Do Car Accidents Count as Personal Injuries?


March 29, 2023
Advice, Automotive
Editorial


Road traffic collisions take place thousands of times a day across the United States, with the majority resulting in non-life-threatening injuries, but the few fatal consequences making most people reconsider their speed on the open road. If you’ve been in a car accident, no matter the severity, you could be entitled to compensation.

Does any car accident count as a personal injury?

Generally speaking yes, but the fact to consider is whether or not you were responsible. In cases where you were injured by someone else’s poor driving, you may be entitled to compensation and a reputable Bakersfield personal injury lawyer may be able to help with this matter. If you were responsible however, you likely won’t be eligible – but there are certain entitlements that you could also apply for.

What constitutes a personal injury in a vehicle?

You may be wondering why hire a car accident lawyer if you’ve been in an accident. If you’ve suffered with anything from a minor concussion or whiplash from a seat belt, right through to a broken nose from your steering wheel’s airbag, or even a life-changing injury as a result of a collision – this will constitute a personal injury on the road. Likewise, if you were a pedestrian hit by a vehicle, this also falls into the same category and compensation can be applied for. Even lesser injuries resulting in a few stitches or stress as a consequence of the trauma of the incident can all be considered as injuries, with the victim being entitled to request compensation. There are even more examples that can be provided, such as being a passenger in a vehicle or walking over a crossing and being hit by a car.

What isn’t considered eligible for a personal injury claim?

If you were jay-walking illegally, practicing illegal movements in a vehicle, caused an accident, or similar, you won’t likely be eligible for an insurance payout. Consider it like this – if you did something to intentionally cause harm, whether it was due to negligence or another factor, you (as the cause of the incident) won’t be able to claim on your car’s insurance, and nor will you be able to take out a case against any others involved.

Conclusion

With all of this in mind, a car accident can still be considered a viable cause for a claim for compensation. This will of course depend on the circumstances around the incident, but if you were injured as a result of someone else driving recklessly or inappropriately, you could be entitled to make a claim, and a good personal injury lawyer should be able to assist with this.