Shaun L. Hayes Attorney has handled several types of personal injury cases ranging from dog bites to serious automobile accidents. Regardless of the injury caused to you, it is important that you contact an attorney to determine your legal options. Generally speaking, the law of negligence applies to cases concerning personal injury. This means that someone must have acted negligently (which is a specific legal term), and there must have resulted in some type of injury.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are the most common type of personal injury cases that arise in the Court system. As stated above, these cases are generally governed by the law of negligence. In determining whether someone is ‘negligent’ under the law, it is assumed that an individual must exercise reasonable care when operating a vehicle. Failure to operate a motor vehicle with reasonable care can be considered negligence, depending upon the circumstances. However, just because someone has acted negligently does not give rise to a recoverable personal injury case. Additionally, there generally has to be some type of accident, and an injury of some type must have occurred to a party. In each case, it is the injured party’s responsibility to make his or her case of negligence and personal injury.

Uninsured and/or Underinsured Motorists Drivers

Most individuals operating a motor vehicle today do have vehicle insurance; and are required by law to do so if they operate a motor vehicle. However, some individuals carry insurance at low amounts that are not sufficient to cover the costs of a substantial accident resulting in personal injury. If you have motor vehicle insurance, you may have underinsured motorist coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage is designed to assist in covering the costs of an accident if the other party’s insurance is not sufficient.

Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to provide insurance protection through your own insurance in the event the other party does not have insurance and you are involved in an accident with that party.

What to do if you are involved in an Accident

If you are involved in an accident, remember to stop and wait for law enforcement. Take notes of what happened as soon as you can remember so that it is fresh in your mind. If you are physically injured in the accident, your best option would be to seek the advice of an attorney.