Common Questions About On The Road Incidents

Millions of cars and trucks transport passengers and goods every day. Sometimes, accidents take place. Here are some common questions about on-the-road incidents as personal injury lawyer in Waterloo.

How can you determine who was at-fault?

The insurance company looks for any evidence that a traffic law was violated, during the moments before the collision. Someone that has violated a traffic law is at least partly responsible for the ensuing accident.

Are there any exceptions to the general rule about left hand turns at an intersection?

This is the general rule: If an accident takes place at an intersection, and one of the involved vehicles was making a left-hand turn, then the driver of that same vehicle was at-fault.

Here are the exceptions to that rule:

-The vehicle going straight would be at-fault, if it sped through the intersection.
-The vehicle going straight would be at-fault, if it went through a red light.
-The vehicle that was making the left turn would not be at-fault, if it had been forced to slow down.

Who could you sue, if you were driving a vehicle that was hit by a truck?

You could consider suing the driver, the truck’s owner, the company that leased the truck, the plant that made that particular model, the plant that made equipment for the same model, any shop that had repaired that specific truck, the shipper, or the freight loader. It is best to consult a lawyer, before taking such an action.

What procedure should you follow, if you become involved in an accident?

After you have shared your contact information with the other driver, and after you have arranged to see a doctor, prepare to go home and take the next step.Sit down and write down all the relevant facts that you can recall.

Where were you going at the time of the accident? What was your purpose for going to that location? What time of day did the collision take place? What was the weather like? What was the nature of the road conditions?

Put your recorded recollections in a safe place, so that you can consult your notes, if you must speak with someone from the defendant’s insurance company. You must strive to have a consistent story. Consistency acts as evidence of the story’s veracity. Someone that has invented facts usually finds it difficult to repeat the same facts. Insurance companies understand how to spot a made-up tale.

Buy or find a small booklet that can serve as a journal or diary. Make a habit of writing in that booklet each evening. Record any pain or discomfort that you experienced earlier in the day. Provide details on the severity and the duration of any painful sensation.