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Legal Help With Auto Accidents In New Hampshire And Vermont

As the number of cars increase on the roads, so do the number of automobile accidents across the country. Every year there is an average of six million car accidents in the United States, which range from small fender benders to major collisions. These types of accidents can put an enormous financial burden on victims and their family members.

That’s where the experienced New Hampshire car accident attorneys at Rousseau & Ross can help. We have extensive knowledge of these types of cases and will fight for you to make sure that you are taken care of and the responsible parties are held liable.

If you were a victim of an auto accident and you need quality legal representation, please contact our car accident lawyers at 603-212-1176 for a complimentary consultation. We proudly serve the areas of New Hampshire and Vermont.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can be devastating, no matter how slight the collision was. Even minor car accidents can result in severe injuries to you and your passengers. The most common injury associated with car accidents is whiplash, where the head lurches forward and then backwards very suddenly. In more serious accidents, victims can suffer head and spinal injuries. In the most serious accident victims can lose their lives.

More of the most common car accident injuries include:

  • Broken or fractured bones
  • Lacerations
  • Neck injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Brain injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Severe burns
  • Loss of limb/amputation
  • Loss of life (wrongful death)
  • Blunt abdominal injury resulting in damage to internal organs
  • Soft tissue injury including tears, strains, sprains, and soreness

It’s recommended that you seek medical assistance as soon as you can, even before the symptoms manifest themselves, as symptoms sometimes take time to appear. Insurance companies are more skeptical when a victim waits long periods of time before seeking medical treatment.

New Hampshire And Vermont Car Insurance Laws

New Hampshire does not require drivers to carry insurance, however, any driver who causes an accident must be prepared to pay for any damages that may occur if they cause an accident.

Vermont does require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance in the event that they cause an accident. This includes: $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one individual, $50,000 for total bodily injury or death, and $25,000 for property damage.

For more information about how these different types of coverage can help you recover damages following an accident, visit our Insurance Coverage page.

Compensation After A Car Accident

Car accident injuries can lead to more than just physical trauma. Medical expenses and loss of income are two of the most frequent expenses related to car accidents. The stress and burden of these events can be compounded by insurance companies. Many times these companies refuse to pay fair settlements that will cover a victim’s and their family’s needs.

If you were injured in a car accident in New Hampshire or Vermont, the accident attorneys at Rousseau & Ross may be able to help you recover the financial compensation you need and the peace of mind you and your family deserve. Our injury lawyers
can fight for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Auto accident pain and suffering
  • Funeral expenses (in wrongful death cases)

The compensation available to you will be determined by the specific circumstances of your case. Our experienced car accident lawyers in New Hampshire will fight to get what you deserve to begin your life again.

Examples Of Negligent Driving In NH And VT

Accidents can be caused by any number of situations. But there are a few that cause more than others. If you’ve been injured by someone’s negligent driving or because of unsafe driving conditions, we will work to make sure the negligent parties are held responsible. The most common causes of car accidents include:

  • Impaired driving: According to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 24,642 people were killed in drunken driving accidents in the United States in 2014 – the latest year for which statistics are available. Fifteen of those fatalities occurred in Vermont, accounting for 71 percent of all fatal car accidents. Forty-seven drunken driving fatalities occurred in New Hampshire, accounting for 96 percent of all traffic related fatalities.
  • Distracted driving: Distracted driving causes serious injury to hundreds of thousands of people every year, including citizens of Vermont and New Hampshire. Distracted driving includes talking or texting on a cell phone, eating or drinking, reading, grooming, and using a navigation system.
  • Dangerous and defective roads: In many cases, the cause of a car accident will be another driver. However, defective roadways are also a common cause of car accidents, though one that is frequently overlooked by insurance adjustors. Roadway issues may include debris, potholes and pavement defects, soft shoulders, improperly placed or missing traffic signs, or malfunctioning traffic signals.

Injuries sustained in car accidents caused by drunk or distracted drivers and defective roadways can be severe. Getting proper compensation will require identifying the liable party. In these cases, liable parties may include negligent drivers; city, state, or federal government entities; construction companies; and anyone else involved in the planning, building, or maintenance of a roadway.

