Multi lane highways are places where sideswipe accidents are common. Drivers who hit another vehicle on the side often do so because they have misjudged a merging or passing maneuver. Unfortunately, these maneuvers are required frequently on busy U.S. highways. Sideswipes even occur when vehicles are attempting to exit or enter a highway in fast moving traffic.
As a serious sideswipe accident can prevent the flow of traffic and cause delays, they are usually attended to quickly by police officers. If you have been hit by a sideswiping driver, you may have good grounds for claiming compensation from that driver’s insurer. You are advised to discuss the accident before you file a claim with an experienced car accident attorney.
Damages after an Accident Caused by a Sideswipe
Sideswipe accidents can do serious damage to the bodywork of your car and throw you into the flow of traffic in another lane. This can cause even more serious damage and potential injuries. When preparing your personal injury claim you should carefully consider the damages you are entitled to claim. These include the following:
- the cost of repairing or replacing your car, including towing charges;
- compensation for time away from work or a business;
- payment of all related medical expenses;
- compensation for the emotional and psychological effects of the accident including physical pain inflicted;
- possible punitive damages if the accident was caused by excessive negligence, such as might have been the case if the other driver was texting at the time, or speeding.
How a Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Prove Fault
Proving fault can be one of the most challenging aspects of a personal injury claim. Sideswipe accidents can happen unexpectedly and suddenly and it may be hard to recall exactly what happened. A car accident attorney can help you to piece together what happened immediately before the collision and compile any evidence that can substantiate your claim.
Eye witnesses may be found; a police report may shed light on the accident’s immediate cause and repair yards can provide evidence of how damage might have occurred. Your attorney will help you to put all this evidence together to make your case more convincing when it is submitted to the at-fault driver’s insurer.
Why You Should Let a Car Accident Attorney Handle Your Case
It doesn’t make financial sense to try and deal with a personal injury claim all by yourself. An experienced car accident attorney will have dealt with cases like yours many times before and will have a much better chance of obtaining a fair compensation payment than you would all by yourself. Most personal injury attorneys who specialize in car accident cases will provide free initial visits to enable a frank discussion of the accident to take place.
Legal fees in most cases are deferred until a case is won on behalf of the accident victim. This means it is sensible to contact a car accident attorney as soon as it is possible to do so after recovery from a sideswipe accident.
