Car Accident Lawyer in California
Safety cannot be guaranteed for anyone on the road. Hopefully, you will avoid mishaps, but there could be a time when you will need the services of a car accident lawyer in California.
It is important to be fully aware of what can happen whenever you get behind the wheel of your car. This is not about scaring people. It is about informing them and helping them understand why exercising caution remains a must.
Join us as we talk about numerous topics related to car accidents. Learn about common causes of car accidents, common injuries they cause, and so much more.
Using the knowledge you gain here, you can better protect yourself on the road. If something does go wrong, remember that we can serve as your dependable car accident lawyer. Call My Lawyer Mark (866) 721-5808 to schedule a free consultation.
Car Accident Statistics
To get things started, it helps to gain a better understanding of the threat we are dealing with on a near constant basis. Car accidents happen and we know that. But do you know how common they are?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, 36,096 people died in motor vehicle crashes back in 2019. Notably, that number is down from 2018, but there does continue to be a trend of fatalities exceeding the 36,000 mark.
2015 was the last year that car accident fatalities did not breach the 36,000 mark.
Although automobiles are safer today since they come loaded with a plethora of advanced features, they remain vulnerable to accidents. Do not let your guard down even if your new car has the latest in safety technology.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
With cars growing more advanced and laws being put in place to keep the roads safe, it is fair to wonder why accidents are still as common as they are.
The reality is that numerous factors contribute to the prevalence of automobile accidents. Sometimes, factors completely out of our control wind up being the main cause of an accident. On other occasions, though, it is our own negligence that gets us in serious trouble.
Here in this section, we wanted to focus on the many causes of motor vehicle accidents. Keep them in mind so you can better avoid them in the future.
Distracted Driving
One of the first things they tell you when you start driving school is always to keep your eyes on the road. It is a simple rule, but also one that a lot of drivers fail to heed regularly.
There are so many ways to get distracted while you are behind the wheel of your vehicle.
These days, a common distraction for drivers is their smartphones. After hearing that familiar sound and noting the arrival of a new message, many drivers tend to divert their attention from the road. Even if you have gotten away with using your phone while driving a few times, all it takes is one late reaction to get yourself in trouble.
Keep your smartphone away while you are on the road. Minimize the chances that it will be the cause of a car accident.
Note that your smartphone is not the only potential source of distraction.
Folks who have made a habit of eating breakfast on the go or who try to fix their office attire while driving are also at risk. Listening to loud music can also be risky.
We understand that driving can be a bore sometimes, but do not give in to distractions. Maintain your focus on the road because getting distracted can be deadly.
Being in No Condition to Drive
Driving is not a particularly strenuous activity, but it is still not for everyone.
For instance, an individual may have underlying conditions that may make them a liability in the driver’s seat. Listen to your body before deciding whether you should drive.
If you feel unwell, stay off the road.
Fatigue can also put many drivers at risk. You do not react as quickly when you are tired and dozing off while driving is also a possibility.
It is not only physical fatigue that you must worry about either. Mental fatigue can also make it difficult for you to concentrate on driving.
Once again, there is nothing wrong with staying home when you are in no condition to drive.
Let’s not forget about drunk driving. They have rehashed the dangers of drunk driving so many times that we are familiar with them. Going out to drink is fine, but make sure you have a designated driver along with you or have enough money for the ride home.
Never get behind the wheel when you are drunk because you are only endangering yourself and others by doing so.
Car-Related Issues
The car itself may be the cause of the accident in your case.
Poor maintenance can cause serious issues for vehicles. Any issues with the brakes or the tires can cause accidents at any time. Make it a habit to check on them regularly to avoid unnecessary troubles.
Unfortunately, not all car-related issues are ones you can do something about. The fault may sometimes lie with the manufacturer.
The hope here is that any factory defects do not pop up at inopportune times.
Environmental Hazards
Lastly, your surroundings can also be the reason why you get into an accident. Bad weather makes driving more dangerous. Try to avoid driving in bad weather or at least steer clear of flooded roads whenever possible.
On rural roads, the wildlife can also be an environmental hazard. Animals could jump in front of you out of nowhere and force you to swerve wildly. Do not speed through rural roads, so you have enough time to react if animals do emerge from your surroundings suddenly.
By the way, the other drivers around you can also pose a threat. Watch out for any reckless drivers and try your best to stay away from them.
Common Injuries from Car Accidents
Damage to your vehicle could end up being the least of your worries after your involvement in a car accident. The injuries you or anyone else in your vehicle may sustain are the more pressing concerns.