Types Of Car Accidents

While you can’t always prevent a negligent driver from hitting you, understanding the types of car accidents and how/where they happen may help you avoid one in the future. There are many ways to have an accident, but the most common accidents include:

  • Rollover accidents: These accidents occur when one car in a crash rolls over. Because of the added danger involved in rollover accidents, many victims of these accidents sustain serious injuries or loss of life. Rollover accidents can happen in any vehicle, especially at high speeds. However, vehicles that have a high center of gravity, such as SUVs and trucks, also have a greater chance of rolling over.
  • Side-impact car accidents: Also called T-bones or side-swipes, these are some of the most dangerous types of New Hampshire car crashes. Side-impact wrecks are also some of the most deadly type of accidents, accounting for almost one quarter of all fatal car wrecks in the U.S. About 9,000 deaths occur each year as a result of side-impact car accidents.
  • Rear-end collisions: Rear-end collisions are one of the most dangerous types of car accident and also one of the most common type of auto accident on the road, accounting for a third of all wrecks. Most vehicles are not reinforced for rear-end collisions. Because of this, many drivers and passengers suffer whiplash, which can result in back, neck and head injuries.

If you’ve been involved in one of these accidents as the result of someone’s careless driving, contact our experienced car accident attorneys right away.

Filing A New Hampshire Car Accident Report

Our attorneys have decades of experience dealing with car accident cases and have the knowledge to help you through this devastating time. If you ever have the misfortune to be hit by another vehicle, it’s important to know there are certain steps that will help your case. Following these guidelines after an accident can help your claim and expedite the process to get you the compensation you and your family deserve. After an accident, it’s highly advisable for you to:

  • Contact the authorities: The first thing any auto accident victim should do is call the police. The police will send an ambulance if there are any injuries that need medical attention. All of the information the officer compiles will go into the police report. If a lawsuit is filed, the police report can be submitted as evidence and can be valuable if liability is questioned. If possible, it is a good idea to take your own personal photos of the vehicles involved and the accident scene.
  • Seek medical attention: If you are feeling any ill effects after the accident, it may be a good idea to visit your family doctor or the emergency room. When speaking
    with a physician about your symptoms, use as much detail as possible. Request copies of your medical records with respect to your injuries that detail the type and severity of the injuries, the date and time of the visits and whether the doctor recommends any further treatment.
  • Take photographs: Photographs are often critically important and visual evidence is instrumental in accident claims. Photograph the cars involved and the surrounding environment, especially any damage to the surrounding environment.
  • Consider legal representation: Your attorney will advise you whether any settlement offers the insurance company makes are fair, and whether it may be appropriate to file a civil lawsuit. If litigation is recommended, make sure your
    personal injury lawyer has actual experience and a track record for success in the courtroom.
  • Don’t give a recorded statement: Giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster following an accident can be extremely harmful to your case. It might be too early to know the extent of your injuries, your comment could be misinterpreted, and the statement you give can be used against you during trial.

Tips To Avoid A Car Accident

It’s easy to think that an accident will never happen to you, but it is in your best interest to be proactive. While not every car wreck is avoidable, there are some things that you can do to minimize your risks.

Recently, Edmunds.com compiled their top editors’ tips to prevent a car accident. These include:

  • Always scan the road ahead: This doesn’t just apply to the car directly in front of you. It is important that you are also aware of what is going on in front of that vehicle.
  • Don’t rely solely on your mirrors: You should turn and look before making any lane changes because there might be a vehicle in your blind spot.
  • Drive extra cautiously at night: There are certain dangers that are higher at night than the day, such as the prevalence of drunk drivers and teens on the road.
  • Put hands in the 9 and 3 o’clock position: This hand position gives you the best possible control if you have to maneuver to avoid a collision.
  • Make sure your car is properly maintained: Old tires, worn-out brakes, and other issues can be a recipe for disaster. You need to keep your car in good shape to lower your risk of an accident.
  • Watch the drivers around you. It is often the other driver you have to worry about. Always be aware of your surroundings so that you can react to any potential danger.
  • Know what your car can handle: You should be familiar with how long it takes to stop, the grip of your tires, and even how your vehicle handles corners. Knowing the details of your vehicle can do wonders for your safety.

If you’ve been injured by a careless driver, you might be able to take legal action. To learn about your rights to compensation, contact an experienced car accident attorney at Rousseau & Ross by calling 603-212-1176 today for your free consultation.