According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IHHS), the total number of fatal car accidents in Massachusetts alone in 2018 was 343. The number of car drivers has significantly increased over time. There are so many people fighting for space on the road every day and it becomes so easy to overlook your own risk of getting into a car accident.
Car accidents can be traumatic and many victims in Fall River, MA are left uncertain and concerned about how to go about filing for a car accident claim and get compensated for their injuries and damage to their property.
The good news is that you do not have to feel alone in your situation. A credible Fall River car accident lawyer can assist you with the process of filing for a claim and determining who was at fault in the accident.
Two Types of Car Accidents that Occur in Fall River, MA
Before we delve into how to determine fault in a car accident, it’s important to first understand the different types of car accidents and the varying circumstances that lead to those accidents.
Car accidents are categorized into two:
Minor Accidents
Rear-end Collisions
This type of accident occurs when someone hits your car from behind. It mostly occurs at low speeds. It usually happens when the other driver is distracted or they don’t stop in time at traffic lights or stop signs and they end up crashing into the car in front of them.
Single Car Collisions
Such collisions can either be minor or severe and they occur because of distracted drivers or hydroplaning. Anything can lead to a single-car collision including swerving to avoid hitting an animal to hitting stagnant objects.
Low-Speed Collisions
They mostly occur when there is heavy traffic or in tight spaces like parking lots and neighborhoods. These kinds of accidents involve stationary cars.
Severe Car Accidents
Rear-end Collisions
When these types of accidents occur at very high speed, they can lead to serious injuries.
T-bone Collisions
This accident happens when another car crashes into the side of your car. A T-bone accident is common at junctions and intersections and it occurs because drivers fail to yield.
Single Car Collisions
As mentioned earlier, these types of accidents can be severe especially if the other driver was driving at a very high speed.
The severity of a car accident helps car accident attorneys, insurers, and emergency responders to get an idea of what might have led to the accident. However, this doesn’t mean that a minor car accident can’t lead to severe injuries.
For example, a common injury in car accidents is whiplash. People imagine that whiplash is caused by a high impact during a car accident. The force of the impact forces the neck to move back and forth. However, whiplash is also common among minor car accident victims but there is a high chance that they may not be aware of their injury until much later. This is because accident victims and even insurers will downplay the injuries because the crash was minor.
How is Fault Determined in a Fall River Car Accident?
Massachusetts is a no-fault insurance state. This means that whether or not the accident was your fault, every driver involved in the accident should file a claim with their own insurer.
All drivers are required to buy Personal Injury Protection (PIP) cover as part of their car insurance policies.
Can You Still Sue for Injuries?
You can still file a car accident lawsuit in Fall River, MA but only if your case meets certain requirements. You can pursue a lawsuit if your injuries:
- Permanent and significant scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent or significant loss of important bodily function
- Caused death
In most instances, the party at fault will try to deny your claims to avoid paying for damages. They might insist that your injuries are not as serious as you portray them to be.
How Can A Fall River Car Accident Lawyer Help?
Contacting the best Fall River car accident lawyer near you to understand what it takes to pursue a car accident claim. They will strategize on ways that you can maximize on chances of receiving the compensation that you deserve. They will bring in expert witnesses to lend credence to your claims as well as gather all the evidence that you need for your case. Call us today at 508-676-0001 and schedule your free initial consultation.
