If you have been sideswiped, you have suffered a variety of damages. Even a minor collision can lead to a lot of expensive repairs and serious injuries. Such crashes could be life-altering, and you could face long-term financial losses from the crash. If the crash is severe, it can lead to loss of life or lifetime disabilities.
There are many causes of sideswipe crashes, but they are often caused by inattentive drivers or drivers who are not adhering to traffic regulations. Drivers who are speeding, texting, eating, or who fail to signal can lead to terrible accidents. Just one wrong move can shatter lives and lead to thousands of dollars in damages.
Even the safest driver can be involved in a sideswipe crash with little or no warning. When you are involved in a crash, you should maintain thorough documentation that will show the damages that you suffered and to support your claim. You should always stay on the scene of the accident and call the police, so an accident report can be completed.
You will need to tell the officer what happened. State only the facts, not opinions. You want the accident report to be detailed and factual so it can help your claim.
What To Do After A Sideswipe Accident
If you are physically able to do so, get photos of the accident scene and of the damages to the vehicles. You should establish medical care right away even if you think your injuries are minor.
You must show the casual connection between your injuries and the accident or your claim will not succeed. A sideswipe accident could lead to multiple injuries. Here are some of the more common injuries suffered in such crashes:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Spinal injuries
- Internal injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Contusions
- Soft tissue injuries
You can suffer a variety of damages. These damages can add up fast, and you may have both economic and non-economic damages. Here are some of the more commonly claimed damages after a sideswipe crash:
- Lost wages
- Future loss of earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
When you file a personal injury claim after an auto accident, such as a sideswipe crash, you will want to make sure you cover your bases and that all your damages and losses are included in your claim. You don’t want to have to foot the bill for the damages that you suffered because of someone else’s inattentiveness or negligence.
You will need to establish medical care right away. This will help prove that your injuries were a direct result of the accident. You must maintain documentation from your medical visits, such as your medical bills and medical records.
You should make copies of any physician notes and medical excuses that indicate you are unable to work or that you have restrictions and limitations.
All your paperwork should be kept as it will help you support your claim and can be used as evidence. Documentation can help you have a successful case. Without documentation, it is impossible to show the extent of your damages and their severity. You should maintain a file that includes all your records that pertain to the sideswipe crash.
A Personal Injury Claim After a Sideswipe
Regardless of how alert and safe we are on the roadways, the risk of being in an accident still exists. Many accidents involve a car being sideswiped by another vehicle. You and your passengers may have suffered serious injuries in the crash.
A single auto accident can be life-changing. Injuries that can result form a sideswipe accident include:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Head trauma
- Internal injuries
- Spinal injuries
If the accident is severe enough, even death can occur.
Lives can be shattered because of an inattentive driver.
Causes of Sideswipe Accidents
Crashes involving sideswipes can be the result of negligent drivers who fail to focus on the road. They may be caught up with a phone call, looking at a text message, or trying to change songs on the radio.
It could also be influenced by road conditions or the weather. There are literally dozens of reasons that a driver can become distracted and lose focus of his lane of traffic.
Impairment by drugs and alcohol can also lead a driver to misjudge his location and sideswipe another car.
A crash can occur within seconds, and those few seconds can change several lives forever. Regardless of how safe you are when driving, the risk is always out there.
The Costs of a Sideswipe Accident
Your damages from a sideswipe accident can add up fast. You will have medical expenses, which may include the cost of the physician visit, hospital bills, the cost of x-rays and scans, the radiologist fees, the cost of the cast or medical devices, physical therapy, surgery, and follow-up care. Your medical care can quickly add up to total thousands of dollars.
Your auto accident injury lawyer will help you add up the costs associated with your losses, including any future expenses related to the crash, including future medical bills and future loss of earnings.
When you file your claim against the liable party, you will want to make sure you include all your damages and that you are fairly compensated for all your losses.
Gather documentation that details any future medical care that you may need, such as future medical care like physical therapy or surgical procedures. Also, ask your physician as to how long the recovery process will be for any procedures that you have because of the auto accident injuries.
You want to make sure all the damages are accounted for and that you claim compensation for all your losses. Your accident injury attorney can help you with this as your lawyer understands the importance of your damages as they pertain to your personal injury claim.
Proving You Were Not at Fault
If you have been injured in a sideswipe accident, you should consult with a personal injury attorney who will work on your behalf to file a compensation claim against the at-fault driver.
Some accidents are easier to prove fault than others. As an example, it may be easy to prove that you were in your lane and the other vehicle crossed the line and struck you.
However, there may be times that witness statements, photographs, evidence from the accident scene, and detailed police reports may be required to show who is responsible for the crash.
You will also need to be able to provide your detailed medical records detailing the severity of your injuries, any medical treatment that is required, details about your recovery period, and documentation of the financial hardship you are experiencing from the loss of income.
The Role of a Personal Injury Attorney
A personal injury attorney will aggressively work to make sure your rights are protected and you have access to the medical care you need. Your lawyer will study your case in detail, going over your recollection of the events, witness reports, police reports, and all medical records.
Insurance companies don’t want to pay out the amount you are entitled, but when they deal with an attorney the amount of compensation and your treatment can change drastically.
An attorney knows how to properly negotiate with the insurance company of the driver who was at-fault. He or she will make sure you are treated fairly and you get the compensation you deserve.
Negotiating with an at-fault driver’s insurance company is almost impossible to do by yourself.
If you have been injured in a sideswipe accident, you should schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney.
