Car Accident Injury Lawyer
Are You Looking For A Car Accident Attorney That Will Fight To Get You The Maximum Compensation?
Falling victim to a car accident can be a traumatic experience – especially when you see it coming. You might be seriously injured or worse. Your car might be destroyed. Your family might be severely affected. It is normal to be in shock and disbelief and to be angry with whoever caused your unfortunate situation. The bottom line is that if someone causes your car accident, then you deserve compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. The moment that you get into a car accident, there are some critical steps that you must take to protect your health and your right to a recovery. My Rights Law provides you with this overview on car accidents, including what you can do as the victim to obtain compensation from those who are to blame for it.
My Rights Law – Experienced Car Accident Injury Lawyers
When you hire a skilled injury lawyer from My Rights Law, you could get up to ten times more then the original insurance offer. The motor vehicle accident lawyers at My Rights Law are dedicated to helping people injured by car accidents receive the maximum compensation possible.
If you or someone you love is the victim of a car accident, give us a call now for a free car accident case evaluation. Most cases are on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t charge attorney fees unless we obtain monetary compensation for you and your family. Call us today (888) 702-8882 or leave a message on our contact form and we will get back to you.
- 1. My Rights Law – Experienced Car Accident Injury Lawyers
- 2. California Car Accident Lawyer
- 3. Car Accidents
- 4. Car Insurance Requirements
- 5. Reporting Your Accident
- 6. Determining Who Is At Fault
- 7. Settling Your Case: California Car Accident Lawyer
- 8. Taking The Case To Trial
- 9. When The Insurance Company Tries To Pass The Buck
- 10. Statute Of Limitations
- 11. Calculating Your Damages
- 12. Bringing In An Attorney For Car Accident To Fight On Your Behalf
- 13. Need a Lawyer For A Car Accident?
- 14. Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
- 15. Get the Compensation You Deserve After a Car Accident: Hire a Car Accident Attorney Now
California Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents continue to be a major problem in California, wreaking havoc on the roads and leaving many injured or even killed in the process. Even with the introduction of safety measures such as seat belts, airbags, and speed limits, accidents still remain a major concern in this large and populous state. There are many different factors that can lead to an accident, such as distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, weather-related issues, and more. It all comes down to an understanding of the importance of taking caution and being mindful when you’re out on the roads, as it can make a huge difference in terms of safety.
Car Accidents
When someone causes you to suffer injuries, damages, or losses in a car accident, your state’s laws might allow you to file a personal injury lawsuit against them to receive compensation. Motor vehicle accident lawsuits not only allow you to be compensated for your injuries, but they also enable you to receive compensation for a host of other things that relate to the accident, such as repairing or replacing your vehicle or lost wages from being out of work tending to your wounds. Still, it is important to understand that, unlike other personal injury lawsuits, auto accidents almost always involve an insurance company, so it may be necessary for you to deal with the insurance company to recover anything.
Car Insurance Requirements
Most drivers opt for nothing more than a motor vehicle liability policy. Your state’s laws set minimum motor vehicle liability coverage. If a driver who causes your accident has liability coverage, then this means that their insurance policy will partially or completely cover you for your injuries, damages, and losses.
Reporting Your Accident
Any time that you are involved in an auto accident resulting in your injuries or property damage, most states require that you report the incident to the police. Typically, the police will generate a police report at the scene of the accident. This report is a record of the circumstances of the accident and the injuries or damages that people suffered in connection with that accident. The report also includes important information about the names, addresses, and insurance information of all people who are involved in the accident. Still, not every report will establish who is at fault for the accident, and simply because someone is given a ticket does not mean that you will have a slam-dunk case against them. It is crucial that you cooperate with the police with respect to this report and that you ensure that all of the information that you provide to the police is accurate.
Determining Who Is At Fault
In order for you to receive compensation for the harm that someone causes you in a motor vehicle accident, you must prove that they are at fault. Typically, you must prove that their negligent, reckless, or intentional actions caused your accident. Determining fault may be a fairly straightforward matter in some instances. In other cases, it can be a complex, time-consuming process.
For example, a collision might not just involve your car and another person’s car. It could be your car and several other cars. Alternatively, you could be a passenger in a vehicle that is struck by another vehicle, in which case your driver and the other driver might both be legally responsible for causing your accident. In fact, the government could even be at fault depending on the conditions of the roadways at the time of your accident. Although rare, some accidents are not caused by the bad actions of a driver – defective vehicle parts could be the culprit.
