Why You Need a Car Crash Attorney

4 Reasons Why You Need a Lawyer After a Car Crash

Let’s face the truth: insurance companies profit off of your payments and will do everything in their power to give you the lowest return on an insurance claim as possible. Many policyholders are not aware of this until they experience it for themselves. Car insurance is mandatory by law and insurance companies take complete advantage of that fact. You’re likely not a car insurance expert, so this is no fault to you. A car accident attorney, however, is knowledgeable on this topic and will ensure that you are compensated fairly for any damages caused by the accident.

4 Main Reasons You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident

Why Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident

Proving liability (who’s responsible for what damages). The aftermath of a car accident can be filled with high emotions. Each party involved in the accident may find themselves feeling stressed out as they try to defend themselves from accusations said by one another. Proving liability for an accident can be difficult since each party can contribute to the cause of it. California is a fault state, meaning that somebody has to take responsibility for damages caused by a collision. California is also identified as a comparative liability state, meaning more than one party can be held liable. While proving liability may be a complicated process, car accident attorneys are experts at this practice and will make it easier for you to submit a car accident insurance claim. In some cases, the other party may open up a lawsuit against you and claim that you are the one at-fault for their injuries. Legal representation is highly urged in these types of situations since you will receive a lot of help and protection against people who might accuse you as the driver at-fault for causing the car crash.
Building your case. There are several important steps you should follow after getting involved in a car accident. Firstly, you must contact the police. They can file an official police report that could be used as evidence in your lawsuit. Secondly, you should gather contact and insurance information from all parties involved in the accident. Lastly, it would be ideal to document the collision by taking pictures of the damages and the location of the impact. This is great work on your end, however, a lot can go wrong when you try to build up the case yourself. There are many factors that could ruin the chances of you collecting evidence, such as the police being absent from the scene or the other party providing you with incorrect personal information. Photos may also get misplaced or accidentally deleted. To avoid these types of situations from happening, it would be best to contact an experienced car accident attorney to help you save your documentations along with strengthening your case before making an insurance claim.
Getting the highest insurance claim available to you. As mentioned earlier, insurance companies have their own interests in mind – to maximize profits over your well-being. If you attempt to submit an insurance claim yourself, they might deny it, which means that they pocket all of the money you’ve invested in car insurance payments for nothing in return. If it is approved, they will assure to give you the bare minimum possible return on an insurance claim. Insurance companies are designed to do this. Just as insurance company representatives are experts at making sure you get minimum compensation, attorneys are expert negotiators against insurance companies to ensure that you get the maximum compensation available. Insurance companies will try to target you while you are unrepresented by a legal attorney in order to pressure you to settle for the first insurance claim, that will always be the lowest offer. When you become represented by a legal attorney, the insurance company will stop pressuring you into settling for less, as they know that you now have a professional on your side who will fight for what you deserve.
Assuring your medical bills for injuries caused by the accident are covered. A car accident attorney will make sure you get the medical attention that you need along with having your bills covered by the insurance company. An accident that could be considered minor by you could result in dire medical consequences. If you have an attorney on your side, they can help guide you through the process of receiving proper medical attention and keeping these visits documented. If you wait too long to receive medical attention because you don’t have the money for it, insurance companies will use that against you.

Available Damages

A car accident lawyer can ensure that you are compensated for all of the damages you are eligible for by helping you step-by-step of the way. The following are the available damages for injuries sustained in an accident:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are intended to compensate a plaintiff for monetary losses. They are calculated by determining the amount of out-of-pocket losses an aggrieved individual has or will expect to incur as a result of the injuries that were sustained in an accident.

A few examples of economic losses include:

Loss of Earning Capacity
Medical Bills
Lost Wages

Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are intended to cover losses that are thought of as subjective, such as:

Emotional Distress
Pain and Suffering
Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Punitive Damages
The third type of damages a California court may award are known as punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended as punishment and are only awarded when a defendant’s behavior is especially harmful. Punitive damages are relatively rare and in fact are only incorporated in about 5 percent of all verdicts. Furthermore, there is no real set standard for calculating and awarding punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded at the court’s discretion and will vary depending on the specific circumstances of a case.

Need a New Car Accident Attorney? Contact West Coast Trial Lawyers Today

If you have sustained injuries in the as a result of a car accident, our experienced team of car accident attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers can help you recover financial compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call us today at (213) 927-3700 or email [email protected] to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring, and compassionate legal team.

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Why You Need a Car Crash Attorney

4 Reasons Why You Need a Lawyer After a Car Crash

4 Main Reasons You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident

Available Damages

Need a New Car Accident Attorney? Contact West Coast Trial Lawyers Today

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