Santa Monica is a tourist hub due to its Pacific Ocean views, beach, and amusement parks. However, any city that attracts tourists also has an increased rate of car accidents, as tourists are unfamiliar with the area.
Yet, regardless of whether you are involved in a car accident with a resident or tourist, securing compensation for your injuries and property damage can be challenging, especially if your damages exceed the minimum insurance coverage.
This is where a Santa Monica car accident lawyer can make a difference. A car accident lawyer will analyze the merits of your claims, protect your rights and interests, and explain your legal options.
A Santa Monica car accident attorney from Crown & Stone Law, P.C. will thoroughly investigate your case, help you gather evidence, strengthen your claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and help you seek fair compensation for your injuries and other losses. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C. today for a free case consultation if you were involved in a car crash. Here is what you should know about car accidents in Santa Monica and how a car accident attorney can help you.
Importance of Hiring an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Santa Monica
When you are involved in a car accident and have suffered injuries, you might be able to seek compensation for your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other damages. However, a personal injury does not guarantee a fair offer from an insurance company or at-fault party.
Various personal injury laws come into play; for example, California follows a pure comparative negligence system for car accident claims. An insurance adjuster will analyze the circumstances of your motor vehicle accident and assign fault.
However, their say is not final, nor is it objective. Once you are assigned a percentage of fault, your compensation will be affected. For example, if your car accident claim is worth $100,000, and you are assigned 30% fault, you will only receive $70,000.
Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, meaning they have a financial interest to minimize payouts. However, when you work with personal injury lawyers, they will seek maximum compensation for your case.
At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our Santa Monica car accident lawyers know the legal processes and regulations for personal injury claims related to car accidents. We will evaluate the merits of your case and protect your rights while fighting to help you reach a fair settlement.
Understanding the Legal Process and Timeline of Car Accidents
When you work with a personal injury attorney in Santa Monica, you will first discuss the details of your accident, injuries, and potential legal options. Your personal injury lawyer will investigate your accident and collect evidence such as:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Photographs, medical records, CCTV footage
This evidence will be used to establish liability in your car accident case. In some instances, you may discover that the vehicle manufacturer or the government entity responsible for road maintenance is at fault for your car accident and personal injuries.
If there are multiple liable parties for your Santa Monica car accident case, then under California’s “joint and several liability” concept, you can seek compensation from more than one party for your damages.
After the liable parties are determined, other personal injury laws might apply. For example, suppose you are suing a government agency. In that case, you only have one year to pursue a claim since the accident date instead of the two years for regular personal injury claims, as stated in California’s statute of limitations.
Once your Santa Monica car accident lawyer prepares your case against the liable parties, their insurance companies or other entities will enter negotiations. Your personal injury lawyer will negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company until a fair settlement covers your damages and losses is reached.
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, then your Santa Monica car accident lawyer will prepare your case for litigation and file a personal injury lawsuit. At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., we have recovered millions for our clients in various car accident cases. Contact our law firm for a free initial consultation to learn more about your legal rights. Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to pay attorney fees until your case is over and we win.
Determining Liability in Car Accidents and Gathering Evidence
Determining liability in auto accidents depends on various factors. For example, if a police officer arrives at the accident scene and compiles a police report, the documents will contain valuable information that can be used to strengthen your claim.
Your Santa Monica personal injury lawyer will use the police reports to highlight negligence or other factors that will prove fault. Eyewitnesses or surveillance footage/dashcam recordings are also essential in establishing liability.
Your Santa Monica car accident lawyer will speak to witnesses and obtain valuable testimonies to prove fault. Since a car crash can occur due to various reasons and can cause different types of injuries, your lawyer will consult with accident reconstruction experts or medical professionals to gather expert opinions and strengthen your case.
If your car crash occurred due to a defective component, a specialist can highlight this, which can help you sue the manufacturer of the defective component. If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, your motorcycle accident lawyer could use expert analysis to showcase how, for example, hazardous road conditions played a role in your accident.
In truck accidents, expert analysis can reveal negligence by service or maintenance providers, that did not address a defective component. In these cases, the truck driver, truck company, or other entities may be held liable. Speak with a truck accident lawyer to learn more.
If your car accident occurred during a rideshare, a personal injury lawyer specializing in Uber or Lyft accidents could help you hold the rideshare company liable by showcasing negligent hiring practices or other factors that contributed to your accident.
Negotiating With the Insurance Company for Fair Settlement
When you pursue an insurance claim, your Santa Monica personal injury lawyer will negotiate on your behalf and handle all communications with the insurance company. They will use the available evidence to advocate for your rights and work to recover compensation that adequately reflects your damages.
Calculating Damages For Medical Bills, Car Repairs, Lost Wages, and More
The most important aspect in personal injury cases is proving fault and accurately calculating the damages and losses victims have suffered. Your lawyer can help you assess your damages.
In a personal injury case, victims can be awarded compensation for their medical care and all associated medical expenses, including treatment for physical therapy sessions, psychological trauma, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, emotional distress, and other losses.
Usually, the calculation uses the per diem method or multiplier formula. In the per diem formula, you will receive a fixed daily compensation for your personal injury case. In contrast, with the multiplier formula, your economic damages will be calculated and then multiplied by a factor of 1.5 to 5. In catastrophic injury cases, victims can receive a higher multiplier. Severe injuries and a lengthy recovery time associated with personal injury victims generally dictate a higher number. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C. today and let a car accident lawyer in Santa Monica help you pursue your personal injury claim.
