Have You Been Injured in a Auto Accident?
Auto Injury CasesMeet Rob Buchanan a Michigan Personal Injury Attorney and Partner at The Buchanan & Buchanan Law Firm. In This Video Rob Profiles Car Accident Injury Cases in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
It always amazes us how poorly insurance companies handle claims, especially after a serious auto accident. Many clients come to us for help because they do not get straight answers from insurers, and in some cases no answers. We understand the frustration and help with automobile investigations to determine the cause of the accident and who holds responsibility for resulting injuries. We answer questions for victims of auto accidents, and we are best positioned to answer yours.
Buchanan & Buchanan is considered among the top Grand Rapids auto accident injury law firms.
Grand Rapids Car Accident Attorney Professionals Also Have Experience With:
- Auto Accidents
- Car Accidents
- Semi-Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
Auto, truck and motorcycle accident claims involving death or serious injuries require the highest attorney skill and experience. But that’s just half the equation. Vehicle accidents causing brain injury, paralysis, disfigurement, burns, death, or catastrophic injury require medical expertise, too. These lawsuits for injured people and their families demand, from beginning to end, the expertise of a medical doctor to oversee the complex medical issues that are at the core of these serious claims.
Every year millions of people are injured in motor vehicle accidents – many very seriously. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every 10 seconds someone in the United States is involved in a car accident. In 2005, there were an estimated 6,159,000 police reported traffic crashes, in which 43,443 people were killed and 2,699,000 people were injured. Here are other interesting facts:
- Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of injury death in the United States for people ages 3 to 33.
- Motor vehicle crashes took the lives of 2,348 children (ages 1 to 15) and 6,964 teenagers (ages 16 to 20) in 2005. Older adults (over 65) continue to be a high-risk age group for motor vehicle fatalities.
- In the United States, 4,881 pedestrians died from traffic-related injuries and another 59,119 pedestrians sustained non-fatal injuries in 2005.
- In 2005, 33% of traffic fatalities were alcohol related; either the driver or an affected person (e.g., a pedestrian or a bicyclist) had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 gram per deciliter (g/dl).
At Buchanan & Buchanan, P.L.C. we use our experience in handling accident cases to investigate contributing causes of an accident to ensure that you will receive full compensation for your injuries. All of the facts involved in the cause of a motor vehicle accident requires skill and experience. We will handle the investigation so you can concentrate on recovering from your injuries. We assist you in finding an appropriate medical specialist to treat you, and can talk to medical care providers about your case until your it is resolved through settlement or trial.
Automobile accidents are generally evaluated under the law of negligence. A person who negligently operates a vehicle may be required to pay any damages caused by their negligence, either to person or property. Generally, people who operate automobiles must exercise “reasonable care under the circumstances.” Failure to use reasonable care is the basis in most lawsuits for damages caused by an automobile accident.
Courts look to a number of factors in determining whether a driver was negligent. Some examples of these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Driving too fast or too slow
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Failing to signal while turning
- Disregarding weather or traffic conditions
- Disobeying traffic signs or signals
- Failing to drive on the right side of the road
A driver may also be liable for an accident caused by intentional or reckless conduct. A driver who is reckless is one who drives unsafely, with willful and wanton disregard for the probability that the driving may cause an accident.
In another example, if a mechanic fails to properly repair a vehicle, and the failure causes an accident, the person who improperly repaired the automobile, and his repair shop, may be liable for injuries sustained. Other factors such as poorly maintained roads and malfunctioning traffic control signals can contribute to the cause. Improper design, maintenance, construction, signage, lighting or other highway defect, as well as improper striping on the road’s passing lanes, a sharp obstruction or problem with the roadway that obstructs drivers’ vision, or poorly placed trees and utility poles can also cause serious accidents. Finally, if an accident is caused by an intoxicated driver, a bar or social host may be liable for damages sustained if they served an obviously intoxicated guest, who then drives and causes an accident. See Drunk Drivers.
In all automobile accident cases it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the accident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate any injuries. If you or a loved one is a victim of an automobile accident, call Buchanan & Buchanan, P.L.C. now at (800)272-4080. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don’t delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.