Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

After-A-Car-Accident-Blog-scaledAfter being involved in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence or recklessness, it is customary to be confused, anxious, and even angry. Very few crash victims ever anticipate being involved in devastating collisions or sustaining severe injuries. Consequently, most motorists are unsure about the appropriate actions to implement after their accidents. This commonly results in crash victims making critical mistakes. Although some oversights are relatively harmless, other mistakes could seriously prejudice your case and make recovering reasonable compensation difficult. 

Your actions directly following your crash could profoundly impact the result of your prospective claim. In this guide, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s top rated car accident lawyers will educate you on the top 5 mistakes to steer clear of following a car accident. If you or a family member are in a car accident, it is crucial to avoid the following missteps:

  1. Failing To Get Medical Attention: It’s essential to seek medical care, even for injuries that appear to be minor. After all the adrenaline from your accident decreases, you could notice more pain. Victims suffering from injuries like whiplash or internal bleeding may not even realize that they have been seriously injured. Even minor injuries can take a turn for the worse when left untreated. 

RECKLESS-DRIVING-scaledEach year, millions of victims suffer severe, life-altering injuries and tragic fatalities in accidents on the road. The roads in Western New York are dangerous enough without even considering reckless drivers. Reckless driving poses a substantial risk to the motorist, occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, and everyone else on the road. Unfortunately, many drivers engage in reckless driving despite knowing that these destructive behaviors considerably heighten their risk of causing a devasting accident. 

What Is Reckless Driving? 

In the 1990s, the term “reckless driving” emerged to describe dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle in any way that can cause danger to others on the road. 

Bicyclist-in-traffic-scaledEven the smallest car outweighs the sturdiest of bicycles by a considerable margin. When cycling, the protection offered to riders is minimal, almost non-existent. Cyclists are alarmingly vulnerable to severe injuries in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle. From bone fractures and traumatic brain injuries to organ damage and even death, the impact is bound to be life-altering. The financial ramifications of a car accident as a bicyclist can be grave, as emergency medical treatments and hospitalization typically come at a steep price.

Crucial Steps For Victims Of Car Versus Bicycle Accidents  

Suppose you were hit by a car while riding your bicycle. In that case, our battle-tested injury lawyers strongly recommend taking the following steps to safeguard your legal rights:

Blog-Best-Medical-Care-scaledAfter being involved in any car accident, your top priority should be your health. For those victims who sustain devastating injuries or worse, an ambulance will likely rush them to the closest emergency room for treatment. In this blog post, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s seasoned car accident lawyers in Buffalo, New York, would like to discuss how victims with minor to moderate injuries should obtain medical treatment. 

Far too many victims of car crashes fail to recognize the signs and symptoms of their injuries. Consequently, they often dismiss legitimate injuries as just being “shaken up” and fail to obtain the necessary medical treatment. Many injuries, such as whiplash and concussions, typically do not manifest immediately, and insurance companies are notorious for using delays and gaps in treatment against claimants.

Countless clients have come into our office saying they felt no pain at the accident scene or later that day. However, the following morning, they woke up barely being able to move with unbearable symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, dizziness, numbness, headaches, or nausea. A significant reason for this is that your body produces morphine-like endorphins, which effectively mask the pain. Never assume that your symptoms or pain will disappear on their own. We cannot stress enough the importance of getting checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible after a collision. 

No-Win-No-Fee-scaledEvery year, millions of Americans are involved in car accidents and suffer devastating injuries or worse. Victims who are fortunate enough to survive severe collisions may need weeks or even months to recover. Instead of being able to earn a living, crash victims may be incapacitated or in too much pain to work. Even with the best medical insurance policy, hospital bills and other medical expenses can quickly pile up. Consequently, far too many car accident victims find themselves in demoralizing psychological, physical, and financial circumstances. 

At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., our battle-tested car accident attorneys realize that pursuing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver may be the only way to begin your road to recovery. Jed Dietrich, Esq. believes every accident victim deserves highly skilled legal representation. The last thing that any car crash victim should worry about is paying a lawyer to fight their case. 

