negotiate a fair settlement that will cover all of your medical and property expenses.