Experiencing a serious car accident caused by a negligent driver is traumatic. The injuries you suffered can alter your life forever, all because a San Diego driver failed to obey traffic laws and regulations. If this happened to you, contacting a California car accident attorney as soon as possible is an important first step to fighting for compensation. The damages you incurred demand accountability, and a San Diego attorney can help you so that you do not have to fight to protect your rights alone.
First Steps: Follow Through With Your Medical Care
The injuries you suffered may mask additional harm, like internal bleeding. Following through with your medical care is essential for your recovery. This may involve scheduling vital surgeries and committing to physical or other therapies.
Your road to recovery may involve a long journey. If your injuries or those of a loved one are catastrophic, the care required may involve a lengthy stay in a trauma center or admission to a skilled nursing facility.
You may face overwhelming decisions each day about how to proceed with treatment and how to pay your mounting medical bills. The stress that immediately results from a serious car accident can follow you throughout your lifetime.
Seeking the medical care you need is vital to ensuring that you achieve the best recovery possible. Once you begin to receive treatment for your injuries, consider taking the next step and contact a San Diego car accident lawyer for help.
Consider Reaching out to a Lawyer Immediately
If you are the victim of a negligent driver, reaching out to a lawyer soon after the accident is important for your case.
Take quick action due to:
- The statute of limitations: State law limits the amount of time allowed for pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Missing the deadline can result in your claim being barred.
- Witness statements: Eyewitnesses may move out of the area, forget important details, or decide not to cooperate. Your lawyer will want to interview any witnesses as soon as possible following the accident for these very reasons.
- The pressure it takes off you: As the accident victim, you do not want to deal with aggressive insurance adjusters or their attorneys. Their attempts to get you to accept less than the full value of your case are not fair. It is in your best interest not to speak with them, but rather to refer them to your attorney.
The injuries you suffered and the disruption to your life can leave you vulnerable to making poor decisions. Accepting a settlement offer is something you should decide with a lawyer by your side.
Avoid Confusing Conversations With Insurance Adjusters
Insurance adjusters want you to accept their initial offer so that they can avoid tough negotiations with a personal injury lawyer. They understand that once you retain the services of a San Diego car accident lawyer, adjusters will face a more difficult challenge and likely have to offer a higher settlement amount.
As for-profit businesses, insurance companies want to protect their bottom line. This generally involves making low-dollar settlement offers to accident victims in hopes of closing a claim quickly—and for the least amount of money possible.
You may feel some comfort at the prospect of accepting an insurance company’s offer. In fact, the initial offer may appear to be a large sum to you and your family. The reality is that by accepting the initial offer, you lose the right to seek additional compensation down the road should your condition worsen.
A serious injury can develop an infection or other complications that may require future medical care. Rising medical costs can make obtaining the care you need expensive and out-of-reach if your settlement was not enough to cover costs.
There is no do-over when it comes to insurance company negotiations. Accepting less than the full value of your case is what insurance companies want you to do. Give careful thought to what they are asking you to do and consider consulting a lawyer without delay.
Understand the Common Causes of Most Car Accidents
No matter where you travel in San Diego, a serious accident can happen at any time. Whether you’re driving down I-5, I-8, I-15, or another roadway, negligence surrounds you, and you may not realize it until it is too late.
Common types of driver negligence that can result in serious injuries for others include:
- Drunk driving: Drivers continue to drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Such substances can impair judgment and delay reaction times.
- Aggressive driving: Speeding and other related actions can escalate to road rage. When a driver purposely tries to run you off the road, that driver must face accountability for any resulting harm.
- Distracted driving: Smartphones and navigational devices cause a distraction that removes a driver’s focus from the road. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports three main types of distraction: visual, manual, and cognitive.
- Drowsy driving: Busy schedules often cause drivers to operate on little sleep. Another danger behind the wheel is those with an undiagnosed sleep disorder.
The negligent actions of another driver can forever impact your quality of life. Worry and stress about your financial situation can cause you to lose sleep and your inability to rest can delay your recovery.
Gather your evidence and consider talking with a San Diego car accident lawyer as soon as possible. You deserve to rest—allow a lawyer to fight for compensation on your behalf. If you suffered serious harm due to a negligent driver, you should contact a lawyer today.
Consider Fighting for Your San Diego Car Accident Damages
The immediate destruction of life as you know it can affect you both emotionally and psychologically. The physical and financial harm caused by a car accident can overwhelm you as you consider your future.