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s Lawyers Work On A Contingency Fee Basis 

Ins-Adjuster-Blog-scaledSuppose that you got into a car accident that was not your fault, and you sustained some unfortunate injuries. You are likely feeling highly stressed and overwhelmed. Filing an insurance claim is one of the most critical steps toward obtaining compensation for medical expenses, repair shop costs, missed work, and other damages.

You have probably heard horror stories about insurance adjusters. Some insurance companies are notorious for being difficult with their policyholders. Since New York is a no-fault state, regardless of who caused the collision, you must file a claim with your insurance company to recover compensation. Consequently, you should file an insurance claim as quickly as possible. Below are five tactics insurance companies may try to use against you:

  1. Acting Concerned: Adjusters may call you, pretend they are checking up on you, and offer sympathy. Please do not be deceived into thinking that they care. The truth is that the average insurance company cares more about saving money than helping you. Insurance agents often act like your friends so that you will let your guard down. Once they earn your trust, the adjuster may start questioning you to trick you into saying something they can use against you. 

top-5-car-accident-injury-blog-scaledAccording to statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a recent year alone, approximately 2.74 million victims suffered severe crash-related injuries. Even minor collisions can have grave and lifelong consequences for victims. At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., our veteran car accident attorneys understand the profound impact that crash-related injuries can have on victims and, ultimately, their loved ones. Being mindful of the most common car accident injuries can help you be prepared to take the proper steps after your crash. 

Top 5 Crash-Related Injuries

Injuries resulting from car accidents tend to vary substantially from minor cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injuries and total paralysis. Some types of injuries are more prevalent than others. The majority of injuries caused by collisions are either impact or penetrating injuries. Impact injuries are generally caused when a victim’s body contacts part of the vehicle’s interior, such as your forehead hitting the steering wheel. On the other hand, penetrating injuries are usually caused by loose objects inside the car or shattering glass. In addition to the usual cuts and bruises, the 5 most common car accident injuries include: 

What-to-do-after-a-drunk-driver-injures-you-blog-scaledThere is no denying that getting behind the wheel after even a few drinks can be fatal. However, accidents caused by drunk drivers continue to happen at an alarming rate all across the United States. Over 30 percent of all crash-related deaths throughout the country involve drunk drivers. In a recent year alone, 13,384 victims tragically lost their lives in these preventable collisions. That’s approximately one victim killed in a drunk-driving accident every 39 minutes. Fortunately, not every crash caused by a drunk driver results in death. Still, the injuries you sustain may be devastating and life-altering. 

Critical Steps To Take After The Accident

Getting hit by a drunk driver can dramatically alter your life in an instant. One minute, you are driving down the street. Then, suddenly, you are injured and forced to deal with the consequences of another’s recklessness. Immediately following a drunk driving collision, you will likely feel shocked, angry, and confused. However, it is essential to remain as calm as possible and complete the following steps to protect yourself and your family:

Car-Accident-Lawyer-Blog-scaledCar accidents can result in devastating injuries, demolished vehicles, costlier car insurance premiums, intense emotional pain, and even wrongful death. The trauma of collisions often extends far beyond the incident itself. The financial consequences resulting from severe injuries and the accompanying medical bills, lost income, and damage to your car can create excessive hardship for you and your family. 

Pursuing a personal injury claim may be your only means to get back on your feet again. However, you certainly do not need the added stress of fighting with insurance adjusters to obtain compensation for your damages. Pursuing your case without a highly experienced car accident attorney could impact your recovery. Consequently, the significance of hiring a battle-tested personal injury lawyer cannot be emphasized enough. 

The following recommendations will support you in finding the best lawyer to litigate your case:

Drink-and-Drive-Blog-scaledIn New York State, driving while intoxicated is a serious crime, and DWI laws are strictly enforced. Alcohol can start impacting your motor skills and impair driving skills with a blood alcohol content as low as 0.01. Consequently, even if your BAC is below the legal limit, driving with even a small amount of alcohol in your system can still be extremely dangerous.

Why Drinking And Driving Is So Dangerous 

In a recent year alone, 13,384 victims died in alcohol-related accidents. In addition to this tragic drunk driving statistic, below are crucial reasons never to drink and drive:

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