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Whether you call them car accidents, auto crashes or automobile wrecks, they all mean the same thing — you are injured and in need of legal assistance to help you get the compensation you deserve. Of course, an "auto" crash does not mean just a "car" accident. Trucks, tractor-trailer rigs and motorcycles are also automobiles, and so are buses and even school buses. And while bicycles are not automobiles, many times a bicycling accident involves a car, truck, motorcycle or bus and, therefore, these accidents are handled much the same way as auto accidents, just as are accidents where a pedestrian is injured by some type of motor vehicle.

At Kattman & Pinaud, P.A., our personal injury lawyers have over 45 years of combined experience handling accident claims. Our success is attributable to hard work, dedication and skill as negotiators and trial lawyers. We prepare each case as if it were going to trial, which we believe leads to better settlement offers from insurance companies, governmental agencies and other vehicle owners because they know we are serious. We understand that many times our clients would rather resolve their cases quicker and with less aggravation by a settlement rather than a court trial, and most times, we accomplish just that. However, there are times clients want or need to go to trial to get what they deserve, and we prepare every case in anticipation of that possibility. We are going to be ready. We negotiate from a position of strength.

Causes of Auto Accidents
There are many causes of auto accidents. Most of the time, auto accidents are caused by negligent driving. Negligent driving means that a driver was not operating his or her vehicle with the proper amount of care that was required under the circumstances. Indeed, the term auto or car "accident" is truly misleading. When a vehicle, be it a car, truck, motorcycle, bus or school bus is involved in a crash, rarely is it due to an "accident" - rather it is due to someone's negligence. Some of the most prevalent negligent driving includes the following:

• Running stop signs
• Running red lights
• Speeding
• Careless driving (just about any act that equates to not being careful enough)
• Reckless driving (where someone drives so carelessly that it shows a conscious lack of concern for the safety of others)
• Talking on a cell phone
• Text messaging while driving
• Reading while driving
• Eating or drinking while driving
• Drunk driving (usually considered as negligent driving under law, though a criminal act)
• Improper passing another vehicle
• Following another vehicle to closely
• Making a turn when it was not wise or permitted to do so
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Not paying attention to other cars on the road
• Just about anything else where the crash is not due to an "Intentional Act"

Much less common that negligent driving is where someone intentionally causes injury or damage to people or property with their vehicle. "Intentional Act" crashes are where someone purposefully uses a vehicle to cause harm or damage. Fortunately, these events are rare. Unfortunately, when they happen, the results can be very tragic.

The Effects of Auto Accidents - Injuries and Property Damages
Being involved in an auto crash is a traumatic event that only people and friends and family of people who have been involved in them can often appreciate. In an auto crash, a person's injuries can be from "soft tissue" injures, which means injuries to muscles, ligaments, and other "soft" muscle-type tissues, or can be much more serious, including broken bones, damaged nerves, damaged spinal discs and spinal cord, and very sadly, even paralysis, organ and brain injuries, burns, loss of limbs or bodily functions, and almost too many other heartbreaking problems to list. Even a crash of just a few miles an hour can cause serious harm depending on the situation, and in the case of motorcycles, bicycles or pedestrians, just a crash of just a couple miles per hour can easily kill someone. Whether you have a minor injury or a catastrophic one, we are truly sorry for your situation and sadness, and while we wish we could, but can't, turn back time and make it not happen, we will do everything we can to get you everything you deserve to make tomorrow as good as it can be.

If you or a loved one or friend is injured in an auto accident, we can help you get to the medical professionals you need, from chiropractors to even brain surgeons, and work hard to get you the compensation you deserve. We know the process and the players. We know how to make sure you medical bills get paid, and we can help arrange your medical care so that there is no out-of-pocket doctor costs for you until your case is settled! We can help you get any lost wages compensation and benefits you deserve during and after the time we are working on your case, and we also understand that any damage to your automobile is disruptive to your life, so we will help get you a rental car, get your automobile fixed and/or recover money for your automobile damages, and we will help you with this aspect of your case with no cost to you ever! Absolutely free!

The Loss of a Loved One - The Most Tragic and Unnecessary Consequence
In the tragic event that a loved one has lost their life in an auto crash, while we cannot pretend to understand your loss, we have seen the pain and anguish too many times. We will help you get through this painful time to the best of our ability not only with prosecuting a claim, called a "wrongful death" claim on your behalf, but also by helping you handle any legal or last arrangement issues you may have in coping during this difficult time. Whether its setting up a probate case, handling a will, or helping you set up and arrange payment for final arrangements, or any other way we can help, we will be there. If you have lost a loved one due to an auto crash, we want to help you get the money you deserve in these situations, but we understand that you would trade all the money in the world to have your loved one back. We care about more than the money - we care about you and your future. We have loved ones too.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in an auto accident, whatever you do, NEVER give a statement to any insurance company (even your own) without calling us first. We will make sure you do not make a mistake that harms your chances of getting the compensation you deserve. No matter what we do for you, if we do not recover money for you, you owe us nothing. We only earn our pay when we recover compensation for you!

Call or email us for your free no-obligation consultation today. There is no situation to big or too small for us to help you with. If you or a loved one are confined to your home or hospital due to injury, or if you just are not physically or emotionally able to come see us, we will gladly come and see you anywhere at a time that is convenient for you.

REMEMBER….you have a limited amount of time under the law to bring a claim for wrongful death, injuries, or property damage resulting from an auto crash. Call us right away! We'll be there.