Idaho car accident attorneys: 5 advantages of hiring one!
Following an auto accident, it is okay to feel shocked and stressed. If you have sustained injuries, call 911 immediately and seek medical attention. Never underestimate the injuries caused by a car accident. The next step is to call the local police. Please do not leave the accident scene until the police officer says it’s okay to do so. Once you feel okay, you should call an Idaho car accident attorney. There is no legal obligation to hire an attorney, but below are five advantages of hiring one.
- Get free legal advice. Most personal injury law firms in the state will offer a free consultation session with their attorneys. If you are in two minds about hiring an attorney, consider this as a good window to know the worth of your claim. You can discuss the aspects and facts of the accident and get an assessment based on primary evidence.
- Know your rights. If you don’t know what it takes to deal with insurance representatives, you may end up accepting the first offer. Always talk to an attorney before making a statement or signing a document. Your attorney will let you know of your rights and what you can expect from the case. They will also share a realistic settlement that would cover your damages and losses.
- Investigate the accident. Gathering evidence after a car accident is critical to winning a fair settlement. Your lawyer can investigate the case and ensure that you don’t settle for anything less. They will talk to witnesses, gather evidence from other sources, and take experts’ opinions on the matter. They may even rely on accident reconstruction to establish fault.
- No upfront fee. The biggest advantage of working with accident attorneys is the lack of an upfront fee. Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee, which means they don’t get paid if you don’t win a settlement. You can let the law firm take over and fight the battle as you recover from your injuries.
- Negotiate better. While accident claims are settled through negotiations, things may not move as expected with insurance companies. Don’t agree to an offer immediately. Let your attorney negotiate on your behalf, and if the offered settlement is not acceptable, your lawyer can file a lawsuit in court.
There is no reason why you should step back from hiring a lawyer after an accident. Let an attorney handle your case from the start.
Lending a vehicle is a risky business in most states. It is similar to gambling as the odds of recovery depend on negotiation with the insurance company. When respective drivers, and owners of the car are involved in a collision, the issue is pretty straightforward. However, the compensation can vary greatly, if the person is not on an insurance card, or has been specifically excluded. As these laws vary widely depending on the state, and county, be sure to hire local help for an auto accident lawyer.
Employees at Fault
If you are a company owner, your risk increases multi-fold with a company vehicle. While company insurance does generally cover various aspects including medical bills, and other liabilities for third parties – employers are held responsible for negligence on part of your employees. In rare cases, when employees drive the car out of work hours for personal work, and run into mishaps, the company is not held liable in such instances.
Friends and Close Relatives
While it is perfectly legal to lend your car to your friends, and relatives, it is not advisable to do so often. Car assumes major legal responsibility including potential injury, and deadly circumstances in relation to injuries of pedestrians. Similarly, car insurance providers may try to wiggle out if the person driving the car during a collision was not the list of members. Hence, in such circumstances, the damages are taken out of your insurance coverage, and result in major damage. Hence, be sure to only lend your vehicle to a very responsible person living with you. Furthermore, be sure to check the areas of the car that are covered in case of collisions. These can vary widely depending on the car, the status of the driver, the county, and the state.
Children and Parent
In most states in the United States, parents are held responsible for the fault of their children in auto accidents. This includes cases wherein the child was a minor, and drove the in a reckless or incompetent manner. This is known as negligent entrustment, and can result in significant damages to the parents. The family purpose doctrine adopted in some states hold a guardian of the car, generally parents liable for damages regardless of the fault in a car collision. Similarly, people who sign a minor’s legal application for a driving license responsible for potential damages during a car collision. In states like California, parent or legal guardian are responsible for signing the license. Moreover, the state also holds parents liable together regardless of their relationship with the minor.
It sounds like the future. But driverless cars are pretty real. These autonomous cars might be safer than today’s models, but that doesn’t mean they’re without faults. The speed limit your car travels at will depend on where it has been programmed to go; there may be no human response time for emergencies. The nature of working with electronics makes it challenging to override computer malfunctions completely.
Functioning Driverless Cars?
The driverless car can be programmed to drive itself to a destination, so it might be best not to try and outsmart it (or anyone else on the road). It uses a series of sensors, radars, and computer-operated cameras to detect and respond to traffic and road conditions. You might be tempted to flip off or cut off any driverless car in your way when it cuts you off, but remember that a human isn’t controlling the vehicle. It’s not rude; it’s automatic. If you have been cut off by the driverless car, do not retaliate or try to force your way into traffic ahead of it. You’ll slow down the flow of traffic.
What to do when you get involved in a driverless car accident?
- Defend Your Rights: Ask the police to record the statement and report the offense.
- Call a lawyer: Ask your lawyer for advice and assistance.
- Compile evidence: Take pictures of everything, make a video recording, and any other evidence you can think of to obtain custody of the vehicle (Note: If your car does not have GPS or sensors, make sure you take down as much information as possible!)
- Calculate damages: Consider all damages like your insurance deductible and any incurred costs like battery replacements and repairs before calling an attorney.
- Contact the police: The police should be contacted immediately, as they may take possession of your vehicle as evidence.
If you ever get involved in a driverless car accident, it goes without saying that you would be eligible for compensation.
