In the wake of an auto accident, there’s a number of things to consider when it comes to guessing how long it may take for you to recover—the severity of your injuries, the costs of paying them, and when you’re going to be able to get back to work. One major item may not be at the forefront of your mind, but it’s also an important factor—your car. Did it sustain significant or minor damage? How has it been damaged and what can you do about it? In some cases, the car is damaged beyond the point where it would make financial sense to fix it. When this happens, the insurance company will say the car is totaled.

This decision has advantages and disadvantages for you. You may have been hoping for the car to be totaled. This way, you don’t have to get the car repaired and then drive a car that’s underwent major work. However, sometimes you may not want the car to be totaled for a number of reasons. Buying a new car may not be a viable option for you. There’s also the possibility that you just don’t want to get a new car and would rather repair your vehicle.

No matter where you’re driving, it can be frustrating when someone speeds up behind you, tailgates your car, and illegally passes you. It can be equally as frustrating when someone on a highway is driving considerably faster than the flow of traffic and decides to weave in and out of traffic to get ahead. But what about when you get stuck behind a driver who is driving much slower than the posted limit? Some may find this surprising, but driving too slowly can be just as dangerous as speeding.

When a car accident causes painful injuries, you’re most likely worried about ones that will have permanent consequences. You may be surprised at the injuries that can cause chronic issues. Soft tissue injuries are often difficult to see and also can have ongoing complications long after the accident. It’s important to get treatment as soon as possible for these types of injuries.

Even if the symptoms start out minor or in a delayed fashion, it may be possible for soft tissue injuries to be long-lasting or permanent. Here’s what you need to know about soft tissue damage:

When you’ve been in a serious accident with significant property damage and injuries, it’s likely an investigation will take place to determine fault. Law enforcement and insurance companies will oversee their own investigations. If you believe you are not liable for the accident and it resulted from someone else’s negligent actions, you can contact a lawyer who will conduct an additional investigation to prove why you are owed compensation for what you’ve been through.

It’s likely that each investigation will result in different types of evidence that different parties can use to their advantage. Investigations are complicated, so understanding the different types of evidence and how they are used to prove a claim is valuable.

Car accidents are traumatic experiences that often leave people with injuries and a long road to recovery. Their future can be very uncertain and this causes a considerable amount of stress. Unfortunately, this can be when an insurance adjuster will come forward and try to get the injured person to settle. Because the person wants to handle the matter immediately, they will often agree to the first offer. However, this can be a mistake because it’s likely less than what they should be owed. You need an attorney who will protect your rights and make sure you get the compensation you deserve after a car accident.

Before you get into the claims process, you may be wondering about what constitutes as an accident that needs to be reported. Making a police report could benefit you because law enforcement will have a legal account of what happened, and your lawyer can make sure you alert the right parties. Let’s look into when you should report a car accident.

Thousands of injuries and hundreds of unnecessary deaths occur on Kentucky roads every year. The majority of the accidents are caused by human error – which means they’re almost always preventable. In 2016 alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 834 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Kentucky. Of those individuals, 111 were motorcyclists, 81 were pedestrians, and 9 were bicyclists.

If you were injured in an accident or lost a loved one, it can be difficult to cope with the fact that the collision could have been prevented. At the Law Office of Todd W. Burris, we want to promote safe drivers and driving habits. Let’s take a look at five ways we can help keep Kentucky roads safe for you and your family. If you take these tips into consideration, you’ll be aiding in accident prevention and saving lives.

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.