With winter weather on the rise, snow plows are making themselves known in the streets. Whether their drivers work independently, for public organizations, or for private institutions, each of them strives to make it easier for you to get from point A to point B more safely.
That said, snow plows can prove to be dangerous, particularly after heavy snow. Whether you’re parked on the side of the road or trying to navigate heavy traffic, you may find yourself on the wrong end of a snow plow’s hospitality. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make your post-accident recovery as straightforward as possible.
Listen to Medical Professionals
First and foremost, listen to medical professionals in the wake of a snow plow accident. You’ve likely already received care from emergency responders. Now schedule appointments with your general practitioner and abide by the instructions given to you. The last thing you want to do after a snow plow accident is to worsen your condition.
At the same time, talk to medical professionals about the severity of your condition. Keep track of your bills and what treatments you or your loved ones may need later down the line. You can revisit these expenses later if you want to take legal action against the party responsible for your condition.
Contact an Attorney
Car accident attorneys do more for accident survivors like you than help them go to court. You’ll have a lot on your plate after an accident, from communicating with police officers to tending to your health. If you want to stay on top of all of your new responsibilities (foisted on you in addition to injuries, in some cases), it’s okay to ask for a helping hand.
You can specifically contact personal injury lawyers to step in and help you handle your recovery. An experienced team can prepare a personal injury claim, communicate with your insurance provider, and fend off insufficient settlement offers from liable parties while you focus on your health.
For a free legal consultation, call (517) 316-1195
Reach Out to Your Insurance Providers
It’s in your best interest to communicate snow plow accident losses with your insurance provider within 24 hours of your accident. You can choose to reach out to your provider, or you can request that a family member, personal executor, or car crash attorney do so for you. These initial conversations should express the severity of your losses.
Insurance providers will want to establish their own estimate of your losses courtesy of an in-house adjuster. However, insurance adjusters’ goals are primarily to save their companies money. As such, an adjuster can underestimate the value of your losses for the sake of a provider’s bottom line.
That’s why you need to carefully consider the coverage your insurance provider offers you after a snow plow accident. When in doubt, reach out to an attorney to go over the offer and calculate your own estimate of your case’s losses. Experienced car collision attorneys can ensure that your insurance provider treats you fairly after an accident.
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Gather Information About an At-Fault Party and File a Personal Injury Claim
If you want to take action against the party responsible for your losses in a snow plow accident, you need to know who that party is. More to the point, you need to have the data to prove who that party is. To gather that data, you can return to the scene of your accident, communicate with bystanders, and reach out to expert witnesses.
Once you have the information you need to understand what negligence led to your snow plow accident, you can take civil action. An attorney can help you file a personal injury claim within your state’s statute of limitations. In turn, judicial officials can consider your claim and determine if you have the right to move your demand for damages forward in court.
Corporations, Government Employees, and Independent Snow Plow Drivers
It’s not always easy to determine who to hold responsible for your snow plow injury losses. The driver’s contract, if it exists, can contribute to this confusion. Fortunately, you can work with a car collision attorney to determine how a contract changes who you name as liable for your losses in a claim.
- If the driver operates on a Form-1099 or as an independent contractor, you can name the driver liable for your losses
- If the driver operates on a W2, you can name the driver’s employer as liable for your losses
- If the driver works for the local or state government, you may have the right to name government officials liable for your losses
Of course, don’t make any assumptions about fault until you’ve assessed the evidence from the scene of your accident. That evidence may reveal that the party at fault for your losses wasn’t a driver but a snow plow manufacturer or mechanic. Fortunately, you have a team of attorneys ready to help you sort through the miasma of liability data while you recover.
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Take Your Losses to Court
If negotiating with the party liable for your snow plow injury doesn’t pan out, don’t worry. You still have legal action available to you. You can work with the aforementioned attorney to bring your snow plow collision losses to the attention of a judge and jury. These parties can then oversee your case and determine what compensation you may have a right to.
The civil process most often involves the following stages:
- Discovery
- Opening statements addressing your circumstances and wants
- Examination
- Cross-examination
- Summary closing statements
- Jury deliberation
- Verdict
Your position as the party enacting the claim may primarily see you contribute to your examination and cross-examination. You can count on an attorney to prepare you for what questions the defense may ask you. Similarly, our team can give you opportunities to describe your snow plow accident and why you think you deserve equivalent damages.
White Law PLLC Fights For You
Snow plows operators work with the best intentions in mind. That doesn’t mean that these drivers aren’t prone to mistakes, though, particularly in the face of dangerous weather. If you have to contend with snow plow accident losses, you deserve the opportunity to bring your losses to the attention of a judge and jury.
If you have questions about your right to civil action after a snow plow accident, you can schedule a consultation with White Law PLLC’s personal injury lawyers. Contact us through our website or by calling our office, and we can explore your right to damages based on your accident’s value.
Call or text (517) 316-1195 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
