We believe that car accident victims should have access to as much information as possible after a collision. We know you have a lot of questions about what happens next and to get you familiar and comfortable with the process, we published a FREE ebook. Click here to download The Maine Car Accident Book.
Topics covered:
- What to do after a car accident
- The consequences of car accidents
- Car accident statistics in Maine
- Common causes of car accidents
- When to consider hiring a car accident attorney
What To Do After a Car Accident
Understandably, accident scenes are often chaotic. However, specific things to try to do after an accident include:
- Remain on the scene unless you are transported to the hospital (St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center; Central Maine Medical Center; Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine; Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta; Redington – Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, Maine; Inland Hospital in Waterville Maine).
- Ensure that everyone in the accident is accounted for, including their degree of injury
- Immediately contact law enforcement officials
- Exchange names, addresses and insurance information with everyone involved
- Take notes and photographs whenever possible – this can be helpful as it is difficult to recall details about the accident circumstances later, especially if you are injured. Ask a friend to take pictures.
- If there are witnesses to the accident, speak to them and get their contact information and put it in a place you can find it later.
- Read our Car Accident Resources Guide for additional tips and information
The Consequences of Car Accidents
Even a minor accident can have serious consequences. The injuries that car accident victims suffer may include:
- Bone fractures and breaks
- Head and facial injuries and cuts
- Injuries to the spinal cord that could result in paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries including concussions
- Internal injuries including organ damage and internal bleeding
- Financial losses, depending on the level of car insurance
See our interactive map showing the most dangerous intersections in 2015 in Lewiston, Maine.
Car Accident Statistics
According to the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, 164 residents lost their lives and an additional 981 suffered serious injuries in car accidents during 2012.
Car accidents are the leading cause of accidental injury and death in the United States. Not surprisingly, injuries from car accidents represent the most common personal injury claims filed in court. Over the years, Fales & Fales (Maine Personal Injury Law Firm) has handled many thousands of car accident personal injury claims. We represent families who have lost loved ones in accidents all over Maine. We sue drunk drivers. The Lewiston personal injury attorneys file claims against dangerous commercial truck drivers.
What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention some of the most common causes of auto accidents include distracted driving and impaired driving. By the CDC’s estimates, more than 3,200 people lost their lives in distracted driving incidents during 2012 and an additional 30 people die every day as a result of a collision involving alcohol. In Maine alone, 45 people lost their lives that year due to alcohol related crashes.
When to Consider a Car Accident Attorney
Victims of an accident where someone else is at fault are entitled to compensation for their personal injuries as well as compensation for the damage to their vehicle. Fault may be easy to establish if an impaired driver causes the collision as a result of that impairment. Other cases may be more challenging to prove. Personal injury attorneys can use various investigation techniques to get appropriate information about the cause of an accident.
Compensation for car accident injuries can include:
- Pain and suffering – When your injuries cause physical pain
- Medical costs – Including costs of rehabilitation, physical therapy and future medical costs for the injuries sustained in an accident.
- Lost wages – Including not only wages that have already been lost due to hospitalization or disability but also future wages you are likely to lose because your earning capacity is diminished.
Additional compensation may be sought in a wrongful death claim in the event that you have lost a loved one.
Car accidents are frightening experiences. When you or a loved one is injured because someone acted negligently by driving while intoxicated or driving while distracted, you have the right to hold the person accountable. Contact the law office of Fales & Fales, P.A. and let us review your case. You can feel comfortable working with us. We do not charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Car accident cases can present complex factual and legal issues. Fales & Fales has the expertise and the ability to investigate and to pursue complex car accident cases. When appropriate, we hire an accident reconstructionist to determine the cause of the accident. We may hire an economist to value the wages and benefits lost as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. In some cases, we will hire doctors and life care planners to access future medical needs and to ascertain the cost of those projected medical services.
We represent our car accident clients on a contingency fee basis. We generally advance all expenses in pursuing car accident claims and do not expect repayment unless there is a recovery. If we recover nothing, you owe us nothing. Below is a review from one of our previous clients:
Stop shopping around and go with Tony and or Jennifer!
Our questions and concerns were always answered in a very timely manner, no matter if they were small or big. All of the staff were very professional, honest, and efficient and made it that much easier to work with Tony.Theres a reason that Fales and Fales is so highly recommended! Thanks for all you did!
– Naomi W.
