Los Angeles is a bustling city well-known for its beautiful weather. It is home to millions, making traffic and accidents big problems. In 2020, the LAPD reported more than 42,300 auto accidents. Those crashes killed at least 238 people and thousands more were hurt.
If you were injured in a Los Angeles auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation. You shouldn’t have to cover your medical bills and related damages if another person’s negligence injured you. You are entitled under state law to receive fair payment for your injuries and related losses.
Crown & Stone Law, P.C., can assist if you have been injured in a Los Angeles car accident. Our personal injury lawyers can help you receive compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. We offer a free consultation and are ready to fight for your legal rights.
Where Do Los Angeles Auto Accidents Happen?
Los Angeles is one of the world’s most traffic-congested cities. LA’s highways are known to be hazardous as they are the site of thousands of accidents every year. While accidents can happen anywhere, certain roads have more accidents than others:
- I-405: This is also called the San Diego Freeway. It’s 5.75 miles long and connects Van Nuys to Sherman Oaks. It was the site of six deadly accidents in 2016.
- Sierra Highway: This 3.5-mile-long road is in Canyon Country. There were 10 deadly crashes in this part of the Santa Carita Valley in a recent year.
- I-5: This is the most congested interstate in town. It’s also known as the Golden State Freeway and was the site of 30 fatal accidents in 2016.
- State Route 118: Known as the Ronald Reagan Freeway, this road was the site of nine fatal crashes in 2016.
- Route 57: This road runs for 9.85 miles and extends through Los Angeles County. Nine people died on this road in 2016.
Wherever your auto accident happens, you may quickly suffer extensive medical bills and lost wages. Paying medical and other bills can be a nightmare when you have a serious injury and you may soon find yourself unable to pay any bills at all. Without enough compensation, you could have difficulty obtaining critical medical care. Fortunately, a car accident attorney can fight for the compensation you need. They also can help you get medical care during your case, even if payment is delayed until the case is resolved.
What Are the Common Causes of Los Angeles Car Accidents?
Los Angeles car accidents happen daily. Many can be severe or even fatal. Common causes of Los Angeles car accidents are:
- Speeding: Traffic in Los Angeles is notorious and getting anywhere quickly is often challenging. So, many drivers speed, which reduces their ability to react to traffic and road hazards. Speeding reduces the time to slow down or stop in an emergency. It also vastly increases the impact of a car crash.
- Distracted driving: This is one of the top causes of auto accidents nationally and locally. Los Angeles drivers can be distracted by texting, talking on the phone, eating and drinking, adjusting the GPS or radio, etc. It only takes two or three seconds of a distraction for a serious crash to happen.
- DUI: Operating a car or truck in Los Angeles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal. It impairs judgment, reaction time, and coordination. A driver can be convicted of a crime and sued in civil court for injuring someone in a DUI accident.
- Fatigued driving: Operating a car or truck when tired can impair one’s cognitive abilities. It’s similar to drunk driving in terms of how it affects reaction times. Driver fatigue can cause a lapse in attention, leading to a devastating auto accident.
- Reckless driving: Many people in Los Angeles are in a rush. Heavy traffic can cause aggressive driving, such as sudden lane changes without signaling, tailgating, and road rage.
- Auto defects: Many Los Angeles vehicles may have defects, such as worn tires, brake issues, steering system faults, and more. You could receive compensation if your attorney proves a product defect contributed to your accident.
A car accident attorney knows how to examine the crash evidence and determine the cause and who was at fault. Your attorney will find out if the driver was using their cell phone when the crash happened. They can also speak to responding law enforcement to determine if they can help to prove fault for the accident.
What To Do After A Los Angeles Car Accident
There are several important steps you should take after a Los Angeles car accident. Taking certain actions will be important for ensuring your health and preserving your potential legal options:
- Call for medical assitance for anyone who is injured. You are required by state law to render aid after a car accident. Wait for the abumulance and the police to arrive. Leaving the scene without talking to the police could lead them to accuse you of fleeing the crash scene. You don’t know what the other driver will tell them so make sure you wait.
- Get eyewitness information: Get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses. It may be difficult for your attorney to track them down later. Eyewitness testimony can be a critical factor when assigning blame for a car accident.
- Get medical attention: Many accident victims initially think they aren’t hurt and don’t go to the ER. However, the rush of adrenaline after the accident can mask their pain. You could have a head injury or brain bleed that you don’t notice in the first few hours after the accident. Going to the ER will ensure that your health is protected. Also, the treating physician will note in your medical record that an auto accident caused your injuries, which is important for a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
- Talk to a car accident attorney immediately. Don’t wait until the insurance company denies your claim or offers a small settlement to call a lawyer. The sooner you get a car accident attorney involved, the better the potential outcome. You could say or do something regarding your case that undermines your arguments. For example, the other driver’s insurance adjuster may want to record your statement, which they may use to manipulate the truth.
