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A car accident can change your life in the blink of an eye. One moment, you’re driving through an intersection with a green light, and the next, another driver slams into your vehicle from the side, causing catastrophic car accident injuries.
If you were injured in a Roanoke car accident, contact Marks & Harrison today for a free consultation about your case. One of our skilled and compassionate Roanoke car accident lawyers will review your case, explain your options, and walk you through the next steps in seeking the compensation you need.
What Are Common Causes of Car Crashes in Roanoke?
Many different factors, including driver error and external factors, such as road conditions, cause Roanoke car accidents. Some of the most common causes of car crashes are:
- Drunk driving — According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving is one of the nation’s top causes of fatal crashes, causing over 12,000 deaths in one recent year.
- Distracted driving — Using phones, eating, and applying makeup while driving are examples of distractions that cause accidents. The NHTSA found that distracted driving led to over 3,000 deaths in one recent year.
- Drowsy driving — Driving while fatigued can increase the odds of a motorist falling asleep behind the wheel. It also reduces their reaction time, leading to accidents.
- Speeding — Going faster than the posted speed limit or too fast for conditions is one of the leading factors contributing to car accidents. Data from the NHTSA shows that nearly 12,000 people died in one recent year due to speeding-related incidents.
- Failure to yield — When a driver fails to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic when turning left or merging onto a larger road, it can lead to serious accidents, including T-bone collisions.
- Mechanical failures — In some cases, car accidents are caused by mechanical failures resulting from part manufacturing errors or poor maintenance. Brake failures are some of the most dangerous.
- Poor weather conditions — When driving in poor weather, motorists should adjust their speed accordingly. For example, in slippery or poor-visibility conditions, a driver traveling at the speed limit may still be going too fast for the conditions and cause an accident.
- Poor road conditions — Large potholes, cracked pavement, uneven lanes, faded road lines, and missing or malfunctioning traffic signs and signals can all contribute to auto accidents.
What Are Some of the Most Common Injuries Caused by a Car Wreck?
Understanding the most common car wreck injuries can help you determine if you have a personal injury case after a collision. Common injuries in Roanoke crashes include:
- Whiplash, an injury affecting the soft tissues in the neck, is caused by the head shaking violently after an impact.
- Fractured bones, including those in the arms, legs, and chest, commonly result from high-impact collisions.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by the brain striking the inside of the skull during a crash, potentially leading to permanent physical and cognitive impairment.
- Spinal cord injuries can occur even in low-speed accidents, such as a rear-end collision in a parking lot. In severe cases, they may cause partial or complete paralysis.
- Internal organ damage is one of the most dangerous injuries a person can sustain in a car accident because the symptoms often don’t appear right away, leading to the damage spreading or worsening.
How Do You Determine Who Is at Fault in a Car Collision?
Determining fault in a Roanoke car collision involves your lawyer gathering various types of evidence. This evidence may include accident scene photographs, traffic camera footage, and eyewitness statements. In more complex cases, lawyers sometimes also hire experts to testify about specific aspects of the case, like a crash reconstruction specialist testifying about how the accident likely occurred.
Your medical records are also crucial evidence for connecting your injuries to the accident, detailing the severity and extent of your injuries, and explaining the necessity of your treatment.
What Compensation Can You Recover for Car Accident Injuries and Damages?
The compensation available to you after a car accident may include:
- Past and future medical expenses related to the incident
- Lost wages and loss of future earning potential caused by your injuries
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Permanent disability and its impact on your life
- Repairing or replacing damaged or lost property.
What Happens If the Other Driver Is Uninsured?
If the driver who caused the accident doesn’t have insurance, you can file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance provider. In Virginia, all drivers must have auto insurance of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident in bodily injury, and $25,000 per accident in property damage coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required, with coverage matching your liability coverage limits. Uninsured motorist coverage also applies if you were in a hit-and-run.
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Virginia?
Under Virginia’s personal injury statute of limitations, car accident victims have two years from the injury date to file lawsuits against the parties responsible for their injuries. It’s essential to file your lawsuit within this two-year time limit, or else you risk the courts preventing you from recovering the compensation you need. An experienced car accident lawyer can handle your case and file your car accident lawsuit on time, so you don’t need to worry about missing the deadline.
Contact a Roanoke Car Accident Attorney
Marks & Harrison has recovered millions for accident victims since our firm’s founding in 1911. Our attorneys handle personal injury cases in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, and we have a record of success in some of the largest cases in Virginia history.
We have a highly skilled team of 30 personal injury attorneys and over 100 support personnel, including research attorneys, in-house investigators, and lawyers who previously worked for insurance companies. To learn more about what it’s like to work with our team, we encourage you to read our client reviews and testimonials, which illustrate our commitment to positive results and client satisfaction.
If you suffered injuries in a Roanoke car accident, contact our firm today for a free consultation with a knowledgeable and experienced injury lawyer.
