To claim or not to claim

Although according to latest figures the number of vehicle accident-related fatalities and injuries declined last year compared from what was recorded in 2005, car crashes and vehicular accidents remain to be one of the major sources of preventable deaths and injuries in the country today.

Due to this fact, vehicle accidents have become one of the most popular sources of personal injuries and insurance claims. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a total of 42,642 deaths and 2.575 million injuries resulted from car crashes in 2006.

This means the same number of accidents may have been the source of personal injuries and insurance claims. But what exactly are the claims that an injured party can make when he gets entangled in an accident due to factors not of his fault?

There are actually many claims that can be made out of a vehicular accident, and the viability of each of the claims depends on a case-to-case basis. The following are the usual claims made in a car accident:

• Claims for reimbursement of medical expenses caused by the accident
• Claims for loss of income due to the accident
• Claims for serious and less serious injuries
• Claims for defective vehicles or spare parts
• Claims for pedestrians involved in car accidents
• Claims against an uninsured driver

Because of the growing number of vehicular accidents in recent memory, victims have turned to specialized law firms dealing these kinds of claims. Most of the time, these lawyers are called accident lawyers, and the term is pretty much self-explanatory.

The reason for a rise in the number of law firms or lawyers specializing in personal injury or insurance claims in car accidents because the potential for getting compensation by an injured party is high, particularly when his not at fault. He or she can recover medical expenses, loss of his or her income and other damages brought about by the accident.

Particularly, a claim should be made against the insurance company or the offending party when, because of the accident, a loved one died; the victim suffered a permanent injury such as disfigurement; the victim suffered loss of a sense or senses; the victim suffered the loss of an arm or a limb; or such other injuries that are debilitating or permanent in nature.

When any of these happen to you, it is important to consult an accident lawyer as soon as possible, as claims of this nature have a time limit.

There is a significant number of lawyers in LA County who specialize in these kinds of claims. When talking to one, it is important that you tell him or her all the relevant details of the accident, including all the details of your injury.

Remember, there is nothing to be ashamed of when claiming for personal injury arising from an accident not of your fault.