Getting into a serious car crash can potentially change the life of a person in an instant. The collision will happen in milliseconds, but the aftermath may leave the victim with life-altering or severe injuries. For some injuries, it will take months or years to recover completely. In some of the worst-case scenarios, the accidents may lead to permanent injuries or fatalities.
Regardless of the nature of the accident, it could take a financial toll on you and your family. If a loved one is injured in an accident that was caused by the negligence of another person, you should not be the one to bear the financial burden of the damages incurred.
Get in touch with a Crockett Morongo Valley car accident lawyer today. Our injury attorneys in the Morongo Valley are always ready to help our clients pursue the justice and compensation they deserve after an accident.
What Should I Do After an Injury?
Car accidents are often unexpected, and in the aftermath, emotions could be running high. However, the steps you take during this stage will be essential not only to your health, but also your claim. The following are the right steps to follow after an accident:
Get Medical Treatment If Needed and keep records of all treatment.
Get to a doctor immediately after the accident, otherwise, you risk worsening the injuries. Don’t forget to keep the records of all treatment, including the ambulance, ER, prescriptions, etc.
Take Photos/Video If You Can
Document the scene of the accident by taking good pictures/videos of the vehicles at rest, skid marks, weather conditions, injuries sustained, relevant traffic, road signs, and any other relevant conditions.
Get names and numbers of any witnesses
Include the names, phone numbers, addresses, license numbers and license plate information, insurance information, etc. In case there were witnesses, get their information too.
Report the Incident
Even if there isn’t any serious damage or injuries, it’s wise to contact the police. This is because the police will file a report, which will be essential when making a claim.
Never Admit Fault
Don’t make any statements to insinuate who is responsible for the accident. Avoid making apologetic statements or taking the blame, as this could limit your ability to get a fair compensation from the insurance companies.
Call a Morongo Valley Car Accident Lawyer!
A Morongo Valley car accident lawyer will work to ensure that your rights are well protected, and will collect the relevant evidence before it is destroyed. They will also provide you with advice and guidance throughout the process of pursuing justice and compensation for your injuries.
Why Do I Need a Morongo Valley Car Accident Lawyer?
Case preparation
When you hire a Morongo Valley car accident lawyer, they will be responsible for conducting a thorough investigation into your case. They will evaluate the available evidence and prepare a concrete case for you. Your lawyer will also make sure that there are no surprises during the case from the defendant’s side.
Settlement Negotiations
Your Morongo Valley car accident lawyer will also conduct settlement negotiations with the defendant’s insurance companies on your behalf. At Crockett Law Group, our Morongo Valley car accident lawyers are well versed with these negotiations, and you can rely on us to get a favorable outcome.
Trial Preparation
Your attorney will also provide the necessary guidance and advice about your available legal options, especially if the defendant is uncooperative or unwilling to reach a reasonable settlement amount. Our Morongo Valley car accident lawyers are always ready to go to court, represent you in trial, and fight to get a favorable outcome.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Economic Damages
These include all of the out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred during the accident. They include things like emergency room and ambulance costs, treatment and medication costs, and any other medical expenses. They also account for any property damage in the accident, and the lost income from time spent away from work.
Non-Economic Damages
These are hard to calculate damages, meant to provide compensation for things like pain suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, and any form of temporary or permanent disfigurement or disability suffered in the accident.
Punitive Damages
These are meant to serve as an additional punishment to the defendant for engaging in seriously negligent or malicious acts. They are also meant to serve as a deterrent to the defendant and members of the public from engaging in similar acts.
How is Liability Determined?
To prove liability in car accident cases, you need to prove the following, beyond a reasonable doubt:
Duty of Care
You need to show that the defendant had a duty of care towards you, the plaintiff. Keep in mind that when using the road, all motorists have a duty of care to all other road users. In a car accident, the faulty party should have had a duty of care towards you.
Breach of the Duty of Care
You also need to demonstrate how the defendant breached their duty of care towards you in their behavior. In case the accident was as a result of negligence on the defendant’s part, then this would be termed as a breach of duty of care.
Causation
The breach of duty of care must have been the direct cause of injury or damages. For instance, if the defendant was driving while intoxicated, you will need to prove that the reason you were injured in the accident was because of negligence on the defendant’s part.
Damages
You also need to demonstrate that the accident caused you actual losses or damages. Keep in mind that settlement or compensation amounts are meant to make the plaintiff “whole” again by restoring them to the financial condition they were in before the accident.
How Long do I Have to File a Claim in California?
The statute of limitations in California for car accidents and other personal injury cases is two years from the time of the accident. This means that you have a two-year deadline for filing a claim after an accident to seek compensation.
How Much Will a Morongo Valley Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
At Crockett Law Group in Morongo Valley, California, we represent all car accident victims on a contingency fee basis. This means that you don’t have to pay us anything upfront when seeking the services of a professional Morongo Valley car accident lawyer.
You will only have to pay up a percentage of the settlement amount to us when we recover it on your behalf. In case we are unable to fetch compensation for you, we don’t get paid.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
Every car accident case is unique as there will always be some specific set of circumstances surrounding every case. To determine how much you can receive for your damages, the cause of the accident and the resulting injuries and damages will be taken into account. Speak to an experienced Morongo Valley car accident lawyer today to learn more about how much you can expect to receive in damages for your case.
Do I Have a Case?
It’s normal to wonder if you have a case when dealing with auto accident cases. Your best bet to establish the fact is to consult an experienced Morongo Valley car accident lawyer, who will help you determine whether you do have a case. One thing to note is that the more time you take before contacting a lawyer, the more difficult it becomes to collect the necessary evidence and build a strong case.
What Can I Do If Insurance Denies My Claim?
If your insurance company denied your claims or terminated your benefits, you have three options:
- Appeal the decision
- Negotiate a settlement
- File a lawsuit
The ideal option will mainly depend on the reason why your claim was denied or why your benefits were terminated. Your Morongo Valley car accident lawyer will help you make the right decision here.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report?
In California, you can contact the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and request a copy of the accident report, provided you are what’s referred to as a “party of interest” in the case. You can do this by going to the CHP office near you and paying a small fee for the same, or request for a copy via email. In some cases, you could have your insurance company acquire a copy of your accident report and ask them for a copy of the same.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Some of the common car accident injuries we encounter include:
- Brain Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Head Injuries
- Internal Injuries
- Facial Disfigurement
- Leg & Knee Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Death
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
Driving Under the Influence Accidents (DUI and DWI cases)
- Distracted Driving
- Head-on Collisions
- Hit and Run Accidents
- Rear-End Accidents
- Reckless Driving
- Rideshare Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- Speeding Accidents
- Uninsured Motorist
Contact a Morongo Valley Car Accident Lawyer Today!
When you contact Crockett Law Group to handle your car accident case, you can rest assured that our team of Morongo Valley car accident lawyers will handle your case with the care and diligence it deserves. Unlike most other firms, we only handle a few cases at a go to ensure that we can give each case our all.
So, if you or a loved one was injured in a car accident that wasn’t their fault, call us today via (800) 900-9393 to discuss your case with our Morongo Valley car accident lawyers. We offer all our clients free initial consultations without any obligations.
