Lake Elsinore Car Accident Attorneys

Every year, more than 1,000,000 individuals are hurt in car accidents, with hundreds of thousands dying because of crashes. There are many risks involved with getting on the road and operating a vehicle, and it is possible for you to do everything right and safely and still get in an incident. If you were hurt as a result of the negligent action of another person, you should receive ample compensation for your damages. Our team of expert Lake Elsinore car accident attorneys can help you receive the restitution you deserve. The Downtown LA Law Group has been handling car accident lawsuits for years, and we know the best methods to securing you every penny you deserve. You will not have to worry about a single legal detail when you come to us for our expertise.

Causes of Car Crashes

Car accidents happen for a number of reasons, some of which can be attributed to problems outside of anyone’s control. For example, your car could have a defect that was present when it left the manufacturing plant, or there could be issues after a mechanic improperly installed a part. You could have faulty brakes or engine troubles, and if you were not aware of them, you could easily crash. Further, there may be issues with your lights and tires. There are times when drivers should exert caution due to inherent issues with the environment. The most common problem is weather; it is hard to drive in fog, sleet, rain, or snow, and as a result, drivers should be extremely careful. You can easily slip and slide or your brakes may not catch, resulting in hydroplaning. You could also have next to visibility, especially at night in high fog. The surrounding area and roads could also contribute to accidents. Steep hills that are not visible and result in blocked views, curved roads, holes in the road, sharp turns, lack of streetlights, and more can all contribute to causes of crashes. However, driver responsibility still plays a part. Some of the reasons accidents happen due to negligent drivers include:

• Drunk driving
• Fatigued driving
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Failure to use turn signals
• Failure to properly merge
• Ignoring right of way laws
• Turning left into traffic
• Running stop signs
• Running red lights
• Texting while driving

If you have been hit by a driver who was not careful, you can collect compensation for your damages. You should not be held responsible if you were minding your own business when you were hit. For example, you could have been stopped at a red light when a car barreled into your rear, causing you back injuries; it is not fair that you should be held liable for your expenses when you contributed in no way to the accident. Contact our Lake Elsinore car accident lawyers for more information on the causes of car crashes.

Injuries from Car Crashes

Car crashes can be extremely debilitating and may cause you permanent injuries. Accidents can also be so severe that they harm others in nearby vehicles. The effects of car accidents can stretch well beyond your daily life and can impact your career and your family. We have handled cases where victims have suffered the following types of damages:

• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Sprains
• Strained muscles
• Nerve damage
• Dislocations
• Concussions
• Closed head injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Knee and hip damage
• Neck and spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash
• Lacerations and abrasions
• Cuts, contusions, bruises, and gashes
• Crushing injuries
• Puncture wounds
• Burns
• Permanent scarring
• Severed limbs
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Death

If you have suffered injuries from a car accident, you should be aware that you can likely file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. Our team of car accident attorneys in Lake Elsinore will be glad to assist you with starting a claim.

Negligence Based Claims

In order to file a lawsuit against a responsible driver for your accident, you must be able to show that he was negligent in some way. To do this, you must prove the four points of negligence occurred in the case:

• You were owed a duty of care by the driver (all drivers owe this duty to everyone else on the road and must take care not to harm anyone, whether in a car or on the sidewalk)
• The duty was breached (by breaking the law, driving recklessly, or otherwise)
• The breach of duty led to an accident (head-on collision, sideswipe, broadside crash, and more)
• The accident caused actual physical injuries

All of these points must be shown to be true if you intend on filing a claim for a car accident. If even one is false, your claim will be thrown out. For example, if you were not physically harmed, you will not be able to get compensation in a personal injury claim and you will only be able to have your lost wages and damaged property covered. The benefit to not being injured is that you will likely not have to negotiate for weeks to get a fair settlement; the amount will be much lower due to the lack of damages, and you may not need an attorney to collect what you need. You only need to provide the mechanic’s estimate and your pay stubs to show what your losses were, and the insurance agent could not have much to dispute. The presence of medical bills, though, complicates matters, and as such, you would benefit greatly from hiring one of our car accident lawyers in Lake Elsinore.

