When you are driving, a rotary or roundabout can sometimes be a confusing area to enter. With cars entering and exiting from multiple roadways, it can be easy to have an auto accident in a rotary. Actually, auto accidents in the rotary or roundabout are a common occurrence.
Car accidents lead to a variety of losses and cause economic damages. Examples of some damages that might result from an auto accident include medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and property damages. These damages can be recovered through a personal injury claim.
To determine liability for an auto accident, it must be revealed who was at fault for the crash. The party who was to blame must pay for the damages that were incurred as a result of the accident. An experienced personal injury attorney will investigate the accident and determine what went wrong and who is to blame for what occurred.
Your personal injury lawyer will file a personal injury claim on your behalf and help you recover compensation for the damages you suffered.
Auto Accidents at a Rotary
While auto accidents happen everywhere and at anytime, there are some auto accidents that are much more common in a rotary or roundabout. As an example, because of the number of cars entering and exiting the roundabout, rear-end collisions do sometimes happen.
Other common accidents include sideswipes when merging, which can cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle. Cars might also be T-boned by another vehicle as they pull in and out of the rotary. Some of these accidents can result in serious injuries and major damages.
The Kinds of Injuries Suffered
Any of these accidents can result in injuries. Injuries might be minor or they could be more serious resulting in ongoing care and hospital stays. Some of the more common injuries include soft tissue injuries, which include sprains, strains, and whiplash. These injuries might require physical therapy for healing.
More serious injuries might include broken bones, concussions, or internal injuries. Some might require surgical intervention or lengthy recovery times. Medical bills can mount quickly and might require several days off work.
To support your claim, you need to maintain documentation and keep evidence of the damages that you suffered. You need to take photos of the damage to your vehicle as well as any injuries you suffered. Here are some other documents you should keep:
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Auto repair estimates
- Towing bills
- Receipts for rental cars
These documents will all be necessary to prove that you had damages that entitle you to a personal injury claim.
Determining Fault in a Rotary Accident
Determining fault can be a difficult in an accident in a rotary. Intersections have clear signs and lights to determine right of way, rotaries on the other hand have constant movement. In addition, rotaries can have multiple lanes. Drivers who are unfamiliar with the area might have difficulty merging into the correct lane to take their turn. If the other driver does not know who has right of way, the results can be devastating.
To prove who is at fault, you will need to provide the insurance company with the evidence to show that the other driver did not obey the rules of the road or was negligent. There is plenty of evidence that is available that you should start to gather as soon as the accident happens.
Rotaries are often in areas that see high traffic and therefore there is a good chance that a local business or home will have a camera facing the accident. In addition you should take photos of the accident scene and gather witness contact information. No matter how small the damages are, you shouldn’t hesitate to involve the police. They will be able to help you gather witness statements and determine the cause of the accident.
Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney
To pursue compensation for the damages you suffered, you should enlist help from a personal injury attorney. Your attorney will file a claim and negotiate with the auto insurance company. If the negotiations aren't successful, your attorney will represent you in court.
Your lawyer will know what damages you suffered and determine the value of your claim. Because personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you won't have to pay anything out upfront.
