Ever since the invention of the automobile, there have been bad drivers.  Some people drive too fast.  Others are distracted by cell phones, radios, eating food or even applying makeup.  Some people simply aren’t paying enough attention on the road.  While these people may choose to place their own lives at risk by driving carelessly, they often forget that they are also putting you, your family members, and everyone else on the road at risk, too.  The nature of roadway travel is such that if someone makes a bad decision, other people often have to suffer the consequences.

When people are injured through the fault of another, it is like something has been stolen from them.  They suffer real costs such as time missed from work or large medical bills.  Even when insurance picks up the tab for these losses, there are often bigger losses: physical injury, disability, permanent pain, loss of mobility – the list of potential problems is endless.  These are all things that can be taken from you by a careless driver in a crash.

In America, despite what is disseminated in the media, most people don’t like to sue.  This is especially true here in the Midwest, where folks are stoic and want to move on after an accident without making waves.  Even though we all want to be tough, it is extremely important to know what your options are.  The best way to understand your legal rights is to talk to a lawyer.

There are many reasons to consult an experienced lawyer when you are affected by a car crash:

• There are actions that must be taken immediately to protect your claims.  Oftentimes evidence must be gathered while it is still fresh, like interviewing witnesses while they remember the facts or examining the crash scene.
• People often do not fully understand how the system works.  An experienced lawyer can explain the mechanisms of the law, locate applicable insurance coverage and advise you on how to proceed with the case from the very start.
• Victims of crashes often need an experienced advocate in their corner.  Unless you have an attorney, you cannot expect that anyone you deal with after a crash will be protecting your interests.  People may urge you to act against your own interests without fully explaining the situation to you.  When you retain an attorney, you will have someone that will protect you and keep you informed of the situation allowing you to make the right decisions.