Oftentimes, when you hire an experienced personal injury attorney to represent you in a lawsuit, they’ll bring in an investigator to thoroughly analyze the evidence, including the circumstances of the incident. One way or another, your attorney should be ready to sue every person who might be responsible for your accident so that you can get paid.
In situations where you and others are at fault for your accident, some states use a comparative negligence system to determine what reduction in compensation you should receive for contributing to the accident. Basically, comparative negligence is where the judge allocates fault to each person, including yourself, and the amount that you are at fault reduces your compensation. Suppose that there is a motor vehicle collision where the driver who hit you is determined by a judge to be 70 percent at fault, and you are determined by that judge to be 30 percent at fault. Under a comparative negligence approach, if you sustain $100,000 in damages, then the other driver would only be responsible for $70,000 of the total damages.
Also, some states restrict who can recover damages in an auto accident. Some states’ restrictions can prohibit your recovery of non-economic damages if, at the time of the incident, you did not have insurance or were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Settling Your Case: California Car Accident Lawyer
When you file a lawsuit against a person who you believe has caused your injuries, your case does not automatically end up at trial. Rather, most of the time, your attorney will negotiate with the seemingly at-fault person’s attorney for a resolution. This could be an attorney who is hired by the person’s insurance company to handle your case. The idea of a settlement is for the seemingly at-fault person to compensate you without admitting liability. If you accept this deal, then you eliminate the risk that you will lose your case at trial – and you come away with something of value in the process.
Unfortunately, it could take a while for you and the at-fault person’s insurance company to come to an agreement regarding compensation for your injuries and damages. It is not uncommon for you and them to disagree on how much you should be paid for your losses. For example, if you have suffered physical injuries, then you and the insurance company may not agree on the extent of those injuries. In some instances, they may claim that your injuries were not caused by the seemingly at-fault driver but were instead preexisting conditions or injuries that someone else caused.
Similarly, if you are seeking compensation for something that is not easily verifiable (e.g., pain and suffering damages), then there may be a delay in settling your case as these numbers get hashed out. While this process can be frustrating, it is often necessary. Even when the fault is not in dispute, the basis of a lawsuit could revolve entirely around the extent of your injuries and the financial fallout relating to them.
Most car accident cases result in settlements before trial. Some don’t. The ultimate decision to settle your case is up to you, but your attorney should be right by your side for guidance. It is important to note that once a settlement is reached, you typically release the at-fault person from liability which means that you may not be able to ask for more compensation at a later point if complications to your injuries arise. Critically, when agreeing to a settlement, you should feel confident that the terms and conditions of that settlement are reasonable to you. Don’t accept anything less.
Finally, keep in mind that while you might be interested in settling your case, the insurance company might not want to budge on liability – they might not want to pay up. In this situation, a settlement might be off the table, leaving you with no other option to recover other than to take your case to trial.
Taking The Case To Trial
In an ideal situation, when you are the victim of an auto accident, the at-fault person will quickly compensate you for your injuries so that you can move on with your life without having to sue. Unfortunately, that is not how most situations get resolved. If your case doesn’t settle but instead heads to trial, then your attorney will present your case to a judge or jury. They will explain that the defendant is responsible for causing your injuries and will convey how you have been affected by this (e.g., permanent physical damage, property damage, vehicle repairs). The defendant’s attorney will also have an opportunity to argue their side. These cases often involve investigators, eyewitnesses, expert witnesses (e.g., doctors), and others who testify under oath regarding the incident or the extent of your harm.
If your attorney can prove that the defendant more likely than not caused your injuries, then a judge or jury could find them liable and order them to compensate you. As the victim, you pick whether to go with a jury trial or whether you want your case to be tried before the judge alone. If the judge or jury does not side with you, then you might lose your case and recover nothing. This is why it is so important to have a dedicated car accident lawyer in your corner.
When The Insurance Company Tries To Pass The Buck
Although a driver is generally required to have some form of insurance in order to drive their car in the state, not all drivers have it – and that poses a big problem. Many drivers lack insurance or are underinsured. What this means is that their insurance coverage might not cover the total cost of all of your injuries. Alternatively, the at-fault driver may have adequate insurance coverage; however, their insurance company might be unwilling to pay you, arguing that the driver should bear that responsibility. In those situations, it may be necessary for your attorney to put the gloves on and fight with the insurance company to pin them down. It may be necessary to go after the at-fault driver for any damages that extend beyond the limits of their policy.
