Get free answers to your Car Accidents legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I was involved in a car accident in early May in Adams County, where I was the at-fault driver. While driving to work, I sneezed three times and, upon opening my eyes, realized the traffic ahead had stopped. I collided with the car in front of me, which then hit another vehicle. The driver I hit... View More 
answered on Jun 17, 2025
You could call a criminal law attorney for the traffic court case if that isn’t already done. For your civil case, your liability insurance company should hire an insurance defense lawyer to represent you if a lawsuit is filed. Sometimes people who cause crashes are underinsured or their... View More
I was involved in an accident on September 3, 2024, where I was seriously injured, including suffering an AVM rupture which my neurologist says was a contributing factor from the accident. The at-fault driver did not have enough coverage, and I have underinsured motorist coverage. I notified my... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2025
Yes, assuming you have applicable uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, you may pursue a UM claim. I must warn you, however, that UM is one of the most complicated areas of personal injury law. One false step and you may inadvertently fall into a pitfall and thereby foreclose your ability to recover... View More
I was involved in an accident on September 3, 2024, where I was seriously injured, including suffering an AVM rupture which my neurologist says was a contributing factor from the accident. The at-fault driver did not have enough coverage, and I have underinsured motorist coverage. I notified my... View More
answered on Jun 17, 2025
Assuming the at-fault driver has tendered his limits and you signed a limited release with the driver, you should hire a lawyer sooner rather than later to pursue a UM claim with your insurance company, as they may try to argue that they did not receive timely notice of the accident.
I was involved in a head-on collision with a 1,400 lbs cow that wandered into the road on April 23, 2024, at 10:30 pm. I was driving at the speed limit (55 mph) and was wearing my seatbelt. My car was totaled, and I have insurance with Progressive Auto Liability, including Uninsured &... View More
answered on Jun 16, 2025
Sorry to hear what happened to you. In New York, a farmer can be held liable for injuries caused by their animal wandering onto a roadway if they were negligent in allowing the animal to escape. If you haven't already, file an application for no-fault insurance benefits with your own insurance... View More
I was involved in a head-on collision with a 1,400 lbs cow that wandered into the road on April 23, 2024, at 10:30 pm. I was driving at the speed limit (55 mph) and was wearing my seatbelt. My car was totaled, and I have insurance with Progressive Auto Liability, including Uninsured &... View More
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answered on Jun 17, 2025
I am sorry to hear about the physical, financial, and emotional toll this incident has taken on you. Collisions with livestock can cause serious damage and raise complex legal issues, especially when the animal's owner refuses to cooperate.
In New York, livestock owners can be held... View More
I was involved in a vehicle collision where I received a citation for failing to yield, according to statute 40-6-71. There were no injuries, but both vehicles were completely damaged. I have been given a court date. I'm concerned about the potential penalties I might face, including whether... View More
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answered on Jun 15, 2025
While jail time is technically possible, practically, should expect that in exchange for a plea you would have to pay a relatively modest fine (< $200). Furthermore, if you showed up with a letter from your insurance company confirming that they've assumed liability for the collision, your... View More
In October 2024, my wife was involved in a car accident where she was deemed at fault. However, I believe the police investigation was flawed. My wife hit another vehicle, and the occupants of that vehicle were seen disposing of empty beer bottles over a fence immediately after the accident. I... View More
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answered on Jun 17, 2025
I’m sorry you and your wife are going through this situation. When the facts surrounding an accident seem incomplete or unfairly assessed, it can feel frustrating—especially when you believe law enforcement did not fully investigate important evidence.
In New York, fault in a car... View More
I was hit by a driver who ran a red light, resulting in damage to my vehicle and personal injuries. I've been to urgent care, prescribed pain medication and muscle relaxers, and have had X-rays that cost $370. I was referred to a chiropractor for a 4 to 6-month course, but haven't started... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
The answer will depend on your medical bills. You need to keep a good record of your day-to-day recovery and records of your lost wages. In a personal injury suit you are entitled to recoup your medical expenses and an amount for your pain and suffering but the later can vary greatly from... View More
As a non-profit children's theatre in Pennsylvania, we send actors into schools and libraries for performances under a contract stating they are independent contractors. Each actor drives their own car, and one usually carries props and costumes. We hold a $2,000,000 general liability policy.... View More
answered on Jun 11, 2025
Liability is a factual question and the real details of your relationship with the actors needs to be analyzed. However, you have substantially protected your charity with the significant insurance coverage that you have purchased. If the actors are truly independant contractors, then you are... View More
As a non-profit children's theatre in Pennsylvania, we send actors into schools and libraries for performances under a contract stating they are independent contractors. Each actor drives their own car, and one usually carries props and costumes. We hold a $2,000,000 general liability policy.... View More
answered on Jun 16, 2025
In Pennsylvania, a nonprofit is generally not liable for an auto accident caused by an independent contractor who is driving a personally owned vehicle to or from a job. If, however, a court finds that the theatre exercises enough control over routes, schedules, or use of vehicles that the actors... View More
I have State Farm insurance and bought my car five years ago. I was supposed to have full coverage, both for myself and for my financial bank, but I only have liability coverage. I was unaware of this until after an accident occurred. I need assistance on how to address this issue and what steps to... View More
answered on Jun 10, 2025
The question does not describe when the policy which covered the vehicle on the date of accident was issued. Illinois law requires a policy holder to read/review the policy when it is issued to verify they have the insurance coverage they requested and if unsure, to contact their agent/broker to... View More
I was involved in a car accident and have experienced wage loss due to missed work. My own insurance company is handling the claim. I have already submitted my tax returns. Do I still need to submit my bank statements to prove wage loss, or is other documentation sufficient?
