When you are driving on a multi-lane road there are always people merging in and out of traffic in order to get to their destination. Multi-lane roads typically have a higher speed limit and with all of this rapid movement, there is bound to be accidents. Regrettably, people misjudge the distance between their car and surrounding vehicles or all together do not see the other vehicle next to them causing accidents.
When you are in an accident there is a chance that you will be injured. Those injuries can cause you pain and in return cause you to miss work and require medical care. Time missed at work and medical bills can add up to cost you a pretty penny. However, there is good news. There are legal options available to you so that you may be compensated for your injuries and medical bills.
Who is at Fault?
When you are in a car accident, one of the first questions that arise is, who was at fault. If you were merging and were involved in an accident, you may automatically think that you were at fault. However, that is simply not true. There are many factors that influence who was at fault, the main one being if the other car was speeding. Furthermore, if you were merging over and another car from the left-hand lane moves over into that same lane simultaneously, it is likely not your fault.
However, if you were not the one merging and someone merged into your lane sideswiping your car, it will likely be the other driver who was merging fault. So, do no automatically blame yourself if you were in an accident while merging. Every collision must be evaluated on a case by case basis. After the accident occurs and the police report is written, you should contact a lawyer to discuss your options and how to proceed with the insurance companies. Determining fault is not always a clear-cut line and you should have someone on your side to fight for you.
Common Types of Injuries
There are many types of injuries that can occur from car accidents. However, there are some common types of injuries that can occur in almost every car accident.
Broken bones
You can break bones doing everyday activities. However, when you get a broken bone from a car accident you deserve to be compensated. You can break a number of bones including wrist, arms, ribs and even legs depending on how your car is impacted. As you probably know, broken bones can take weeks or months to heal and can impact your everyday activities.
Head injury
There are many types of head injuries such as concussions and skull fractures. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that can result in either short-term or long-term memory loss. A skull fracture is a break in the cranial bone and can have a variety of symptoms such as swelling and bleeding. Head injuries can be life-threatening and the symptoms can stay around for a while.
Neck and back injury
Neck and back injuries encompass a wide variety of injuries from whiplash to herniated disks. Whiplash is the most common type of injury because it is caused by the sudden jolt causing your neck to snap. Whiplash is an injury to the neck and is characterized by a number of symptoms such as neck pain, headaches, and shoulder pain.
When involved in a car accident that resulted from merging, you can have very little injury or very serious injuries. This can depend very much on the speeds you were going when merging and where you were merging. For example, merging onto a small two-lane road with a speed limit of 30 miles and hour will cause less impact than if you were merging onto a three-way highway with speed limits about 55 miles per hour. The list of injuries above is not all-inclusive, and just lists some of the most common injuries. So, if you have been injured, don’t hesitate to call a Baltimore personal injury attorney.
How to File a Claim
So, you’ve been in an accident and you were injured. You have police reports, medical bills, and insurance companies calling for statements. What do you do now? You need a lawyer to help you through the process of filing a personal injury claim.
One of the most important things that you can do is document everything and collect all records that you can. Photographs are helpful to prove who caused the accident, as well as the damage that was incurred during the accident. it will also be crucial to save any medical records or bills that resulted from the accident. it is important to document the day of the accident and the proceeding days as you talk to police and insurance companies. Keeping a detailed record can only help when filing a claim.
Now how long do you have to file?
There is not a rush to file immediately, but there is a three-year statute of limitations. The sooner you file, the better because the memories will be fresher in your memory. So, if you have been injured in a car accident from merging, it is best to talk to a Baltimore personal injury attorney sooner, rather than later.
What if you’re not sure if you want to file?
If you are not one hundred percent sure you want to file a personal injury claim, come in and talk to us. Our attorneys for car accident claims in Baltimore offer a free consultation for you to come in, tell us the facts, and for us to discuss possible options.
Call a Baltimore Personal Injury Attorney
If you were involved in a car accident because of someone else’s merging mistake and you were injured, you deserve compensation. At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we have handled hundreds of personal injury claims resulting from car accidents. We have the experience you need and will fight to get you what you deserve. Call (410) 694-7291 for a free consultation.