Hurt in a motor vehicle accident? Don't talk to their insurance company. Talk to us.

Every month, we speak with thousands of accident victims to determine whether or not our services would benefit them. What we know from conducting so many case reviews, is that no two accidents are exactly the same.

While there will be aspects of an accident case that will be similar to others, there are always circumstances that make it unique unto itself.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents

There are many types of vehicles on our roads. Accordingly, we see collisions involving different combinations of the vehicle types below.

• Car Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Farm Vehicle Accidents
• Emergency Vehicle Accidents
• Taxi Cab Accidents
• Ridesharing Accidents

Common Types of Auto Accidents

Though there are many types of accidents, the most common is auto vs auto (car accidents). Also near the top of the list are accidents involving commercial trucks and motorcycle accidents.

Uncommon Types of  Auto Accidents

In addition to the accident types we commonly see, there are many less common accident types that we still see fairly regularly. We have put together a list of some of those less commonly seen accident types.

Factors in Motor Vehicle Accidents

There are many variables that are considered when

Severity Factors

• Speed
• Vehicles in motion
• Road conditions
• Properly functioning safety equipment
• Vehicle design

Settlement Value Factors

• Was the victim insured?
• Was the at-fault party insured?
• Was either driver in the course-and-scope of work?
• Did the other driver flee the scene?
• Do you have uninsured motorist coverage on your policy?
• What levels of coverage are on each policy?
• How extensive is property damage?
• How extensive is personal injury?
• How many parties were involved?

Determining Fault

Determining fault is not always straightforward. And, in some cases, fault can be assigned to multiple parties.

Fault in Multi-Vehicle Collisions

Many accidents involve more than two vehicles. And, each vehicle involved could have contributed to the accident's occurrence to varying degrees.

Single Vehicle Collisions

In the event of a single-vehicle accident, it is important not to make a judgment about fault without first reviewing the facts. Often, there are causes that are not immediately obvious.

One such scenario, are accidents caused by equipment failure. For instance, a tire that blows out, causing your car to roll over. Another scenario might be a pothole or other road condition that caused you to lose control. In both of these scenarios, the driver may be at fault.

Insurance Considerations

Regardless of the mechanics of the crash, you will soon be confronted with the insurances that are available (or not available) to you.

It is unfortunate, but there are many cases when there is no insurance, or inadequate insurance.

What If I (Accident Victim) Am Not Insured?

Whether or not you are insured can have a big impact on your potential outcome. For instance, in California, Proposition 213 allows the accident victim to get their medical bills paid, but prohibits them from being able to seek compensation for their pain and suffering.

Further, if the other driver is uninsured, or it was a single-vehicle accident, or a hit-and-run, there will likely be no insurance coverage at all.

What If the Other (At-fault) Driver Was Uninsured?

Vehicle owners have the ability to add uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to their policy. With this added coverage drivers and their passengers can make a claim against their own policy. While it is an added monthly expense, this additional coverage is something we encourage all vehicle owners to add.

What If The Insurance Policy Is Too Small?

The minimum auto insurance coverage mandated by each state varies. In California, the minimum auto insurance coverage is $15,000 for bodily injury and $5000 for property damage. This is only slightly better than Florida, where the minimum coverage for bodily injury is $10,000.

When you consider the soaring costs of medical care in our country, you quickly recognize that these minimum coverages will be inadequate for many, if not most accidents.

Even when drivers insure beyond the state-mandated minimums, there are often instances where the available insurance falls fails to cover the costs involved.

When insurance is unable to cover the costs, underinsured policies (if available) will kick in. This insurance is designed to help with short comings in insurance coverage.

What If It Was a Hit and Run Accident?

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident, your attorney will usually first explore whether or not the defendant can be tracked down. If successful, the insurances that the defendant carried will come into play. If the other driver cannot be identified, the matter will most likely be treated as an uninsured accident, and any uninsured or underinsured policies that exist (if any) will come into play.

Commercial Driver Policies

Professional drivers like truck or taxi drivers are required to carry larger policies that your average commuter. This makes sense, because they generally spend more time on the road, and are often driving larger vehicles - increasing the likelihood of an accident, and the significance of an impact, should one occur.

Life Insurance

There are 38,000 deaths each year on America's roadways. If your loved one was killed as the result of another driver's negligence, you may be able to seek monetary compensation from the at-fault party's insurer, but the available coverage will feel insulting given the enormity of your loss.

While no amount of money will bring back your loved one, money from a well-considered life insurance policy can ease the practical burden that may come with your loss - particularly if the deceased was a significant financial provider for the family, or if their absence causes a new financial burden to you, such as the loss of a spouse who took care of the kids while you worked, but now the kids require paid care.