After a car accident, one is likely to be very stressed and understandably so. On top of your injury, you will be hounded by medical bills & expenses, physical & emotional pain and suffering, lost wages, and damage to your car. It can be overwhelming to handle all this on your own that’s why you need to speak to an experienced La Quinta car accident lawyer.
Our personal injury attorneys at Crockett Law Group are ready to answer all the questions you may have about your car accident claim. We are highly experienced and boast an outstanding success rate. Our lawyers will strive to get you the best possible compensation for you whether we are fighting in court or negotiating a settlement with the insurance companies.
If you were recently injured in a La Quinta, California car accident, Crockett Law can help you begin your path to financial recovery. Call (800) 900-9393 to schedule a case evaluation free of charge and with no obligation.
Car Accident Statistics In California
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that 1,205 car occupants in California were killed in traffic collisions in 2019. According to the California Office Of Traffic Safety, there were 3,884 and 3,563 traffic fatalities in the state of California in 2017 and 2018 respectively. In Riverside County, there were 95 passenger car occupant fatalities in 2015, 100 in 2016, 117 in 2017, 131 in 2018, and 105 in 2019. This is according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
How Much Does a La Quinta Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a car accident attorney should not cause any worry because we are paid contingency fees like other personal injury lawyers. This means that we get paid a portion of any compensation we manage to win. If we don’t win the case, we don’t charge any fees.
What Should I Do After a California Auto Accident?
Here are the steps you should take if you’re involved in a car crash:
Contact Police
Calling the police after a car crash is vital. They will record details about the crash and file an official accident report.
Check on Other Involved Parties
Check on the other people involved to see if they need your help. Someone might be badly injured and in need of urgent medical care.
Exchange Information
In California, people involved in an accident are required by law to stop and swap information. Exchanging information also helps the victim to file a claim against the correct party. Make sure you get:
- The names of the other drivers;
- License plate numbers;
- Insurance company and policy information;
- The other vehicle’s vehicle identification numbers (VIN);
- The addresses and contact numbers of the other drivers involved in the accident.
Remember to obtain contact information from witnesses because sometimes the drivers’ accounts may have significant differences.
Record the Scene
Take photographs of the scene and the accident’s aftermath. Make sure you capture the following details:
- Any visible injuries;
- Your vehicle;
- The other vehicle(s) involved;
- Damage to other property;
- Any roadway hazards that may have contributed to your accident;
- Skid marks; and
- The roadway’s general layout.
Also note any relevant details like the weather conditions, traffic conditions, whether there were any traffic signals in the area, and the road conditions.
Never Admit Fault
An admission of fault will hurt your chances of getting compensation badly. So, never apologize or admit fault. However, be courteous and polite always. Don’t speak about the accident to anyone except your attorney.
Seek Medical Attention
Having no apparent injuries doesn’t mean a visit to the doctor isn’t important. Get examined by a physician and obtain important medical records.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer
Crockett Law Group can help you with paperwork, claims process, settlement negotiations, and representation as you recuperate. Call us today!
What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
Every auto accident happens under unique circumstances. Because of this, the settlements awarded to car accident victims vary significantly. There is no average settlement for California car accidents because one cannot estimate a claim’s value without assessing the facts surrounding the accident.
When Should I Get a Lawyer for my Auto Accident?
In a California car accident, call a lawyer as soon as possible. Although you must prioritize your health first, getting an attorney sooner than later can help you build a stronger case.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
Car accident lawyers advocate for the victims. They deal with the insurance carrier, the court system and inform their clients of their case’s developments.
Case Preparation / Filing a Lawsuit
You will have a dedicated attorney that will investigate your claims to gather the evidence needed when preparing your case. The lawyer will have a team of experts in different specialties when compiling the necessary documents to file the lawsuit, having in mind the applicable statutes of limitations that must be observed. You also will have a team of professionals that will face the insurance companies to ensure they do not scare or dupe you with legal technicalities.
Once a lawyer is done with investigations and has liability determined, he/she will issue the involved parties a demand letter before bringing a civil lawsuit in a California court.
Settlement Negotiation
The insurance company has a team of insurance adjusters and lawyers ready to deal with injury claims. Talking to the other driver’s insurance carrier without an attorney can hurt your chances of getting compensation. Insurers often employ underhand tactics to try and lowball the claimant or avoid paying compensation altogether. A lawyer will handle insurance companies and let you know your options to maximize your compensation.
