Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Some reported facts about vehicle accidents in US are sobering.
- More than 30000 fatal crashes occurred in 2007.
- The majority of people who were killed in crashes are drivers (63%) followed by passengers (28%). The rest constitute pedestrians and motorcyclists.
- Midnight to 3 am on Saturdays and Sundays constituted the deadliest 3 hrs.
- Passenger cars constitute 41% of fatal crashes followed by light trucks (39%).
No wonder a vehicle accident lawyer is always in demand. That is because collisions usually carry with them consequences directly in proportion to the severity of the crash. The public need to be made aware about the common law jurisdictions that are imposed during a collision. Depending upon the situation the parties involved in an accident can face criminal liability, civil liability or both. The need for auto accident lawyers arise when the state starts a criminal prosecution against a person if there is a fatality or severe injury. In case of civil liability, personal injury lawsuits are quite common in the US. That is because in America health care is provided by private insurance.
People involved in an accident tend to seek a lot of answers from car crash attorneys. Chief among them relate to personal injury claims. However, a vehicle accident lawyer can never be exact on this issue until the case develops fully. Factual circumstances leading to the accident are vital. The value of a claim is reduced if the client is at fault. All that a vehicle accident lawyer can do is advise his client on further course of action. The legal guidance will relate to whether the client may accept the settlement, or take the case to trial.
It is not uncommon for a vehicle accident lawyer to refuse to take up a client's case. In such a case, it is prudent for the person involved to seek another attorney for a second opinion on the case. The time frame to settle the claim is another issue that worries most people. This unfortunately is a million dollar question. There are cases that settle before the trial starts and some settle even before filing of the lawsuit. Others take years, especially when there is a need to appeal on the verdict of the trial.
Legal cost is another cause for concern. However the message to the personal accident victim should be clear. In the event of an accident a qualified attorney should immediately be consulted to assess the merits of the case. If the case has any merit, many a vehicle accident lawyer works on a 'contingency' fee basis. This means the lawyer will not charge the client on an hourly rate. Instead the attorney is paid a percent of the settlement fee. This puts an onus on the vehicle accident lawyer to obtain a favorable settlement for the client.