Automobile Accidents

In 2005, almost 6,420,000 automobile accidents occurred in the United States, resulting in 2.9 million people being injured and over 42,000 deaths. The numbers are staggering, and for those who survive a serious crash, spinal cord injuries, brain damage, and permanent disabilities that require multiple surgical procedures and lifelong medical care not only cause a decline in quality of life, but also result in lost wages or the inability to work at all.

If you have been in an accident, filing a claim with an insurance company for damaged property and injuries doesn’t necessarily mean you will receive a settlement that will compensate you for all of your losses – even if you were the victim of someone else’s negligence.

The attorneys at Van Dorn & Curtiss know the lengths to which insurance companies will go to protect their own financial interests. We have a proven track record for aggressive and expert courtroom litigation that results in generous jury awards for our seriously injured clients. More often than not, when defendants realize that a plaintiff has retained a Van Dorn & Curtiss attorney, they settle for the amount that we determine is fair and just, not just what the insurance company decides to pay. This is different from many law firms who do not go to court for their clients.  They have no leverage with the insurance companies and ultimately settle for what the insurance company decides to pay.

Because of our reputation as zealous advocates for our clients, defendants and their lawyers know who they are up against, and they would rather avoid facing us in court. Our attorneys enjoy trial law, and our reputation as relentless adversaries in the courtroom has been proven time and time again. When our legal team enters litigation, we win, and insurance companies and their attorneys know it.

As a result of our reputation the vast majority of our cases settle, but when we do have to take a case to court, that case gets the entire attention, and full support of our experienced legal team and we are well prepared to fight to the end if necessary.  The end is usually a jury verdict that well exceeds what the insurance company is willing to pay.

Our Goal is Not to Meet Your Expectations. Our Goal is to Exceed Your Expectations. 

Van Dorn & Curtiss has the expertise necessary to maneuver the many laws governing negligence in automobile accidents in both New Hampshire and Vermont. In Vermont, for instance, required insurance coverage for licensed drivers is only $10,000 for property damage and $25,000 in the case of death. We know that a serious accident resulting in critical injuries costs far more than that in medical costs alone, and we refuse to settle for less than you deserve. New Hampshire law doesn’t require drivers to be insured. In the case that you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver, you shouldn’t have to pay a higher premium on your own car insurance because the negligent driver had no coverage. You need a lawyer with the knowledge and ability to overcome the burden of proof on the part of the plaintiff in a New Hampshire court of law. For years, our legal team has successfully proved fault on the part of the defendant as well as the plaintiff’s sustained damages – the formula necessary for consistently securing fair and generous jury awards. Van Dorn & Curtiss isn’t satisfied with just the minimal insurance settlement. If your insurance company isn’t willing to meet our settlement offer, we will take your case to trial and enjoy winning. Other personal injury lawyers may claim that they will go to court for their clients, but the attorneys at Van Dorn & Curtiss have a long history of courtroom victories in Vermont and New Hampshire. We aren’t all talk; our record speaks for itself.

All Law Firms are Not Created Equal. 

Our attorneys are so effective in the courtroom that other firms refer cases to us, knowing that we recover the compensation our clients deserve. As a full service law firm, Van Dorn & Curtiss will not only handle your initial case, but our legal team will also assist you in dealing with the issues often related to personal injury cases that most law firms don’t cover, such as insurance liens, negotiating unpaid medical bills, and the recovery of other insurance benefits not included in the initial claim – all services that are included in the one contingency fee. We encourage you to compare all of our services as well as our winning record in the courtroom with other law firms. We know that you won’t find anyone else with our reputation for winning cases. Our attorneys will fight for your rights as a seriously injured person, and we will win. We represent clients in Western New Hampshire and Eastern Vermont, including the counties of Essex, Caledonia, Orange, Windsor, Windham, Coos, Grafton, Sullivan, Cheshire, and Merrimack. If you want aggressive and expert pursuit of your personal injury claim and full recovery of all damages you are owed due to the negligence of another, call Van Dorn & Curtiss at 1-866-632-8980 for a consultation. Trust the lawyers other lawyers trust, and call Van Dorn & Curtiss today.

