Car accidents can happen anywhere, and the nature of an accident can vary dramatically based on the location. In the hours and days following a crash, your main concerns are likely to be recovering from your injuries and pursuing the compensation you deserve from the at-fault driver. This raises the question of whether or not the location of the accident has any bearing on your case.
At Cellino Law, our personal injury attorneys take every factor into account when helping you secure the full amount of compensation you deserve from the insurance company. We are ready to answer any questions you might have regarding your case, including whether or not the location of the accident will affect your settlement.
What Are the Most Common Locations for Car Accidents?
When considering the importance of the location of an accident to your case, it is crucial to understand where car accidents are most common and why they are so frequent at those locations. This can help you and your legal team narrow down the root cause of your own accident, making it easier to establish fault.
Parking lots and residential neighborhoods are places where accidents are especially common even though most traffic moves slowly through these areas. The dangerous factor in these locations is that a reckless driver might not pay sufficient attention to pedestrians or does not exercise due caution when parked vehicles obstruct their view. When a pedestrian or a moving vehicle emerges from behind an obstruction, a reckless driver might make a sudden and desperate maneuver that causes an accident.
Intersections and highways are also likely locations for motor vehicle accidents. These are places where traffic is abundant and drivers tend to proceed at high speeds. A moment of distraction can have devastating consequences in these locations.
Can the Location of an Accident Help Determine Fault?
Success in a personal injury case hinges on your ability to prove that the other party was at fault and that their negligent behavior directly led to you sustaining injuries. Your attorney can bear the burden of collecting evidence that points at the other driver’s fault and presenting the case to the relevant insurance providers. This evidence can include photographs, police reports and even the accident location itself.
The nature of a location can make it clear who was at fault for the accident. For example, an investigation can clearly reveal who had the right of way at a traffic intersection. Knowing the traffic laws of that particular location can make a difference too, as the other driver might be guilty of speeding or performing an illegal maneuver.
How Can the Location of the Accident Help Create Evidence for My Case?
One important step to take in the aftermath of an accident, if you are physically able, is to document the scene with photographs or video. In this way, you create evidence showing the nature of the location, the extent of your damage and the physical dynamic between the two vehicles. This is one way that the location itself can help you produce evidence that strengthens your case.
Depending on the location, there might also be surveillance footage showing your accident in full and from a very telling angle. Some traffic intersections have red light cameras, for example, that will take a snapshot when a driver recklessly runs a red light. If your collision occurred near a business, you and your legal team might also ask to see the footage in case it captured the moment of the accident.
Are There Likely To Be Witnesses to My Accident?
Witness testimony is another powerful form of evidence that can lend a great deal of credence to your case. In the absence of video footage, the only impartial account that you can lean on is that of an uninvolved bystander who happened to see the collision as it happened. Your attorney can handle the legwork of finding witnesses and collecting their statements, but keep in mind that some locations are more likely to have witnesses than others.
The location of the accident affects your case greatly in terms of how likely it is that someone saw the moment of the collision. Some areas are very likely to have witnesses, such as busy intersections or active parking lots. Other places, like remote highways or quiet residential neighborhoods, might not produce any witnesses whatsoever.
Will the Location Affect My Recoverable Damages?
Recoverable damages refer to the expenses you incur as a result of an accident, as well as any pain or suffering for which the law states you may pursue compensation. Proving the presence of recoverable damages is another essential part of a personal injury claim, as it is necessary to demonstrate that you experienced losses in order for the insurance company to compensate you for those losses.
One way that the location of an accident might affect your recoverable damages is in the possibility that accidents in certain areas might be prone to higher severity. For example, an accident that occurs on the highway when vehicles are travelling at speeds of 70 miles per hour or more might result in greater damage to your own vehicle or more severe injuries.
A car accident can also have a significant impact on your quality of life, your enjoyment of life and your mental state. Depending on the location of your accident, you might find it difficult to drive through otherwise mundane areas due to genuine trauma or anxiety. If your accident occurred in a traffic intersection, for instance, you might experience a valid loss of your quality of life because you cannot easily approach similar intersections. This is an example of pain and suffering for which the insurance company owes you due compensation.
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help My Claim?
The location of your accident is just one of many factors to consider when building your personal injury case. On top of that, your main priority is to focus on recovering from your injuries and making a return to your everyday life. Working with an attorney removes the burden of your legal case from your shoulders.
The personal injury attorneys at Cellino Law can help your claim by:
- Investigating the circumstances of your accident
- Collecting evidence at and around the location of the crash
- Handling paperwork and other administrative tasks
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
- Representing you in court if necessary
While there is likely to be many thoughts racing through your head after an accident, contacting your lawyer is one of the first steps to take after confirming your well-being. Involving an attorney early in the process ensures you have all the help you need from filing your claim all the way to settlement.
Contact the Personal Injury Attornies at Cellino Law Today
You might have 100 valid questions after a motor vehicle accident, and it can be all too easy to overthink each and every one of them when you are dealing with stressful emotions and physical injuries. At Cellino Law, we stand ready to provide the guidance and support you need at every step of your personal injury case. Call us today by dialing (888) 888-8888 or contact us online to learn more.