Covering Your Losses After Being Involved in a Car Accident
The State of California is unsurprisingly home to some of the busiest highways in the nation. Between traveling tourists, large commercial trucks transporting merchandise locally and across the nation, as well as residents traveling for work, school, or leisure, California highways can become really congested. When there is a large number of cars attempting to share the same highway, car accidents are bound to happen. If you have recently been involved in a car accident, it is important that you understand how to protect your interests.
Covering Your Losses
If you have suffered any losses or expenses in the aftermath of a car accident, you can be eligible to receive compensation by filing a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim seeks to hold negligent drivers responsible for causing the injury or damage to the claimant. By filing a personal injury claim, you may be able to recover the following financial losses:
- Medical treatment expenses,
- Hospital and ambulance bills,
- Medication costs,
- Loss or damage to your vehicle,
- Inability to return to work,
- Emotional trauma,
- Pain and suffering, and
- The loss of quality of life.
You should know that in the State of California, if you were involved in a car accident where you were found at least partly at-fault, you may still be able to recuperate a percentage of the financial losses you accrued. Through California’s pure comparative negligence laws, a court will determine to what extent you are found liable in the case and subtract that from the total damages possible.
Common Auto Accident Causes
In a majority of cases, driver error is the major cause of vehicle collisions. This can happen as a result of driver inattention, driving above the speed limit, driving while intoxicated, or driving while fatigued. When filing a personal injury claim, however, it is important to know that there are other parties that could be held accountable in the claim. This may include the following: Cities and counties, Auto part manufacturers, or Vehicle designers.
Filing a personal injury claim against a third-party can be a complex matter but it may offer you the opportunity to recover additional financial damages. When filing against a third-party, it is important to be aware of the different deadlines applicable. For instance, when filing a claim against a government agency, you will only have six (6) months from the time of the accident to file a claim.
After a Car Accident, Protect Your Rights; Hire a Skilled Personal Injury Attorney
If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident, it is important to know that there are laws that protect a victim’s right to file a claim when the injury was caused as a result of another’s negligence. Consider speaking to a knowledgeable and experienced attorney for more information on how to protect your rights and interests.
The auto accident attorneys at Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP are dedicated to fighting for the rights of those who suffered injuries as a result of a serious auto accident. If you were involved in a car accident where you sustained bodily injuries, speak to a qualified car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Stephen Levine, is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Defense — an honor achieved by only the top criminal law attorneys in California. Mr. Levine has over 40 years of experience in criminal defense and family law serving Southern California, and is a highly regarded Super Lawyer as well as AV Rated attorney.