Common Car Accident Injuries
If you’re hurt in a car crash, you want fair compensation for your losses. Many auto accident injuries are severe and disabling. You may need immediate hospitalization and surgery. Once the initial care is complete, you may still need rehabilitation. Some of the most common car accident injuries in Los Angeles are:
- Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Severed or crushed limbs or amputations
- Internal organ injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Severe burns and permanent scarring
Your car accident lawyer will take time to understand your injuries and prognosis. Then, they will work with your medical team to fully document your current injuries and future medical needs. This information will be used in an insurance demand letter to request fair compensation for your injuries. Medical expenses for serious injuries can be hundreds of thousands of dollars, so estimating your future medical needs is a critical aspect of your case.
How a Car Accident Attorney Proves Negligence
Receiving compensation in a personal injury lawsuit requires you to prove that another party was negligent and caused your injuries. An experienced auto accident attorney will work hard to prove negligence in your case by showing the following:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care: In California, all drivers owe others a duty of care to drive safely, obey the law, and not engage in behavior that endangers others’ safety.
- The at-fault party violated their duty of care: For example, another driver ran a red light and slammed into your car.
- The breach of the duty of care caused your injuries: Using the example above, the crash broke several bones in your arm and leg and ruptured a disc in your back.
- You incurred damages because of the accident: For example, you have $50,000 in medical bills and $10,000 in lost wages.
If your attorney can prove these elements, you can receive compensation in your auto accident claim. Most auto accident claims in California end in an insurance settlement but some cases go to court. Your attorney will keep you updated on settlement negotiations and whether a fair offer is made. If not, they may recommend filing a lawsuit and going to trial.
Who Can I Sue After an Accident?
You’re entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against any liable party. If successful, you may receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, long-term care, mental anguish, and other losses. Pain and suffering compensation is subjective and your attorney will use your medical records and doctors’ statements to argue for more money for your mental and physical discomfort.
Depending on the nature of the crash, it’s possible that more than one party could be responsible for your losses. From an auto part manufacturer to a nightclub that kept serving a drunk driver, there are many people and entities your car accident lawyers can hold accountable for your losses, such as the following:
- Insurance companies
- Other drivers
- Auto dealerships
- Auto manufacturers
- Auto and truck maintenance companies
- Commercial truck drivers
- Bars and nightclubs
- Auto mechanics
- Construction zone planners and companies
Truck accidents often have more than one responsible party. Many times, the truck driver is responsible for the crash but their employer also may be on the hook. Companies that employ truck drivers can be found vicariously liable for their employee’s negligence. Your attorney will review the company’s driver training records and employment history to determine if they were negligent in their hiring practices.
This is a critical point because trucking companies are required to carry much higher insurance coverage than stndard vehicle drivers. Your car accident attorneys will tirelessly work to uncover every potentially liable defendant so you receive the highest compensation.
How Can My Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney Help?
The last thing on your mind after a serious car crash injury is fighting with the insurance company about money for your injuries. Most car accident injury victims aren’t in the ideal state of mind to deal with insurance coverage and claims. You may be tempted to accept the initial accident settlement offer from the insurance adjuster. Insurance companies know that you may be unfamiliar with insurance negotiations, so an adjuster may call you quickly after the crash and offer a lowball settlement.
Don’t take them up on it. The initial auto accident settlement offer is rarely as much as you deserve. You have no idea what your injuries are and what the claim is worth in the hours and days after the crash. Instead of being shortchanged for your economic and non-economic losses, let a Los Angeles car accident lawyer at Crown & Stone Law, P.C., help you recover maximum compensation.
No matter the severity of your injuries, our car accident lawyers will fight for the appropriate compensation for your losses. Our car accident attorneys in Los Angeles can take on the insurance companies and defense attorneys in:
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Drunk driver accidents
- Poor road design accidents
- Construction zone accidents
Whether you need representation in a hit-and-run case or an Uber accident lawyer following a rideshare crash, we can assist you. Our attorneys have extensive settlement negotiation and trial experience and know how to prove fault and obtain the most compensation for their clients’ injuries. Most cases settle with the insurance company but we’ll inform you if going to trial may be necessary to obtain the most compensation.
What About Uninsured Drivers? Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help?
Unfortunately, about 20% of all California drivers don’t carry auto insurance, which they sre required to do. Some estimates state that there are over four million uninsured drivers in the state.
An uninsured driver can lead to difficulties in a personal injury claim. All California drivers must have at least $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident. If the liable driver doesn’t have insurance, a personal injury attorney can help you get compensation through your insurance company’s uninsured driver coverage, if available.
You are your insurance company’s client but they may try to shortchange you in an uninsured driver claim. If you and your auto insurance provider cannot come to a fair settlement, your attorney can assist with arbitration. They could even help you file a bad faith lawsuit against your auto insurance provider.
Can I Afford to Pay Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers?
At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., we offer legal services on a contingency fee basis. This means we collect legal fees as a percentage of your settlement or jury award. You will never pay an experienced car accident attorney from our office out of your own pocket. If your case doesn’t succeed, you don’t owe a dime of legal fees.
