Avalon Car Accident Attorneys

Thousands of drivers are involved in car wrecks in California each year. While high impact crashes often lead to catastrophic injuries, you can just as easily be hurt in a minor fender bender. If you believe the other motorist is to blame, then you may be able to pursue compensation for the damages you’ve incurred. Our Avalon car accident attorneys can help you with your claim. We give each case the attention it deserves, taking time to investigate the accident and compile the necessary evidence to prove liability and damages. To get started, contact us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS.

What Should I Do After a Road Accident?

After suffering an injury in a car accident, it’s only natural to feel disoriented. After all, most wrecks happen in a matter of seconds, giving you little time to react. However, it’s important to think carefully about the actions you take immediately after this traumatic experience as following the right steps could help strengthen your personal injury claim. Let’s look at some of the steps you should take after a car accident:

• Contact Authorities: If you, the other driver, or anyone else involved requires medical treatment, you should dial 911 as soon as you can. Doing so can help ensure that the injured parties receive medical attention without delay. Additionally, police officers may arrive at the scene to direct traffic and compile a report on the incident. This document will often include information about the parties involved, any deaths, injuries sustained, property damage, eyewitness statements, and the officers’ observations on who or what caused the wreck. The insurer will likely want to see this document before approving your claim. Your attorney may also rely on the official police accident report to identify important evidence that needs to be gathered and plan their own investigation.

• Take Down Eyewitness Statements: Most car accidents happen on busy roads, so it’s likely someone witnessed the wreck. Eyewitnesses may be able to shed light on important aspects of your case, such as describing the at-fault driver’s actions before the collision. For instance, an eyewitness may be able to confirm that the motorist was speeding prior to causing the wreck. As such, their deposition could help prove liability.

• Take Pictures of Your Injuries: While your medical records will include details on the extent of your injuries, taking pictures at the accident scene could help demonstrate the severity of your condition. Additionally, these images could also help your car accident lawyer tie your injuries to the accident, helping you mitigate potential disputes over causation.

• Schedule a Medical Assessment: If it doesn’t seem like you were seriously hurt in the accident, you may think it’s unnecessary to visit the doctor. However, skipping this critical step could make it difficult for you to pursue damages down the line. Many serious conditions can present with minor or latent symptoms—at least to begin with. Left undiagnosed, they may worsen, leading to additional complications and costs. Failing to seek medical treatment within a reasonable timeframe after an accident could also lead to disputes over failure to mitigate damages.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

Medical costs, repair bills, alternative transportation, and your everyday expenses; a car accident can place an immense financial burden on you and your family. Many victims are unable to work while recovering from their injuries, leaving them to sink further and further into debt.  Filing a personal injury claim can help you hold the at-fault party/parties responsible for their actions, and help you and your loved ones recover what you’ve lost. As such, you are likely eager to find out what your car wreck claim might be worth. However, due to the unpredictable nature of legal proceedings, it’s impossible to guarantee a specific outcome for your case. Our attorneys will need to rigorously investigate the accident, gather evidence, and consult with expert witnesses if necessary before we are able to estimate the value of your losses. Let’s look at a few factors our legal team might consider: 

• Lost Wages: It’s not unusual for a car accident to leave victims sidelined from work, depriving them of weeks—or even months—of earnings. If you suffered a permanent injury or disability, you might not be able to return to work again, putting you in an untenable financial position. Fortunately, you may be able to recover any wages you’ve lost due to your injuries. These damages can encompass both the paychecks you’ve missed in the past and those that you are likely—due to your condition—to miss out on down the line.

• The Severity of Your Injuries: Life-altering conditions such as brain trauma, spinal injuries, and permanent disabilities, will typically cost far more to treat than relatively minor injuries. Victims who have suffered these serious conditions are also more likely to experience extreme and prolonged levels of pain and suffering. As a result, the extent of your injuries will almost always have a major impact on the potential recovery in your case.  
• Your Own Degree of Liability: If it’s clear that the other motorist is 100% responsible for causing the accident, you may think that they are liable for all of your damages. However, not only is it possible for multiple parties to share liability—for instance, if you were injured in an accident involving a commercial trucker, the driver, his employer, and their respective insurers may all be liable for a portion of your damages—you could also be held partially liable for some of your losses. For example, if the actions you took after the accident caused your condition to worsen, the insurer may argue that your own negligence contributed to your damages and that you are therefore liable for some of these costs.

Connect With a Car Accident Attorney in Avalon Today

In California, driving is a necessity, so your chances of being involved in a collision are relatively high—no matter how many precautions you take. If you were hurt by a reckless or negligent driver, our attorneys can assist with your claim. Call us on our 24/7 phone line at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or click through to our online contact page HERE to lock in a free initial consultation.