Imagine driving through the countryside with nothing to see except agricultural fields and the occasional cow. Now picture driving through rush-hour traffic with honking horns, high speeds, and constant movement from all directions. You may think you’d be more likely to end up in an accident in the urban setting; however, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tells us otherwise.

According to the NHTSA’s 2016 Rural/Urban Comparison of Traffic Fatalities, there were a total of 34,439 fatal vehicle accidents resulting in 37,461 deaths. Of these accidents, 50 percent occurred in rural areas and 47 percent occurs in urban areas. Three percent of the accidents occurred in areas where not enough information was available to determine if the crashes were inside urban or rural boundaries.

A variety of traumatic events, like car accidents, can happen to us at any time. It’s during these instances we often have little control over what’s happening. When faced with such trauma, our bodies and minds may sustain serious injuries and suffer both physically and mentally.

One of the most severe and often invisible injuries is shock. The body can go into either medical or psychological shock, or both. If left untreated, shock victims can experience life-threatening complications.

A car accident involving a motorist and a pedestrian can be particularly traumatic for both parties. The pedestrian may sustain a variety of injuries depending on the circumstances, and the motorist is likely to be emotionally stricken and confused.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 129,000 pedestrians received emergency medical treatment for nonfatal crash-related injuries in 2015. That same year, 5,376 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents. Older adults, children, and drivers or pedestrians who are intoxicated face a higher risk for this type of accident.

Determining fault in the event of a pedestrian car crash is often complex. While it’s easy to blame the driver for an accident with a pedestrian, pedestrians have a duty of care just like any driver. They must take reasonable steps to ensure their own safety in proportion to the dangers involved with walking near moving vehicles. There are instances where the pedestrian may be found at least partially at fault.

After a car wreck, you’re probably focusing on holding the negligent driver responsible for their actions. A big part of this comes from your medical records and what your doctor has to say about your accident-related injuries.

When you file your claim, it’s important to include your doctor’s notes. These notes will show the extent of your injuries, your treatment plan, and what your recovery looks like. This information is imperative when seeking compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. Read on to learn about the doctor’s notes that’ll best support your claim.

Seeking Medical Treatment After an Auto Accident

Regardless of how minor your injuries look or feel, it’s important to seek medical treatment after a car accident. Serious injuries can take time to manifest, and it’s always better to catch issues early.

Whether you go to the hospital after an accident or make an appointment with your family physician the next day, a full workup will likely be conducted. They may want to perform certain neurological tests to make sure you haven’t sustained a brain injury. Depending on any pain or bruising you have, they may choose to order X-rays or an MRI.

Concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). They are a mild form of TBI caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Doctors consider this a “mild” brain injury because they are not usually life-threatening. While they may not be life-threatening, it’s important to recognize why concussions happen and how they affect your body – that way you can treat the issue, in the event of one, and return your life to normal as quickly as possible.

The Causes of Concussion

As stated above, a concussion can occur when the head is struck in some way. In emergency rooms, the leading causes of concussions are falls, automobile accidents, accidentally being hit by or against an object, assaults, and sports.

There are bound to be a plethora of things on your mind after a car accident. You’ll likely be focusing on your recovery and concerned about the possible financial burdens. Filing and settling a car accident claim has the potential to ease those burdens. Keep in mind that the type of settlement you’re looking for will have a big impact on how long the entire process takes.

Reporting a Car Accident Claim

After a car accident, you’ll need to make a report to the Kentucky State Police and your insurance company. Typically, you’ll be providing contact and vehicle information for the drivers involved and any personal property damages and injuries.

Your insurance company will file your claim and work on getting you your compensation. They will want to review the accident reports and your medical expenses. They’ll also try to determine if you’ll have any residual problems from your injuries and what treatments you may need in the future. This process may take some time.

The Law Office of Todd W. Burris understands how difficult it can be to manage all the logistics of a car accident when you should be focusing on recovery. We’re here to help you understand Kentucky’s car accident laws and find ways to ease your financial burden, so you can focus on what matters most.

If you’ve been involved in car wreck in Kentucky, we compiled a list of some of the most important information you need to know about car accident laws in our state, how to report an accident, and how to begin a legal settlement if you choose to.

What Do I Do Immediately After a Car Accident?

Address Medical Concerns First. Call 911. If you are in a condition to move your vehicle and it will move, get it out of the way of any incoming traffic. Assess the situation by evaluating your own wellbeing and wellbeing of other motorists, passengers, or pedestrians. Make sure the police are notified as well so an accident report can be started.

Exchange Information. In Kentucky, you are required to provide and receive the following information to and from any other parties involved in the accident:

• Name, address, and contact information
• Driver license number
• License plate number of the vehicles involved
• Auto insurance information for the motorists involved

Kentucky truck accidents result in thousands of injuries and deaths every year. Many of these accidents could have been avoided if not for certain actions taken by both the truck driver and the trucking company. Determining fault in an accident like this can be difficult, especially when insurance companies and truck companies’ attorneys get involved, but proving liability (fault) is necessary is any type of accident or injury claim. Knowing who’s at fault for the accident can also help bring a victim and their family closure regarding the crash, why it occurred, and if legal actions can be taken.

Establishing Fault

To establish liability after a truck accident, it’s imperative to find which party is at fault. In the event that you are a victim of a truck crash, either the trucker or the trucking company may be blame for your misfortune.

When the trucker is at fault.

The trucker may be at fault for a variety of reasons. If you are hit by a truck that went through a stop sign or are rear-ended, the truck driver may be held accountable. This is especially true if the driver was under the influence of alcohol or other substances. A truck driver can also be found to be at fault if they were fatigued because they chose to forgo sleep in order to travel further.

Processing and coping with the loss of a loved one is incredibly challenging. This challenge may be more difficult if the passing is unexpected. While you may not be thinking about filing a wrongful death claim, insurance companies can start to pressure you into settlements. The Law Office of Todd W. Burris is here to help you receive the financial award you deserve after the wrongful death of your loved one. And while this may be news, life expectancy can play a big part in what you’re owed.

Why Calculate Life Expectancy?

In a wrongful death claim, life expectancy is used as a way to judge what losses a person’s death caused. These are called future damages. Future damages include estimates for any lost wages and lost pension or retirement.

Future damages are calculated and reduced to whatever their present value may be. The present value is the value of all the future damages in today’s dollars.

If you have lost a loved one in an incident involving the wrongdoings or negligence of someone else, you may have the option to file a wrongful death lawsuit.  While wrongful death lawsuits can be complicated and emotionally taxing, they are one of the most rewarding cases you can win in court.

Rewards are usually monetary.  No amount of money can compensate for the loss of someone you love, but a wrongful death lawsuit can give you and your family comfort in knowing that justice was served in your loved one’s case and the wrongdoer was held responsible.