COMPTON CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
Highly Qualified Car Accident Lawyers Representing Victims in Compton, CA
Car accidents are a very serious problem in Southern California. Life-altering wrecks can happen at anytime and to any person. According to data provided by the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were more than 51,000 car accident injuries reported in Los Angeles County in the year 2014 alone. Of those injuries, 458 occurred in crashes that took place in the city of Compton.
While some car accident injuries are thankfully relatively minor, many others are far more severe. A major auto accident can leave the victim with immense pain and suffering, piles of unpaid medical bills, and lost wages. Victims deserve full and fair compensation for these losses. Unfortunately, the reality is that recovering that compensation can be difficult.
At Fisher & Talwar, our experienced Compton car accident attorneys have the skills and experience needed to hold the big auto insurance companies accountable. If you or a family member was injured in a crash in Los Angeles County, please contact our law firm today for immediate assistance with your legal claim.
The First Four Things You Need to Do After a Collision
1) Get Professional Medical Attention
If you were hurt in a California car accident, you should seek professional medical attention. First and foremost, in the event that you need emergency services, you should accept an available ambulance ride to the hospital without any reservations. Further, even if you do not need emergency attention, you still need to get yourself checked out by a doctor. Many car accident injuries come with a delayed onset.
2) Exchange Information and Report the Accident
Under California law, you must report your accident to the appropriate highway authorities if there was more than $1,000 in total damage or any person was injured in the crash. It is in your best interests to ensure that a state or local police officer gets to the scene of the crash to write an accident report. While this is occurring, you should also exchange information with all other parties involved in the crash.
3) Secure Evidence at the Crash Scene
Like other legal claims, a successful car accident claim must be built on a strong foundation of supporting evidence. You will make your life a lot easier if you can obtain key evidence at the scene of the crash. Specifically, you should always try to:
- Take pictures of the accident scene;
- Take pictures of your injuries; and
- Obtain contact information for any witnesses.
4) Consult With a Compton Car Accident Attorney
As the auto accident claims process is notoriously complex, there is no reason to go through it all by yourself. If you were seriously injured in a wreck, you owe it to yourself and your family to seek assistance from a qualified Compton car accident lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to protect your rights and interests throughout each step of the claims process.
You Have a Limited Amount of Time to Take Legal Action
All Compton car accident injury claims are subject to California’s statute of limitations. As a general rule, you have two years from the date of your wreck to initiate your legal claim. If you wait too long to file a lawsuit, your claim may be time-barred. Essentially, this means that you will lose your case on a legal technicality. Do not let this happen to you. The best thing you can do is to speak to a Southern California car accident lawyer immediately after your collision.
Auto Accident Liability in California
California is a comparative fault jurisdiction. For car accident claims, this legal standard has several important implications. To start, ‘fault’ is based on negligence. This means that you can hold another person liable for your car accident damages only if you can prove that they caused your crash through their unsafe actions. Generally, car accident claims are brought against drivers. Though, other parties, including vehicle manufacturers, can also be held responsible for accidents. As California is a ‘comparative’ negligence state, fault for an accident will be divided proportionally. This means that you could be held partially responsible for your own crash. When this happens, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of the blame for the wreck.
Compton Car Accident Victims Deserve Fair Compensation
After you establish liability for your Compton, CA car accident, your claim will move forward to the issue of damages. You can only recover compensation to the extent that you can prove your damages. This step in the personal injury claims process should not be overlooked. Indeed, in many cases, it becomes the core issue that is at dispute. Even if the insurance company accepts liability, it may still try to substantially undervalue your claim. Our Compton auto accident attorneys have the skills to help injured victims get the full recovery they deserve. You may be entitled to money for:
- Damage to your vehicle;
- All other medical expenses;
- Long-term disability (LTD);
- Lost wages;
- Diminished earning capacity;
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental anguish;
- Disfigurement; and
- Wrongful death damages.
You Can Always Afford Our Top-Rated Car Accident Attorneys in Compton, CA
Many Compton auto accident victims worry that they will be unable to afford high-quality legal representation. While this is an understandable concern, it is based entirely on a common misconception. At Fisher & Talwar, we handle all car accident claims on a contingency fee basis. When you work with our attorneys, there will never be any out-of-pocket expenses for you. We only get paid if we win or successfully settle your Compton, CA car accident claim.
