Santa Maria Car Accident Attorneys

Involvement in a car accident can be difficult, especially if you were essentially a sitting victim. You may be confused and unsure of how the accident happened and you could be left disoriented and dazed. Car accidents that lead to injuries are very frustrating; insurance companies make it difficult for you to receive your damages without a hitch, and you may be ignored or rejected numerous times. Our team of Santa Maria car accident attorneys at the Downtown LA Law Group will handle your case for you. You will not have to worry about the many stresses and difficulties of filing a claim. We will represent you and ensure that you are appropriately compensated if you were hurt in a car accident. The responsible party should be held accountable and made to pay the numerous expenses and debts that resulted from the incident.

Why Do Car Crashes Happen?

Car accidents happen for a number of reasons. Many are the direct fault of drivers – they make errors, refuse to pay attention, or have moments of oversight where they do not focus. These errors can lead to all sorts of crashes, including rear-end collisions at stop lights, sideswipes in heavy traffic, head-on crashes late at night, and T-bone crashes at intersections. Some of the causes of car accidents include:

• Driving while tired
• Texting or using the phone while behind the wheel
• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Running red lights
• Running stop signs
• Ignoring right of way laws
• Failing to yield to pedestrians
• Turning left into oncoming traffic
• Turning right on red when disallowed

There are also other factors that can contribute to car accidents. Drivers should always take care to not drive recklessly, especially in certain conditions. These other circumstances can make it hard to operate the vehicle. Examples are:

• Poor weather (rain, snow, sleet, fog)
• Vehicle malfunctions (broken brakes, engine trouble, no tail lights or headlights)
• Road defects (potholes, lack of adequate lighting)
• Sharp turns and curves
• Steep hills

The risk of an accident increases when there are environmental factors at play. You may be the most careful driver in the snow, but a simple patch of ice can cause your car to fishtail and lose control. It is important that you identify the correct responsible party if you were in an accident. Our expert Santa Maria car accident lawyers will gladly assist you in filing your claim and suing the liable entity.

What Injuries Can You Get In A Car Accident?

There are dozens of injuries you can sustain in a car accident. Generally speaking, the more impactful the crash and the higher the speed, the more severe the injuries. However, many people have escaped from terrible rashes unscathed. If you were injured in any way in a car accident, you should take legal action. Some of the types of injuries you can suffer include:

• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Closed head injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck damage
• Nerve damage
• Torn muscles
• Herniated discs
• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Sprains
• Dislocations
• Crushing injuries
• Knee injuries
• Puncture wounds
• Severed limbs
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Death

Some of these injuries may be permanent. If you are unable to recover from some damages, you should be appropriately compensated. Our car accident attorneys in Santa Maria will gladly take on your case for you to make sure that you are appropriately paid in the event of an incident.

What Steps Should I Take After An Accident?

After an accident, it is important that you follow these steps to ensure that you are protected and have ample evidence for a claim. If you do not, you will have much more trouble taking legal action. For one, it is extremely important that you get medical help as quickly as possible. You should not wait too long between the injury and visiting the doctor. If you do, the insurance agent can look at the gap and claim that you were not as injured as you stated or that you were hurt elsewhere. We know that there are some injuries that do not show up at once or manifest later. Other injuries may be masked by adrenaline. The sooner you get treated, whether by paramedics or at a facility, the quicker you will learn if there are extensive damages. You should then take as many photos and videos as you can of the different pieces of evidence at the scene. This can include the damage done to the vehicles, the scene of the accident and any environmental damage, surveillance footage, and more. It is also important that you document your injuries appropriately and completely. In addition, you should hold on to medical notes, receipts from the hospital, copies of medication receipts, and paramedic notes. This will show that you were given some kind of medical assistance. If there were any eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen, you should ask them for their testimonies. You can also ask passengers for their statements. The police may have been called to the scene of the accident. If so, you should request a copy of the police report from the station once it has been finalized. It is extremely important that you request the contact information and insurance details from the responsible party. This will allow you and us to take issue with the correct party and we will not have to struggle to find out who was the intended target for the claim. If it were a hit and run accident, you could look at your own insurance coverage under uninsured/underinsured motorist policies. Lastly, you should be sure to contact a qualified car accident lawyer in Santa Maria. You may not have any legal experience or know what to do to file a claim. Our attorneys have been practicing personal injury law for years and we know the best methods to winning car accident cases. You can call us for more details and to get started on your lawsuit.

