Passenger Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents can be fatal. They also have the potential to result in catastrophic injuries, which may impact a victim’s ability to work or perform routine activities. Although practicing safe behaviour on the road can decrease a driver’s chances of being involved in an accident, other motorists may not exercise appropriate caution while driving. Reckless, distracted, and impaired drivers can cause potentially life-threatening collisions with even the most cautious and responsible motorists.
If another driver’s negligence caused you to sustain injuries in a car accident, a Kitchener passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to help you seek accountability and restitution from the parties responsible.
Common Injuries Sustained in Passenger Vehicle Accidents
In the aftermath of a passenger vehicle accident, victims may experience shock. This can temporarily delay the pain of any injuries they may have sustained. For that reason, seeking immediate medical attention following an accident, even if the victim has not yet experienced any acute pains, can help assess the severity of their conditions.
Passenger vehicle accidents can cause a variety of injuries, ranging from mild to severe. These injuries include:
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Organ damage
- Broken and fractured bones
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Muscle tears, strains, and sprains
- Whiplash
Victims who have suffered debilitating, life-altering injuries as the result of a passenger vehicle accident may be eligible to recover further compensation, in addition to their insurance company’s accident benefits. If eligible, a Kitchener passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to help injured individuals recover compensation for:
- Income lost as a result of injuries
- Medical costs, including rehabilitation and caregiver salaries
- Vehicle repair and replacement costs
Establishing Fault in a Passenger Vehicle Accident
In the province of Ontario, one of the leading causes of car accidents is distracted driving. In fact, the number of deaths caused by collisions with distracted drivers has doubled over the last twenty years. Even the most cautious driver is vulnerable to a collision with a driver exhibiting negligent behaviours on the road, such as:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Using a hand-held electronic device, like a cell phone, while driving
- Driving aggressively
Sometimes, hazardous roadways or inclement weather also contribute to the causes of on-road collisions. Following an accident, law enforcement officers dispatched to the scene may investigate the crash site, and can issue a citation if one of the drivers responsible for the accident violated any traffic laws.
Following an accident, insurance companies will determine who is at fault in accordance with R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 668: Fault Determination Rules. These rules are designed to help an insurance company determine to which degree each driver involved in a collision was responsible for the accident. These findings are not influenced by any traffic citations issued at the scene of the crash by responding law enforcement officers. That means that, even if the negligent driver responsible for causing the accident was issued a ticket for violating traffic laws, the insurance company may still determine that both parties are partially at fault for the collision.
Car accident victims have the right to appeal insurance companies’ fault determinations. A Kitchener passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to help victims appeal their insurance company’s decisions, and try negotiating new settlements on their behalf.
Recovering Damages for Passenger Vehicle Accident Injuries
If you’ve been injured in a passenger vehicle accident as the result of another driver’s negligence, you may have incurred financial losses to cover costs related to your accident. In these cases, you may be eligible to recover accident benefits from your insurance company.
In extremely unfortunate cases, survivors of car accidents may suffer severe, life-changing injuries. Permanent, debilitating car accident injuries may negatively impact a victim’s overall quality of life. An inability to return to work coupled with substantial costs for rehabilitation and medical care could lead to major financial repercussions. In addition to physical trauma, victims who have suffered catastrophic injuries might also experience mental and emotional anguish. Examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Paralysis
- Loss of an important bodily function
- Loss of use of a limb or amputation
Sustaining permanent, severe injuries may entitle a car accident victim to pursue damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, live-in medical care, future loss of income, and possibly more related costs, if eligible. A Kitchener passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to offer injured car accident victims useful assistance or advice about their legal options.
Contact Preszler Injury Lawyers Today
Injuries from a car accident can be devastating. If you’ve been injured in a passenger vehicle accident caused by another driver, a Kitchener car accident lawyer may be able to help you pursue damages against the driver at fault and any other liable parties.
Call Preszler Injury Lawyers to discuss the circumstances of your accident in a free, initial consultation.