In this section, let’s discuss some of the most common injuries people sustain from car accidents. If you were recently in a collision, be wary of these symptoms.
Whiplash
Rear-end collisions are among the most common car accidents. That is probably because it is so easy to step on the wrong pedal and accidentally bump into the car in front of you. Failing to brake on time can also lead to a rear-end accident.
Compared to other types of car accidents, rear-end collisions may appear minor. However, they can still leave a lasting physical impact on people. Whiplash injuries are common byproducts of rear-end collisions.
Whiplash injuries occur when the neck and head move back and forth violently due to the impact of the hit. Symptoms of whiplash include pain in the head and neck areas, but that is not all. A victim’s arms may also start to feel numb or tingle following the accident.
Other notable symptoms of whiplash include dizziness, blurred vision, and memory issues. Some people even develop depression in the aftermath of the incident.
Back Injuries
You do not get a lot of time to protect yourself properly when an accident occurs. Instinctively, you may try to protect your head, but that leaves other parts of your body exposed. Your back can be vulnerable to injury.
Back injuries can be devastating. They can render you immobile for an extended time or possibly even for the rest of your life. Even if you emerge from the accident with no serious injuries, your back may still act up from time to time.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are also quite common in car accidents.
If you are lucky, your soft tissue injuries will only leave some bruises. That is not always the case, though.
A lot of people end up with sprains, strains, and even torn ligaments and tendons. The effects of those injuries tend to stay with people for a long time.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Potentially, the most serious of all non-fatal injuries that a person may suffer from is a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries often come about because of the head hitting a hard object forcefully. For instance, it could be the byproduct of your head hitting the steering wheel hard.
The list of symptoms related to traumatic brain injuries is concerning. According to the Mayo Clinic, a person with a traumatic brain injury may suffer from dizziness, vomiting, and fatigue. In serious cases, a person may lose consciousness or suffer from seizures.
Traumatic brain injuries are also known to cause cognitive symptoms.
Many individuals dealing with traumatic brain injuries suffers from bouts of depression, mood swings, and confusion. Those effects also tend to linger in victims. A person with a traumatic brain injury may also fall into a comatose state.
Why You Need to Partner with a Car Accident Lawyer in California
After learning about the different causes of car accidents and the effects they can have on people, you can easily see how these cases can get complicated in a hurry. If you are still reeling from the aftermath of an accident, you will need someone to help you deal with everything going on.
A car accident lawyer in California can prove to be your best ally in that scenario.
They can take over for you while you continue to recover from your injuries. If you need to file something, they can take care of that with input from you.
Some car accident cases are also far from cut and dry. Numerous elements can complicate a case and make it challenging to sort out the facts. That is another area where your lawyer can prove their worth.
Detailed below are some more specific ways that a car accident lawyer can help as your case progresses.
Assigning Blame
As you may or may not know, the state of California adheres to the legal doctrine of comparative fault in many personal injury cases.
With comparative fault in effect, that means figuring out who is to blame for the accident becomes even more important. Remember that the amount of compensation you receive can either increase or decrease depending on how much fault falls on to you for the accident taking place.
If the court finds that you are 40 % at fault for the accident, then you can still file to receive compensation for 60 % of the damages. There are even some cases where the person who is mostly at fault continues to press forward with filings for compensation.
In any case, assigning blame correctly becomes more important when the comparative fault is in play. Consult with your car accident lawyer in California to figure out what you can file for in your case and find out if you need to share blame for the accident.
Calculating Compensation
Plaintiffs do not randomly choose numbers when they file for compensation in court. Numerous factors must be accounted for in those calculations to come up with the right amount.
Figuring out the appropriate compensation amount in a car accident case is likely not something you are familiar with. Do not worry about that. Your lawyer can handle that aspect of your case and pinpoint the number you are looking for.
They will look through your medical expenses, repair bills, and pay slips to come up with the actual damages. Your lawyer can also use certain methods to determine the number of general damages in your case.
Leave the calculations up to them and focus more on your recovery for now.
Filing on Time
Personal injury lawsuits must be filed within a set period for the court to consider them. In the state of California, plaintiffs have two years from the date the accident occurred to file their case.
Two years may seem like plenty of time, but you cannot be certain how you will recover from your injuries. It is good to have a car accident lawyer in California on your side who you can trust to handle the filing in your stead.
Act as soon as possible if you were recently involved in a car accident. Contact us at My Lawyer Mark and allow us to work on your case. Let us help you work through this difficult time and ensure that you are properly compensated for what occurred.
