Auto Accidents and Collisions

If you are injured or a loved one has died in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver, the negligent driver is responsible to compensate you or your family in a personal injury or wrongful death case. Some factors may influence your case:

Liability Insurance
All states require drivers to carry liability insurance or proof of financial responsibility in the event of an accident. While liability insurance is to pay for just such injuries and property damage, and settling a claim with the insurance company should be straightforward, insurance companies are financially motivated not to pay claims, or pay as little as they can. They use their vast resources to employ claims adjusters and attorneys to limit the company's exposure. When dealing with an insurance company, it is advisable to retain an experienced trial attorney who can level the playing field between you and the corporate giant.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists
Regardless of the law requiring insurance, as many as twenty percent of drivers on the road do not maintain any form of insurance, making compensation difficult.

No-Fault Insurance
Some states require your insurance company to compensate you, regardless of who is at fault. However, the policy limits are low, leaving you to sue the negligent driver directly for additional compensation. This leaves the possibility of obtaining a judgment yet not being able to collect it because the defendant does not have sufficient assets.

Contributory Negligence
Contributory negligence is a defense claiming that a plaintiff whose negligence contributed to an accident cannot recover from a defendant who caused the accident. Most states have abandoned this in favor of comparative fault. In states with pure comparative fault laws, a plaintiff may recover against a negligent defendant for that portion of the defendants responsibility, even if the plaintiff was more negligent than the defendant. In other states, the plaintiff can only recover if they were less negligent than the defendant.

The attorneys at Langdon & Emison have represented plaintiffs in car accident cases across the country for more than 20 years. We will investigate your case individually to determine the responsible party and use our skills to negotiate a favorable settlement with the insurance company or individual, backed by the ability and willingness to take a case to trial when necessary. See featured cases.

If you are the victim of serious personal injury from a motor vehicle accident, or if a loved one suffered a wrongful death at the hands of a negligent driver, contact Langdon & Emison to consult with an experienced attorney today.