Riverside Car Accident Attorneys

The attorneys at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience and a track record of success in auto accident cases involving cars, trucks, trains, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and pedestrians. Our car accident attorneys in Riverside handle personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t have to pay any attorney’s fees unless we win. Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you. Call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to discuss your case with a member of our team and determine the most strategic way to proceed.

What Are the Most Important Steps to Take After a Car Accident?

Building a strong auto accident claim starts at the scene of the crash. Hopefully, you or someone else was able to take photos of property damage and injuries, write down the contact information of eyewitnesses, and record the insurance information of the other parties involved. If you require emergency care and for any reason are unable to compile this evidence, don’t worry; an attorney from Harris Personal Injury Lawyers can perform a thorough investigation and gather evidence on your behalf. Let’s examine a few of the most important steps to take after leaving the scene:

• Get a Medical Evaluation: Once you’ve left the scene, your number-one priority is to visit a doctor for a medical assessment. The best time to undergo this evaluation is immediately after leaving the scene, but it is imperative that you do not wait more than 48 hours. The longer you put off the doctor’s visit, the higher the chance may be that the insurance company will dispute your claim. They might argue, for example, that your injuries could not be as serious as you are claiming since emergency attention was not necessary. Alternatively, you might face a dispute over a failure to mitigate damages, meaning the defense would contend that your own negligence has prolonged your recovery or aggravated your condition. If you’ve already waited more than 48 hours and you haven’t yet visited a doctor, it may still be possible for one of our skilled car accident lawyers in Riverside to get you fairly compensated for your damages, but it is critical that you get an official diagnosis right away.
• Speak with a Car Accident Attorney: After your medical assessment, your first call should be to a personal injury lawyer. It is essential that you enlist the help of an attorney right away so your legal team can take over all dialogue with the insurer. If you try to handle this correspondence on your own, you might inadvertently say something that brings liability, causation, or the extent of your damages into question. Your lawyer will also want to launch an immediate investigation so time-sensitive evidence can be gathered.
• Follow the Advice of Your Medical Team: Your attorney can handle the logistics of your case, but there are still tasks you must complete on your own in order to protect your claim. Following your doctor’s orders, for example, can prevent the defense from asserting that you have failed to mitigate your damages.
• Stay Away from Social Media: Your digital content will very likely be admissible in court. You should expect the insurance adjuster to review your online profiles and the profiles of your close friends and family for evidence that can be used to challenge your claim. It’s a good idea to disable your accounts until the resolution of your case or, at the very least, to avoid posting about your injury, accident, or case online. Also, do not accept connection requests from strangers since they might be affiliated with the defendant or the insurance company.

How Will My Car Accident Attorney Prove My Damages?

The financial impact of a serious auto accident can be devastating. Medical bills, lost income, and other services like transportation and domestic help can add up quickly. Although these costs might be recoverable, you won’t be able to collect any compensation without strong evidence to prove the damages you have incurred and their value. Important evidence of damages may include:

• Your medical bills and other healthcare records;
• Paystubs, tax returns, and other financial records;
• Your journal entries about the symptoms you are experiencing and how your life has changed since the crash;
• Deposition from caregivers, family, and friends;
• Deposition from your doctor;
• Deposition from medical, financial, and vocational experts; and
• Invoices and receipts for costs arising from the accident.

Contact Us Today to Discuss Your Case with a Riverside Car Accident Lawyer

Our law firm has won more than $300 million for clients throughout California, and some of our greatest victories were in car accident cases. We know the relevant statutes and case law inside and out, so you can rest assured that we won’t let the insurer treat you unfairly. For a free consultation, call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or send us a message.