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answered on Jun 9, 2025
Normally, the insurance company would send a wage verification form to your employer to provide your wage information and that would be sufficient with a disability slip from your doctor. Past wage check statements also are sometimes sufficient. Tax returns are normally not required unless you are... View More
I was involved in a Lyft accident last year in Texas, where the vehicle I was in was rear-ended by an uninsured motorist at excessive speeds. Both the Lyft driver and I were hospitalized, and I sustained significant injuries requiring cervical fusion, concussion treatment, and nerve surgery. Since... View More
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answered on Jun 9, 2025
Yes, Lyft’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can apply to you as a passenger in Texas under certain conditions—but it’s not always as straightforward as it should be.
Texas law allows passengers injured in a rideshare accident to make a claim under the rideshare company’s UM policy... View More
I have a car registered and insured in Washington, and a family member living in California wants to borrow it. They plan to use the car for commuting to work for a year, as they do not have a car of their own. Is it legal for my family member to drive my Washington-registered car in California?... View More
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answered on Jun 8, 2025
There are two key considerations in this situation:
- Does failing to register the vehicle within the required timeframe in California violate the state's registration rules?
- How does this impact your contractual obligations with your insurance company?
You should... View More
In an auto accident case, the insurance company underpriced my 2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT3 Duramax crew cab by using incorrect comparable vehicles in their valuation, listing characteristics that don’t match mine, like a gas engine and smaller bed size, resulting in a value of $17,000. I... View More
answered on Jun 8, 2025
Sometimes you need to provide them with evidence that their valuation is not correct. Send them all the reasons you disagree with them including a Kelly Blue Book screenshot along with some local classified ads and ask them to reconsider. The few times I have done that it was successful. You also... View More
I received a settlement from my motor vehicle accident in September 2024, and my lawyer has been handling liens associated with it. I've been trying to check in monthly, but I usually get the same response of "working on liens" without further details. Despite requesting an in-person... View More
answered on Jun 8, 2025
You provide none of the details necessary to provide any meaningful answer to your question. Liens and subrogation interests can be complicated and are easily confused. Why didn't you ask these questions when you authorized the settlement? In my experience, clients don't care whether... View More
I received a settlement from my motor vehicle accident in September 2024, and my lawyer has been handling liens associated with it. I've been trying to check in monthly, but I usually get the same response of "working on liens" without further details. Despite requesting an in-person... View More
answered on Jun 9, 2025
I'm very sorry to hear of the situation you find yourself in. Though not all necessary facts are provided in your description, I can confidently inform you that under nearly all circumstances, it should never take 10 months to resolve a client's liens. Personal injury attorneys know the... View More
I am currently married but planning to divorce. I was involved in a car accident with my kids, and we're expecting a personal injury settlement related to their injuries. Are my soon-to-be ex-spouse and I required to share this settlement?
answered on Jun 7, 2025
Personal injury proceeds received on behalf of a child are the property of the child, not the parents, and should only be spent on behalf of the child. Generally, if the recovery is over $15,000, the law requires that the settlement be court approved, and the court orders that the funds go into a... View More
I was involved in an accident caused by another party, and their insurance company is offering a low settlement offer that doesn't cover all the damage to my car. I have collision coverage. How can I negotiate to receive a fair settlement amount?
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answered on Jun 6, 2025
I'm not licensed in Missouri, so this isn't legal advice—it's general guidance. If you're looking to negotiate a fair settlement after a car accident and feel the offer from the at-fault party’s insurer is too low, here are a few practical steps:
Document Everything:... View More
I bought a truck through one of my mom's friends and received a bill of sale, but not the title. I was unaware of any title issues or that the truck was stolen. I then wrecked the truck and now I'm facing charges for unauthorized use of a vehicle. I have a bill of sale, and I... View More
answered on Jun 5, 2025
IMO the testimony of your mom's friend will be critical. Your attorney will want to ensure that the friend does not have a criminal record and will corroborate that he was the seller, or facilitated the sale by the seller and had no reason to believe that seller was not the owner of the... View More
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