Los Angeles County Car Accident Lawyer
Car Accidents
The busy streets of Los Angeles County are notorious for heavy traffic and daily car accidents. California traffic law can be confusing and leave you overwhelmed. Expensive medical bills will soon follow, as will raised insurance premiums. Who is going to pay for damage to your car and for the mounting medical bills due to bodily injury? When can you go back to work?
You will undoubtedly have a lot of questions and will need a lot of professional advice to understand your rights.
While you may be certain that the accident was not your fault, the other party may start pointing the finger at you When you have been involved in an accident and you have exchanged information, what is your next step?
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles County
Filling out the seemingly unending pile of claim forms and settlement papers can be a huge task to face on your own. Auto accident victims often feel isolated, emotional and concerned. You may be tempted to take the quick settlement just to get the whole incident in your distant memory, but this may not be in your best interest in the long run. Fortunately, calling an attorney is easy and painless!
You know that the insurance company will have their team of lawyers ready to fight and you need someone on your side too. Whether you are bringing a claim against your insurance company or against the other party, an experienced attorney can answer your questions, investigate the accident and file your paperwork to ensure that your case is properly prepared and filed within the time limit required by the court. Your initial consultation will allow your attorney to review your case and determine whether or not you are entitled to compensation for damages.
Filing a Lawsuit in Los Angeles County, California
Unfortunately, personal injury lawsuits can be complicated and lengthy. Without an attorney, you may find the process exhausting and overwhelming, especially since the other party or insurance company will be armed with a team of attorneys on their side.
California traffic law is quite intricate and the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit is strict. Without a thorough knowledge of the ins and outs of the process, your case could be over before you even enter a courtroom. Our experienced attorneys know the timeline required as well as how to fill out and file the extensive paperwork a lawsuit includes. A large number of car accident victims are not able to collect the damages they deserve because the paperwork was filed too late or documents were improperly filled out or missing altogether. You do not want this to happen to you!
Shared Fault Laws in California
California traffic law includes a clause for Shared Fault claims. The courts can rule that you are partially to blame for the accident if the defendant in your case argues that both parties are at fault. A lawyer can explain this clause and the possible significance to your specific case.
Example of Shared Fault Claim:
In this scenario, we’ll assume that the defendant that hit your car ran a stop sign. Let’s also assume that you were driving 10 miles over the posted speed limit. The attorney for the other party can argue that you take on a percentage of the blame since you were also breaking the law. If the court finds you to be 10% at fault for the accident, your lawsuit for $30,000 in damages to your car and person may be reduced to $27,000 once your fault is subtracted.
Financial Limits for California Lawsuits
There are often exceptions to the rules that you may qualify for but not even know about. An attorney can find these exceptions to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
For instance, California law places limits on financial gains for certain types of damage. An uninsured driver may not be eligible to collect the full compensation that an insured driver may be entitled to. Damages such as pain and suffering may not be awarded to an uninsured driver under California law.
In the end, your personal injury attorney is your strongest advocate in court. At the Los Angeles County Law Offices of Brent A. Duque, our lawyers are highly professional, knowledgeable, aggressive and successful. Time limitations apply to any injury claim you might have, so for purposes of investigating a possible case and possibly preserving evidence, it’s best for you to contact us immediately after an accident.
Contact the Los Angeles County law office of Brent A. Duque at 877-241-9554 for a free consultation and case evaluation. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.
