The light is green, and you have the right of way. Another driver, however, fails to stop and broadsides your car. You’ve been involved in a side impact collision. Now your car is damaged, and your body is injured. Who do you call to help you recover damages?
Side impact collisions are often very serious. While most car manufacturers have protections in place, including reinforced frames and side airbags, you are still likely to suffer from painful injuries. If your injury was caused by another’s negligence, you should call a personal injury attorney to make sure you are awarded monetary compensation for your injuries.
Categories of Side Impact Collisions
Your insurance company will categorize your side impact collision as either a broadside or a sideswipe, depending on if you were hit while traveling perpendicular to the other vehicle or while moving parallel, respectively.
Some causes of a broadside collision are:
- Running a red traffic light or stop sign.
- Failure to yield the right-of-way.
Sideswipes may be caused by:
- Improper lane changes.
- Distracted, impaired, or fatigued driving that leads to lane drifting.
- Not following rules when merging into traffic.
Regardless of whether you sustained an injury after being broadsided or sideswiped, your personal injury attorney will help prove who is at fault and fight to ensure you receive a fair monetary settlement.
Damages Often Sustained from Side Impact Collisions
Some of the most dangerous accidents are side impact collisions. If someone else is to blame for your accident, he or his insurance company typically is responsible for covering your damages. There are several types of damages for which you may be compensated, including:
- Medical Bills, including all past, current, and future bills.
- Disability, if you are no longer able to live your life in a normal manner.
- Loss of income, whether you were temporarily out of work or permanently lost your job as a result of your injury.
- Pain and suffering, if your injury leaves you with daily pain or the inability to do activities that you once enjoyed. Emotional distress also falls in this category.
- Property damage, including damages to your vehicle or personal belongings as a result of the accident.
How an Attorney Proves Fault
Even in a clear-cut case, you still must prove another person’s negligence to be awarded compensation. This burden of proof lies upon you, not the other party. Your personal injury attorney will build your case based upon all the facts you provide as well as witness testimony and documentary evidence such as medical records. It’s his goal to negotiate a settlement that covers all your damages.
The more evidence your attorney is able to present, the more likely you will obtain a more favorable settlement. That’s why it’s important to make sure your attorney has all your medical records, including bills and doctor evaluations. Photographs of the accident scene can play a big role in determining fault. Eye-witness statements should also be gathered, whenever possible. Your attorney may also bring in an investigator to find more evidence or an expert witness, such as a medical doctor or accident reconstruction expert to demonstrate why you deserve a larger monetary settlement.
