Determining fault in an auto accident is often a complicated process.
It can require integrated teams of detectives and forensics experts along with hundreds of man hours.
If you are in a serious auto accident, you should secure legal representation as soon as possible. An experienced car accident lawyer will have represented many clients in situations similar to yours.
They know about the important timelines and intricate paperwork regimes that really are the nuts and bolts of the car crash injury world.
Among attorneys in Eugene, Veralrud and Fowler are well-known for their experience in auto accident litigation.
They have successfully guided dozens of clients toward successful car accident lawsuit outcomes. They are waiting to help you navigate the complicated work of auto accident liability.
Don’t do into the process of determining liability in an auto accident on your own.
Chances are, those with deeper pockets and better connections will take advantage of you.
Retaining a car accident attorney will put you on equal footing with big players like insurance companies and hospitals, allowing you to take a break and heal while your legal team does the hard work.
Calling an auto accident lawyer is the first step after an injury car crash.
Whose fault is this?
The moments after a serious auto accident can be upsetting and difficult.
Even when they don’t cause a life-changing injury, all auto accidents involve some kind of financial loss at least.
Of course, accidents which only cause superficial harm to your vehicle do not compare to injury auto accidents.
Thanks to the forces involved, a car crash can inflict all sorts of damage on the human body, ranging from blunt force trauma all the way up to (in high-speed crashes) hydrostatic shock that can cause internal bleeding and more.
After suffering such any injury, it can be nearly impossible to have the presence of mind to contact a personal injury lawyer.
Pain is a constant reminder of the state your body is in, and auto accidents can certainly change the state of your body.
Moreover, they can be the underlying cause of conditions that persist for the rest of your life.
The cost of care for these types of injuries can run into the millions of dollars over the course of a lifetime.
Without an adequate plan for compensation, the injured party can be left with the bulk of the bill. That’s what they call in the car accident attorney world “adding insult to injury.”
Some of this can be avoided by taking decisive action as soon as the accident occurs.
If you can, gather witness information as well as the insurance information from the other driver or drivers involved.
If you cannot, hopefully friends, family or the responding EMS personnel will do some of the job for you.
If the accident is severe enough that you have to be taken away in an ambulance, this is your only hope to recover at least a little testimony absolving you of any fictive responsibility the other party might invent to shake off some liability.
There is only so much you can do without expert help
Determining where responsibility falls in the cause of an auto accident might seem simple at the time, but don’t be fooled: many factors influence findings of fault in cases such as these.
Laws vary from state to state, and the insurance companies will do whatever they can to avoid any additional liability.
This is why it is so important to get the help of a Eugene attorney after any auto accident. Only they have the tools to figure out what you really need.
How could this get any worse?
You’ve just been rear-ended. Your car is smoking and crumpled.
Hazard lights reflect off the wet asphalt.
You see the other driver approaching your window.
They look so sad and frightened. The words start coming out before you’ve really thought them through: “I’m so sorry…”
Admitting fault in any way at the scene of an accident could cost you big time.
Don’t let the chance for fair and appropriate compensation slip away.
Before you do or say anything, make sure you have the name of a local Eugene attorney on hand.
Give them a call. Let them know you’ve been in an accident. Experienced attorneys are used to dealing with situations just like these.
They will guide you through the often-confusing claims process with expert skill, making sure that you are made whole.
Insurance companies will attempt to hustle you into a quick settlement often while you are still laid up in the hospital.
They know that in this vulnerable state, any offer will sound pretty good.
While your own insurance company may also be looking out for you, to them you are an account number and little more.
The personal attention that comes having a personal injury attorney on your side changes everything.
Stress is one of the biggest contributors to difficulty healing and ongoing physical problems.
Cortisol released during stressful situations inflames tissue and prevents proper healing.
Do not let the stress of dealing with legal issues derail your healing process.
Professional lawyers Veralrud & Fowler are there for you when you need them most.
Look around!
So, you remembered not to admit fault. It’s still cold and raining. Both cars are still in bad shape. What else can you do?
One of the most valuable and overlooked components to fault-finding in an auto accident is witness testimony.
Having a clear and precise recollection of the accident will help insurers, law enforcement personnel and legal representation accurately reconstruct what happened and determine how fault is distributed among the involved parties.
Eyewitness testimony on the individual level is notoriously untrustworthy.
It is only by the testimony of multiple witnesses that credibility is established.
The sooner you find these witnesses and recruit them into your pool of evidence, the better the chance that they will escape having their perceptions shifted by suggestions from other parties involved in the accident.
In stressful situations, people become suggestable. Looking for stability or certainly, they will settle for being told what to do or how to think.
Protect your witnesses from any kind of false influence by collecting their testimony on the spot.
If you have a smartphone, take a video of this testimony.
This evidence will be admissible in court and could mean the difference between receiving the compensation you deserve and rehabilitating life-long debt.
As you are getting ready to contact your Eugene-area accident lawyer, try to actively remember the series of events leading up to the accident.
Write down anything that seems important. If you you have a cell phone, take pictures.
You might even want to record a video of yourself narrating the scene. All this will help your attorney get you the fairest-possible compensation.
Modified Comparative Fault
Even though not admitting fault and collecting evidence are important steps to take after any accident, they are especially important steps to take in Oregon.
Oregon is a Modified Comparative Fault state, which means that even if you can prove the other party is at least 51% at fault in an auto accident, your right to compensation could be limited.
Collecting evidence and acting quickly to begin building a case are the fastest way to push yourself below the 50% fault threshold in the eyes of the law.
Tiny points of ambiguity can shift the perceptions of investigators perceptibly.
A good auto accident lawyer is familiar with the ins and outs of the entire modified comparative fault legal framework.
They will find the strongest points of your case and accentuate them while attempting to mitigate any contraindicating evidence.
The insurance companies will try every trick in the book to convince you to settle early.
This is because they know that the sooner they get you to settle, the less time you will have to fully apprehend the size and scope of your injuries.
Chances are, if they find out you are unrepresented, they will hound you until you finally roll over and accept their terms.
It might not be anything personal, but there is nothing personable about the way insurance adjusters deal with the general public.
They have a mission and they are proficient at accomplishing it.
Veralrud and Fowler, your Eugene accident lawyers, will ensure you avoid unnecessary liability and obtain all the compensation you are entitled to after an auto accident.
They too are proficient representatives of their clients’ interests.
They will pour themselves into the minutiae of your case, scouring the details for important information that might help you secure the compensation you deserve.
If you are considering an auto accident injury lawsuit, Veralrud and Fowler have the expert perspective and depth of experience you need.
Don’t let a minor accident turn into a major pain.
When you need to determine fault in a car accident, the personal injury lawyers are there with the tools you need. Call us today!
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