Murrieta Car Accident Lawyers

With the millions of drivers on the road, it should come as no surprise that there are over 6 million car accidents per year. They can happen anywhere, from residential streets to the freeway to back roads in rural areas. Over 3 million people get hurt from car accidents – some of whom aren’t even passengers in cars, but on bikes or on foot. Car crashes that are the direct result of another driver’s negligence are usually grounds for lawsuits. If you were hurt in a car crash, you can potentially sue the responsible party and receive ample compensation for your damages. Our team of Murrieta car accident lawyers at the Downtown LA Law Group has years of combined experience handling accident lawsuits, and we will do all we can to win your case.

What Are Reasons For Car Accidents?

There are many causes of car accidents, some of which are not attributable to any one person. Scenarios like this are often troublesome and difficult to win compensation for. For example, if you were involved in a crash because of a sudden onset of fog and you could not see any vehicles nearby, it would be difficult to prove that anyone was negligent. However, if the other driver were speeding and did not have his lights on, then he could be held responsible for the incident. Inclement weather like rain and snow are only two examples of these reasons. Additionally, the city or county might be at fault if the road is defective in some way. Potholes, lack of overhead lights, and other issues may have been brought up but never fixed, and if they contribute to any accidents, the government could be held partially responsible. Still, many accidents are simply the result of negligent action and driver error. Many reasons include:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Turning without using signals
• Turning left into oncoming traffic or into crosswalks without yielding to other cars or pedestrians
• Running stop signs or failure to stop at them
• Ignoring yield signs
• Refusing to follow the right of way
• Improper merging on the freeway and narrowing streets
• Drunk driving
• Fatigued driving
• Texting and calling while on the road

If you have been involved in an accident that can be blamed on the wrongful action of another driver, you likely have grounds for a lawsuit. It is in your best interest to pursue a claim if you were not responsible for the crash. You may have simply been sitting at a red light or driving while minding your own business when you were struck. In some cases, you may not even be able to get a hold of the person who hit you; he may flee the scene in a hit and run accident, leaving you with no option but to pursue underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage through your own insurance. If you need assistance, you can call our Murrieta car accident attorneys for more help.

What Are Some Injuries From Car Accidents?

Car crashes lead to over 35,000 deaths per year and millions of people are injured. The injuries can be severe or minor; a simple rear end crash may cause no injuries whatsoever, but if the other car were going unreasonably fast, you could suffer intense spinal cord damages, amongst other troubles. Although safety features help prevent a lot of injuries, there are natural issues that can happen in crashes, such as getting crushed or caught between broken parts of the car or cut with broken glass and metal. Other injuries we have seen in car crashes include:

• Broken bones
• Closed head injuries
• Lacerations
• Dislocations and fractures
• Sprains and strains
• Torn muscles
• Nerve damage
• Knee and hip injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Herniated and slipped discs
• Concussions
• Internal organ damage
• Severed limbs
• Paraplegia and quadriplegia
• Coma and permanent brain damage
• Death

The severity of your injuries will play a part in the worth of your lawsuit. We know that certain injuries can leave you incapacitated and unable to file a claim; if you were hurt in such a way, it is best to contact one of our car accident attorneys in Murrieta as quickly as possible to get immediate help for your claim.

What Should I Do If I Got In A Car Accident?

If you were in a car accident, you should make sure to say as safe as possible. This may include you staying off the road or going to the hospital to get treated. As long as you are not in any danger, you can start looking for evidence at the scene. The most important step is to get medical treatment as quickly as you can. The paramedics may show up to help any potential victims, and yu should be treated or examined. Many victims forgo any treatment because they do not feel as though they were injured, but adrenaline can very easily mask some injuries. If you do not get medical help, the opposing insurance agent can claim that you were not injured and that the accident caused no damage. It is best to preemptively prevent this from happening by being examined. It is also important that you take as many photographs and videos as you can. You should snap pictures of the scene of the accident to show where it occurred, the damage to your car to show the amount of damage and the angle of impact, and the injuries you suffered to showcase how severe and extensive the suffering was. There may have been eyewitnesses at the scene of the crash or other passengers who saw the incident happen. You can request their testimonies to back up your claim. It is important to have other statements besides your own. For this reason, it is also important that you request a copy off the police report if the police come to conduct an investigation. You can ask for a copy from the station once it has been submitted. You should take down the license plate number, driver’s license number, phone number, insurance details, and other information from the other driver. This will enable you to reach out to the correct insurance company to file your claim. Lastly, it is highly recommended that you seek out the services of an experienced car accident lawyer in Murrieta. You may not have the legal experience required to file your claim and you may not be able to negotiate a fair deal with the insurance agent. Our lawyers have spent years practicing law and we can reliably handle your lawsuit for you.

How Long Do I Have To File A Car Accident Claim?

If you intend to file a car accident claim, you do not have an infinite time to do so; you only have 2 years in the State of California to take legal action before you will be barred and the deadline will have passed. This statute is present to ensure that claims are efficiently and quickly filed. If you were to wait years, key evidence would likely go missing or get corrupted and witnesses’ memories would be foggy or unclear. You may be able to have the 2-year limit extended in certain situations. The most common is due to relocation of the defendant; if he left the state, the time limit would freeze until he returned. You may also have been underage at the time of the accident, which would allow you to not have to follow the statute until you turn 18 years old. Further, you may have been severely injured to the point that you were left mentally or physically incapacitated, so you would not have to worry about the deadline until you returned to functioning health. If you are unsure of how much more time you have to file a claim, talk with our attorneys. We’ll ensure that you are on deadline and that your documents are submitted with time to spare.

What Can I Earn From A Car Accident Lawsuit?

Victims of car accidents can receive various types of restitution for their injuries and damages. Our lawyers will strive to win you the following:

• Medical expenses from the past and future for surgery costs, hospitalization fees, medication, physical therapy sessions, and more
• Lost income from your job from the past and future
• Property damage to your car and other personal belongings
• Pain and suffering to cover emotional trauma, PTSD, anxiety, fear, and more

You may be able to receive punitive damages if the responsible party were grossly negligent or tried to intentionally harm you. These damages are meant to punish the defendant, but they are often viewed as unnecessary, so only a skilled lawyer will be able to win them for your lawsuit. Further, if a family member or loved one passed away in the crash, you could collect wrongful death expenses, included funeral and burial fees, loss of consortium, loss of relations, loss of expected savings, loss of inheritance and income, and pre-death medical bills and pain and suffering. Talk with our car accident attorneys in Murrieta for more help. We will be glad to tell you how much we think we can win for you.

The Firm for You

The Downtown LA Law Group has recovered millions of dollars for our clients. We know the best methods to winning cases and we have consistently been one of the most highly-rated firms in town. Our attorneys are aggressive and we do not give up on your case – we are willing to go to court if necessary. Call our offices for a free legal consultation. You can ask us questions about your case and we’ll tell you how we plan to go about it. We can help you understand the legal process better. You will also learn more about our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you won’t pay any money for our services throughout your case. We will only get paid if we win, and if we lose, you won’t owe us anything. Reach out to the Downtown LA Law Group to start your lawsuit with the help of our car accident attorneys in Murrieta.