Rollover car accidents can be extremely serious and sometimes fatal. When you have endured the trauma of a rollover crash, you might be coping with injuries, medical bills, and difficulty working. Consulting with an experienced car accident attorney could help.
A lawyer who represents people injured in rollover car accidents in Cordova could explain how to potentially file a lawsuit and the kinds of compensation you might be eligible for. There are deadlines for legal action, so it will be important to seek advice as soon as possible from the Law Office of David E. Gordon.
Common Rollover Injuries
Rollover crashes can result in debilitating and catastrophic injuries. These include:
- Cuts and scrapes
- Burns on face and limbs
- Broken and crushed bones
- Head trauma and brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Torn ligaments and tissue damage
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
Rollover car accidents in Cordova can also result in death of one or more individuals in the car, which might prompt their surviving family to file a wrongful death claim.
Lawsuits for Negligence
Cordova rollover car accidents are all the more tragic when they are caused by someone else’s carelessness. Another driver might have caused the crash because they were drunk, speeding, or talking on the phone. If a defective car part caused the accident, the manufacturer could be at fault. Other parties could also be responsible.
In these situations, the client might be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the person who caused the accident.
Statute of Limitations
Because of the statute of limitations, someone in Cordova who was injured in a rollover auto accident has just one year from the date of the crash to file a potential lawsuit. The deadline is extended for minor children, those who are labeled as mentally incompetent, and if the prosecutor files criminal charges against the at-fault driver. For wrongful death lawsuits, the deadline is one year from the date of death.
Missing the statute of limitations will have enormous consequences. In most cases, the judge will dismiss the case if it is not filed on time. David can ensure the case is filed before the deadline.
Damages From a Rollover Crash
People injured in rollovers can get different kinds of damages to compensate them for losses. These are divided between economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages cover medical bills for doctors’ visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and mental health treatment; property damage to the car; lost income and domestic services; and out-of-pocket costs.
Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, impairment and inconvenience, loss of consortium, and lost enjoyment of life.
While there is no cap on economic damages, non-economic damages are limited to $750,000, unless the driver was drunk or intentionally meant to injure someone else. In that case, there is no cap.
If the injured person suffered a catastrophic injury, non-economic damages are capped at $1,000,000. Paralysis, amputations, third-degree burns, and wrongful death leaving a minor child are considered catastrophic.
Comparative Fault
Comparative fault can impact an injured client’s recovery. Under the comparative fault law, a client cannot recover any damages if they are 50 percent or more at fault. For those individuals with fault less than 50 percent, their claim will be reduced by the proportion they are found to have been responsible. This means if the jury awards $100,000 to a plaintiff but finds that they were 15 percent to blame, they will only recover $85,000.
A Cordova lawyer, like David, with experience in rollover car accidents can help evaluate a situation to see if comparative fault is likely to be an issue.
Learn More About Rollover Car Crashes in Cordova
When you are injured in a rollover accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to damages to help recover your losses and get back on your feet. You may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit for justice.
Because there are time limits for legal action, you should consider contacting an attorney experienced in rollover car accidents in Cordova without delay. Call the Law Office of David E. Gordon today for a free consultation.