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Were you injured
in a car accident? Have you lost a relative in a motor vehicle
accident? You may have a personal injury claim that will help
compensate you for medical care, lost wages and pain and
suffering.
Other
personal injuries are the result of slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents
caused by poor maintenance or the improper construction of premises.
Medical malpractice (especially birth injuries and surgical errors),
negligent security (causing dangerous situations), toxic substances
that can result in dangerous buildings (so-called “sick”
buildings), poorly designed or manufactured products can all cause personal
injuries. You should know your rights if you have been injured
because of negligence.
Car
wreck Personal Injury And Death Rate Statistics on the Rise
Over
40,000 people died in a car wreck in 2000. In these same accidents over
3,000,000 people suffered personal injury. That's over three million
injuries resulting from a car wreck. These car wreck statistics are
startling. An average of 115 persons died each day in a car wreck in
2000, resulting in one car wreck fatality every 13 minutes.  The
leading cause of death for every age from 4 through 33 years old is
an automobile accident. In almost 90% of traffic fatalities, vehicle
occupants were the car wreck victims. Thirteen percent of car wreck
fatalities were pedestrians, bicyclists and other nonoccupants.
Large
Truck and SUV Accidents
Large
trucks are only three percent of all registered vehicles, but collisions
involving large trucks accounted for nine percent of all 1997 traffic
fatalities. While the car wreck statistics show that accident rates
have fallen since 1991,  the
car wreck fatality rate has increased. It is small wonder that concern
about car wrecks involving trucks, buses and SUV's on our roads is increasing.
Statistics
of Alcohol Related car wrecks
The
2000 car wreck statistics show there were over 16,000 fatalities in
alcohol related car wrecks that year, amounting to a 4 percent increase
in alcohol related car wrecks compared to 1999. On average, there is
one alcohol-related car wreck fatality every 32 minutes. In fact, the
16,653 alcohol-related fatalities in 2000 amounted to 40 percent of
total traffic fatalities for the year. NHTSA estimates that alcohol
was involved in 40 percent of fatal car wrecks and in 8 percent of all
car wrecks in 2000. In 2000, 31 percent of all car wreck fatalities
occurred in crashes in which at least one driver or nonoccupant had
a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 grams per deciliter (g/dl)
or greater.
FAQ
Personal Injury - Car Wrecks
Q: What should I do if I am
involved in a car accident?
A: The top priority is
seeking proper medical attention. If you are conscious at the
scene, collect all pertinent information from the other drivers
(i.e. driver's license information, address, phone number,
insurance card information, etc.). Also, make sure to keep a
daily journal, beginning with the date of the accident, to
document all physical and mental injuries, as well as document
your view of the accident. You should photograph your injuries
and your automobile too. Finally, contact an attorney at Caslin,
Cecil and Holtrey who can assist you in bringing a civil suit
against another party if they are responsible for the accident.
Q: My insurance company is
offering me a nice settlement. Should I take it?
A: No. Tell the insurance
company that you will get back to them. In the meantime, contact
an attorney at Caslin, Cecil and Holtrey. Oftentimes an
insurance company will offer a minimal amount of money in return
for your signature stating that you will not sue them. Never
take an insurance check without first consulting an attorney.
Q: What issues will I face
in making a claim for my injuries sustained in an auto accident?
A: The three primary issues
arising from an automobile accident are:
Liability - who is at fault
for the wreck?
Damages – what injuries or
losses were caused by the accident?
Insurance Coverage - what
will the insurance company pay for after an accident?
Q: How will I pay for my
medical bills?
A: If you have been
injured, you will likely have medical bills from physicians,
hospitals, physical therapists, and other health care providers.
Those bills will be in your name and will usually be sent to
your address. You are primarily responsible for paying your
bills, regardless of the cause of your injuries. The at-fault
person's liability insurance carrier is responsible for paying
you reasonable compensation for damages incurred, which includes
medical bills, but the insurance carrier is not responsible for
paying your doctors, hospitals, and other providers.
Q: When I am in a wreck,
why does my insurance company have to pay medical expenses?
A: Kentucky is a no-fault
state which means each motorist has coverage which pays his/her
medical expenses regardless of who was at fault. That coverage
is called PIP (Personal Injury Protection). The PIP coverage
works to get an injured person immediate medical treatment
rather than waiting for the recovery from the at fault party.
In most instances, the PIP carrier is reimbursed for any money
they pay out. At Caslin, Cecil and Holtrey, we understand the
importance of getting medical treatment and getting that
treatment paid for. We will work with your company to make
sure you are afforded the coverage you purchased.
Q: How long does a personal
injury claim take to resolve?
A: Personal injury claims
can be resolved in a matter of a few weeks or they make take up
to several years depending on the complexity of the case. It is
best to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about
your specific case. Contact Caslin, Cecil and Holtrey to discuss
your case.
Q: Should I give a Recorded
Statement or Sign a Medical Authorization?
A: Not without speaking to
an attorney.
Q: What do I do if the
person who hit me does not have insurance?
A: This scenario presents the injured party with a difficult
situation. There is insurance coverage you may have called
Uninsured Motorist Coverage and that coverage may stack
depending on how many cars you have and how your policy is
written. To make this determination, contact Caslin, Cecil and
Holtrey. We are experienced in reviewing and understanding
complex insurance policies.
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