Getting into a car accident in Los Angeles can be a scary experience, especially if you or someone you care about has been injured. For several days after the car accident, people still experience being in the shock. You should not have to go through this alone. If someone else’s careless or negligent actions caused the crash, most people assume that the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier will cover all of the expenses. However, even if you were not at fault for a crash, you may still need help from a skilled and compassionate Los Angeles car accident attorney
An average one person is killed in Los Angeles traffic accidents every 40 hours
When do you need to hire a car accident lawyer?
First, the truth about insurance companies
Every driver must have the minimum insurance required by the state in order to be legal on the roadway. Unfortunately for car accident victims, that does not mean that your insurance carrier or the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier will be ready to simply hand you money after a crash.
Insurance carriers are “for-profit” companies. Regardless of how nice they seem on the phone or in person, their goal is to ensure they pay as little as possible in any settlement paid out to you. They could even actively work to show you somehow caused the crash in order to pay a lower settlement. This could really jeopardize your ability to make ends meet after a crash.
So What will a car accident attorney do for your case?
A skilled car accident attorney will be an invaluable advocate on your behalf, someone to stand by your side through this tough time. If you have been injured, your focus needs to be on recovering and being with your family. Your attorney will handle every aspect of your personal injury claim.
2.Your lawyer will ensure you are seen by a trusted medical professional
The number one concern following a car accident is your well-being, and your lawyer knows that. If you have been injured, your car accident lawyer will ensure you receive treatment for all of your injuries. They will also ensure that a trusted medical professional fully evaluates the extent of your injuries and that you have a medical expert willing to testify on your behalf.
A lawyer can help gather evidence
Your Los Angeles car accident lawyer will have the resources and experience needed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. This will include gathering all evidence related to the crash:
- Police reports
- Eyewitness statements
- Any photos taken at the scene
- Video surveillance from nearby homes or businesses
Your lawyer will ensure you are seen by a trusted medical professional
The number one concern following a car accident is your well-being, and your lawyer knows that. If you have been injured, your car accident lawyer will ensure you receive treatment for all of your injuries. They will also ensure that a trusted medical professional fully evaluates the extent of your injuries and that you have a medical expert willing to testify on your behalf.
Your attorney will handle all communication
Every statement you make to other parties involved, including the insurance carriers and any legal teams, could be recorded and used against you. Therefore, your attorney will be responsible for handling all communication with other parties as they work to negotiate a settlement that covers all of your crash-related expenses.
If the other party fails to offer a fair settlement, your attorney will prepare the case for a personal injury lawsuit.
Injury expenses can be tremendous
Data from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), shows that there were more than 273,000 people injured and 3,602 people killed in car accidents through the state’s latest reporting year. According to the Los Angeles Times, traffic fatalities have risen by 32% from 2015 to 2019. In that time, 932 people have died on LA streets in traffic crashes.
Car accidents injuries range from minor to severe. However, even minor injuries can lead to thousands of dollars in medical bills that most people have trouble paying. A precautionary X-ray and MRI can lead over $4,000 in medical bills. A trip to the hospital in an ambulance can be over $1,000.
Now, consider the following serious injuries that car accident victims sustain on a regular basis:
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severe lacerations or amputations
- Disfiguring injuries
Each of these injuries requires extensive medical care and costs could reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, there are also many “hidden costs” associated with these cases:
- Long-term care for disabling injuries
- The costs for home and vehicle modifications
- General household expenses
- Tremendous pain and suffering damages
As a car accident victim, you should not have to worry about how to pay these bills.
How much will your car accident case be worth?
Each car accident case is different, and the amount of money you receive in a settlement will vary depending on several factors.
This can include how severe your injuries are, whether or not you can work while recovering, whether you are disabled because of the injury, and more. Your lawyer will always work for maximum compensation for all accident-related expenses.
How much does a car accident lawyer cost?
A good attorney will not want you to worry about legal fees after an accident. In many cases, you will find that Los Angeles car accident lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will face no upfront or out-of-pocket costs related to the case. Your attorney will only collect legal fees after they successfully recover the compensation you need through a settlement or verdict.
What if you were partially to blame for the car accident?
What if you were partially to blame for the car accident?Even if you were partially to blame for the incident, you can still recover compensation. Most states operate under a “comparative negligence” system. For example, if a plaintiff (the injured party) is awarded $100,000 in damages following an accident but was found to be 10% at-fault for the incident, they will ultimately only receive $90,000 in total damages.
Comparative negligence laws highlight the importance of having a skilled attorney by your side to ensure the other parties involved do not try to put more of the blame on you for the crash in order to reduce their settlement amount.
What You Can Do Now?
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident caused by somebody else’s careless or negligent actions, contact a Los Angeles car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Even if you were not at-fault for the incident, you could still lose out on the full compensation you are entitled to. There is no harm in talking to a skilled car accident attorney about your case for a free initial consultation.
Your financial future should not be put into jeopardy because of the actions of someone else.
