Blog | Ahlander Injury Law

Who Should You Call After a Car Accident?

December 6, 2022 by Big Leap

Immediately after a car accident, it’s difficult to know what your first steps should be. It’s a frightening experience that can leave you shocked. However, it’s important that you make a few calls immediately following or within a few days of the accident.

Emergency Responders

No matter what, your first call should be to any emergency responders. If there are any injuries, you need emergency responders on the scene to address all medical needs. Getting these responders to the accident quickly can save lives and improve the outcomes for anyone who is injured.

Additionally, you need to make sure you call the police to report the accident. The police are responsible for establishing who is at fault for the accident. This will be used when you make calls to insurance companies in order to get compensation. Emergency responders also assist with clearing the scene of the accident and making the road safe for other drivers.

Insurance Companies

Being insured entitles you to several types of compensation depending on your coverage. You can receive compensation for injuries you’ve received and damage to your vehicle, and you can even get compensation for mental and emotional trauma. In order to get this coverage, you need to contact your insurance company and the insurance companies of anyone else involved in the accident. The police report will determine who is at fault. Insurance companies use this information to determine who gets compensation and how much. For example, if another driver is at-fault, their insurance company can pay to repair any damage done to your car.

Tow Truck

Not all accidents are the same, but some can leave your vehicle pretty damaged. It may be impossible for you to drive it home or to drive it to the mechanic yourself. In these cases, you will need to call a tow truck for assistance. They can take your car to a mechanic to be fixed. If you are able to drive your car yourself, you should schedule an appointment with a mechanic to determine what damage has been done to your car. Keep in mind, not all damage will be immediately obvious to you.

It’s hard to know what you need to do in an accident of any kind. Having help can make it easier for you and it can lead you toward the best possible outcome. Hiring an accident injury lawyer can make sure you are fairly compensated.

Ahlander Injury Law will fight to get you all the compensation you deserve. Click here to learn more and get in contact with an accident injury attorney.

Who’s Liable in a Slip and Fall Incident?

November 15, 2022 by Big Leap

Slip and fall incidents are typically the results of tripping hazards, slick surfaces, uneven walkways, and more. These incidents can lead to serious injuries and can even result in lawsuits. If one occurs, the first thing to determine is whether or not the property owner is at fault for the injury.

Did the Property Owner Know About the Hazard?

Since the incident took place on their property, the owner and/or their employees can be held liable if certain conditions are met. You first need to determine with the owner was aware of the hazard. Sometimes hazards might not be obvious and an injury can occur. In these cases, it allows the owner to address the issue and make sure future incidents don’t occur. If they did know about the hazard and failed to do anything about it, then they can be held liable for the incident.

Did They Address the Hazard?

If a property owner and/or their employees know about a hazard, they are responsible for addressing it. After an injury occurs, it needs to be determined if they did anything about the hazard. They can be held liable if they ignored the hazard or if they didn’t properly handle it. Some owners might partially address a concern or apply a temporary solution that doesn’t fully prevent future incidents. A property owner is not liable if they have fully and properly addressed the hazard to create a safe environment.

Did They Cause the Hazard?

Unfortunately, there are cases where the property owner or their employees can be responsible for a hazard. For example, if they spill something on the floor, don’t clean it up, and someone slips, then they are at fault for the incident. Other examples of the owner being at fault include poor lighting, inventory left out on the floor, unfinished construction projects, improper waterproofing for weather, and or even loose gravel on walkways. If a property owner is responsible for unsafe conditions, and they have not addressed or changed these conditions, they are held liable for the incident.

There are several reasons why a property owner and/or their employees may be at fault for a slip and fall incident. If you have recently been injured in such an incident, you should determine if any of these conditions have been met. Working with a slip-and-fall lawyer can help you fight your case.

Ahlander Injury Law is well-equipped to assist on your slip and fall case. Click here to learn more and get in contact.

Being Injured as a Pedestrian in a Car Accident

November 1, 2022 by Big Leap

When most people think of a car accident, they only think of accidents involving one or more vehicles where a collision occurs. However, pedestrians can also be involved and heavily impacted in car accidents. It’s important to understand their role.

Causes of Accidents

Drivers are legally responsible for looking out for pedestrians, so the driver is typically at fault in an accident involving a pedestrian. A driver might strike a pedestrian for a variety of reasons. If they’re backing up and can’t see well, they might hit some. Accidents are also common due to the negligence of the driver, speeding, distracted driving, and ignoring traffic laws are all reasons for accidents involving pedestrians. All these actions make it harder for drivers to stop in time. Additionally, the risk of hitting a pedestrian increases after dusk. If drivers aren’t being careful, they can cause significant damage.

