Car accidents are among the most common reasons for personal injury claims worldwide. In Pasadena, California, car accidents often result in severe injuries, extensive property damage, and various other consequences that victims and their families must endure for various lengths of time.
However, no one should be left to deal with the consequences of a car accident alone, especially if another party’s negligence or wrongdoing caused it. Victims should pursue a legal claim against the at-fault parties to rebuild their lives, gain financial support, and hold the negligent individuals liable for their actions or inactions.
This is where a Pasadena car accident lawyer can make a difference! At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our track record of successful cases speaks for itself. We have been beside our clients in various types of car accident cases and recovered millions for their damages and losses.
Our client-focused approach ensures that no car crash victims are left with their stories untold. We offer a free consultation for car accident claims in Pasadena and prioritize victims of negligence. Contact our law office to learn more. Here is what you should know about automobile accidents and how our Pasadena car accident lawyers can help you!
The Role of Pasadena Car Accident Lawyers
Car accident victims have to deal with the aftermath of their unfortunate events in various ways, such as dealing with the financial toll of medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering caused by their injuries, treatment, or other interpersonal relationship strains.
Sometimes, severe injuries require more than physical therapy as they result in psychological issues as well. Some personal injury victims may lose their ability to work or enjoy their day-to-day activities due to permanent disabilities and other complex factors.
To make it all worse, car crash victims have no assurance that they will receive fair compensation for the injuries and other damages sustained. Yet, this is where personal injury lawyers step in and give victims a fighting chance.
An experienced car accident attorney will protect the rights and interests of their client and help them navigate the legal complexities involved in car accident cases. A personal injury attorney will not only help clients realize if they are offered a subpar settlement from an insurance company, but they will also aid them in understanding what they are entitled to based on the available evidence.
Experienced car accident attorneys take on even the most complex of cases to give auto accident victims a fighting chance at receiving fair compensation. At Crown & Stone Law, P.C, our law firm seeks to help injured victims to understand their legal options, gather evidence, strengthen their claim, and guide them throughout the legal processes involved.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Take On
The Pasadena car accident lawyers at Crown & Stone Law, P.C. have worked on various types of car accident cases and understand the subtleties involved in the different types of collisions. We take on clients that have been involved in:
- Rear-end collisions
- Intersection accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- DUI/DWI accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist claims or multi-vehicle accidents
If you have been involved in a truck accident, then a truck accident lawyer with our personal injury law firm can guide you on the legal processes involved, as these cases imply various other regulations that will play a key role in your case.
As well, if you have lost a loved one in a car crash, our Pasadena personal injury attorneys can help you pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Pasadena, CA
When you pursue a personal injury claim related to car accidents in Pasadena, it’s important to understand that everything you do before and after the crash will play a significant role in your claim.
To understand how the laws in California and other aspects will affect your personal injury claim, here are the right steps to take after a car accident:
Seek Medical Attention and Report the Accident
No matter who is at fault for the car accident, you must prioritize your health. Even if you did not sustain serious injuries, you must immediately seek medical attention. Your adrenaline rush might conceal the symptoms of your injuries.
Apart from this, when you seek medical attention, you ensure that the medical records used to establish a causal link between your accident and the injuries suffered will be available for your case.
If you do not accept medical aid, it can be used against you later in your personal injury case. According to Californian law, you should also report the accident to authorities if someone is injured or the accident resulted in a fatality or property damage exceeding $1,000. The police will create an accident report, often used in personal injury cases.
Document the Accident
Before leaving the accident scene, you should gather evidence if you can. Take photos of your bodily injuries, the damage to the vehicles involved, and even the road conditions. Write down the contact information, insurance information, and vehicle information of the at-fault driver.
Most car accidents usually involve individuals who own the vehicle. However, suppose the other driver is using a rental car. In that case, you should also write down the name of the rental car company and any relevant information related to the rental agreement.
If there are eyewitnesses, get their contact information. They will play a vital role in your car accident claim.
Preserve Evidence and Notify Your Insurance Company
You should continue to gather and preserve evidence as you receive medical treatment. Keep track of your medical expenses, out-of-pocket expenses, and repair receipts, and keep a journal close by to detail how the accident affected your life and what you went through. Let your own insurance company know about the incident as well.
Consult With a Pasadena Car Accident Attorney
Before pursuing an insurance claim, suing for damages, or accepting any offer, you should consult with Pasadena car accident attorneys. Let them know about your recent car accident and everything that happened. The law firm will diligently analyze your car accident case and help you with your insurance claim, suing for damages, and seeking compensation.
How Crown & Stone Law, P.C Can Help Car Accident Victims
Dealing with insurance claims and the legal complexities surrounding auto accidents can be overwhelming. However, you can hold the negligent drivers responsible for your injuries and other losses with proper legal representation. When you decide to sue, you will have the legal guidance to deal with unexpected challenges.
Remember that sometimes, even saying the wrong things to certain entities, such as the insurance adjuster, can undermine your claim. A lawyer will be there for you to prevent such issues.
