PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

CALIFORNIA PERSONAL INJURY & AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT CLAIMS

Car collisions occur on a daily basis. No one expects they will be involved in a crash, but it’s quite likely to occur to everyone at least once in their life. Knowing what to expect and what to do after can help take away some amount of the stress, though the trauma that goes along with something like a car collision is difficult to anticipate. Seeking the advice of an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer can make all the difference.

REPORTING THE COLLISION

After any kind of car collision, drivers in the state of California are obligated to report it to the appropriate groups. Different circumstances require different reporting, such as how much damage was done and whether anyone was injured. Under California Vehicle Code section 20008, drivers (or their representative, such as an attorney) must make a written report of any car collision if any individual is injured. This includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, etc. This report must be sent within 24 hours of the event and can be given to the California Highway Patrol or the local police department in the city where the crash occurred. If the agency that receives the report is not the proper destination, they will forward it to the correct investigating authority.

If a police officer comes to the scene and creates a written report, this is sufficient. They are creating a report on your behalf and will share it with the investigating organization. You will not need to make your own separate report. Because every situation is different, consider hiring a skilled Sacramento car accident lawyer who can evaluate your case and determine the best course of action to take.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

A statute of limitations is the amount of time after an incident that it is possible to bring about legal action with the assistance of a Sacramento personal injury lawyer against an individual or entity for offenses relating to that incident. These deadlines depend on what legal action is being taken, what entity it is being taken against, and the exact harm suffered.

COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE

The state of California follows a legal idea called comparative negligence. This means that different individuals involved in an accident can be varying levels of liable for the damage and injuries. That is to say if two cars get into an accident, one driver may be found 70% responsible because he or she drifted into another lane, but the other driver may be 30% responsible because he or she was speeding at the time of the collision. This affects the amount of compensation any party receives. The 30% responsible party would receive 30% less the total reparations because of his or her contribution to the collision. Obviously this makes it quite important to be considered the least blameful and one of the major reasons individuals hire a skilled Sacramento personal injury lawyer.

COMPENSATION

Unfortunately, some car collisions can result in serious damage to your vehicle and serious injuries to you and your loved ones. If you believe the other driver is at fault, it may be in your best interest to take legal action against this person. While the insurance company may provide some compensation, it is almost never enough. Insurance companies are for-profit entities that aim to provide the least amount of money they can get away with. For this reason, it can be very helpful to hire a Sacramento personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to help you through the process with the insurance company and with taking action against the liable party if necessary. Some compensation you may be able to recover include:

• Medical bills – If your injuries can be shown to be the responsibility of the other party, it’s only fair for them to contribute to the financial cost. For this reason, it’s imperative to document all injuries and their treatment with photos, bills, and doctor’s notes. It’s important to demonstrate you aren’t exaggerating your injuries in order to get more money.
• Future medical bills – There’s only a limited time to seek legal damages against another party for injuries after a car accident, but the injuries themselves may take much longer to recover from. Being able to accurately estimate the future costs of medications, surgeries, physical therapies, and other treatments is difficult, but important to keep in mind. Some injuries may be life-long and quite costly.
• Loss of wages – When you are recovering from an injury, there is likely to be a period of time during which you can’t work. It’s not your fault you aren’t able to go to work, so you should be compensated by the responsible party and a highly experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
• Loss of future wages – Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, you may not be able to keep your job. For example, if your job required some heavy lifting, but you sustained a shoulder injury that will affect your capabilities for the foreseeable future, you may not be able to stay in that job. This is a downstream effect of the liable person’s behavior that resulted in the collision, therefore they are responsible for your lost earning capabilities.
• Property damage
• Loss of companionship – If you lost a loved one due to the behavior of a reckless driver, you may be able to seek financial compensation for this loss.

SPEAK TO A SACRAMENTO INJURY LAWYER ABOUT YOUR CASE

With extensive experience handling all types of personal injury cases, you can trust the attorneys at The Choyce Law Firm to fight aggressively for your legal needs. Give us a call to learn more about your choices about automobile accident claims at (916) 905-5161. A Sacramento accident attorney is waiting to help you!