A car accident can lead to a fatal outcome, prematurely ending someone’s life and causing tremendous suffering. If you’ve lost someone you love in a motor vehicle accident, you may need the assistance of a compassionate and skilled Minnesota attorney to help you cope with the devastation.
What Can Cause a Fatal Car Accident?
The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported roughly 381 traffic-related deaths in 2018. No two car accidents are the same in all respects, but some fatal collisions have shared characteristics, including:
- Speeding. Across the U.S., speeding contributes to over 25 percent of all car accident fatalities.
- Driving while intoxicated. The CDC reports that between 2003 and 2012, there were 1,442 deaths in Minnesota involving a drunk driver.
- Distracted or fatigued driving. Distracted driving includes texting while driving, which takes people’s gaze and attention away from the road. Causes of fatigue or drowsiness include lack of sleep, illness, or a side effect of a medication.
- Situational factors. Ice, rain, blizzards, and unlit roads can all increase the likelihood of a fatal car accident. However, driver behavior is usually the main cause of a crash. For example, an accident on an unlit, curving road may have been avoided if a driver had not been speeding.
Certain drivers may be especially vulnerable to fatal accidents. One example is teenagers. Motor vehicle accidents are the chief cause of death for teens ages 16 to 19.
Vehicle occupants who aren’t using seat belts or car seats for children are also especially vulnerable to dying in a car accident. In 2017, 47 percent of people who died while in a passenger vehicle were unrestrained.
If you’re in St. Paul or any part of Minnesota, a Minnesota car accident attorney can help you determine all the factors that contributed to a fatal accident. With this knowledge, you’ll be in a better position to establish your case and figure out what steps to take.
The Services of a Minnesota Car Accident Attorney
How can an experienced and reputable attorney help you after a fatal collision?
Compensation for Certain Losses
Although money is never truly a compensation for the death of a loved one, it can help you cope with certain expenses, including the following:
- Medical bills, such as the steep costs of hospitalization and surgeries.
- Funeral expenses.
- Along with the loss of a loved one’s companionship, the surviving family may also lose income.
An attorney experienced with cases involving vehicular accidents and wrongful death is in a strong position to fight for your best interests. Your attorney will be able to explore every possible avenue of compensation, such as insurance payments, social security benefits, and a possible lawsuit. They’ll know how to deal with insurance companies and with the courts.
Building a Strong Case
There are a number of ways your attorney can help you strengthen your case, including:
- Making sure you don’t overlook any evidence or argument in your favor.
- Helping you collect and organize evidence, such as medical reports, receipts, photos from the accident scene, and witness testimony.
- Figuring out how you can receive compensation for various expenses.
- Untangling the complexities of your case. For example, multiple parties may have shared responsibility for the accident, or the accident may have been a hit-and-run.
- Handling critical paperwork.
- Preparing you for court appearances and interviews with insurance company representatives.
- Providing guidance, including whether to accept a settlement.
Offering You Compassionate Support
With the grief and stress following a fatal car accident, you need to know you can count on your attorney to give you consistent support. We provide you with powerful and dedicated legal advocacy.
Call on Swor & Gatto
Don’t hesitate to contact us after a fatal car accident. Along with visiting you at your home or in the hospital, we will do everything possible to ease some of your stress and help you benefit from our services.