Unfortunately, motor vehicle accidents in the Edmonton, Alberta, area increased in recent years. One recent year saw 24,003 motor vehicle crashes in Edmonton, up 0.4 percent from the year before. Of those collisions, 19 resulted in fatal injuries, and 2,610 resulted in injuries only. Many unreported accidents happened.
These accidents also occurred in various locations throughout Edmonton. For example, 13,587 motor vehicle accidents in 2018 occurred at traffic intersections throughout the area. Moreover, 250 of these crashes involved pedestrians, while 130 involved bicycles and 143 involved motorcycles.
One of the most common causes of motor vehicle crashes is driver error and negligence—including drunk driving and reckless driving. Truck accidents are also an unfortunate occurrence in the Edmonton, Alberta region, and these accidents happen when truck drivers and the companies that employ them are negligent.
If you or a person you care about has suffered injuries in one of these motor vehicle accidents, you need a knowledgeable team of car accident lawyer on board in your case as soon as possible.
Generally, the sooner you have an experienced lawyer advocating for your legal interests, the better off you and your case. Your lawyer can investigate the causes and circumstances of your motor vehicle crash and can determine if you are eligible to file a claim.
If you are, your lawyer can assist you with every aspect of the claims filing process and can work to negotiate a favourable settlement offer with the insurance company.
If the insurance company adjuster refuses to offer you the compensation you deserve, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and litigate your case. Finally, your lawyer can represent you at all court hearings, jury trials, and arbitration proceedings that may take place in your case.
Types of Motor Vehicle Crashes
Statistically, several types of motor vehicle crashes can lead to severe injuries for accident victims. Some of the most common motor vehicle accidents in the Edmonton region include rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, sideswipe accidents, and broadside accidents.
Rear-end collisions typically occur when a driver is operating their vehicle too fast for the roadway or weather conditions. For example, the driver might be driving their vehicle too fast in rainy weather, causing their vehicle to hydroplane and strike the rear of another vehicle on the roadway.
When a rear-end collision happens, the front of the at-fault driver’s vehicle collides with the back of another vehicle. This impact might cause the driver and passengers in the front of the vehicle to strike something in the vehicle, such as the headrest, steering wheel, or window, leading to severe injuries.
In contrast, to rear-end accidents, head-on collisions happen when the fronts of two vehicles collide with one another. Often these vehicles are moving in opposite directions on a dual-lane roadway, and a distracted driver veers across the centerline or median strip, colliding with another motor vehicle head-on.
Head-on collisions can lead to significant property damage, and if they occur at a high rate of speed, the drivers and passengers can suffer permanent or fatal injuries. If a head-on motor vehicle collision leads to a fatality, the accident victim’s surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim or lawsuit for various damages.
Sideswipe accidents are another common type of motor vehicle collision in Edmonton. These accidents happen when the sides of two vehicles strike one another as they move in the same direction. These collisions are typical on multilane roadways and highways and happen when drivers are not paying particular attention to the road.
Finally, broadside collisions, or T-bone accidents, are common at traffic intersections where the front of a motor vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle. The at-fault driver might be trying to get through a red light at a traffic intersection and falls short, striking a motor vehicle moving in a different direction on the intersecting roadway. These accidents can cause vehicles to overturn in the middle of the intersection or spin around rapidly. As a result, the vehicle occupants on the receiving end can suffer serious injuries.
If you have suffered injuries in one of these motor vehicle crashes, you have legal options. A car accident lawyer can make you aware of those options and help you decide on the best course of action for moving forward with your case. Your lawyer can file a claim on your behalf and begin the settlement negotiations process after completing all of your medical treatment.
Injuries in Edmonton Motor Vehicle Accidents
The injuries that Edmonton motor vehicle accidents victims suffer can be severe. The extent of an accident victim’s injuries will depend upon the force of the collision, how the accident victim’s body moves in the car, and the type of collision.
Statistically speaking, in one recent year, 319 motor vehicle accidents resulted in serious injuries, and 2,988 accidents resulted in minor injuries. Typical injuries that accident victims suffer in Edmonton car collisions include internal injuries, broken bones, fractures, soft tissue injuries, traumatic head and brain injuries, cuts, abrasions, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis injuries.
Following a motor vehicle crash, the accident victim may need follow-up medical care at a hospital emergency room, urgent care center, or another facility. They may also need to seek treatment with a family doctor or primary care doctor. Finally, they may need to undergo one or more surgeries and attend physical therapy sessions to get back to their pre-accident physical state.
This treatment can cause tremendous pain, suffering, and inconvenience, all of which you can recover compensation for.
