If you or a family member were injured in a car crash in or around Bozeman, you’ll likely have questions about the process for making a personal injury claim. An adjuster for the insurance company of the person who caused your accident might even be leaving you phone messages about obtaining a recorded statement from you. The one thing that’s certain is that the opposing insurer is on the defensive. It knows that it’s going to be paying out on your claim, so it’s trying to gain some control over your claim in its efforts to pay out as little as possible on it. Our recommendation is that you speak with our Bozeman car accident lawyer as soon as you can before even thinking about speaking with that other insurance company. That’s because you want to preserve and protect your claim and not innocently devalue it.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in and Around Bozeman:
As per the Montana Department of Transportation, there were more than 40,000 reported traffic accidents in the state in 2020. Of those, 212 resulted in fatalities, 730 involved serious injuries and 5,701 were reported as involving “other injury.” Here are some of the most common causes of those accidents:
- Distracted driving like talking on a cell phone, texting, checking messages or using an infotainment center while driving.
- Following a vehicle ahead too closely.
- Speeding or the failure to reduce speed in difficult traffic or weather conditions.
- Failure to yield the right-of-way at stop signs or stop lights.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination of the two.
Don’t Put Yourself at the Mercy of the Opposing Insurer:
It isn’t a secret about how car insurance companies do business. They collect premium payments and deposit them in their bank. Then, they invest those premiums and make even more money. When their insured customers cause accidents and injuries, the insurers try to pay out as little as possible on the claims in order to preserve their bottom lines. Without an experienced and aggressive Bozeman car accident lawyer working on their behalf, an accident victim is at the mercy of the opposing insurer. Even people who suffer serious injuries are likely to be stunned when an opposing insurer makes a settlement offer, especially when their own words from their own statement are used against them. They’ve given up rights and leverage, and now, their only alternative is the courts. They’re not aware of the fact that their own words will probably be used against them in court either. A knowledgeable and experienced car accident lawyer never would have let any of that happen in the first place.
When to Hire a Bozeman Car Accident Lawyer:
After being injured in an auto accident in or around Bozeman, you should consult with and retain a Bozeman Car Accident lawyer at your earliest possibility opportunity. At Quirk Accident and Injury Attorneys, APC, we represent clients in auto accident cases on a contingency fee basis. If we enter into a retainer agreement with you to represent you for the injuries and damages that you suffered in an accident, not a penny of up-front fees is required. In fact, we don’t get paid any legal fees at all unless a settlement is entered into or an award is rendered on your behalf.
Damages Available to Car Crash Victims:
In pursuing a settlement directly with the opposing insurance company, its attorneys out of court or we obtain an award on a client’s behalf, an accident victim is entitled to pursue the following personal injury damages:
- Medical expenses like hospitals, doctors, rehab or physical therapy.
- Lost earnings or lost earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering.
- Any permanent disfigurement.
- Any permanent disability.
- Emotional distress
- Other valuable damages in the event of a wrongful death.
What to Do After Being Injured in an Accident:
After being injured in a car accident, call 911 immediately, and ask that both police and paramedics be sent to the scene. Police will investigate the accident and complete a written report on it. Paramedics can stabilize you and take you to a local emergency room. When you leave the hospital, call us right away for a no-cost consultation. We’ll be pleased to answer your questions, and explain all of your legal rights and options to you. When you retain us, we promise to fully protect and assert those rights in working toward the maximum settlement or verdict that you deserve.
Contact a Bozeman Car Accident Lawyer:
Refuse to give any type of a statement to an opposing insurance company. Montana law doesn’t require you to do that. Call our Bozeman personal injury lawyer at Quirk Accident and Injury Attorneys, APC instead.