Common Types of Car Accidents in Santa Monica
A car accident can occur in various ways, and certain types of car accidents are more likely to result in specific injuries than others. Here are some common car accidents that occur in Santa Monica:
Rear-end Collisions
A rear-end collision is a serious accident that occurs when one vehicle crashes into the back of another. This can occur due to distracted driving or when a driver fails to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
However, the driver who bumps into the back of the vehicle is not always at fault for the accident. If you have been involved in such an accident, contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C. for a free consultation on your case.
T-bone accidents (side-impact collisions)
In T-bone accidents, the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another. These types of accidents mostly occur when drivers fail to abide by traffic laws and fail to yield the right of way at intersections.
Head-on collisions
In a head-on collision accident, two vehicles crash into each other front-end to front-end. This can occur due to distracted driving, overtaking, or crossing the centerline. Such types of collisions often result in severe injuries.
Sideswipe accidents
When two vehicles make contact while changing lanes or merging, sideswipe accidents can occur. These can also result in rollover accidents.
Single or multiple-vehicle accidents
Sometimes, a car accident occurs when a single vehicle is involved and crashes into a stationary object. In other situations, multiple vehicles can be involved in a car crash. To determine exactly who is liable and seek compensation from multiple parties, consult with a Santa Monica auto accident lawyer.
Common Injuries in Car Accidents
Car accident injuries can be minor, mild, or severe, depending on the circumstances of each accident, the victim’s age, and overall health. However, physical injuries that are mild or severe can affect the victim’s psyche, resulting in psychological and emotional trauma and conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. The most common injuries in car accidents include the following:
- Whiplash
- Fractures and broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal injuries
Serious injuries, such as internal injuries, do not necessarily have immediate symptoms. In other situations, even with medical treatment, victims will still experience pain and suffering for prolonged periods of time. However, a Santa Monica personal injury lawyer can help victims pursue compensation for pain and suffering, among other damages.
Wrongful Death Claims in Car Accidents
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident in Santa Monica, CA, then personal injury lawyers can help you pursue a wrongful death claim. A family member can pursue such a claim on behalf of the deceased. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C., and let one of our compassionate car accident lawyers help you understand the claim’s process, seek compensation for your loss, and hold the responsible parties liable.
It is important to note that in wrongful death cases, the statute of limitations starts from the date of death and not the date of the accident. This means that you have two years from the date of death to pursue a claim against the at-fault party.
In exceptional cases, you can still pursue a claim after the statute of limitations has expired. For example, if the party you intend to sue flees the state or is mentally incapacitated. Speak with a car accident attorney to learn more.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
When you are involved in a car accident, taking the proper steps to ensure your safety, health, and ability to pursue a claim against the negligent party is crucial. Here is what you should consider:
Seek Medical Attention
Your first priority in any car accident situation is prioritizing your health. This means contacting medical providers to assess your injuries and treat them immediately. Remain calm, contact emergency services, and accept medical attention even if you do not feel injured.
As stated above, some injuries do not have immediate symptoms, and your adrenaline rush could also mask symptoms. When you accept medical attention, you will also kickstart the process of having your injuries recorded, and the ensuing documents will then be used in your car accident case to establish correlation.
Alert Authorities
If you are unable to contact emergency services, ask the other driver or any other bystanders to do so. It is also crucial to contact authorities to report the accident. In California, you are required by law to contact authorities and report an accident if it results in a fatality, injury, or property damage exceeding $1,000. The police will help you get valuable information from the other driver, and your lawyer will also use the police report to strengthen your personal injury claim.
Document the Accident Scene
It is important to remain calm and not admit fault or try to harass the other driver. Instead, before leaving the accident scene, if you are able, try to gather evidence. This means taking photos or videos of your injuries, car damage, damage to other vehicles, and the road’s condition.
Take photos from different angles. If CCTV cameras are present, write this detail down. You can speak to a lawyer later to gain access to the recordings. But, it is important to remember this aspect since these cameras delete their data after a certain amount of time.
Write down the other driver’s contact and insurance details. If they drove a rental car, write down the rental company’s name as well. If eyewitnesses are present, write down their contact information. Their testimonies can play a vital role in your car accident claim.
Inform Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance company as soon as you are able and let them know about your car crash.
Preserve Evidence
You should preserve evidence once you are admitted to a hospital and receive medical care. Keep copies of receipts, bills, and all medical expenses. In a journal, write how the car crash affected you and if you are experiencing pain. This can later be used to pursue pain and suffering damages.
Consult with an Attorney
Contact a Santa Monica car accident attorney specializing in the type of car crash you were involved in. A lawyer can help you assess the merits of your case, what damages you might be able to pursue, establish the liable parties, and seek fair compensation for your injuries and other losses.
The Role of Crown & Stone Law, P.C. in Representing Car Accident Victims
At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our dedicated Santa Monica personal injury lawyers seek to bring justice and fair compensation to victims of car accidents. No one should deal with a personal injury claim on their own, especially since personal injury laws can be used against them.
In California, victims can recover damages even if they are 99% at fault for a car accident. However, this also means that parties will try to shift the blame to each other to recover damages and minimize their liability.
Yet, at Crown & Stone Law, P.C., we believe that car accident victims have enough to deal with on their plates. Our car accident lawyer will thoroughly analyze the circumstances of your case and strengthen your claim using all available means.
While you rest and heal, our attorneys will work diligently to highlight the damages you have been subjected to and seek fair compensation for the harm incurred. Contact our car accident lawyers today for a free case evaluation and learn more about your legal rights and options. It’s time to stand up for your rights and pursue justice.