Passenger Vehicle Accidents
Car accidents can result in a range of unfortunate outcomes, from minor injuries to emotional trauma to fatalities. The majority of vehicle collisions are unintentional, but a driver’s negligence on the road could exacerbate the conditions that lead to an accident. Reckless, illegal behaviour like distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in Ontario.
As an injured victim of a car accident, you may be eligible to claim accident benefits from your insurance company, which may cover costs related to:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Repair or replacement costs for your vehicle
- Dependent benefits
- And possibly more, if you qualify
If you sustained injuries in a car accident caused by another driver, an Oshawa passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to help you navigate the process of seeking remuneration, so you can focus on your recovery.
Common Passenger Vehicle Accident Injuries
While some survivors of car accidents may walk away from their collision without a scratch, oftentimes an accident on the road can cause a variety of injuries, ranging in severity from moderate to life-threatening. Some injuries sustained in passenger vehicle accidents can require long-term hospitalization, or in extremely unfortunate situations, permanent, live-in medical assistance. Common injuries sustained in car accidents include:
- Broken and fractured bones
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spine injuries
Whiplash
Whiplash is an injury commonly sustained in passenger vehicle accidents and can lead to chronic neck pains. Whiplash is a soft tissue injury, but it can aggravate pre-existing conditions, like herniated discs in a victim’s back and neck.
Whiplash can occur when the sudden impact of a collision with another vehicle forces a victim’s head to involuntarily jolt in one direction and then another. Symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck pain
- Limited range of motion in the neck
- Neck stiffness
- Numbness in arms
- Shoulder and arm pain
- Headaches and dizziness
Immediately following a car accident, victims suffering from whiplash may not experience severe, initial symptoms. This is because the shock of an accident may temporarily delay the pain of injuries sustained. Therefore, after an accident with another passenger vehicle, even if you don’t think medical treatment is necessary, seeking immediate medical attention can help prevent future complications, and provide you with an accurate diagnosis and recovery plan.
Although most people experiencing symptoms of whiplash usually recover within a matter of weeks, sustaining this serious injury can lead to chronic problems, especially if victims suffer from pre-existing back and neck conditions. If a collision with another driver caused you to sustain serious injuries, an Oshawa passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to help you recover damages for costs resulting from your injuries.
Determining Fault in a Passenger Vehicle Accident
After collisions occur, insurance companies use R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 668: Fault Determination Rules to assign degrees of responsibility to the parties involved. Factors such as inclement weather or lack of visibility are not considered during these evaluations. Instead, insurance companies use the Fault Determination Rules to compare an accident’s circumstances to diagrams of common automotive collisions. Based on their findings, companies assign degrees or percentages of liability to drivers involved in collisions. Even if you don’t believe your actions directly caused an accident, based on this fault determination process, you may be held partially responsible. If so, the amount of accident benefits you’re entitled to recover may be reduced.
In these situations, an Oshawa passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to help you appeal an insurance company’s fault determination. A lawyer might also be able to help you negotiate a new settlement with your insurance company.
In cases where the other driver is determined to be primarily at-fault for an accident in which you suffered permanent, catastrophic injuries, an Oshawa passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to help you seek additional compensation by filing a personal injury claim against the other driver.
Recovering Damages for Passenger Vehicle Accident Injuries
In addition to physical injuries sustained in a car accident, victims may experience mental or emotional anguish. Furthermore, the financial costs incurred as the result of another driver’s negligence can be significant. Keeping records of vehicle damages, medical treatments, and other expenses resulting from your accident may help an Oshawa passenger vehicle accident lawyer determine the total damages an accident victim is eligible to pursue.
If injuries you’ve sustained are severe or permanent, a lawyer may be able to help you file a personal injury claim against the other driver. In these cases, an Oshawa passenger vehicle accident lawyer may be able to help you compile and analyze various types of evidence, such as medical records, physician testimonies, earnings statements, financial records, and more to illustrate the full effects that another driver’s negligence has had on your life.
Call Preszler Injury Lawyers to Discuss Your Case
If you’ve sustained injuries in a passenger vehicle accident caused by another driver, you may be eligible to pursue accountability and restitution. An Oshawa car accident lawyer may be able to provide you with useful advice and assistance, so you can focus on your recovery. To discuss the details of your case, call Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
