Head-on accidents are some of the worst types of accidents. Smaller vehicles are often a complete write off and there is potential for very serious injuries. It is vital for anyone involved who was not at fault to file a claim for compensation from the at-fault driver.
Head-on accidents can be enormously expensive and can cause severe financial hardship if a claim is not settled. A personal injury lawyer may be needed to ensure you get what you deserve after such a potentially horrific accident.
If your injuries and those of anyone in the vehicle with you were serious, you should be able to file a personal injury claim even if you have PIP insurance. You will certainly need to claim the cost of damage to your vehicle and any other property from the at-fault driver.
What Types of Damages Can I Collect?
It is important to be meticulous about the total cost of the accident. This is especially important if the injuries were likely to be long lasting or permanent. You should make sure you get accurate estimates of any future costs of treatment and loss of earnings.
These are the most common damages claimed after an auto accident that was not your fault:
- cost of all medical treatment including estimated future costs;
- loss of earnings if you were absent from wok because of your injury; including estimated future loss of earnings;
- cost of damage to your auto;
- all out of pocket expenses such as taxis, lawyer’s fees etc.;
- a payment to compensate for the pain and suffering experienced;
- punitive damages if applicable.
Gather Information and Evidence
Insurers typically will not pay out a claim unless there is clear proof that their client was at fault. It is likely that police would attend a head-on accident and will write an accident report which will provide credible evidence of how it happened and the damage done.
This is useful evidence when you file your claim. Other useful evidence to back up your claim would include as much as possible of the following:
- eye witness statements or at least their contact details;
- photos taken of the vehicles at the crash scene;
- video footage taken by a nearby surveillance camera if possible;
- receipts, invoices and quotes showing the personal cost of the accident to you.
Contact a PI Lawyer
Insurers tend to be reluctant to make any sort of payment unless there is convincing evidence that their client was responsible for the accident and that he or she was driving negligently.
They may even try and persuade you to accept a payment which falls far short of the real cost and what you need to get your life back together after what could be a very nasty accident. The best advice is to discuss your accident with an experienced personal injury lawyer before filing your claim.
Most PI lawyers will provide a free initial consultation and will defer legal fees until a payment is forthcoming.
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