According to the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT), there were 145,288 car accidents in Wisconsin in 2019. Of those, the majority resulted in property damage, almost one-third resulted in injuries, and 511 were fatal. These incidents can result in long physical recoveries and unexpected expenses. Pursuing financial compensation through a lawsuit can help accident victims get their finances in order.
After a car accident, you might be able to take legal action to help recover your losses. To find out if you have a viable case, you might want to discuss your situation with a Milwaukee car accident. You can call the office of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (844) 730-0233 to speak with our team.
Common Car Accident Expenses
Car accidents cause a variety of problems for victims, including physical injury, property damage, and even death. While every accident is different, there are common expenses that many victims face in the aftermath. Some common car accident expenses include:
- Medical expenses: Car accidents can leave you with expensive medical bills. A large part of that expense results from emergency medical care, which is standard practice after an accident. Transportation to the hospital and emergency room can result in mounting medical bills. Depending on your injuries, you might need long-term care as well.
- Property damage: The cost of repairing or replacing a vehicle can be expensive. Insurance should help with this, but it often does not cover the full cost of a car. Property damage expenses also include other items that were damaged in the accident. Victims often lose their cell phones, damage their clothes, and have other personal items that are damaged or destroyed in the accident.
- Lost wages: Missing work for an extended period of time is problematic because you might not get paid. Wages you lose while recovering from injuries caused by a car accident can be recoverable.
There are other common accident expenses that are not covered on this list. It is important to keep track of your related expenses if you are going to file a lawsuit. You might also want to work with a lawyer to find out what damages qualify to be included in your lawsuit. This can help prevent you from missing out on pursuing compensation to which you might be entitled. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to learn more about how an attorney might be able to help you.
For a free legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Milwaukee, call (844) 730-0233
Determining Liability
In a car accident lawsuit, one of the first things your lawyer could try to determine is who is liable for the accident. In many cases, the driver that caused the accident can be held liable for the damages. Determining liability identifies the party that should be responsible for your expenses and gives you a target for your personal injury suit.
Determining liability is not always easy, depending on the circumstances of the incident. There are several factors involved that can change the course of your case. For example, an accident that involves a company-owned or -operated vehicle can open up that company to liability. Since company-owned vehicles are maintained by the company, an accident caused by a malfunction due to poor vehicle maintenance might make the company liable.
Government organizations may also be sued under specific circumstances, such as when an accident is caused by potholes and other defects in roadways. However, there is usually a special process that you have to follow to file a lawsuit against the government. A Milwaukee car accident lawyer might be able to help you identify liable parties and determine the best course of action for your case.
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Auto Insurance Settlements
In nearly every car accident, insurance companies are involved in the resolution process. Drivers and vehicle owners are required to carry car insurance to cover them in the event of damage or injury. Many legal processes begin with filing a claim through the liable party’s insurance company. These claims can end in a settlement agreement or be taken to trial, depending on the circumstances.
Insurance companies offer settlement agreements because they allow them to handle claims quickly. Otherwise, they would have to wait until every lawsuit went to trial, which can take a long time. In the settlement agreement, you are offered a specific amount of compensation in exchange for giving up your right to make further claims. You are not required to accept a settlement agreement, but you might want to consider it as an option.
Accepting a settlement agreement could end your lawsuit quickly so you can collect compensation. That means that you can address your financial issues sooner. However, you might receive less compensation than you would in a trial because the insurance company will try to negotiate a lower payment.
Before you accept anything, make sure that you thoroughly review the agreement. You might also want to go over it with your Milwaukee car accident lawyer to make sure that the offered amount is fair.
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Statute of Limitations
It may be difficult to decide if you want to take legal action or not, especially if you are unfamiliar with the legal process. However, you have a limited amount of time to make that decision because of the statute of limitations. According to Wisconsin Statute §893.54, you have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit and two years to file a wrongful death suit. Do not miss your opportunity to collect financial compensation by missing the deadline.
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Contact Us to Schedule a No-Risk Consultation
You might be able to take legal action to recover your losses if you or someone you love was injured in a car accident. You might want to start by discussing your case with a Milwaukee car accident lawyer to see what your next step should be. Call the offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (844) 730-0233 to discuss your case during a free consultation.
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