Trial Preparation & Representation
If settlement negotiations fall through, the next step is to prepare for trial by gathering evidence that supports your claim. An attorney will handle all the paperwork involved and deal with defense attorneys. Representing clients in court is an essential role of a car crash lawyer.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
Several factors go into deciding the amount of compensation a victim can receive. When deciding how much damages to award a victim, a judge will take into account factors like:
- The permanency of the injuries
- The severity of the wreck
- The nature of the injuries
- The length of the therapy or rehabilitation
- Medical bills and other costs of treatment
- Loss of income
- Emotional pain and suffering
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Like in most personal injury cases, car accident victims in California can recover economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
They seek to compensate the plaintiff for all expenses incurred as a result of the crash, including:
- Prescription medications
- Medical treatment
- Medical or assistive devices (wheelchair, walking cane, etc.)
- Rehabilitation or therapy
- Property/vehicle repair or replacement
- Lost income or future earnings
Non-Economic Damages
The dollar value of non-economic damages isn’t specific. These types of damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life or activities
- Limb loss or disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages
California courts may also award the plaintiff punitive damages. These damages don’t actually compensate the plaintiff. Instead, they are meant to punish the defendant for negligence and intentional harm and deter others from doing the same in the future.
How Is Fault Determined?
California is an at-fault state meaning it adheres to the at-fault insurance system to determine fault. According to this law, the at-fault party will have to pay for the plaintiff’s compensation claims.
California also uses the pure comparative negligence rule. This rule states that the injured party can collect compensation even if they share some of the blame for the accident. However, they can only collect compensation proportionate to their degree of fault. For example, if the plaintiff is 30% at fault, they may only recover 70% compensation.
What Is California’s Statute Of Limitations For Car Accident Claims?
The statute of limitations in California car accident lawsuits is two years from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, you no longer have a legal claim meaning you can no longer pursue damages.
How Can A La Quinta Car Accident Lawyer Help Me File My Insurance Claim?
This is how a Crockett Law attorney can help during the claims process:
• Report the claim: An attorney from Crockett Law could help you report your claim to your insurer or with the negligent party’s insurance company if he/she was at fault.
• Investigate and gather information: An attorney will build up your case by investigating your claim and collecting vital information to be used as evidence. This information will be availed to insurance adjusters to determine the value of your claim.
• Appeal a denied claim: Finally, an attorney can appeal a denied claim.
What Can I Do If Insurance Denied My Claim?
There are numerous reasons why insurance carriers deny car accident claims. If insurance denied your claim, it’s not the end of the road. Our firm can help you appeal the decision. We will draft a demand letter proving your damages. If the insurer still denies your claim, we will file a lawsuit.
What Happens When The Other Driver Is Not Insured?
In California, insurance laws dictate that all insurance carriers should provide uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to drivers. If you get into a car crash with an uninsured and underinsured motorist, your insurance company should compensate you for the damages caused by the underinsured or uninsured driver, up to the liability limit.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report In California
In California, parties of interest (a driver, property owner, vehicle owner, parent of a minor, passenger, or an accident victim’s legal guardian) can request a copy of an accident report from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) through mail or by visiting any CHP office and paying a small fee.
Common Car Accident Injuries
In the U.S, car accidents are the most common causes of personal injuries. Some of the most prevalent car accident injuries include:
Brain Injuries – Car accidents in the U.S are responsible for about 17.3 percent of all traumatic brain injuries. Brain injuries occur when the skull experiences rapid movement causing the brain to impact the skull’s hard surface.
Spinal Cord Injuries – In a vehicular collision, the victim’s head may be thrown forward, backward, or to the side, inflicting severe strain on the ligaments and muscles of the upper back and neck. In some cases, the soft tissues of the lower and upper back may be damaged, and in even more severe cases, it can lead to disc herniation.
Broken Bones – Most car accidents cause broken bones, particularly to the upper and lower limbs. Sprains, spurs, and minor breaks are also common in car crashes.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
We deal with different types of car accidents here at Crockett Law, including:
Distracted driving: Many drivers are distracted by their smartphones and often get into accidents because of using their phones while driving. Other common dangerous distractions include personal grooming, eating or drinking, looking after children in the back seat, and more.
Drunk Driving: We also help victims of drunk driving accidents pursue compensation. We can help you sue a drunk or intoxicated driver for damages.
Hit & Run Accidents: We deal with hit-and-run accidents. A hit and run accident occurs when a driver is involved in a collision and decides to flee the scene without providing contact information. You can be ticketed or even charged criminally.
Get a Free Case Review
After getting into an auto accident, your priority should be to focus on recuperating peacefully, not fighting for compensation. The highly skilled La Quinta car accident lawyers at the Crockett Law Group are committed to protecting the rights of our clients. We work tirelessly to see that all our clients get the best representation and recover full and fair damages for their losses.
We have managed to recover lots of money for our clients, and we are ready to help you too! For a free, no-obligation case review, call our office today at (800) 900-9393.
