Orange County Car Accident Lawyers
Met with an accident and looking for Orange County Car Accident Lawyers – When we get in a car or a motorcycle, we expect other drivers to respect the laws and drive with consideration for other people sharing the road.
Unfortunately, Orange County is filled with drunk, reckless, speeding, and distracted drivers, many of whom do not have valid driver’s licenses or are uninsured or underinsured.
This article contains important information if you have damages after a serious car accident in Orange County.
Auto Accident Attorney Orange County
Five Things You Should Do After an Car Accident
- types of car accidents
- Common Car Accident Injuries
- What mistakes should be avoided while talking to insurance companies
- How Car Accident Photos Can Help Your Personal Injury Case
- Using witness statements to build a strong personal injury case
- How your document can help your attorney build a strong case on your behalf
- Types of Compensation Awarded in Car Accident Cases
5 things you should do after a car accident
If you were involved in a serious auto accident, there are five things you need to know. Making sure that these five areas are addressed promptly will ensure that your legal rights are protected and that you may be able to receive the compensation you are owed.
Get contact information. Always ask the other driver for contact information and insurance card information. Additionally, if any witnesses or other cars are involved in the accident, be sure to get their contact information.
Although the police officer at the scene of the accident should collect all of this information, if you can obtain this contact information yourself, you will be able to provide it immediately to your attorney at Easton & Easton, LLP so that we can assist our Can start working on the case.
Seek immediate medical attention. Your health is paramount after a car accident. Even if you think your injuries are minor, they could be more serious than you realize.
Accident victims usually have a surge of adrenaline which prevents the true extent of pain and injuries from being fully felt.
Seeking immediate medical attention allows a doctor or qualified medical professional to thoroughly examine you and ensure that your medical injuries are treated appropriately.
Additionally, seeking medical treatment may allow you to claim compensation in respect of your injuries at a later date.
Contact your insurance company only after meeting with an attorney. Never speak to an insurance company or make any written or recorded statements to an insurance company without first speaking with Easton & Easton, LLP, to ensure that your legal rights are protected.
Insurance companies often use underhand tactics to attempt to settle for much less than a victim is entitled to.
In some cases, insurance companies will attempt to obtain a complete history of all medical records to that they are not entitled. See below for specifics on handling negotiations with the insurance company.
Create a Documentation folder. Keep all documents containing contact information for all parties to the accident, your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, vehicle repairs, and other accident-related information in a folder so that important information doesn’t get lost or misplaced.
Happened. Creating a folder helps ensure that all important documents related to your accident are easily accessible by you and your attorney.
Contact Easton & Easton. We can ensure that your legal rights are protected and assist you in building a strong personal injury case related to your car accident.
Call the experienced attorneys at Easton & Easton, LLP, as soon as possible so we can advise you on what to do next.
Types of car accidents
Car accidents can result from simple acts of negligence such as following too closely and rear-end accidents, drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, or failure to obey traffic laws.
In other cases, defects created from complex automotive design flaws can cause a vehicle to roll over when it should not or roof over to crush and injure passengers. The most dangerous types of car accidents include the following:
Rear-end Accidents: Rear-end accidents are extremely common. However, they can cause serious damage to the spine, head, and neck. Often, even relatively minor “fender-benders” can result in serious injury.
Head-on Collisions: These catastrophic accidents involve two vehicles traveling directly toward each other at high speed. These accidents account for 10% of all car accident deaths.
Rollover accidents: Rollover accidents are also very serious. Some vehicles, such as SUVs and top-heavy trucks, are more prone to rollovers than others.
Side-impact collision – 20% of car accident deaths result from a side-impact collision (T-bone). These accidents can happen anywhere, including highways, minor roads, intersections, and parking lots.