Following a motor vehicle crash, seek the medical treatment you need as soon as possible. Suppose you wait too long to obtain medical treatment for your injuries, and you later file a claim. In that case, the insurance company might assume that your injuries were not all that serious or that you did not make medical treatment a top priority following your motor vehicle crash.
In addition, continuously treat your injuries and avoid lengthy treatment gaps.
Finally, do not discharge yourself from medical treatment, or the insurance company adjuster may become skeptical. Instead, continue treating your injuries until a healthcare provider formally releases you.
How Motor Vehicle Accidents Occur
Statistically speaking, most motor vehicle crashes in Edmonton occur because of driver negligence and error. Drivers may be distracted and not paying attention to the roadway in front of them, causing them to bring about a vehicle crash. Alternatively, a driver may fail to follow a road rule, or they might operate their vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
Distracted Driving – Motor vehicle drivers must operate their cars and trucks carefully and reasonably under the circumstances. They must always pay attention to the roadway and refrain from becoming distracted while behind the wheel. When drivers divert their attention away from the road for a second or two, that can be long enough for a serious accident to occur.
Specifically, a driver might send or respond to a text message or program a GPS device while they are supposed to be paying attention to the road. Alternatively, the driver might have their head turned to discipline a young child in the backseat, or they might be listening to loud music in the vehicle and not paying attention to the road.
Failing to Follow the Rules of the Road – Edmonton road rules keep motor vehicle operators and their passengers safe while they operate their vehicles.
When drivers violate these regulations, they significantly increase the chances that they will cause an accident that leads to severe injuries. Typical road-rule violations include failing to yield the right-of-way at the appropriate time, such as by running a red traffic light, yield sign, or stop sign.
Other common road-rule violations include:
- Speeding.
- Tailgating other vehicles.
- Failing to use turn signals.
- Aggressively weaving in and out of traffic, especially during busy traffic conditions.
Drunk and Drugged Driving – Alcohol and other intoxicating substances can significantly impact a driver’s ability to operate their vehicle carefully and safely. Alcohol, in particular, can slow down a driver‘s reaction time, cause them to experience blurred vision, and alter their judgment. As a result, a drunk driver can’t always stop the vehicle in time to avoid a severe crash.
In addition to the criminal penalties associated with a drunk-driving conviction, you can hold an intoxicated driver civilly liable if they caused a motor vehicle crash that leads to one or more injuries.
If a driver has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over a certain level (generally, 0.08 percent), the driver is legally intoxicated. However, a driver may still experience the symptoms of impaired driving if they have a blood alcohol concentration lower than 0.08 percent.
If driver error or negligence injured you in a motor vehicle crash, your lawyer can pursue the compensation you deserve from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Your lawyer can help you file a claim or lawsuit seeking the compensation you deserve and will zealously advocate for your legal interests during settlement negotiations or court.
Recovering the Damages You Deserve
If you or a person you love has suffered injuries in an Edmonton motor vehicle crash, you can try to recover different monetary damages. The purpose of damages is to compensate you for your injuries, pain, suffering, and other symptoms, to the greatest extent possible. Ideally, you become whole again after recovering damages in your Edmonton car accident case.
However, pursuing the total amount of damages for your case is often an uphill battle, as insurance companies will try to offer as little as possible. After all, insurance companies are businesses, and they are going to try to settle your claim for as little money as they possibly can.
Your car accident lawyer can zealously advocate for your interests and pursue the maximum amount of compensation available in your case.
The damages you recover as part of your claim or lawsuit will depend on the cost and extent of your medical treatment and the scope of your injuries. Victims of car crashes can receive compensation for their lost earnings and all of their pain, suffering, and inconvenience.
Accident victims can also claim loss of the ability to use a body part, such as if they suffered a paralysis injury or loss of life enjoyment. Finally, they can claim loss of spousal companionship or consortium. Your lawyer can help you determine which damages you might recover as part of your car accident claim.
Talk to an Edmonton Car Accident Lawyer About Your Legal Matter Today
Nobody thinks they are likely to be in an accident when they get in their car. But as we have seen, the statistics are sobering. If you have suffered injuries and damages in an Edmonton motor vehicle crash, the sooner you have a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer on your side, the better off you will be.
Your lawyer can investigate your accident, determine your eligibility for filing a claim, and pursue a claim with the at-fault driver’s motor vehicle insurance company.
If the insurance company does not offer you the total and fair compensation that you deserve to recover for your injuries, your lawyer can file a lawsuit for you and, if necessary, take your case to a jury trial or binding arbitration. The right lawyer will do what you need to get full compensation for your losses.