Statute Of Limitations
Most states give you a short period from the date of your accident to file your lawsuit. If you file a lawsuit after the two-year limitation period, then your case might be dismissed (rejected). However, in some situations, you might not immediately be aware of the injuries or other harm that you have suffered as a result of the accident. Some injuries may take time to develop, or they may initially be misdiagnosed. If this happens, once you become aware of your injuries, you will have up to one year to sue.
Calculating Your Damages
Auto accidents can be traumatic events that have far-reaching effects that go beyond physical injuries. These effects can last for years or even a lifetime. As the victim, you deserve to be paid for this. An important part of any auto accident lawsuit is the amount of compensation that you should receive as the victim. Compensatory damages can include vehicle repair or replacement costs, medical expenses, property loss, physical and emotional suffering, and more.
Specifically, economic damages = property loss, medical bills, lost wages, and more. These damages can be easy to calculate because they are objectively verifiable. Non-economic damages consist of things like pain and suffering (e.g., anxiety, depression), disfigurement, and the loss of companionship (e.g., you are not able to get intimate or affectionate with your spouse because you are paralyzed). Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate because they are not as easily verifiable. Most often, these damages are determined by looking at a number of different factors, including the severity of your injury, the likelihood of your recovery, and the duration of your treatment. The evidence makes all the difference. For instance, you stand a better chance to get damages for pain and suffering when you have been diagnosed and treated for your injuries or illnesses. The more injured you are, the more compensation you should expect.
Bringing In An Attorney For Car Accident To Fight On Your Behalf
Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit is not a decision that you should take lightly. If you have suffered injuries, damages, or losses due to someone’s negligence, then you will want a dedicated personal injury attorney in your corner to help ensure that you get paid and that you get justice from the wrongdoer. The knowledgeable attorneys at My Rights Law focus on protecting victims’ rights in personal injury cases. Our attorneys are ready to go to bat for you. If you are injured in a car accident, then call (888) 702-8882 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Need a Lawyer For A Car Accident?
The first step for anyone involved in a car accident is to seek medical treatment. Many common injuries from traffic accidents include whiplash, broken bones, internal bleeding, organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries, and other severe injuries. Some of the most common accident types include rear-end collisions, rollover accidents, side-impact collisions, and fatal accidents. When determining who is the at-fault party in a car accident, experienced lawyers can assist in identifying the liable party and ensuring that the victim receives financial compensation for any damages. This can include medical care, emotional trauma, emotional distress, and wrongful death claims.
Insurance adjusters are often involved in the claims process when a car accident occurs. Cell phones and other distractions can be a key factor in determining fault in these cases. Distracted drivers who are not paying attention to the accident scene can be held liable for any injuries or damages that are caused. Drunk drivers or negligent drivers who fail to follow the rules of the road can also be held liable for any accident related expenses.
If a family member has suffered a wrongful death due to a fatal accident, a wrongful death claim can be filed to receive compensation for any emotional distress or trauma. Experienced lawyers can provide guidance throughout the personal injury claim process, ensuring that victims receive the financial compensation that they deserve due to the negligent actions of the liable party.
Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
When you’ve been involved in a car accident, it can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming to figure out what your next steps need to be. Filing a claim or resolving a legal dispute comes with a long list of potential risks, delays and other issues. That’s why hiring a qualified car accident attorney is essential in helping you navigate the often complex situation. An experienced car accident attorney will handle all the paperwork and provide guidance throughout the process. They can help negotiate with insurance companies, build strong cases that hold up in court, and ensure you get the best financial outcome possible. Don’t try to go through this process alone – make sure you have the right expert on your side.
Get the Compensation You Deserve After a Car Accident: Hire a Car Accident Attorney Now
Car accidents often result in serious physical and emotional injuries that can haunt you for the rest of your life. If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident, you need to take action right away. Hiring a qualified car accident attorney is the best way to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve and that justice is served.
The experienced attorneys at My Rights Law have helped countless clients navigate the complex process of filing a claim after an auto accident. Our team will help you understand your rights and ensure that they are fiercely defended throughout every stage of negotiation and litigation. By working with an expert from our firm, you can rest assured knowing that your case will be handled with the attention and care it deserves. Don’t wait; when it comes to auto accidents, time is of the essence. Get the compensation you deserve by hiring a car accident attorney today.