Multi-car crash causes several serious injuries

June 14, 2013

Drivers who fail to follow the rules of the road endanger other motorists. According to KABC-TV Los Angeles, a driving under the influence may have played a part in an accident involving four vehicles on April 7, 2013. People in all four vehicles were injured; four people were transported to hospitals by ambulance, and two by helicopter. One individual was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone is involved in an automobile accident every 10 seconds in the United States. People who have suffered injuries in a car accident may find themselves facing expensive medical bills and long physical recovery from their injuries. Given the cost of medical care following accidents, it may be beneficial for those who have been injured from a car accident to seek the advice of a capable attorney.

Car accidents and the law of negligence

In any accident claim, the law of negligence generally decides which driver was at fault. When operating an automobile, drivers are expected to exercise "reasonable care under the circumstances." If an individual fails to use reasonable care and causes injury to another person, he or she may be considered negligent. A negligent driver can be required to pay for damages, caused either to a person or to property, as a result of his or her negligence.

Courts look to a number of factors in determining whether a driver was negligent. Some of these factors are:

- Disobeying traffic signs or signals
- Driving above or below the speed limit
- Disregarding weather or traffic conditions
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- After a car accident, injured motorists can take several steps to help assess possible future negligence claims. The first and most important step after an accident is to remain at the scene and to check on everyone involved. Next, especially if anyone's injured or there's extensive property damage, it's important to call the police and other emergency services. Then, it's advised to make note of relevant details related to the accident, by using a cell phone or camera to take pictures or video of the surroundings and the damage for example.

Relevant details may include the weather, traffic or road conditions at the time of the accident. After that, it's important to exchange contact and car insurance information with the other drivers involved. Finally, it's essential to address and document any medical treatment that's required from resulting injuries.

Personal injury claims

Given the cost of medical care following accidents, it may be beneficial for those who have been injured from a car accident to seek the advice of a capable attorney who is familiar with handling personal injury claims. An experienced car accident lawyer can file work with insurance companies and medical personnel and may be able to help the injured motorist obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages and even pain and suffering.

Website: http://losangelescaraccident-attorney.com/