By Admin The traffic fatality rate in Illinois has substantially increased by more than 29% after 2017, which implies that the number of road accidents has increased dramatically during the last few years. Not just that, several thousand individuals suffer severe and life-threatening injuries due to road accidents every year.
Motor vehicle accidents can cause severe physical, psychological, and emotional trauma. While money cannot undo the trauma of a motor vehicle accident, it can surely empower you to get back on your feet after the accident. Therefore, experts like Kennedy Watkins Injury Lawyers can play an essential role in securing compensation after a road accident.
What to do in case of a road accident
Following are some things that you should do in case of a motor vehicle accident to safeguard your interests.
- Do not leave the scene. It is essential that you stay calm and don’t leave the accident scene without speaking with the other driver and police.
- Do not react in anger, and ensure that you encounter another driver rationally.
- Move out of the traffic and turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights. Then, call for medical assistance and wait until help arrives.
- Call the police and cooperate with the offices to record the incident.
- Record the incident, other party details, witness details, police office details, and photograph the accident.
- Call your lawyer to decide the suitable course of action against the driver at fault.
How to establish the fault in case of a road accident
If you ever face a motor vehicle accident, you should remain calm, try to collect evidence, file a police report, and document the entire incident. Following the above, you can file a civil suit to obtain compensation. Here’s what you need to prove before the law:-
- The other driver had a duty to yield the right of way.
- The other driver behaved negligently or intentionally, which caused the accident.
- The accident caused by the other driver has led to your injuries.
- You incurred damages due to the injuries caused by the driver at fault.
Compensations you can seek after a motor vehicle accident
If you successfully establish that the other driver was at fault, you can obtain the following compensations.
- Loss of property
- Loss of earning capabilities
- Loss of wages and earning power.
- Pain, suffering, and mental trauma
- Permanent disability or impairments.
What leads to road accidents
While several contributory factors can lead to an accident, the following are some of the most common reasons.
- One of the drivers was at fault.
- The vehicle malfunctioned or broke down mid-way
- Bad road conditions
- Bad environmental conditions
- Other factors like pedestrians, cyclists, animals, etc.