Off-road crashes – More than 30% of the deaths in car accidents are related to off-road crashes. These are accidents in which a car leaves the road and hits an object, usually a tree or telephone pole. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Common Auto Accident Injuries
While every car accident is different, serious car accidents often result in devastating damage and injuries to victims. Some of the most common types of injuries sustained in serious car accidents can include the following:
- broken or fractured bones
- traumatic brain injuries (ranging from minor to life-threatening)
- Sprain
- aortic dissection (aorta rupturing from the heart)
- scars and disfigurement
- spinal cord injury (resulting in temporary or permanent paralysis)
- amputations
- nerve damage
- internal bleeding or internal organ damage
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- death
In many serious car accidents, victims suffer what is known as polytrauma. Polytrauma is a combination of multiple injuries.
Polytrauma victims may have serious medical problems and conditions throughout their lives or die due to their injuries. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Why do I need a lawyer after a car accident?
It is not uncommon for drivers in Orange County, California, to have accidents, even with light fender benders, and assume that they can easily resolve the situation with the other driver.
Unfortunately, this rarely happens. Most car accidents are more complicated than they first appear. A seemingly minor accident can quickly turn into a complex legal issue.
An experienced Orange County, California, car accident attorney can help the injured driver understand their options after an accident, handle difficult insurance claims, and hold the negligent driver accountable for their actions through a personal injury lawsuit can be held accountable.
Injured drivers should also realize that it is a bad idea to manage the trial without professional legal representation if they need to take their case to court.
Missing a court filing deadline, making a mistake on required paperwork, or failing to provide necessary documents to a court case can cause a judge to dismiss the case before it reaches the trial stage.
Hiring a personal injury attorney is an investment in peace of mind. An injured driver can focus on recovering from their injuries.
At the same time, their attorney builds their injury case, negotiates with insurance companies on their behalf, and ultimately guides them toward a higher recovery amount. which they could manage alone.
The attorneys at Easton & Easton, LLP know how to explore potential avenues for compensation in a personal injury claim. We are not afraid of speedy litigation if your car accident claim does proceed to trial. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Proving Negligence in an Auto Accident Claim
The crux of any personal injury claim is based on the legal idea of negligence when a party’s failure to act with reasonable care in a particular situation causes an accident.
Regarding auto accident claims, all drivers on California roads have a legal duty to drive safely, pay attention to their surroundings, and obey traffic signals. When they fail to do so, the chances of getting into an accident and injuring themselves and other drivers increase.
To be successful with an auto accident injury claim, the plaintiff’s attorney must establish four key components of negligence using the available evidence:
The plaintiff’s attorney must first positively identify the defendant in the claim and prove that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff.
Next, the plaintiff’s attorney must provide evidence of the defendant’s breach of this duty of care.
This may mean proving that the defendant was distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol or that the defendant committed a moving violation that caused the accident.
Third, the plaintiff must provide evidence that shows the full extent of the damages caused by the negligence.
This means providing proof of medical expenses, property damage, and pain and suffering that resulted from the accident. If the accident caused the plaintiff to miss work, the plaintiff must also provide documentation showing the extent of lost income resulting from the accident.
The cause must be established among the damages claimed by the plaintiff. This means that the plaintiff’s attorney must prove that the claimed damages directly result from the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause.
If a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney can prove these four elements of negligence in court, the plaintiff will likely win their case.
However, potential plaintiffs must remember that California follows pure comparative negligence law. This means that a plaintiff may lose a portion of the award of his case equal to the degree of his fault for causing the accident.
If the plaintiff bears any fault in causing an accident, the plaintiff may still recover damages less than the amount that reflects their fault.
Unlike most states that follow modified comparative negligence laws and bar plaintiff recovery on 50% or more fault, California has no such limit. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Dealing With Insurance After An Auto Accident In Orange County, California
Every California driver must maintain an individual auto insurance policy that provides coverage in the event of a collision.
California follows a fault-based statute for insurance claims after auto accidents. An injured driver has the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy to claim compensation for his losses.
For minor accidents, the at-fault driver’s insurance can cover the full cost of the injured driver’s damages. Still, injured drivers need to remember that they are not only affected by the extent of the at-fault driver’s coverage. Let’s face it but also that insurance companies rarely agree on paying claims.
