Orange County Car Accident Lawyer
Car Accidents
Car accidents happen daily in busy Orange County and California traffic law can be overwhelming and leave you confused. Bodily injury and damage to your vehicle will be followed by mounting bills and increased insurance premiums. You may be left wondering who will pay for the damage to your car and the the expensive medical bills. You may also be out of work for a period of time due to your injuries.
You will have a lot of questions during this time and you will need the guidance of a professional as you make your way through them all.
What happens if the other party starts accusing you of causing the accident? You may know that the accident was the fault of the other driver, but if they claim differently, you can be looking at a he said/she said scenario. Once the accident has happened and you’ve exchanged information, what is your next step?
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in Orange County
The mountain of claim forms and settlement papers are tricky to tackle on your own. Immediately following an auto accident, victims can feel isolated, confused and intimidated and may be tempted to settle for a quick settlement that may not be in their best interest in the long run. Fortunately, calling an attorney can help you with this decision.
You need someone on your side who knows the law and can fight hard to protect your rights. An experienced personal injury lawyer 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 Orange County, California
As you can probably imagine, personal injury lawsuits are intricate, tedious and can last for months or even years. Without an attorney, you may find the process overwhelming, especially when the other party or insurance company is armed with a team of tough attorneys on their side.
The intricacies of California traffic law are unknown to most lay people. Statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit can determine your case before you even enter a courtroom. Your attorney knows the time limitations as well as how to fill out and file the extensive pile of paperwork a lawsuit includes. Too many victims of car accidents are unable to collect the damages they need and deserve because their paperwork was filed too late or documents were not properly filled out or missing altogether. Don’t let this happen to you!
Shared Fault Laws in California
California traffic law includes a clause for Shared Fault claims that could limit the damages you can collect. With Shared Fault, the court can fomd that both parties are partially to blame for the accident. A lawyer can explain this clause and the possible implications that may effect the amount of compensation you receive.
Example of Shared Fault Claim:
Let’s assume for purposes of this example that the defendant who 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 will likely argue that you take on a percentage of the blame. If the court finds you to be 10% at fault for the accident, your lawsuit for $50,000 in damages to your car and person may be reduced to $45,000 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 for you to maximize the compensation you are entitled to.
For example, 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 those who have insurance may be entitled to. Damages such as pain and suffering, that does not have a specified monetary amount to award, may not be awarded to an uninsured driver under California law.
Your personal injury attorney is your greatest advocate in court. At the Orange County Law Offices of Brent A. Duque, we maintain a staff of a highly professional, knowledgeable, aggressive and successful car accident attorneys who represent injured people through our offices all across Southern California. Time limitations apply to any injury claim you might have, so for purposes of investigating a possible case and possibly preserving evidence, it is best for you to contact us immediately after an accident.
Contact the Orange 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.