Library for Automobile Accidents:

• New Hampshire Auto Accident Lawyers - Vermont Car Accident Attorneys | Reader's Digest Report on Teen Driver's   
  Description: We see it every day in the news. A teen driver is seriously injured or killed in a car accident. Every time this happens it is a tragic event. Sometimes the teenage driver did nothing wrong; however, many times the tragedy could have been prevented. A new report by Reader’s Digest analyzes some reasons why so many teenagers are killed in car accidents and what can be done to prevent these tragedies.
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims   
  Description: Being involved in a car accident can be a stressful and devastating event. There are nearly 3 million car accidents resulting in injury each year. Almost 2 million of these injuries can be lifelong injuries. Injuries can result in huge medical costs and missed time at work. Insurance is designed to protect car accident victims who suffer personal injury. Now what happens if you are injured in a car accident and the “at fault” driver doesn’t have insurance or they are underinsured?. If you are injured in a car accident and the negligent driver has no insurance, it may be in your best interest to file an uninsured motorist claim (UM) or an underinsured motorist claim (UIM).
• Cell Phone Use and Car Accidents   
  Description: Distraction may cause a driver to underestimate the road conditions or not focus on how they are driving. We have seen cases where a distracted driver slammed directly into the rear of a parked car. There has been a lot of controversy lately regarding cell phone use and driver safety. Recent studies have shed some light on the whether cell phone usage does increase the risk of being involved in a car accident.
• Airbag Failure and Personal Injury   
  Description: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to examine reports of inadvertent airbag deployment and airbag failure in the Hyundai Elantra from 2001 to 2003. It is estimated that airbags were responsible for more than 250 deaths since 1990. Though airbags were available as early as the beginning of the 1980’s, it wasn’t until 1990 that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began tracking fatalities and injuries associated with airbags.
• Helmet Use, Inexperience and Motorcycle Accidents Resulting in Injury   
  Description: Wearing a helmet can save your life. Statistics show a reduced number of head injuries and fatalities among riders who do wear helmets. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, helmets saved more than 1,658 lives in 2006. In 2006, 4,810 people died in motorcycle accidents. The NHTSA estimates that there could have been as many as 800 fewer fatalities in 2006 if the victims wore helmets
• Steps You Should Take if You Are in a Car Accident   
  Description: Car crashes resulting in fatality or serious injury can put an enormous financial burden on the victim and their family members. Medical expenses and loss of income are two of the most frequent expenses related to car accidents. There are immediate steps car accident victims can take to make the post accident process a little easier
• Study Finds Correlation Between Deaths on Rural Roads and Lax Seatbelt Laws   
  Description: This article discusses a recent study that found a connection between lax seatbelt laws and an increase in car accidents resulting in death.

Frequent Questions for Automobile Accidents:

• I was in an automobile accident and the payout offered by the insurance company seems low. What should I do?
• I was injured in a car accident and it was the other driver's fault.  They didn't have insurance...what can I do?
• I was injured in a car accident and my car sustained very little visual damage.  The other driver was at fault and their insurance company is denying my claim.  They say because there was so little damage to the car, I am lying about my injury...what can I do?

Case Results for Automobile Accidents:

• $875,000 recovered for man injured in automobile/bicycle accident - $875,000
• $750,000 recovered for rear-end auto accident resulting in back surgery - $750,000

Free Consultation

To speak about your case with the lawyers of Van Dorn and Curtiss, complete the form below or call us on our toll free number: 1-866-632-8980

FAQs

Personal Injury

• Am I eligible for a personal injury lawsuit?
• How do the attorneys determine how much my personal injury claim may be worth?
• When I meet with a personal injury attorney for my first consultation, what information should I provide?

Automobile Accidents

• I was in an automobile accident and the payout offered by the insurance company seems low. What should I do?
• I was injured in a car accident and it was the other driver's fault.  They didn't have insurance...what can I do?
• I was injured in a car accident and my car sustained very little visual damage.  The other driver was at fault and their insurance company is denying my claim.  They say because there was so little damage to the car, I am lying about my injury...what can I do?

Wrongful Death

• I recently lost a loved one in an accident.  What are my rights?
• How do I bring a wrongful death claim?
• What is a survival action?

Medical Malpractice

• Is it true that legislators are attempting to limit medical malpractice recovery in New Hampshire?
• What are some specific types of medical malpractice?
• My spouse recently died while being treated at a hospital.  I think the hospital did something wrong, but the hospital won't release the medical records...what can I do?

Premises Liability

• Are hotels responsible for criminal acts that take place on their property?

Dog Bites/Pet Attacks

• My child was bitten by a neighbor's dog and the neighbor refuses to pay the medical bills. What should I do?
• How many people are bitten by dogs each year?

General

• I am represented by a personal injury attorney, but I do not think they are doing a good job.  Can I hire another attorney?
• What is lost earning capacity?
• What is loss of quality of life?

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