The injured driver must contact a personal injury attorney before negotiating with insurance companies.
An experienced Orange County car accident attorney can help the insurance claim get off to a strong start by filing the claim on behalf of the client.
When an insurance claims adjuster notices that a claimant has legal representation, they will be much less likely to push back against the claim. The right attorney can significantly affect the outcome of negotiations with an insurance carrier.
Another issue related to insurance is the possibility that the at-fault driver does not have sufficient auto insurance coverage to fully cover the cost of the injured driver’s damages or that the at-fault driver does not have auto insurance.
It can’t happen at all. In these situations, an injured driver may refer to their private auto insurance policy if it includes underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage.
California law entitles an injured driver to file a personal injury claim for damages if the insurance claim does not cover their loss. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
How Car Accident Photos Can Help Your Personal Injury Case
Certain pieces of important evidence can always add value and help strengthen a personal injury case related to a car accident.
One of those pieces of evidence is photographs of the accident taken shortly after the accident. These photographs can greatly enhance your credibility regarding your side of the story and provide absolute proof of property damage or injuries. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, which is exactly the case.
If you can take pictures of your injuries, and it’s safe for you to do so, you should consider that too.
Try to photograph anything and everything, including skid marks, damaged vehicle parts, traffic signs or lights, weather conditions, chipped paint, broken windows, and an overall view of the entire accident scene.
Insurance companies depend on victims telling lies when there is photographic evidence to support their claims. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Using witness statements to build a strong personal injury case
Photographic evidence and neutral third-party witnesses can be vital to proving your case. These witnesses have no monetary interest in your case.
If they corroborate your testimony about how the accident happened, it can become strong evidence for your injury case.
Always remember to get the contact information of all witnesses at the scene of an accident if you are physically able to do so.
If you cannot do this, don’t worry, there is every chance that the police report will list all the witnesses to the accident. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
How your document can help your attorney build a strong case on your behalf
Did you ever write in a journal or diary when you were younger? Looking back, you may find that the notes you wrote bring up powerful memories you’d long forgotten.
The same is the case with a car accident. Everyone thinks they’ll remember all the details, but car accidents are chaotic.
With medical appointments, insurance companies, loss of work, and more, many people forget details in the turmoil of their lives after an accident. Huh.
Be sure to keep a diary and write in it every day about your aches and pains, doctors’ appointments, activities you were unable to do because of your injuries, inability to return to work, and anything else that interferes with your daily life. Relates to the aftermath of a car accident.
Also, in the same document file, keep all of your vehicle repair bills, towing costs, medical bills, diagnostic imaging tests, medical appointments, physical therapy appointments, proof of lost wages, and any other documents that may be related to your car accident.
Keeping all of this information in one central location will help your attorney ensure you receive compensation for all of your injuries and damages. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Types of compensation
If you have suffered damages related to a car accident, you may wonder what compensation you can obtain.
The following are some types of compensation commonly awarded to victims of car accidents who have suffered injuries through no fault of theirs.
May be able to claim medical equipment, including wheelchairs, handrails, walkers, and more.
Lost wages and loss of future wages – You missed a lot of work because of your injury, so you can claim not only for your lost wages but also if you become disabled or unable to return to work. If you are, you may also be able to claim a loss of future wages.
Property damage: Any damage to your vehicle, including the cost of repair, towing, or replacement of your vehicle, as well as any property damaged inside the vehicle, can be claimed in your injury lawsuit.
Aches and pains: Your daily journal will help you record your aches and pains and activities you can no longer do independently.
These non-economic damages are complex to calculate legally, and the attorneys at Easton & Easton can help ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for the pain and suffering you suffered.
Punitive damages: In some cases, the other driver’s behavior was so grossly reckless, negligent, or egregious that the court will award punitive damages to not only punish the wrongdoer but also deter others from committing similar horrific acts. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Our trial attorneys have a proven track record of success
We recently settled a wrongful death case for $2.75 million. The deceased was 55 years old, had no wife or children, and only two living parents in their 80s.