A car accident lawyer can help you fight for compensation relating to:
- Medical bills: from transport to a trauma center to your lengthy hospital stay
- Ongoing medical costs: includes such medical care as rehabilitation and expensive medications
- Lost wages: the wages lost from missing work due to your injuries
- Future wages: the wages lost if you cannot return to work
- Pain and suffering: the mental anguish associated with your injuries
Success is never guaranteed nor promised. Each civil case is unique, and the outcome depends upon a variety of circumstances. Allowing a lawyer to represent your best interests can afford you peace of mind, which can prove priceless during this stressful time.
San Diego Wrongful Death Lawyer and the Loss of Your Loved One
If your loved one died in a San Diego car accident, you may qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A lawyer can determine if your relationship with the victim entitles you to pursue legal action.
Here are a few relationships that may qualify you for a wrongful death civil case:
- Surviving spouse
- Domestic partner
- Surviving children
- Financially dependent parents
These are just a few examples of the types of relationships that generally qualify for wrongful death action. Compensation in a wrongful death case typically involves such damages as funeral costs and loss of companionship. If you are unsure if your relationship with the decedent qualifies you to seek justice on behalf of your loved one, a lawyer can help you.
Do Not Worry About Paying for an Attorney
Following your car accident, you should not have to stress about legal fees. Fear of fees associated with retaining a lawyer may prevent you from valuable legal representation.
Most San Diego personal injury and wrongful death attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. Their fees are dependent on the outcome of your claim and lawsuit. You typically owe no attorney fees if your attorney fails to recover any compensation on your behalf. If you succeed in your case, your attorney will collect a percentage of your settlement or verdict amount.
The financial stress of your situation may cause you to feel cautious about contacting a lawyer. Do not let your fear of legal fees prevent you from seeking help with your civil case. Understanding that you do not owe any money unless and until your attorney collects compensation for you can make contacting a lawyer an easy decision.
A Free Case Evaluation Can Help You Learn More
Legal matters are sometimes confusing to those unfamiliar with the civil process. If your attorney cannot settle your claim out of court, your case may proceed to trial.
While many civil cases never see the inside of a courtroom, your case may require such action. Your attorney can explain the process and if necessary, present your case in a way that conveys the impact the accident has had on your life.
Presentation skills are crucial when it comes to going before a judge and jury. Being represented by an attorney with these skills is essential when it comes to fighting for the best outcome possible for your case.
You Should Pursue Maximum Compensation
Whether you live in San Diego, Bakersfield, or elsewhere in the region, your accident injuries or losses are not fair. All San Diego drivers have a responsibility to share the road. Abstaining from dangerous behavior behind the wheel and adhering to traffic laws is crucial for everyone’s safety.
A California driver’s license is a privilege and not a right. Abusing this privilege may result in criminal charges. However, criminal charges have no bearing on any civil action that you may pursue.
Insurance companies are quite skilled at confusing accident victims when they are most vulnerable. If an aggressive insurance adjuster approaches you with a settlement offer, protect your best interests and refuse to sign anything without first consulting an attorney. Consider contacting a San Diego car accident attorney for help reviewing any offers and negotiating with the insurance company.
An innocent trip to the store or your commute to work should not result in life-changing harm or loss.
A San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
It is common to feel alone following a serious accident. While friends and family may comfort you, deciding how to proceed can be confusing.
You do not have to face your legal challenge alone. Holding the at-fault driver accountable is possible with help from an experienced car accident attorney. The right attorney will fight to secure maximum compensation on your behalf and protect your legal rights throughout the process.
A sudden and unexpected car accident is something that you never forget. Learning that the accident was preventable had the other driver used reasonable care is both frustrating and upsetting.
While no amount of compensation can return your life to the way it was before the accident, it can help in other ways. The ability to pay your household and medical expenses, along with seeking the care you need, may ease some of your stress.
No compensation can cover the loss of a close loved one. Compensation can, however, provide you with the funds necessary for a funeral service that properly honors your loved one.
There is no way to guarantee your case will result in financial compensation. With a lawyer by your side, you can rest easier knowing that your case is in knowledgeable hands.
Personal injury and wrongful death attorneys help accident victims and those left behind seek justice. Negligent drivers are not only dangerous but also must be held accountable for the harm that they cause.
If you or a loved one experienced serious injuries or suffered a loss, consider contacting an auto accident lawyer today. A free case evaluation is an important first step following your San Diego car accident.
