East Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer

East Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney

A car accident can be a mild annoyance, a disastrous catastrophe, or something in between. Regardless, dealing with the fallout of a car accident can be an overwhelming experience, especially if the accident results in serious injury. In that case, you may wish to seek compensatory damages from the responsible party with the help of an experienced East Los Angeles car accident lawyer who can help you build your case and seek damages.

What to Do After a Car Accident in California

East Los Angeles is a populous area of the city. The higher the city’s population, the higher the chances of being in a car accident. Los Angeles is one of the busiest cities in the country, and accidents happen every day within the city limits. Here are some important steps you can take in the immediate aftermath of a car accident that can help you protect yourself, protect your case, and ensure that you are not taken advantage of throughout this process.

• Stay calm. In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, it is vital that you remain calm. Your first instinct may be to panic after being involved in a car accident. Panicking serves no purpose and may only make your situation worse. Do what you can to steel yourself, take a deep breath, assess your situation, and start to check for injuries.
• Remain at the scene. Whatever you do, make sure you do not flee the scene of the accident. Fleeing the scene violates the state penal code and could result in steep consequences, such as five years in state prison. Hit-and-run accidents s are highly illegal and could result in severe penalties that could impact your criminal record and your social status, among other consequences.
• Check for injuries. Once you have calmed down and realized what’s happened to you, you should immediately start checking yourself for injuries. You may be dealing with some shock, which could prevent you from feeling certain internal injuries. That can be dealt with later once the EMTs show up. For now, check for obvious external injuries on yourself and do the same for any other passengers in the vehicle.
• Move your vehicle. If your injuries are not too severe, you may want to move your vehicle. The last thing you want is to be responsible for another accident because your vehicle is in the middle of oncoming traffic. Try and move your vehicle onto the side of the road or into a nearby parking lot, if possible. If your vehicle is too damaged to move or if your injuries are too severe to do so, just leave your vehicle where it is.
• Call 911. Get the authorities involved as soon as you can. If you are physically unable to call 911, try to have a nearby witness or an uninjured passenger call on your behalf. Make sure you get police and EMTs to the scene. When the EMTs arrive, have them check you for injuries. If you are dealing with severe injuries, allow them to take you to the hospital.
• Document the scene. Once you have been checked for injuries and found to be relatively uninjured, you can start documenting the scene. Be sure to take photographic evidence of everything that may be relevant when it comes time to file a claim. Take photos of all the damage to every vehicle involved, all of your injuries, the license plate number of the other vehicle, and the other car’s vehicle identification number (VIN).
• Exchange information. You will need to exchange information with the other driver involved in the accident. Be sure to swap driver’s license information, insurance providers, and vehicle registrations. Be sure to speak to any relevant witnesses who may have seen the accident occur. You may need their statements later as part of your settlement negotiations.
• Don’t admit fault. Throughout this entire process, you should never admit any fault for the accident. Don’t even accept part of the blame. Admitting fault could seriously harm your case. Even apologizing could be misconstrued as accepting responsibility by the other driver’s insurance company. The state’s comparative negligence law could help you recover damages even if you are partially to blame for the accident.
• Record the events. As soon as you can, write down everything you can remember about the accident, regardless of importance. The more details, the better. The further you get from the accident, the harder it may become to recall the finer details of what happened, so you should record the accident as soon as possible. This includes the conditions of the road, the date and time, your estimated speed, and any visible traffic signs.
• Report the accident. In California, you have to report an accident to the state Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days if the accident results in:
  • Someone’s death.
  • Someone’s injury.
  • More than $1,000 in damages.

  If you fail to report such an accident to the DMV, it may result in a suspension of your driver’s license for at least a year. If police do not arrive at the scene of the accident and file their own report, you have only 24 hours to submit a report of the accident yourself to either local police or the California Highway Patrol. You only need to file a police report if the accident results in a fatality, injuries, or damages.

• When not to report. If your accident involves no other cars but yours, you may opt not to file a report if the accident also results in minor damage you may wish to cover out of your own pocket.
• Call your insurance company. Following a car accident, you must inform your insurance carrier of the details of the accident. You may want to report it quickly, as the other party may report it to their insurance first. Failure to report the accident could result in the loss of your driver’s license and your car insurance.
• Speak to a lawyer. Once your accident has been reported to your insurance, you may wish to begin filing a personal injury lawsuit if you wish to recoup damages for any injuries you may have sustained as a result of your accident. Hiring an experienced East Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can be highly beneficial to your case, as they can help you establish a claim and pursue damages from the other driver’s insurance company.

FAQs

How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge?

It is difficult to say how much a car accident lawyer will charge. Every car accident case is different, with its own set of circumstances and specifics. Those circumstances will be a deciding factor in a car accident lawyer’s fee. Other factors that may be taken into consideration are the lawyer’s experience, education, resources, availability, popularity, and negotiation skills. Ultimately, a car accident lawyer will charge what they feel is appropriate for their services.

How Much Can I Expect From a Car Accident Settlement in California?

How much you can expect from a car accident settlement varies; every case is different and will have its own details, problems, and solutions. Just because one car accident case that is similar to yours results in a significant settlement, it does not automatically mean that your case is going to result in a similar settlement amount. The severity of your injuries, the evidence that supports your claim, and your lawyer’s negotiation skills are all important factors to consider.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident?

Technically, no, you do not need to hire a lawyer for a car accident case. There is no law that says you must retain legal counsel. You are allowed to pursue legal action on your own without a lawyer. However, it is highly recommended that you retain legal counsel anyway. Having someone on your side who understands the complexities and finer details of the law can only help your case and possibly result in a more favorable settlement.

Who Determines Fault in a Car Accident?

Insurance companies generally determine fault in a car accident. Once the accident is reported to the relevant insurance carriers, each carrier will assign an insurance adjuster to investigate the claim by speaking to the parties involved in the accident, reviewing the evidence, looking through records, and ultimately determining fault. It is possible that the adjuster may find both parties to be at fault to some degree.

Reach Out to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today

Dealing with the fallout of a car accident can be a stressful experience, especially if you are also dealing with severe injuries as a result of that accident. With the help of an experienced car accident lawyer, you can try and recoup damages by filing a personal injury claim. A car accident lawyer can help you build your case and ensure that nobody tries to take advantage of you during this stressful time.

The legal team at the Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes is prepared to offer you legal assistance in the wake of your car accident. We can help you develop your case, gather the necessary evidence that proves your claim, and represent your interests against the insurance company seeking to prevent your claim. Contact us to schedule a consultation as soon as you can.