Lewes is a burgeoning town on Delaware’s famed Cape Region that has been growing in popularity recently. Situated on the Delaware Bay, the city is currently home to almost 3,000 residents. However, that number can increase significantly in the summer months as tourists come out to the area to enjoy the beach and take in the town’s impressive array of lighthouses.
Lewes is a magnet for tourists, with Route 9 serving as the main artery into town. However, with numerous bars, restaurants, parks, and beaches, the small town is flooded with visitors filling the streets and raising the chances of car accidents occurring.
With so many people in the streets interacting with each other, there can be a tendency for other accidents to occur. Carelessness or other negligence can lead to accidents. When that happens, you should reach out to an experienced Lewes personal injury lawyer who can help.
What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Car accidents occur for a variety of reasons. In most instances, they can be prevented with common sense and more attentiveness on the part of all drivers. When you are out on the road, be sure to pay attention to your situation and avoid those situations that could become dangerous. A few common causes of car accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving: Distracted driving is a common problem in Lewes, as people are taking in the scenery or looking for a parking space or a specific restaurant. As drivers are doing that, they are not paying attention to the road, which can lead to an accident.
- Drunk or drugged driving: Impaired driving is another hazard for the area, as Lewes boasts numerous bars and night spots. Unfortunately, in these circumstances, people tend to get behind the wheel after having a good time. When you drink, your senses are dulled, and you do not react as quickly to conditions around you as you would normally. You must also be wary of people who are intoxicated wandering the streets.
- Hazardous roadways: Poor road conditions including potholes or poor signage can also lead to car accidents. You may swerve to avoid a pothole, which causes you to impact with another vehicle, or a road hazard could cause an accident on its own.
- Broken car parts: The condition of your vehicle could also be a problem. Faulty brakes could mean you do not stop as easily as you should, or other mechanical problems can lead to a car accident.
Other problems that cause car accidents include speeding, drowsy driving, and road rage. These are conditions that can arise as traffic begins to build up as people make their way to the beach or to a popular restaurant.
When you are driving, you should be patient and when you encounter these negligent drivers, and do your best to avoid them. If you are injured in a car accident, speak with a lawyer.
What Can I Possibly Recoup for My Car Accident Injuries?
If you suffer any injuries because of a car accident in Delaware, you have options to recoup financial damages that you suffered because of that accident. Delaware is a no-fault state in that you can collect for certain damages from your car insurance’s personal injury protection (PIP). Specifically, you can collect compensation for your medical expenses and your lost wages. You can collect on these expenses until one of the following occurs:
- Two years elapse since the car accident.
- You have reached the limit of your PIP.
- An insurance-approved doctor said you no longer need either medical treatment or you can return to work.
The PIP insurance allows a driver collect on their injuries regardless of their role in an accident. The insurance does not prohibit an injured driver from filing a personal injury suit against another driver for their role in the accident. That suit can seek the non-economic damages.
What Should I Know About a Personal Injury Claim?
If you wish to seek compensation beyond just medical bills and lost income, you can file a personal injury claim. With this type of claim, you can seek pain and suffering from the negligent driver. Before moving forward on any lawsuit, there are a few things to keep in mind.
There is a two-year statute of limitations on any lawsuits, meaning you have two years from the day of your accident to file a claim. If you fail to file your claim in this two-year window, your lawsuit will be dismissed regardless of the severity of your injuries.
Delaware also follows a modified comparative negligence rule. That means the court will assign a percentage of responsibility for all parties involved in the accident. When the final amount of damage is decided, each responsible party will have to pay that percentage of the liability assigned to them.
That means you may not receive the full amount you were anticipating if a judge assigns any level of responsibility to you. In addition, all individuals involved in the accident are eligible to receive compensation from the lawsuit unless a person is found to bear more than 50 percent of the responsibility for the accident.
How Can We Help You?
Rhoades & Morrow can help clients who have been injured from the negligence of others. Although a car accident is one area in which we can help, there are others as well, including the following:
- Catastrophic injury: No matter the cause of your injury, our legal team will assist you if you have been permanently disabled from a catastrophic injury.
- Defective products: If you are hurt from a faulty product, we may bring a products liability claim against the liable party.
- Medical malpractice: There are a variety of medical malpractice cases, including birth injury, failure to diagnose cancer or serious illness, failure to identify and treat heart attack, stroke or blood clots, surgery mistakes, medication and laboratory errors.
- Motorcycle accidents: Motorcyclists are in great danger when they are involved in traffic accidents, given their limited protection. Those involved in motorcycle accidents often suffer serious injuries.
- Pedestrian accidents: Lewes is a great area to walk around. It can be dangerous, as pedestrians must share the road with drivers on already crowded roads. Drivers tend to ignore pedestrians, and pedestrian accidents tend to be serious.
- Slip and fall accidents: If a person owns a private or commercial building, they have the legal obligation to keep it free and clear of all hazards When they fail in that responsibility, slip and fall accidents can occur.
- Truck accidents: These can be far more devastating and horrific than a traditional car accident. Complicating matters is that a truck accident may not be as simple as a liable driver who caused the collision. There could be other circumstances and additional liable parties.
- Wrongful death: When you lose a loved one, it is a heartbreaking experience. We may be able to help you file a wrongful death suit to help hold the responsible parties accountable and help you recover any compensation.
Lewes Personal Injury Lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow Will Stand Up for You When You Are Injured
If you have been hurt in a collision or any other type of accident and you need legal help, reach out to one of our Lewes personal injury lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow. Call us at (302) 550-0155 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation. We have offices in Wilmington, Bear, Milford, and Lewes, Delaware. With offices in all three counties of Delaware, we serve clients throughout the state.