How Do I File A Car Accident Lawsuit?

If you wish to file a lawsuit against the party responsible for hitting you with a vehicle, you must be able to prove four points of negligence. These pints are as follows:

• You were owed a duty of care
• The duty of care was violated in some manner
• The breach of duty led to an accident
• The incident resulted in physical injuries

Every point must be shown to be true if you wish to sue for damages. If even one is false, your claim will not succeed. For example, if you were not hurt in the incident, you won’t be able to receive any compensation for medical expenses and others. You will only be able to pursue property damage and lost wages. Of course, if you do, you will have an easier time handling the claim, as there may be no need for legal involvement. For the best chance of success with your claim, though, you should hire a Santa Maria car accident attorney. It is in your best interest to have someone represent you who can ensure that you are fully covered and not at risk of missing out on compensation.

What Is The Value Of My Case?

The value of your car accident case will vary depending on a few factors. The insurance agent handling your case will determine the worth of your case by considering your age, career type, severity of injuries, impact the damage had on your daily life and career, and how much of the accident can be attributed to your negligence. Our lawyers will strive to negotiate the fairest deal for you and secure you compensation for the following damages:

• Medical expenses from the past and future
• Property damage
• Lost wages from the past and future
• Emotional pain and suffering
• Wrongful death expenses if a family member or loved one died in the incident
• Punitive damages if you were purposely wounded by the defendant or if he were egregious in his negligence

Of course, some of these damages are more difficult to win than others. It is extremely hard to win punitive damages, for instance, and only a skilled lawyer will be able to do so – many judges and juries view them as excessive and will not award them. It can also be difficult to have your loved one’s funeral and burial fees, pre-death medical bills and pain and suffering, loss of inheritance, loss of consortium, and more paid out.

How Long Do I Have To Sue For Damages From A Car Accident?

In California, car accident victims have 2 years form the date of the injury to take legal action against the responsible party. If you do not sue within this time frame, you will be barred from pursuing compensation. It is very important that you take action s quickly as possible or you may find yourself struggling to find necessary evidence – at which point your claim will be thrown out. Our lawyers can guarantee that you will not miss out on the statute of limitations if you come to our firm for representation. We will do all we can to ensure that you do not miss the deadlines. We will also check to see if you are eligible for any exceptions to the statute of limitations. Common exceptions include:

• Minors under the age of 18, who can wait until they turn legal age to adhere to the statute
• Physically incapacitated or mentally compromised people who cannot reliably take legal action, so they can wait until they return to health to adhere to the time limit
• Location of the defendant, which means if a defendant leaves the state he suspends the statute of limitations and causes it to not be resumed until he returns

Call us at (855) 339-8879 for more help if you are a car accident victim in Santa Maria.

The Top-Rated Firm in Town

The Downtown LA Law Group has scores of ratings to show why we are the most successful firm. We treat our clients with respect and welcome them like family. If you have been hurt in a car accident, we will be there to help you from the start of the claim to its end. Our attorneys are aggressive towards the insurance agents and will not stop pursuing what you deserve. If you want to speak with an attorney, call our offices at (855) 339-8879. You can receive a free legal consultation about your case, its potential value, the path to take, and more. If you wish to hire us to represent you, we’ll give you our zero fee guarantee, which promises that we won’t get paid until we win and not at all if we lose. For the best help available, contact our car accident lawyers in Santa Maria at the Downtown LA Law Group.