Garden Grove Car Accident Attorneys

A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye, but the consequences can last a lifetime. From extensive property damage to debilitating injuries, a collision can have a ripple effect across all aspects of your life. If you were hurt on the road, turn to our Garden Grove car accident attorneys for help. We’ve handled a wide variety of personal injury cases, from auto accidents and truck wrecks to dog bites and brain injuries. Contact us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to set up a consultation.

What Should I Do After Suffering a Serious Injury?

After a serious accident, it can be difficult to remain calm, but the actions you take immediately after this traumatic event could seal the deal for your personal injury claim—for better or worse. Mistakes, missteps, and oversteps can sink your chances of a successful outcome, while diligently tracking your damages and following your doctor’s orders could strengthen your claim and, ultimately, help you secure a financial award. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. our lawyers may can guide you through this process and represent you during negotiations, litigation, or trial. Here are a few steps you should take after an accident:

• Seek Medical Treatment Even If Your Injuries Seem Minor: After an accident, the first thing you need to think about is your health and safety. Whether you or someone else needs urgent care, you should contact authorities immediately. Even if you don’t think you need to be treated, you should still visit the doctor after leaving the scene. Many injuries can initially present with minor symptoms. Left untreated, these serious conditions could worsen leading to additional complications. However, scheduling a doctor’s appointment is about more than taking care of yourself. Seeking immediate medical attention can help demonstrate the severity of your injuries, create official records documenting your condition, and avoid disputes over failure to mitigate damages when you file your claim.
• Report the Accident to Your Insurer: Whether it was a car accident or a slip and fall, if you have applicable auto coverage in this scenario you should report the incident to your insurer. At this point, you do not yet need evidence to prove aspects of the claim; you simply need to report that an accident occurred. However, from this point on, you should not communicate with the insurer directly, and instead direct any correspondence to your attorney.
• Gather Evidence: A successful claim requires strong evidence. As such, it may benefit your case to begin collecting evidence at the crash site. Speak to eyewitnesses, snap pictures of your injuries, and note down the names and badge numbers of responding officers. Your personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and help determine what evidence is still needed to prove liability, causation, and damages.
• Do Not Post About Your Accident on Social Media: Anxious, confused, and in incredible pain, you may want to turn to friends and family on social media for support and guidance during this stressful time. However, posting about the accident, your injuries, or recovery online could have dire consequences for your case. Opposing parties may be monitoring your feeds for any evidence that could be used to dispute aspects of your case. For instance, if you posted about the accident and inadvertently admitted fault for causing the collision, your comments could be used out of context to challenge your claim. As such, it’s advisable to deactivate your accounts until you’ve reached a settlement or verdict.

How Much Might My Personal Injury Claim Be Worth?

If you were involved in a serious accident, it’s likely you’ve had to put your life on hold. Even minor injuries can prevent you from working, leaving you to sit at home gritting your teeth against the pain and agonizing over how you and your family will start chipping away at the medical debt and other accident-related expenses you’ve incurred. Understandably, you’re likely eager to find out exactly how much your claim is worth. While no attorney can ever guarantee a specific outcome in a car accident claim, our legal team can use widely accepted methods and formulas to estimate the potential recovery in your case. Below are a few factors our legal team may consider:

• Medical Expenses: Even if you carry insurance, healthcare can be incredibly expensive. From procedures to prescriptions to physical therapy, accident victims often struggle with immense financial strain caused by their exorbitant medical bills. Fortunately, many of these costs may be recoverable as part of your claim. Your attorney can review your medical records, bills, and other relevant evidence to determine the value of such damages and consult with medical specialists to get a clear idea of the medical expenses you’re reasonably likely to incur in the future, too.
• Loss of Income: If your injuries have sidelined you from work, your attorney may factor these lost wages into your estimated settlement. Based on your salary, the value of such damages could be as much as all of your other losses combined. Your lawyer will want to see evidence that can help prove these damages such as paystubs, bank statements, letters from your employer, and other relevant financial documents. Be sure to share this evidence with your attorney during your initial consultation.
• Diminished Earning Capacity: If it’s likely your injuries will prevent you from returning to the same job you were doing prior to the accident, and the limitations stemming from your injuries impede your ability to adapt to other work, you may also be entitled to compensation for lost earning capacity. Your attorney may need to consult with economists and vocational experts to determine the value of such damages.
• Pain and Suffering: Some injuries can cause extreme agony, leaving you feeling miserable, demotivated, and struggling to make it through the day. An accident can have a ripple effect that extends beyond the figures printed on your invoices and receipts. Many conditions can negatively affect your mental health and ruin your quality of life. As such, accident victims have a right to seek damages for intangible losses such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of life enjoyment. Your attorney may use many different types of evidence to prove such losses including your personal injury journal, psychiatric reports, and expert witness deposition.

Find a Car Accident Attorney in Garden Grove Today

Whether you were injured on the road, on the rails, or someone else’s property, our attorneys are here to help. We can assist with investigating your claim, collecting evidence, and preparing your case for settlement negotiations or trial. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or use our Contact Form to connect with a member of our legal team.