Have you recently been injured in a car accident? If so, you may be dealing with juggling doctors’ appointments, surgeries, and physical therapy, all pursued in an effort to return to your prior state of health. Insurance claims involve back-and-forth communications, sometimes taking the insurance company months to approve a claim. During this chaos, you may feel that there is no hope in sight.
At Shollenberger, Januzzi & Wolfe, our car accident lawyers have successfully helped thousands of car accident victims in Gettysburg and the surrounding areas recover related costs. If you are interested in learning the true worth of your car accident case, do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team.
Causes of Car Accidents in Gettysburg, PA
Our car accident lawyers are well-versed in the common causes of car accidents in Gettysburg, PA, which often include:
Drunk Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs accounts for about one-third of motor vehicle deaths, making it a leading cause of traffic fatalities. The side effects of alcohol include blurred vision, slowed reflexes, and impaired coordination; effects that can endanger all road users. The state of Pennsylvania makes it unlawful to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08%. At this level, the effects of alcohol become more apparent. For those who choose to get behind the wheel after enjoying an alcoholic beverage, you may be facing both civil and criminal penalties.
Distracted Driving
In recent years, roughly 3,217 people died due to distracted driving, with the problem only intensifying with the passing of each year. Distracted driving occurs anytime a person diverts their attention away from the road. This may happen when you change the radio station, answer a text message, or discipline your kids arguing in the back seat. Distracted drivers are less likely to see hazards, giving them less time to react.
Drowsy Driving
Fatigued drivers plague our nation’s roads, with approximately 109,000 injury-crashes resulting from drowsy driving. Exhausted drivers often exhibit micro-sleep, which causes them to fall asleep for four to five seconds. This amount of time is sufficient to drive an entire football field at normal highway speeds; plenty of time for a crash to occur. Shockingly, driving without more than 20 hours of sleep is comparable to driving with a BAC of 0.08% or greater. If you feel tired, make alternative arrangements to prevent yourself from becoming another accident statistic.
Aggressive Driving
Unsafe driving behavior that places other lives in danger is considered aggressive driving. Aggressive driving may encompass speeding, tailgating, honking your horn, and yelling or swearing at other drivers. In a recent year, speeding alone took the lives of 11,775 people in the United States. The constant demands that are placed on our lives cause drivers to take greater risks to get where they need to go in a limited amount of time. While motorists may feel they need an outlet for their aggression, healthier catharses should be explored.
Failing to Yield
During one trip, a motorist may be required to merge several times, yielding right-of-way to other drivers who have the right to proceed. A driver may need to produce when approaching highways, roundabouts, and intersections. In all these instances, it is essential to follow right-of-way laws. While some drivers may fail to yield the right of way out of carelessness, others may not be aware of traffic regulations. Regardless of the reason, failure to yield the right-of-way contributes to approximately 3,500 fatalities each year.
Proving Liability in a Car Accident Claim
Accidents are often complex, meaning that more than one person may have contributed to the mistake. The insurance company will work to assign a greater percentage of fault to you than is justified, making it necessary that you hire an experienced Gettysburg car accident lawyer to protect your rights. Proving liability centers around which party’s actions caused the collision, not simply pointing fingers.
At Shollenberger, Januzzi & Wolfe, our team of professionals knows what evidence to pursue to establish how the other driver’s actions set a chain of events that resulted in your injuries. If you are interested in recovering maximum damages for accident-incurred costs, our legal team would like to speak with you.
Reach Out to Our Gettysburg Car Accident Attorneys Today
A car accident can be petrifying, leaving you fearful about how you will manage your everyday expenses. An accident victim may be forced to go months without seeing relief, while medical bills seem to keep stacking up. If you have recently fallen victim to a crash, our Gettysburg car accident lawyers would like to discuss your matter. When it comes to proving negligence, our legal team is prepared to fight aggressively to win the compensation you deserve.
To schedule a no-cost consultation with Shollenberger, Januzzi & Wolfe, our Gettysburg office can be reached online or by calling (717) 229-6580.