Typically a jury, and therefore a defendant, will award no more than $500,000 to an 80-year-old parent for the death of their 55-year-old son where they suffered no economic loss due to their son’s passing.
But we increased the value of the settlement agreement significantly because we could demonstrate the unique bond these parents share with their son by telling their story in an impactful way.
The insurance company knew that taking the elderly couple’s case before a jury could result in too many decisions based on our preparation.
As a result, we were able to settle the case for an amount far beyond our clients’ wildest dreams without them having to go through the pain and examination of a lengthy trial.
We only practice on behalf of the injured party and never represent insurance companies.
Free office consultation Contingency fee Se Hubla Español
Our office hours are 9 am to 5 pm. Evening and weekend appointments are available by special arrangement.
We can also arrange to visit you and your family at your home, hospital room, or other convenient location. If you hire us, we will handle your claim on a contingency fee basis. We don’t win until you win. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
$2.75 million wrongful death settlement
We recently settled a wrongful death case for $2.75 million where the decedent was 55 years old, had no wife or children, and only two surviving parents in their 80s.
The defendants’ insurance carrier initially expected to pay no more than $250,000 to settle the case for these 80-year-old parents who had suffered no economic losses due to their son’s death.
But because we showcased the unique bond these parents shared with their son by powerfully telling their family story, we significantly increased the value of their case.
After seeing how we would present this elderly couple’s case to the jury, the insurance company knew that taking this case to trial could result in a decision based heavily on our advocacy.
As a result, we were able to settle the case for an amount far beyond our clients’ wildest dreams without having to put them through the pain and examination of a long trial. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Injury Lawyer
Lest the negligent side may also harm you financially, it is your responsibility to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your rights.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents in Orange County, CA
Car accidents are stressful events both physically and mentally. Victims are unsure of the first steps to take after their accident. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about car accidents in Orange County, CA. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
What should I do immediately after a car accident?
Your first step should be to ensure your health and wellness. Contact the police and make sure not to move if you think you are injured.
Accept any help from the EMT at the scene or go to the emergency room. Try to take photographs of the accident site.
After an accident, avoid talking to an insurance company without consulting an experienced attorney to ensure your legal rights are protected. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
What should I do if an insurance company calls me?
In most cases, the at-fault person’s insurance provider is trying to get you to agree to a settlement for much less than you’re worth.
They will often use your words against you, attempt to record your conversations, or obtain a full medical history to offer you less payment for your injuries and losses. An experienced attorney can negotiate and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
What should I do about my car?
You have a legal right to get your car fixed at any repair center you trust. If you feel that getting the repairs done is too expensive, you also have the option of getting the fair market value of your car. Please do not continue to drive your car until a professional auto mechanic has properly inspected it. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
What if the accident was partially my fault?
The state of California follows the pure comparative negligence standard. Therefore, even if you are partially at fault, you can still recover compensation and damages for the part of the accident that was not your fault.
For example, if the jury determines that you were 80% at fault, you will still be allowed to recover 20% of the compensation to you are entitled to.
Never let the fact that you may be partly responsible for an accident stop you from seeking compensation for your injuries and the damages you deserve. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
What Kind of Compensation Can I Get in Case of Personal Injury Related to a Car Accident?
Every car accident is different; However, you may be able to receive compensation for any medical bills, lost wages, property damage, loss of future earnings, emotional distress or mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.
In some cases, you may also be able to obtain punitive damages if the accident involved particularly reckless or egregious behavior.
Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and send a strong message that this action is unacceptable. (Orange County Car Accident Lawyers)
Is there a time limit for filing my case?
Under California law, you only have two years to file a claim to get compensation for the injuries and damages you suffered in your car accident.
While this may take a long time, it can take a long time to conduct an independent investigation, hire expert witnesses and develop a strong case, and it is always best to start as soon as possible.
We hope you like our article about Orange County Car Accident Lawyers.
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