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Car accidents can leave you with injuries that cause pain and disrupt your life. If you have been in a collision in the San Francisco Bay Area, a personal injury claim might be a way to get compensation so you can recover.
LegalFinders can connect you with the top San Francisco car accident lawyers who can help you start a personal injury claim.
If you need to make up for medical bills, lost wages, or need time to recover after the trauma of a car crash, your best option is to file a personal injury claim against the accident’s liable party.
With the help of a personal injury lawyer, you can hold the liable party accountable and get a settlement that covers all of your costs and suffering related to the accident.
Working with a well-established and experienced law firm gives you the best chance of winning a favorable settlement. LegalFinders can put you in touch with San Francisco’s top personal injury law offices.
In most motor vehicle accidents, one or more motorists is found to be at fault for the crash, meaning they contributed to whatever caused the crash to occur.
In California, you can receive compensation in a personal injury claim even if you were partially at fault for your accident.
Determining fault is not always straightforward, but experienced auto accident lawyers can review the information and help to clear up who caused your accident.
Fault is important when it comes to personal injury claims, because the at-fault party is also ultimately responsible for paying damages to the claimant.
Liability is different from fault in that the liable party is not necessarily the one who causes the accident, but is legally responsible for paying damages.
Usually, in car accident cases, a negligent driver is at fault in a crash, but their insurance company is liable for damages.
Drivers in California are legally required to carry liability insurance so that if they hit someone and injure them or cause property damage, there is a party that is responsible for paying for it.
In cases where a driver causes an accident and they do not have insurance or their coverage limits are exceeded by the damages claimed, the at-fault driver may also be liable for all or part of a settlement.
If you have sustained property damage and/or injuries in a car accident, you have the right to seek legal representation in the state of California.
The best attorneys offer free consultations, when they can advise you on whether to start a personal injury claim.
If you do start a claim with the help of an attorney, you are likely to receive a settlement that helps to pay for losses you have suffered related to the accident.
Most of the time, an insurance company will be held responsible for your settlement.
Car accident victims in San Francisco should, whenever possible, follow the steps below following their crash.
In the days and weeks following your accident, it is advisable to collect all relevant information that could serve as evidence in your case.
Documentation to collect after your crash includes:
You should also be sure to save documents related to your injuries and property damage, such as vehicle repair receipts, medical bills and records, etc.
If you are in the midst of dealing with property damage and injuries after your accident, finding a San Francisco car accident attorney is probably not at the top of your to-do list.
You might be surprised to know that an experienced car accident attorney can make life much easier after your accident.
They will handle communication with insurance companies and other involved parties, and make all the paperwork and legal factors related to the accident much easier.
Hiring an attorney after a car accident can relieve a lot of the stress related to the crash.
After compiling all the necessary documents and information, your attorney can file your claim against the liable party. This will notify the liable party that you are pursuing a settlement for your damages.
Once your claim is filed, your lawyer will communicate with all parties involved and begin to negotiate a settlement with the liable party.
Your settlement will be calculated based on the severity of your injuries and property damage, your emotional distress, and other impacts on your life.
The best car accident lawyers know how to hold insurance companies accountable to get you a fair settlement.
In the rare case that you and the liable party cannot agree on a settlement, you can file a personal injury lawsuit so a court can make the final judgment on your settlement amount.
When you file a car accident claim with the help of an attorney, you are asking the liable party to compensate you for the effects the accident has had on your life.
Some of these effects will be direct financial impacts like medical bills and lost wages. Others will be more indirect, like pain and suffering. Any impacts to your life that are related to the accident can be included on a personal injury claim.
Common damages that people cite on their car accident claims include:
Car accidents, as well as motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and truck accidents, cause an array of injuries ranging from minor to severe.
While serious injuries generally lead to higher settlement amounts, any injury can lead to a successful claim. It’s important that you seek medical treatment for any injuries you sustain, whether minor or severe.
Common injuries listed on Northern California car accident claims include:
In San Francisco, Oakland, and other areas of California, most car accidents are caused by negligent drivers.
Behaviors like speeding, reckless driving, driving under the influence, and simple driver errors are some of the most common causes of accidents.
Dangerous roadway conditions or faulty vehicle parts might also lead to a crash.
The cause of an accident can give information about who was at fault. For example, if a driver rear-ends another vehicle, the driver in the back is almost always found to be at fault.
California, like most states, has some laws that pertain to personal injury cases in the state. Personal injury law firms with years of experience practicing in California will know these laws well and can help you navigate them for a successful claim.
California is an at-fault state for car insurance, meaning if you are injured in an accident, you can seek compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
In no-fault states, motorists seek compensation from their own insurance company first.
In California, you have up to two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim. If you fail to file within this time frame, you will not be able to get compensation for the accident.
California employs a principle called comparative negligence. This law states that even people who are partially at fault in an accident can file a claim and receive compensation for their losses.
If you were partially at fault, your final settlement amount will be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
California, like most states, sees a lot of traffic accidents every year, with thousands of people dying and tens of thousands more injured in crashes each year.
Here are traffic collision facts about the state of California:
People died in car accidents
3,606
in 2019 in California
Fatalities involving drivers impaired by alcohol
1,066
People injured in accidents
269,031
in California in 2019
People who died were not wearing seatbelts
620
in California in 2019
People in San Francisco who are looking to file a car accident claim can find answers to common questions below.
LegalFinders can connect you with award-winning personal injury lawyers. The attorneys in our network are experts at negotiating settlements for their clients and are strong trial lawyers, should your case be moved to court.
If you or a loved one has been in a car accident in the San Francisco area, reach out to LegalFinders today to be connected with the best personal injury lawyers in California
