No-one expects to get hit by another car driver when they pull in to fill their gas tank at a gas station or stop at the convenience store next door.
It can happen out of the blue and leave you with serious injuries. If the accident was not your fault, you should consider taking legal action against whoever was to blame.
A successful personal injury claim can help you deal with hospital bills and other medical treatment costs, as well as compensate for any lost wages. A personal injury attorney can advise you about your legal options.
What Could Go Wrong at a Gas Station?
Things go wrong when drivers no longer pay attention to what they are doing and who is around them. When drivers are tired, drunk or affected by drugs, distracted, speeding or simply careless, they can cause serious car crashes.
Even when vehicles are driving slowly in the region of a gas station, a simple crash can cause injuries.
These injuries are liable to be far worse if someone is actually out of their car when another vehicle hits them.
In addition to driver error, there is always the possibility that the forecourt surface around the gas pumps is exceptionally slippery, causing vehicles to slide or slip out of control.
As with any car crash, there are certain ways in which it can happen. A few examples are:
- head on collisions, possibly the worst in terms of potential injuries;
- sideswipes or side on collisions (t-bone);
- rear end collisions.
It is less likely that a driver or passenger would be using their seat belt when in their car at a gas station making collisions more dangerous in these circumstances.
Legal Options After A Crash
After any car crash in which serious injuries have occurred, it is always worth contacting a personal injury attorney, especially if you know that someone else was at fault.
Filing a claim for compensation is not straightforward and is best left to an attorney who can negotiate with sometimes uncooperative drivers and insurance companies on your behalf.
Most personal injury attorneys will provide a free initial consultation and will defer legal costs until a successful compensation payment is negotiated.
*Disclaimer
The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against WaWa, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