Steps to Take after a Car Crash

To file a car accident lawsuit against the responsible insurance company, you should follow these steps to ensure you have the best chance of success. It can be very frustrating and confusing to figure everything out after a car accident, so don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions.

• Get medical attention at once (if you delay treatment, the insurance agent can claim you were hurt elsewhere and you’re merely blaming the accident for your injuries with no proof)
• Take photos of your injuries
• Snap pictures of the damage to your car and the scene of the accident
• Write down the responsible driver’s insurance information and contact details
• Interview witnesses and passengers for testimonies and statements about what happened in the accident
• Request a copy of the police report from any law enforcement that showed up or call the station when it has been processed
• Contact a skilled car accident lawyer in Lake Elsinore for help filing your claim

If you try to pursue a lawsuit with no representation, it can be very difficult to win anything at all. Your claim may be thrown out or you may not be able to reach the insurance agent. The stress from the claim can also worsen your condition or delay the healing process. We recommend getting legal help as quickly as possible to have the best shot at maximum compensation.

Statute of Limitations on Car Crash Lawsuit

In California, the statute of limitations to file a claim against a responsible driver after a car accident is 2 years from the date of the injury. If you do not file a claim in this time frame, you will be unable to receive compensation. There are a few exceptions to this statute of limitations, though. For one, if you were underage at the time of the accident, you could wait until you turn 18 years old to adhere to the statute. If you were mentally or physically incapable of filing a lawsuit, you will not have to stick to the deadline until you return to functional health and presence of mind. Additionally, if the defendant leaves the state, he will be unable to be sued; your time limit will be frozen until he returns. To make sure that you do not miss a single deadline and that your documents are all sent to the insurance agency on time, call our car crash lawyers in Lake Elsinore.

Compensation from a Car Accident Lawsuit

You should not be expected to cover your expenses if you were hurt in a car accident. You can receive various types of compensation for your damages, and our lawyers will be able to secure you the maximum settlement available under the law. We will see to it that you receive the following:

Medical expenses to cover surgery costs, medication, hospitalization, physical therapy sessions, and more

Coverage of future or additional medical treatments and procedures if you were severely injured

Lost wages from time you missed at work because of your injury

Future missed income if you will be unable to return to work because of recovery time or other reasons

Pain and suffering damages to cover fear, anxiety, PTSD, mental scarring, and more

Property damage to reimburse you for lost or broken property, vehicular repairs, and more

Punitive damages if the driver of the other car were particularly negligent or intentionally tried to harm you, but these damages are hard to win and can only be secured by a skillful car accident lawyer

Wrongful death damages if a family member or loved one died in the crash; expenses include burial and funeral fees, pre-death pain and suffering and medical bills, loss of consortium, loss of savings and expected inheritance, and more Our team of lawyers promises to work around the clock to win you the highest settlement available.

Why Choose Our Firm

The Downtown LA Law Group has ample expertise with car accident cases: we have won millions of dollars for our clients and have decades of experience in such claims. Our lawyers are aggressive and do not give up until we are satisfied with the results of your case. We are willing to go to court to fight for your rights and we are consistently available to give you updates on your case. For a free legal consultation, reach out to our offices today. All information will be kept totally confidential and we will help you no matter what time of day you call us. We will also tell you what we believe we can win for your case. Further, if you want us to represent you, we will give you our zero fee guarantee. This promises that you won’t touch your own savings throughout the case – we will only get paid if we win, and if we lose, we earn nothing. The responsible insurance agency will cover your legal bills, and you won’t pay a single penny, win or lose. Your financial standing is important to us. Let our car crash lawyers in Lake Elsinore help you with your lawsuit. Contact the Downtown LA Law Group at once for more assistance.