Potential Injuries

Injuries in any kind of car accident are quite serious, but they are more severe when involving a pedestrian. The pedestrian isn’t protected in any way. No matter how fast the driver is going, the pedestrian is still being struck by heavy machinery. Pedestrians can sustain injuries to their entire bodies when hit by a car. They may have fractures or even fully broken bones. They can sustain injuries to their head and spine which can cause permanent damage. Of course, bruises, cuts, lesions, sprains, joint dislocation, and more are also common. Recovering from all these injuries can take significant time and may even require medical procedures such as surgery.

Receiving Compensation

If you, as a pedestrian, are hit by a car then you deserve fair compensation. Your injuries can affect you in several ways. First of all, it is expensive to receive medical care to treat injuries. The cost will cover things like surgery, medication, physical therapy, etc. and this cost can be overwhelming. Fair compensation from insurance companies can relieve the financial burden. If your injuries are severe, they can prevent you from returning to work, and you are entitled to compensation for lost wages. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it is best to contact an attorney so they can argue your case. With their help, you can be fully compensated for the damages you’ve received.

If a pedestrian is injured in a car accident, those injuries can be life-threatening. It’s a frightening experience to go through and the aftermath can lead to even more stress. You need all the help you can get.

Find an attorney to assist on your case. Click here to learn more about Ahlander Injury Law and get in contact with a car accident lawyer.

Everything You Need to Know About Witnesses of a Car Accident

October 19, 2022 by Big Leap

Having witnesses to a car accident can make a big difference in the outcome of the accident including how you are compensated by insurance companies. There’s a lot you and anyone else directly involved in the accident can say about what happened. However, a witness can improve your situation.

Types of Witnesses

In any accident, there are two main types of witnesses. The first is an eyewitness. This witness is anyone who watched the accident happen or observed your injuries after. These witnesses are more believable if they are not passengers in the same car as you or are related to you. The second type of witness is an expert witness. An expert witness can add more strength to your case by using science and help persuade the insurance companies and their attorneys of what compensation you need. Examples include medical or mental health professionals, accident reconstruction experts, engineers, highway safety experts, etc.

Benefits of a Witness Testimony

A strong witness is an objective third party that is present simply to state the facts of what happened. They offer no bias and simply testify of what happened during the accident or what resulted because of the accident. Insurance companies can use their testimonies to understand what really happened and who is deserving of what compensation. Additionally, a witness testimony can be used to determine who is at fault because they may have witnessed behavior that clearly implicates one of the motorists involved in the crash.

Impact on Insurance Claims

Insurance companies will thoroughly scrutinize the credibility of any witnesses in order to avoid giving out more compensation than necessary. First, they will determine if there are any connections between the involved parties and the witnesses. They will also look for any inconsistencies in the witness’s story. If the witness can’t recall certain events or if they tell the story differently, the insurance company may claim they are not a reliable witness. A witness could also be counted as invalid if they only saw what led up to the crash or what happened right after, rather than the whole thing.

A car accident is scary to experience and a hassle to deal with. Having some witnesses involved can improve your chances of getting the compensation you deserve after a crash. If you work with an accident or injury lawyer, talk to them about calling in witnesses.

Working with an attorney can help you get compensation after an accident. Click here to receive help from Ahlander Injury Law.

Biggest Mistakes Made After a Car Accident

October 5, 2022 by Big Leap

After being in a car accident, it’s common to experience shock and uncertainty. However, there are certain actions you need to make sure you avoid after any kind of accident. Making these mistakes can ruin your chances of getting proper compensation.

Not Seeking Medical Help

No matter the results of your car accident, you should seek medical help if you feel any pain. Often, the injuries you receive are not obvious at first and you might assume you’re fine. However, these injuries can become more serious when it’s too late to receive compensation. Additionally, if you don’t seek any medical attention then it can be difficult or even impossible to prove to the insurance companies involved that you received serious injuries. You need verification from a health care professional that you received injuries and this verification will also explain how serious the injuries were.

Admitting Fault

Under no circumstances should you ever admit fault when you’re in a car accident. Even if you know it was your fault, it’s best to keep your mouth shut. Don’t apologize to the others involved (even though this may feel wrong) because apologizing admits guilt. It is fine to ask if other are okay, but don’t admit to doing anything wrong. In any accident, the police should be called and they will investigate the crash and determine who is at fault. Don’t admit anything and let them handle it.

Settling Quickly

Since car accidents are so stressful, it’s natural to want to take care of everything quickly and be done with it. However, this is the wrong approach to have. You want to make sure everything has been thoroughly investigated first, so you can successfully obtain what compensation you need. This includes having a medical evaluation done to see what injuries you’ve sustained and how serious they are. You should also make sure your vehicle is inspected so you know the extent of the damage. Settling quickly can mean missing out on potential compensation. Again, not all injuries are obvious at first and you may receive compensation before realizing how bad your injuries really are.

You need to know what actions you should take after a car accident occurs. If you know common mistakes, you can know what to avoid and you can protect yourself. For further protection, you should hire an injury lawyer to support your case.

Having an injury lawyer on your side can help you get the compensation you need. Click here to get in contact with qualified attorneys at Ahlander Injury Law.