Legal Advocacy In The Aftermath Of A Car Accident
Our San Francisco, CA car accident lawyer understands that when a person is involved in a crash, it’s only human nature for their fight-or-flight impulse to kick in. This is why many drivers flee the scene of a car accident, especially if they’re not aware of anyone involved suffering serious injury or there being any major property damage.
However, leaving the scene of an accident in California could result in being arrested on hit-and-run charges. A conviction could result in serious penalties, including jail time. Being involved in a car accident is a stressful time and it can lead to the need of finding a car accident lawyer in San Francisco. The aftermath of a car wreck can be stressful and you may find yourself dealing with injuries, property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and no idea what to do next.
Many car accidents are avoidable, and while that isn’t the case for all of them, it still stands to be true. Some forms of accidents are more common than others. Knowing the causes of accidents can help you prevent them in the future or know what to look out for while you are on the road. If you have been charged with a hit-and-run, you need a seasoned car accident attorney to protect your rights. Contact us at The Morales Law Firm for legal assistance. Our legal team has successfully defended many clients on hit-and-run charges and will work aggressively to fight these charges for you.
Table of Contents
- Legal Advocacy In The Aftermath Of A Car Accident
- Compensation For Car Accident Victims
- 4 Tips For Handling The Aftermath Of A Car Accident
- San Francisco Car Accident Infographic
- San Francisco Statistics
- Car Accident FAQs
- The Morales Law Firm
- Contact Our Car Accident Attorney Today
Understanding Your Car Accident Case
Car accidents are an unfortunate reality for many people, as San Francisco, CA car accident lawyer knows all too well. When the unexpected occurs, understanding the specific laws related to car accidents in California becomes invaluable. At Morales Law Firm, we help individuals learn what they need to know about their case and the laws surrounding it, including:
Fault And Liability
In California, car accidents are often governed by the principle of fault, which means that the party responsible for causing the accident is also liable for the resulting damages. This is known as the legal concept of “comparative negligence.” It’s important to note that even if you are partially at fault, you may still be entitled to compensation, albeit reduced based on your degree of fault.
Insurance Requirements
All drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage for liability in the state of California. These requirements are $15,000 for injury or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage. It’s advisable to consult with our San Francisco car accident lawyer from the Morales Law Firm to make sure you are in compliance with the latest insurance requirements.
Statute Of Limitations
The time limit of filing an accident claim is known as the statute of limitations. As of our last update, this limit was generally two years from the date of the accident. Failing to file within this timeframe can result in forfeiting your right to seek compensation. It is essential to act promptly and consult with our accident attorney to protect your rights.
No-Fault Insurance
Though California operates on a fault-based system, in other states they abide by a no-fault system. This system generally allows for a quicker resolution of minor injury claims, without the need to establish fault. However, California is not a no-fault state, which means that fault must be determined in car accident cases.
Recovering Damages
In the aftermath of a car accident, you may be entitled to various types of damages, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You may be entitled to numerous types of damages, so it is important to contact a lawyer for specific information. To maximize your compensation, team up with our seasoned San Francisco car accident lawyer, who can evaluate the full extent of your losses and pursue the appropriate legal action on your behalf.
What To Do After Your Accident
After a car accident, the last thing you want to do is battle it out with an insurance company. Your priority should be on your health and safety. If you suffered injuries following an accident or had extensive damage to your vehicle, you deserve to be compensated for it.
After an accident, collect as much information as possible. If possible, take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries. If you cannot take pictures of the scene yourself, you may want to ask a friend or family member to do so. In addition to photographic evidence, try to keep in contact with the witnesses from the scene. They could provide picture evidence, but they have valuable testimony about what happened that day. In addition, you need a copy of the police report, information about the location of the accident, and information about the other vehicle involved in the accident.
Even if you know the other driver was at fault, do not start an argument following the accident. Do your best not to speak of fault. The priority is to ensure everyone’s medical needs are taken care of. Additionally, any talk about fault could look poorly on you during the case. In addition, be careful not to take responsibility. Many people feel confused after an accident, and it may be a habit to apologize. If you apologize, the insurance company or other person involved with the accident could use it to admit guilt.
Compensation For Car Accident Victims
If you or someone you care about was involved in a car accident, you need to know what kind of compensation you should file for. Our attorney will be able to direct you, but here are a few of the most common damages people file for in a car accident case:
Property Damage
This includes any damage that was done to your vehicle or anything that was damaged or broken inside of your vehicle. You should not have to walk away with a damaged property that you are responsible for replacing due to someone else’s negligence. If it had not been for the other driver you would not be replacing these items in the first place, so it is important to file for all of your property that was damaged in the car accident.
Medical Bills
This includes the first trip you took to the hospital and everything else that followed. Some of the most common things that people file for are costs for prescription and over-the-counter medications, costs for physical therapy or chiropractic care, and the cost for doctor appointments and any copays you have had to spend out of pocket.
Lost Wages
This may be because you needed to attend physical therapy appointments or go to the doctor during work hours, or it could also be because your job is of a physical nature and you have been unable to work since the car accident.
