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Motor Vehicle Accidents
Maine Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
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Maine Motor Vehicle Accident attorneys helping victims recover fair compensation.
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According to U.S. News & World Report, Maine ranks 43rd in transportation infrastructure in the United States. This low ranking is due primarily to poor bridges, low road quality, and long commute times, an unfortunate confluence of events that can make driving in Maine dangerous.
Unfortunately, even if you’re aware of these risks and drive safely, that doesn’t mean everyone on the road will be as careful. Reckless drivers cause motor vehicle accidents in Maine every day.
With any luck, you’ll never be involved in one of these collisions. If you’re injured in a motor vehicle accident, however, Gideon Asen is here to help.
Our dedicated motor vehicle accident attorneys can help you understand your rights and take advantage of the legal process to get the financial support you need to aid your recovery. Contact us today to speak with an experienced vehicle crash lawyer.
How a Lawyer for Motor Vehicle Accidents Can Help
While motor vehicle accident laws and car insurance regulations are different in every state, Maine has somewhat traditional rules that are easy to understand. Every driver is required to purchase insurance, and the insurance company for the driver responsible for an accident pays for the expenses incurred by the other parties involved in a crash.
However, while these rules are relatively simple, that doesn’t mean getting compensated after a wreck is always easy. Insurance companies are notorious for putting roadblocks in front of claimants. Lawyers for motor vehicle accidents can help you bypass these roadblocks.
As soon as you hire a motor vehicle accident attorney from Gideon Asen, they’ll begin collecting evidence of your accident. The insurance companies will perform their own investigation, but their agents have a financial incentive to focus only on evidence that limits the company’s liability.
Your motor vehicle accidents attorney will preserve evidence that supports your claim. They’ll then use that evidence to prevent the insurance company from denying or undervaluing your claim as they begin the negotiation process.
Most car and truck accident victims in Maine have little familiarity with the insurance claims process. As a result, they’re likely to miss deadlines or provide the wrong information. Our vehicle crash lawyers will help ensure that your claim is filed correctly and on time.
Even though you’ll be represented by an attorney, that doesn’t necessarily mean your case will go to trial. Most vehicle accident claims are resolved via settlement.
Our legal team has the knowledge and experience to determine the true value of your claim and work out a settlement based on that value. We frequently manage to obtain fair compensation for our clients without the need for a trial.
What to Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident in Maine
Maine drivers involved in vehicle collisions should take specific steps to protect their right to pursue compensation for their injuries. Here’s what you should do immediately after a crash:
Get Immediate Medical Attention
Even if you don’t think you’re injured, it’s a good idea to have a medical professional evaluate you and determine whether you’re hurt. This has several benefits. First, it protects your health if you’re injured and decreases the likelihood that you’ll suffer long-term consequences.
Getting a medical evaluation also has legal implications. By getting checked out, you’ll create medical records that your lawyer can use to support your claim.
Moreover, if you have injuries that aren’t immediately apparent, you’ll have proof that you took appropriate action to try to identify any harm. This can help if symptoms appear later, as is common with conditions like traumatic brain injuries.
Report the Accident
You’re required to report an accident involving injury or property damage over $2,000. The easiest way to do this is to call 911. When the police arrive with the other first responders, you’ll need to provide them with your contact information, driver’s license, and proof of registration and insurance.
However, it’s wise to avoid offering details about the accident until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. Otherwise, your words may be taken out of context and used to refute or counter your claim.
Exchange Information With the Other Parties
Unless your injuries prevent you from doing so, you’re also required to share contact information (including insurance information) with anyone else involved in the accident.
While doing so, resist the urge to discuss the accident, especially if you believe you might have contributed. Anything you say to other parties could potentially be used against you by an insurance company seeking to deny or undervalue your claim.
Document the Accident Scene if Possible
One of the most critical things you can do both immediately after the accident and throughout the claims process is to gather and preserve evidence. Take pictures or videos of the accident scene, the surrounding area, posted traffic signs and signals, property damage, skid marks or debris, and any visible injuries you’ve suffered.
Additionally, when you receive medical attention, ask for copies of all medical reports and bills you receive. Obtaining copies will ensure that this key evidence is preserved.
Contact Gideon Asen
The sooner you contact our firm, the sooner we can go to work supporting your claim. Our attorneys will represent you in all communications with the at-fault party and their insurer. If you’re seriously injured, we can take the reins on your case while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Determining Fault in Maine Vehicle Accidents
Determining fault is rarely simple in vehicle accidents. In many cases, multiple parties might have done something that contributed to the car accident.
For example, another driver might have been responding to a text message, causing them to veer into your lane. However, you might have been speeding at the time. In this situation, the other driver would probably be primarily at fault, but you would also share a portion of the blame. Who would bear the brunt of the liability?
The answer is that you both are, and your respective degrees of fault need to be determined.
In the above situation, you might be assigned 10% of the fault by a jury or insurance company, while the other driver is assigned 90% of the fault. Consequently, if you’re eligible to receive $50,000 in compensation, it would be reduced by 10%, leaving you with $45,000.
This possibility underscores the importance of proving that the other party is completely or mostly responsible. Without an experienced vehicle accident attorney backing your claim, the compensation you receive could be reduced considerably.
Don’t put your recovery at risk. Contact Gideon Asen immediately after a collision to get dependable legal assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Types of Damages Are Available After a Vehicle Accident?
If your claim is successful, you’ll be awarded damages to offset the costs related to the accident, including medical treatment, physical therapy, lost wages, and other relevant expenses. If your injuries have resulted in particular hardship, you may also be able to claim non-economic damages that reflect your intangible losses.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Represent Me After a Car Accident?
You aren’t required to have legal representation to file a claim for compensation. However, you’re far more likely to receive a fair and adequate payout if you work with a qualified attorney. The knowledge and experience your lawyer provides can speed up the claims process and potentially result in a greater settlement or award.
How Long Will My Claim Take to Resolve?
The length of a vehicle accident claim often hinges on whether the case goes to trial or not. If your case is resolved through a negotiated settlement, it will probably take a few weeks to finalize, or possibly a few months if negotiations require extensive back-and-forth.
In the event that your case goes to trial, it will probably take at least a year to conclude. While trials themselves are usually reasonably quick, pretrial hearings and motions can lengthen the time frame by quite a bit.
Consult a Maine Motor Vehicle Attorney at Gideon Asen Today
Motor vehicle crashes can result in serious injuries that may severely disrupt your life. The capable lawyers at Gideon Asen can help you pursue the compensation you need to move forward after an injury. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options after an auto accident in Maine.
Taylor Asen on Auto Accidents
“An advantage of coming to a smaller firm is that Ben and I work on every case together. You also know that you will always be able to reach us. At Gideon Asen, our rule is that every client is our most important client.”