Since the contingency fee frees you from direct legal expenses, you should ask yourself if you can afford not to retain a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. Without skilled accident attorneys protecting your rights, you risk an auto insurance company lowballing you. Auto insurance firms have experienced attorneys representing their interests. They’ll fight liability and refuse to pay you fairly, so there is a risk that you could get less than you need and deserve.
Our accident attorneys in Los Angeles have impressive financial and legal resources to take your case as far as necessary to get the most compensation.
Do I Need a Lawyer For My Car Accident Case?
When a Los Angeles car crash upends your life, you must know the legal steps to get compensation for your injuries and property damage. You might sit back and wait for the insurance company to pay you. However, their offer might be a fraction of what you deserve.
Your best chance for the most compensation from the insurance company is to hire a Los Angeles auto accident lawyer. Our attorneys at Crown & Stone Law, P.C., have obtained millions in compensation for auto crash victims just like you. Benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney for car accident cases include:
- Our car accident lawyers have the skill and knowledge to file your car accident claim successfully to meet critical deadlines.
- We have the financial and legal resources to investigate the accident and collect evidence to prove fault.
- We understand what your car accident claim is worth and will negotiate a fair motor vehicle accident settlement for your losses.
- We know all of the insurance company’s bad-faith tactics to reduce what they pay you. Our auto accident attorneys know how to negotiate effectively with the at-fault driver’s insurance company and obtain the most compensation for you.
- Our attorneys understand that the at-fault driver’s insurance company may attempt to blame you for the accident. California has a comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation is reduced based on your percentage of fault for the accident. Our personal injury attorneys will use all of their skills and knowledge to hold the liable driver fully at fault for the accident.
- Our auto accident lawyers are named in The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. We have also been recognized by Super Lawyers for our litigation skills.
The bottom line is that our Los Angeles car accident lawyers are your best advocate when you’re hurt and someone else caused the accident. We are highly motivated to extract maximum compensation from the liable party for your losses. Getting the most money for your injuries, lost earnings, and pain and suffering is critical to get back on your feet and and back to your life.
How Much Compensation Can I Get?
There’s no easy answer to this common question. Every LA auto accident claim is different. Some cases are worth thousands and others might be worth millions. There isn’t an “average” auto accident claim payout that you can expect. However, experienced car accident attorneys know that accident settlements often depend on several common factors:
- The severity of your injuries: If a drunk driver T-bones your car in a busy intersection, you may suffer a traumatic brain injury and have months of recovery and rehabilitation ahead of you. Your car accident claim will have a higher value than that of someone with a broken wrist or other minor injury.
- The extent of your medical expenses: Do you require a month of hospitalization and two surgeries? Car accident cases with extensive medical treatments are worth more than ones where someone was treated and released from the ER.
- Accident fault: A car accident claim with clear liability by another party will have a higher value than if you were partially to blame.
- Insurance coverage limits: Many California drivers may only carry the state’s minimum insurance. So, there might be only $30,000 available in bodily injury coverage, which may be much less than your medical bills. Unless the at-fault party has substantial assets to claim, your case could settle for their policy limits. Your attorney will perform an exhaustive search to find every possible source of compensation for your losses.
When Should You Hire a Los Angeles Auto Accident Lawyer?
You should always hire a car accident attorney in Los Angeles in the following circumstances:
- You have serious injuries: Do you have a brain injury, spine injury, internal injuries, broken bones, or burns? You should hire an auto accident lawyer to pursue maximum compensation from the insurance company.
- There are several parties involved: If the crash involved more than two drivers, deciding who is liable is difficult. You want to ensure that your rights are respected, so you should have a lawyer in your corner. There is a limited amount of insurance money available and your best shot at getting your fair share is having a car accident attorney negotiate for you.
- Liability is disputed: If the other driver blames you for the accident they caused, you need a lawyer immediately. Your getting blamed for the accident may result in no compensation for your losses.
- The insurance company denies your claim: Did the insurance company deny your claim or offer a tiny settlement? You should retain a car accident attorney to negotiate with the insurance adjuster immediately.
Ask a car accident attorney near you for a free consultation to learn more.
Don’t Delay Calling Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers
You may be tempted to put off calling car accident attorneys after a serious accident. However, the sooner you initiate your auto accident claim, the more likely your case will lead to compensation. The at-fault party’s insurance company employs attorneys who are looking for ways to reduce their payout or even deny your claim. Level the playing field by retaining a skilled attorney for your car accident lawsuit.
There are other reasons to take legal accident in a car accident claim. California has a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the crash. This means you have only two years from the accident to file a car accident lawsuit. Waiting too long means forfeiting the right to compensation for your losses.
Contact a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer Today
Being seriously hurt in a Los Angeles auto accident is a grave matter. Don’t attempt to settle your case without the assistance of an attorney. Crown & Stone Law, P.C., is ready to help Los Angeles car accident victims receive the most compensation for their losses. Your car accident case will be handled on a contingency fee basis and you only pay if we win. Obtain a free car accident case consultation today by calling (844) 641-0917.