A car accident in St. Joseph shows how traffic citations from a crash can impact a subsequent personal injury case.
St. Joseph Car Accident Leads to Driver Receiving Traffic Ticket
According to the early reports, the accident happened at the intersection of Woodbine Road and Frederick Avenue, in St. Joseph.
Police say that, around 8:30pm on September 9, 2019, an elderly man was driving southbound on Woodbine. He wanted to take a left-hand turn onto Frederick. When he made the turn, though, he did not have enough time to finish it. He was hit by a northbound car traveling on Woodbine.
Everyone was wearing a seatbelt. Both drivers, as well as a passenger in the car driven by the elderly man, went to the hospital with minor injuries.
Police say that the elderly driver will be ticketed for turning through an oncoming lane of traffic when it was unsafe to do so.
Traffic Tickets Can Be the Single Biggest Piece of Evidence in a Car Accident Case
Personal injury lawsuits have to prove 4 things:
- The defendant had a legal duty to keep you safe
- They did not uphold that duty
- You got hurt as a result
- The extent of your injuries
Drivers in St. Joseph all have a legal duty to abide by the traffic laws. A traffic ticket, then, is extremely strong evidence for steps 1 and 2. All that is left to show is that there was a connection between your injuries and the crash – something that is apparent in nearly all car accidents – and how badly you were hurt.
What If You Got the Ticket?
If you were involved in a crash and you were the one who got ticketed by the police, it is a very strong signal that you were at fault for the crash. Your insurance company will likely try to settle the case brought by the other driver as quickly as possible. You could also see your insurance premiums spike after the accident, as you insurance company sees you as a higher risk.
You could also struggle to recover compensation for your injuries if your insurance coverage does not cover everything.
This is where it becomes very important to fight the ticket. While the fine might only be around a hundred dollars, it is only the tip of the iceberg. The long-term repercussions to your insurance policy, and the potential for facing a personal injury lawsuit, can make the time and expense of fighting the ticket worth it.
Car Accident Lawyers at the Smith Law Office in St. Joseph
If you have been involved in a car accident in St. Joseph, Kansas City, or western Missouri, you can benefit from having legal representation. The fallout from a crash can last for years, and a lawyer can help protect your future well-being.
The car accident attorneys at the Smith Law Office can help. Contact us online or call our St. Joseph law office at (816) 875-9373.