A personal injury lawyer will also help you recover compensation based on the available evidence and negotiate on your behalf. When you work with a car accident lawyer at Crown & Stone Law, P.C., for a personal injury claim, you can expect the following:
Help With Handling Legal Procedures
Our law firm will assign a car accident lawyer to your case based on the unique circumstances surrounding your car accident. They will navigate the legal process on your behalf, ensuring that all paperwork for insurance claims is filed correctly and on time. Car accidents have a two-year statute of limitations in California.
Car accident claims not initiated within this legal timeframe can no longer be pursued unless special circumstances apply to your case. If a loved one passes away in a car accident, the statute of limitations is also two years, but the clock starts ticking from the date of death and not the date of the accident instead.
If the entity you intend to sue is a government agency, in situations where road hazards contributed to the car accident, the statute of limitations is six months or up to one year, depending on your case.
Building a Strong Case
Auto accidents in Pasadena, CA, are thoroughly investigated, and with a lawyer from our law firm, you can rest assured that no stone will be left unturned. Our dedicated car accident lawyers will gather evidence to strengthen your claim and establish liability, focusing on various ways and legal strategies to maximize your chances of obtaining fair compensation.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
When you seek compensation, you must consider your future medical care and various other future costs, not just present losses. A Pasadena car accident lawyer with our firm will negotiate and handle all communications with insurance companies until a fair settlement is secured.
Suppose the insurance company refuses to settle the claim fairly. In that case, your car accident attorney will prepare your case for trial and hold the at-fault party and their insurance carriers accountable.
Litigation
Your Pasadena car accident attorney will present your case to a judge and jury in the litigation process. Law firms do not always work with third-party experts on cases, but if your situation reaches this stage, further strengthening your case through any necessary means is crucial.
Our lawyers will collaborate with accident reconstruction experts, healthcare professionals, or other licensed expert witnesses. Their testimony will prove crucial to highlight particular aspects of your case, strengthening your claim and deserved compensation. Contact our law offices for a free consultation today to learn more!
Proving Negligence in Car Accident Cases
Proving negligence is among the most crucial aspects of personal injury claims. Since California follows a pure comparative negligence system, parties involved in car accidents can be assigned a percentage of fault based on the available evidence.
This percentage of fault can affect your total damage awards. For example, if you are about to receive $100,000 for your car accident claim but are deemed 10% responsible, then you will only be rewarded $90,000.
The good news is that even if you are 99% responsible for a car accident in California, you can still receive compensation. The bad news is that this discrepancy means a fiercer legal battle. Still, with the right attorney by your side, you can counter allegations meant to increase your percentage of fault and decrease your compensation amount.
Any accident victim needs to know that proving negligence in car collisions rests solely on demonstrating the following elements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Damages
Every driver has a duty of care because they must operate their vehicles responsibly and safely. To prove negligence in car accident cases, you must demonstrate that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and directly caused your injuries and damages.
A breach of duty can be something as simple as demonstrating that the other driver did not follow traffic laws, was speeding, or ran a red light. In other cases, it might mean proving that the negligent driver was driving under the influence or acting negligently in other ways.
To establish a causal link between the accident and your injuries and other damages, you will need various types of evidence, such as police reports, medical records, witness testimonies, photos, or videos of the accident scene.
With evidence, you will prove your actual damages and seek compensation for everything, including medical bills, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Calculating Compensation in Car Accidents
Monetary losses, such as medical bills, are labeled as economic damages, while non-monetary losses, such as pain and suffering, are labeled as non-economic damages.To accurately calculate the full extent of your damages, your Pasadena car accident attorney will consider various aspects, such as:
- Medical expenses
We will consider every expense related to hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, therapy, and out-of-pocket expenses.
- Property damage
Depending on the condition of your vehicle, you may be entitled to repair or replacement. If other valuables were damaged in the vehicle, you can also seek compensation for them.
- Lost Wages
When you pursue a car accident claim, you can earn compensation for your lost income attributed to your injuries and future loss of earning capacity, depending on the circumstances of your case.
- Pain and Suffering
Non-economic damages such as pain and suffering are also awarded in personal injury claims. Psychological trauma resulting from the accident, or even physical pain and emotional distress, can be compensated with proper evidence.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Injuries can prevent you from engaging in activities and hobbies you once enjoyed. However, you can also seek compensation for this loss as well.
Based on the unique circumstances of your case, your damages might be calculated through the multiplier or per diem formula. In the multiplier formula, your economic damages will be multiplied between 1.5 and 5 based on the severity of your injuries.
In the per diem formula, you will receive a compensation amount per day until complete recovery. To understand more subtle or complex aspects of car accidents and how your case may unfold, contact a Pasadena car accident lawyer. The Pasadena car accident lawyers at Crown & Stone Law, P.C. work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t have to pay anything unless they win your case. Benefit from a free case evaluation today and learn more about your legal options and rights!