Thousands of individuals every year are injured or killed in car crashes, and picking up the pieces of your life after a particularly nasty collision can often prove too big a burden for some families to bear. You are not out of options, however. Pursuing a negligence claim after a car accident is just one of the many avenues down which you can go to ensure that you get the proper compensation you deserve.
The legal team at the Tatum Law Firm has many years of experience helping individuals take their negligence claims to court, and if you were hurt in a car accident and are now facing mounting medical and repair bills, we want to talk to you.
What is a Negligence Claim?
You are driving down the road and are hit by another driver. You had the right of way, but the other driver was not observing common traffic rules or was otherwise distracted. If you were hurt in this car accident, you can claim negligence.
In more legal terms, accident victims can file negligence claims against the at-fault party when the latter’s carelessness caused the accident or impeded their responsibility to keep others on the road safe. In other words, the other driver was not paying attention.
What You Must Prove in a Negligence Claim
You must prove four elements to win a negligence claim successfully. These elements are included here:
- The defendant was responsible for keeping the victim safe.
- The defendant ignored this responsibility.
- The defendant caused the victim to, therefore, suffer an injury.
- The resulting injuries led to significant physical, emotional or financial damages.
If you can prove these four elements, you could be entitled to compensation from the defendant. Damages typically include medical and hospital bills, any lost wages, repair costs of the vehicle, any rehabilitation costs and much more. The amount awarded, however, will depend mostly on the exact type of accident and the circumstances behind it.
Is There a Time Limit to Submit a Claim?
Depending on the state in which you live, there might be a time limit for filing a car accident negligence claim. Usually, this number falls in the range of two to three years from the date of the accident. If you do not file a negligence claim within this time, the court will most likely turn your case back.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
There are many factors involved in the average car accident that could go a long way in determining just how much compensation you are due to receive, and having a trained personal injury lawyer on your side will help.
The legal team at the Tatum Law Firm has worked with countless individuals over the years, and we would like nothing more than to see what we can do for you. Should you, therefore, have any additional questions on the legal process involved or to find out more about filing a negligence claim, contact one of our representatives today and get started.