The last thing you expect to happen during your daily highway commute is a motor vehicle collision. Highways are highly traveled roads with vehicles operating at high speeds, and many serious accidents occur on highways. If you are involved in a collision on a highway, an attorney with motor vehicle accident experience will help you prove liability and get compensation for your injuries.
Reasons for Highway Accidents
There are many different causes of highway accidents, but some are more common than others. Driver negligence on the highway may be a result of:
- Speed, whether the driver is commuting at high speeds or traveling dangerously below the speed limit.
- Distracted driving, including texting, talking on the phone, using navigation and talking with other passengers.
- Poor decisions, such as lane changing without checking blind spots, improperly merging, and failure to signal.
- Impairment, which may be the result of alcohol, illegal drug usage, certain prescription medications or being overly tired.
- Mechanical failures such as a tire blowout or running out of gas.
- Dangerous highway conditions, including potholes, debris in the road, poorly marked lanes and unclear signage.
Considerations to Take Following a Highway Accident
Your safety is the number one concern following a highway accident. Other drivers around you may continue to travel at high speeds, so be sure to evaluate the situation and get to a safe location, if possible.
Call for help as soon as possible. A police officer will document the accident scene and create a report. The officer will also speak with witnesses and collect statements. Other emergency services may be needed to transport injured parties to a hospital or to reduce the risk of fire.
A report should be made with your insurance company shortly after the incident. In addition, you should contact an accident attorney as soon as you can if you believe another driver’s negligence was responsible for the accident.
Role of a Highway Accident Attorney
Depending on the number of vehicles involved, it’s sometimes difficult to determine liability in a highway accident. There are many factors that must be evaluated. Your attorney will collect as much evidence as possible to help prove negligence in your case.
Your attorney will present all the facts to all responsible parties and work to negotiate compensation for your injuries. You may be awarded economic compensatory damages, including past and future medical bills, lost property (vehicle and personal belongings), and lost wages. Non-economic compensatory damages, such as pain and suffering, may also be sought by your lawyer.
In order for you to be fairly compensated for these damages, your lawyer will build a case that proves negligence by one or more of the parties involved and establishes the full value of damages that should be paid to compensate you for your injuries and losses.
Don’t wait. Contact a Memphis law firm today if you or someone you love has been injured in an accident.
