Drive thru restaurants are one of the most popular methods of getting a quick meal without having to get out of your car to order or receive it. It is prepared and delivered straight through your open car window. This all appears to be just a little too easy.
Unfortunately accidents do happen and property damage and injuries to drivers and their passengers occur frequently.
If this has happened to you it may be possible to file a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the accident at the drive thru. The first thing you should consider doing is hiring a PI lawyer to help you file a claim.
You will need to gather evidence that proves who and what caused the accident. This is vital for any personal injury claim. The evidence to gather could include any of the following:
- eye witness statements and information about the accident;
- a police report of the scene of the accident;
- security camera evidence, which is normally available at most drive thrus;
- photographs noting both damage and positions of cars. this will help determine fault (keyword pictures).
The insurer of the at-fault driver will want evidence that cannot be disputed. If this is not available it will be hard to win a personal injury settlement.
When you make the decision to get your meal from a drive through, the last thing that’s likely to pass through your mind is that you won’t come out with a taco, but a serious injury instead. Visiting a mexican fast food joint is supposed to be a pleasurable experience, but it’s not always, as the drive-throughs are busy places and almost everyone visiting them is in a hurry. This makes drivers impatient when the line grows longer and longer and time is limited to get the food.
If you are injured in a drive through and the accident was caused by a negligent driver, you may be eligible to file a personal injury compensation claim from the at-fault driver. This helps to cover medical costs and lost wages while you are recovering. You are more likely to win the best claim if a personal injury lawyer is at hand to help you.
Personal Injury Claims After a Restaurant Drive-Through Auto Accident
If you are injured at a drive-through restaurant by a driver who you believe was driving in a negligent manner, that is by being distracted and not paying full attention to drive thru road conditions, you may have been side-swiped. This could have not only caused serious structural damage to your car, but if your door was ripped off in the process you may have experienced serious lacerations to your torso or even a broken arm.
If you know that your state allows personal injury claims and you have the evidence to prove the accident wasn’t your fault, you will need to start the process of gathering suitable evidence to back up your personal injury claim. This includes eye witness’s accounts of the accident, a police officer’s report if he or she attended the accident scene, and proof from your doctor indicating the nature of your injuries and the likely recovery time.
Evidence for all Expenses Due to the Accident at the Drive Thru
Before you can file a personal injury claim one of the most important parts of any claim is ensuring you provide details of all the expenses you have been faced with due to the accident. These have to be backed up by receipts or estimates of repair costs such as repairing the damage done to your vehicle. On top of that there are other costs associated with the accident including:
- medical bills;
- the cost of future medical treatment;
- wages lost so far;
- future wages lost.
Crash Scenarios at a Drive Thru
Because many fast food restaurants are open late it means there is an increased chance of drunk drivers buying food to take away. This means there is a high chance of a rear-ender taking place when you are in the queue at the drive thru and a drunk driver loses control when entering and rear ends your vehicle at an unsafe speed.
There are other possible crash scenarios which could be caused by drivers being distracted in the following situations:
- texting or calling on a phone instead of concentrating on driving;
- distracted by kids misbehaving in the back seat of the vehicle;
- not realizing that they are in the drive thru lane so fail to stop when entering;
- a customer doesn’t see you pulling out of the drive thru in the parking lot.
Whatever or whoever caused the accident at the drive thru you will need to have all the evidence at your fingertips to ensure you win your PI entitlements.
Why You Should Use a Personal Injury Attorney
Whether you believe your case for a personal injury claim is going to convince the negligent driver’s insurer or not, to increase your chances that you get the compensation you deserve, you shouldn’t hesitate to seek advice from a personal injury lawyer first.
Additional Resources
*The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Taco Bell, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