Common Car Auto Accident Injuries
One of the many things that make California car accident claims challenging is that the resulting injuries can vary widely, both in their kind and their level of severity. It is not always easy to predict how serious the injuries will be just by looking at the resulting crash. There are cases in which people walk away from rollover accidents with little more than a scratch. Yet, there are also cases in which a seemingly minor fender-bender results in a devastating head or neck injury. If you were injured in a crash, you are entitled to full compensation for your specific damages. Our Glendale car accident lawyers can help. We have handled legal claims involving virtually every type of injury, including:
- Broken and fractured bones;
- Severe joint damage;
- Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
- Psychological trauma;
- Deep cuts and lacerations;
- Soft tissue damage, including whiplash;
- Internal injuries, including organ damage;
- Spinal cord damage; and
- Partial or total paralysis.
The California Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims
The state of California has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Essentially, this means that you have two years from the date of your Glendale, CA crash to initiate your lawsuit. To be clear, your claim does not need to be fully resolved within that period. However, if you have not filed a claim by that time, you will likely lose out on your right to recover compensation. There are very limited exceptions to this rule. To protect your rights, you should speak to a Glendale auto accident lawyer as soon as possible after your collision.
How Do You Prove Liability for a California Car Accident?
California car accident claims are governed by the state’s comparative fault rules. As fault is based on negligence, injured victims must prove that another party acted in an unsafe manner and that those unsafe actions were a causal factor in the accident. In the overwhelming majority of cases, auto accidents are caused by negligent drivers. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, opposing drivers will refuse to admit their own culpability. In fact, they may even outright lie to responding police officers or to the insurance company. Injured car accident victims should work with a top-rated Glendale auto accident attorney who can investigate the crash and put together the evidence needed to prove fault. In car accident cases, negligence comes in a variety of different forms. Some of the most common examples include:
- The running of a red light or stop sign;
- Failure to yield to oncoming traffic;
- Following another vehicle too closely;
- Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions;
- Making an unsafe lane change;
- Failure to maintain lane interrigy;
- Distracted driving;
- Drugged driving;
- Drunk driving; and
- Manufacturer negligence.
You Deserve Fair Compensation
After you prove liability, your Glendale auto accident claim will move forward to the issue of damages. To get full compensation, it is imperative that you work with a lawyer who can properly document your losses. You will only be able to recover money for your injuries if you can prove the existence and value of your damages through strong supporting evidence. Insurance companies know full well that proving damages is a difficult task. Insurers work aggressively to try to reduce the value of car accident injury claims. Do not let them get away with it. Never accept of lowball settlement offer from the insurance company. You have a legal right to obtain money for the full value of your losses. This includes compensation for:
- Repairs to your car;
- Ambulance fees;
- Emergency room fees;
- Other medical bills;
- Costs related to rehabilitation;
- Lost current and future wages;
- Long-term disability (LTD);
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress;
- Disfigurement;
- Loss of a limb;
- Loss of lifestyle enjoyment; and
- Wrongful death.
You Can Afford a Car Accident Attorney in Glendale, CA
Many Glendale car accident victims worry that hiring a top-quality personal injury attorney is just too expensive. This is an understandable concern, but you do not have to worry: At Fisher & Talwar, we take on all car accident claims on a contingency fee basis. This means that we will advance any expenses required to pursue your legal claim. Further, we will only collect our attorney’s fees if we win or successfully settle your Glendale car accident case. Our legal team wants to put money back into your pocket, not take anything out of it.
No Attorney Fees Unless We Recover Money for You
When you hire us to handle your case, there is no upfront fee. You only pay if you receive money because we only accept contingency payments. This enables us to concentrate on what we do best while you concentrate on getting better and recovering from your accident.
If you are worried that the attorney fee might not be worth it, then consider the following:
In most situations, the settlement amount negotiated by your attorney is two to three times higher than any money received by an injured person who is not represented by an attorney.
If you are not sure whether or not your claim is worth hiring an attorney for, please give us a call and we will give you free consultation and assist you in evaluating your case.
Free ConsultationContact Our Compton, CA Car Accident Lawyers Today
At Fisher & Talwar, we have helped many auto accident victims recover fair financial compensation for their damages. If you or a family member was hurt in a crash in Compton, CA, our attorneys are ready to handle your legal issues. To schedule a free, fully confidential review of your case, please call us at (213) 891-0777 or contact us directly through our website.