Bellevue Car Accident Lawyer
Each year, there are roughly 5.2 million car accidents in the U.S., between 30,000 and 40,000 of which result in fatalities. If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a motor vehicle accident, an experienced Bellevue car accident lawyer could help you seek the compensation you need to pay your medical bills, make up for lost wages, and deal with other losses stemming from your wreck. Call Inkelaar Law today to get in touch with one of our dedicated personal injury attorneys and discuss your case.
Car Accident Liability in Bellevue
No matter how the collision occurred, an experienced car accident attorney in Bellevue could investigate which parties may be held accountable for an accident that caused you harm. Depending on the circumstances of a collision, several parties could potentially share responsibility for causing a car accident, including but not limited to:
- Individual drivers and passengers of vehicles involved in the crash
- Commercial drivers and the parent companies that employ them
- Third-party drivers and passengers on the roadway
- Entities responsible for maintaining safe and accessible roadways and signage
- Auto manufacturers when an automobile malfunctions, causing an accident
Statute of Limitations
Nebraska maintains a statute of limitations, or time limit, for personal injury cases. This statute requires most car accident injury claims to be filed within four years of the accident or injury taking place unless you had a reasonable delay in discovering your injury. Knowledgeable car accident lawyers in Bellevue could help advise you regarding filing your personal injury claim within this time limit.
Steps to Take Following a Car Accident in Bellevue
There are a number of different steps you could take following a car accident to protect your rights. First and foremost, taking photos of the scene of the accident can capture evidence of what took place, and which party may be at fault.
Seeking medical attention so a medical provider can evaluate your health and make a record of your condition at the time of the crash is important as well, in case it becomes an issue in an ensuing civil claim. Some insurance companies require a police report to be filed after an automobile collision, but even if they do not, it is a good idea to create a neutral record of the collision that could be used as evidence of the damage a victim suffered.
Comparative Negligence Doctrine in Bellevue Car Accident Cases
Negligence rules for Nebraska personal injury claims take into account whether the victim contributed to their own injuries by having a hand in causing the accident. Victims may see their compensation awards reduced by the degree to which they contributed to their own condition, and if the court determines that the victim shared more than half of the fault in causing the car accident, their claim may be barred from going forward altogether.
For this reason, it is common for the defendant’s legal team in a car accident case to argue that negligence on the victim’s part, like not wearing their seatbelt, should invalidate—or at least reduce the value of—their claim. Fortunately, a skilled attorney at Inkelaar Law should have experience combating such claims of comparative negligence.
Consult an Experienced Bellevue Car Accident Attorney
Whether or not you believe you contributed in part to causing your car accident, a dedicated Bellevue car accident lawyer could advise you regarding which party may be liable, how best to preserve your claim, and how to avoid inadvertently saying or doing something to jeopardize your odds of success. Call today to schedule a consultation with the Inkelaar Law legal team and get started on your case.