A car accident is more than just a significant inconvenience for you. Depending on the severity of the accident, it can change the course of your life. If someone else was responsible for what happened, they take on the legal obligation to pay you for the harm that they caused.
However, there are many steps to the legal process that could lead to financial compensation. You need to take all of them seriously. Call the attorneys at The JLF Firm today to discuss your case.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
All it takes is one momentary mistake by a driver to cause a serious car accident. Your car accident may have been caused by simple inattention and carelessness, or there may be a larger factor at work.
Common things that are blamed for car accidents include:
- Distracted driving: Motorists have many things that compete for their attention when behind the wheel, even though their eyes and focus should be solely on the road.
- Running a red light or stop sign: Roughly 40% of accidents occur at intersections. These accidents often pose a legal challenge because each driver may blame the crash on the other.
- Speeding: Driving too fast is a contributing factor in up to one-third of car accidents. Drivers do not have as much time to respond to traffic challenges when they are speeding.
- Reckless driving: There are numerous ways that a driver can be reckless, including excessive tailgating and weaving in and out of lanes. Reckless driving is increasing, as there has been a breakdown in following societal standards.
- Illegal turns: Drivers may not properly check their blindspots when changing lanes, veering into another driver’s space, or cutting them off in traffic.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accident injuries can be serious. Anytime that you are hurt in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Car accident injuries can include:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Neck and back injuries
- Internal injuries
- Lacerations and contusions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Whiplash is perhaps the most common car accident injury. This injury happens primarily in rear-end car accidents, when the force of the rear car is transferred through the front vehicle. The body of the front car driver remains still, while their head and neck snap forward. Even though whiplash is a common injury, it should not be thought of as minor. Whiplash can cause anything from a reduced range of motion to permanent brain damage.
What to Do After a Car Accident
Your post-car accident process begins in the hours and days after the crash. Likely, there was little that you could have done at the scene of the accident. Hopefully, you were able to take pictures and speak to witnesses, but that is not always possible.
Your first priority must be your health after an accident. If you have suffered any injuries, it is crucial that you get them treated. Waiting too long to get medical help can both harm your health and your legal case. Make sure to attend all your doctor’s appointments and take your prescriptions. Never forget that the insurance company is always watching.
At the same time, you must take steps to begin the process of seeking financial compensation. The most important thing to do is contact an experienced car accident lawyer to handle your case. There is no reason why you should try to go it alone.
Your lawyer would help you assemble your claim or lawsuit complaint. In the meantime, make sure that you keep and organize all the evidence that they need to prove your case and the damages that you are seeking.
Important Evidence in a Car Accident Case
If you are seeking compensation, you have the legal obligation to prove that someone else was to blame for your injuries. Negligence is the standard that you must meet. You need to be able to prove what the driver actually did and compare it to what a reasonable driver would have done under the circumstances.
Car accident evidence is only available to you for a limited amount of time. Other evidence you may need to work to obtain. Either way, it is not easy for you to investigate your own car accident. Your lawyer will be on the case and gathering the evidence that you need for your case, which can include:
- Testimony from third-party objective witnesses who saw the accident
- Pictures from the scene of the accident, if they are available
- Traffic or dashcam footage
- The police report of the accident
- Testimony from an accident reconstruction expert who uses principles of math and physics to give their opinion about what happened to cause the crash
How We Can Help
If you have been injured in a car accident, the El Monte personal injury attorneys at The JLF Firm will handle your entire legal case from beginning to end. Our lawyers can do the following:
- Investigate the crash and assemble the necessary proof
- Estimate the value of your damages
- File the insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf
- Negotiate compensation with the insurance company in a settlement agreement
- Argue your case in court
Perhaps the most important function that your attorney will perform is handling the insurance company. As a claimant, you need a visible show of force that makes the insurance company take you seriously. That is exactly what we can do for your case.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in El Monte Today
The attorneys at The JLF Firm will lead the fight for you to get a settlement check when someone else’s negligence has harmed you. We do not let the insurance company stand between you and what you deserve.
The first step is for you to call us at 888-341-3071 or message us online to schedule your free initial consultation. We will never ask you to pay us money out of your own pocket for our time and services. We are only paid at the same time that you are paid.
