close
Advocate Dreyer

December 20, 2024

Law

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

by Eelis Hoikkanen on
Car Accident

A car accident can leave you feeling shaken and unsure of what to do next. Taking the right steps immediately after a collision can make a significant difference in protecting your health, rights, and any potential claim.

Prioritize Safety

The first step is ensuring everyone is safe. Check yourself and others involved for injuries. If it’s safe to do so, move vehicles out of traffic to prevent further accidents. Turn on hazard lights to alert other drivers.

Call Emergency Services

Always call 911 to report the accident, even if it seems minor. Police officers can document the scene and create an official accident report, which is valuable when filing insurance claims or pursuing legal action.

Document the Scene

Car Accident

If possible, gather evidence at the scene. Take photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver, but avoid admitting fault.

Seek Medical Attention

Some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Seeing a doctor ensures your injuries are documented, which is critical for insurance claims or legal cases.

Contact a Lawyer

Consulting with a car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and navigate insurance claims. An attorney can handle the complexities of your case so you can focus on recovery.

Taking these steps can help you protect yourself and make the aftermath of an accident more manageable.

This post was written by Okoye Morgan Jr., a lawyer with extensive knowledge as a car accident attorney East Tampa FL. Okoye is one of the founding partners of The Black Law Company, specializing in personal injury law, trust and estate law, civil litigation law, and criminal defense.

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

read more
Law

Understanding Comparative Negligence in Personal Injury Cases

by Eelis Hoikkanen on
Personal Injury Cases

When it comes to personal injury claims, determining who is at fault is not always straightforward. In many cases, multiple parties may share responsibility for the accident. This is where the concept of comparative negligence comes into play. Understanding how it works can help you better navigate your case and know what to expect when pursuing compensation.

What Is Comparative Negligence?

Comparative negligence is a legal principle used to allocate fault in personal injury cases where more than one party contributed to the accident. Instead of one person being entirely responsible, fault is divided among the parties involved, and their compensation is adjusted based on their percentage of fault.

Types of Comparative Negligence

Personal Injury Cases

There are two main types of comparative negligence laws:

  1. Pure Comparative Negligence: In states that follow this rule, you can recover compensation even if you were mostly at fault for the accident. For example, if you were 90% at fault, you could still recover 10% of the damages.
  2. Modified Comparative Negligence: Most states follow this rule, which allows you to recover damages only if your fault is below a certain threshold, typically 50% or 51%. If your fault exceeds this limit, you may not receive compensation.

How It Affects Personal Injury Claims

Comparative negligence directly impacts the amount of compensation you can recover. For instance, if you’ve found 30% at fault for a car accident and your total damages amount to $10,000, your compensation will be reduced by 30%, leaving you with $7,000.

Why Legal Guidance Matters

Determining fault and understanding how comparative negligence applies can be complex. Insurance companies may try to assign you a larger share of the blame to reduce their payout. Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side ensures that fault is distributed fairly and your rights are protected.

In personal injury cases, understanding comparative negligence is key to managing expectations and securing the compensation you deserve. Knowing how it works empowers you to make informed decisions as you move forward.

This post was written by a professional at Kevin L. Sullivan II. Attorney Kevin L. Sullivan II is your personal injury attorney Pasco County, and the best personal injury attorney near you for LeavenLaw. Kevin is proud to serve Florida accident victims that have been injured in auto accidents, motorcycle accident, slip and falls or have suffered any other type of injury caused by negligence. Kevin offers a FREE no-obligation consultation to discuss your claim. There are NO upfront fees or costs and if he does not collect for you, you do not owe him anything.

 

read more