Pain and Suffering
Compensation for pain and suffering is usually for more severe and life-changing accidents. It is more complicated to calculate these damages as they are not associated with any certain monetary value, but a good attorney will know how to estimate exactly how to do this. It can be important to get these damages as well to deter the offending party from being negligent another time in the future, and because you may need to pay for therapy or other things in the future to make your life as close to normal as possible.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our law firm to hear more about how we can help you with your car accident case. We will go over the details surrounding your case to figure out what kind of compensation you may be eligible for in your case. We will do our best to get you what you deserve and have done so many car accident cases in California before yours that we know what has a proven track record of success. You deserve to have your life be as close to normal as possible after your car accident. It is our job to do our best to get you the compensation that can give you that.
4 Tips for Handling the Aftermath of a Car Accident
As a California motorist driving in the most populous state of the country, you may be at increased risk of experiencing an accident resulting in personal injuries and property damage. While speaking with our San Francisco car accident lawyer can help you understand your options for pursuing a court case, keeping a few tips in mind can help you handle the aftermath of the accident.
- Remain Silent About Details: People who know you were in an accident may want you to tell them the details, such as what caused the wreck and who is involved, but speaking about the case, especially on social media, may do you more harm than good. Written statements can be particularly damaging, even if you offer them in a casual way. Staying off social media and requesting that friends and family not question you about the accident can protect your rights and support a court case.
- Track Documents Carefully: A car wreck typically generates a great deal of paperwork, from insurance documents to medical reports. Tracking all of these carefully can help your lawyer place a more accurate value on your case and include all costs related to the wreck. Make copies for your attorney and keep the originals all in one place so you can access any information you may require as you prepare for litigation.
- Allow Your Attorney To Speak for You: When a car accident happens and there is a question of blame, forwarding all queries and requests for contact from the defendant’s insurance company to your attorney can protect your case. This includes settlement offers, which may seem fair on the surface. Allowing your attorney to represent you in these matters can help you avoid errors that may negatively affect your case.
- Keep Communication Open: Once you find an attorney who you feel is a good match for your needs, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open and not assume the case is moving forward without your input. Remain in contact with your attorney and do not be afraid to ask questions about aspects of the case that seem confusing. Take notes during meetings and keep a list of case-specific topics you want to discuss before the court date.
San Francisco Car Accident Infographic
San Francisco Statistics
According to data collected by The San Francisco Chronicle, In 2020, “fatalities in most of the region’s largest counties increased a bit. Contra Costa County (eastern side of the Bay Area) has seen traffic accident deaths climb from 77 to 102 throughout 2020, despite a nearly one-third drop in overall crashes.”
Car Accident FAQs
How should I protect my rights after a car accident?
Accidents on the road occur all too often, and when they do you may not be prepared. Unexpected accidents can cause serious or catastrophic injuries to innocent victims. If a driver was negligent and caused the crash, filing a claim against them might be the most sensible option if you hope to obtain compensation. However, you need to take precautions so that you can boost the strength of your claim.
Do I need to get immediate medical attention?
Getting medical attention is something that not all accident victims do. If they have been involved in a crash, they might not think to go to the doctor because they feel fine. However, this is a big mistake because it can affect how insurance companies perceive the validity of your claim. If you do not get seen by a doctor, they might use that as an excuse to lower your compensation or reject your accident claim.
How do I document the accident site correctly?
Take many photos of the accident scene, making sure to capture damage to the vehicles, property, and debris on the road. Photography all angles and the interior of your vehicle, focusing on details such as any deployed airbags. If your injuries prevent you from being able to take photos yourself, have someone else take them for you. However, if you are physically able to take photos, it is best to document the scene yourself.
When can I obtain the police report?
The local police department will have a copy of your accident report that they can provide for you. After several days you will be able to obtain the report, which contains information about the at-fault driver, parties involved, and how the accident occurred. You can provide this report to your lawyer so that they can use the information from it to build your case.
How do I obtain eyewitness statements?
Witnesses play a crucial role in an accident case. They might have seen the accident from different angles and can provide details that could help your case. After getting medical attention following your accident, reach out to anyone who may have been present at the scene. Obtain their contact information and write down their statement.
What should I not say?
Never give an apology or admit fault after you have been in an accident. It is one of the quickest ways for your claim to get dropped, losing your chance at getting the compensation that you deserve. If the driver tries to pin the blame on you, don’t fall for it. When you are sharing your account of the accident with the police, keep it straightforward.
The Morales Law Firm
1388 Sutter Street, 8th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94109
Contact Our San Francisco Attorney Today
There are a number of car accident lawyers in San Francisco, CA to choose from. However, none have the experience, knowledge, and dedication to representing clients like Christopher Morales of The Morales Law Firm. This is especially true when it comes to handling particularly complex cases. Before choosing just any law firm, you should take the time to review the firm in question and even schedule a consultation where you can ask questions. Contact us today to get started and learn how our experienced lawyer can help you move forward from your accident.
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