Car Accident Lawyer Oceanside

A car accident can occur for a variety of reasons including environmental factors, intoxicated drivers, and distracted drivers. The most common causes of car accidents include:

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance is one of the most common contributing factors in a collision. In these cases, a lawyer can hold the driver, their insurance company, and the person who overserved the driver alcohol, accountable.

Distracted Driver

Distracted driving is another common cause of auto accidents all over the country. This can include drivers who are fiddling with their radio at the time of the accident, talking on the phone, texting, eating, or speaking to a passenger in their vehicle.

Speeding

The next most common cause of auto accidents in California is speeding. Unintentionally driving over the speed limit and not keeping up with traffic are the top causes of speeding-related accidents.

Reckless Driving

Purposely failing to follow cautionary measures, running red lights or stop signs, blatantly disregarding the property and/or the safety of others is considered reckless driving and it’s one of the most common causes of auto accidents all over the country.

Driver Fatigue

Exhaustion, drowsiness, and fatigue can impair the driver’s ability to discern conditions on the road and can slow down a driver’s reaction time. Falling asleep at the wheel can have catastrophic results.

Inclement Weather

Roads that are slippery from ice, snow, or rain can impact traction in tires, causing vehicles to hit other vehicles or objects. Wind speed, water levels, and fog can also contribute to accidents that are weather-related.

Poor Road Conditions

Roads that are not properly maintained can increase the risk of a flat tire and can influence the driver’s ability to brake adequately.

Car Defects

An automobile consists of hundreds of parts. These parts keep the vehicle running smoothly. However, with so many parts, it’s not uncommon for one of them to malfunction.

Every accident is different. However, there are some steps every accident victim should follow immediately after an accident has occurred. These steps below will protect the victim’s rights and the integrity of their case.

Safety First

Your safety and the safety of any passengers in your vehicle will be a priority. If your vehicle is blocking traffic, or you’re in an unsafe area, move your car, if possible. Once emergency responders and the police arrive, they can secure the area to ensure that there are no additional accidents. If you’re not able to move your car, or you have experienced severe injuries to the neck or spine, do not move and wait for help to arrive. With these types of injuries, it’s crucial for the accident victim to remain immobilized to prevent further complications.

Contact the Police

Once you and any passengers in your vehicle are safe, contact the police. If you or another person in your vehicle have sustained serious injuries, contact 911. When the police arrive, they will focus on diverting traffic and securing the area. This will allow the fire department and paramedics to assist you and keep you and your passengers out of harm’s way.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you feel fine after the accident, it’s still important to seek medical attention. Some injuries may not be apparent until one to three days after the accident. Seeking medical treatment right away is important to your case since an insurance company will try to claim that the injuries you sustained occurred after the accident. Protect your case and your rights by seeking medical treatment as soon as possible.

Do not wait to see your primary doctor. Head to the emergency room instead. Make sure you follow all of the ER doctor’s treatment recommendations and follow up with your usual doctor as soon as possible.

Document All Medical Treatment

Keep all the documentation concerning treatment and medications. When you visit your regular physician, all of your injuries will be documented. This type of documentation will be very helpful when you file your claim and attempt to recover the damages from an insurance company. It’s crucial that you establish your baseline immediately following an accident. This can clearly prove that the injuries you sustained are the direct result of the accident.

Contact your insurance company to notify them that you have been in an accident. You will also need to contact the driver’s insurance company to initiate a claim. If you sustained serious injuries, this process can be extremely stressful. Many attorneys do not recommend contacting the other driver’s insurance company without first receiving legal advice. An attorney can instruct an accident victim on what to say to an insurance company, or they can take over all communication.

They can also work with the insurance company directly, every step of the way. This will prevent you from saying anything that could potentially hurt your claim. An insurance company will do anything they can to avoid paying a large settlement. They will question you regarding the accident and try to get you to admit fault. They will also twist your answers to make you appear guilty. A personal injury lawyer Oceanside will have experience working with insurance companies and will know exactly what to do and say to force the insurance company to offer a fair settlement.

Handling a claim on your own can be very stressful. An insurance company will do anything they can to limit how much they payout. If the other driver was at fault for the accident, the insurance adjuster will explore all possible avenues and do whatever they can to exclude certain costs so they can offer a lower settlement amount.

Hiring an attorney will show the insurance company just how serious you are about your claim.

A lawyer can negotiate with the insurance adjuster and work out the details, so you can receive a settlement that will cover the cost of the financial damages. If the settlement negotiations fall apart, your lawyer will be prepared to take your case to court.

Filing a claim is a complicated, stressful process, especially if you have been seriously injured in a car accident. An insurance company will work overtime to avoid paying a large settlement. Instead of accepting a lowball offer from an insurance company and struggling to make ends meet, contact an accident lawyer at Lem Garcia Law. The attorneys as Lem Garcia Law will fight aggressively to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. These attorneys have extensive experience working with insurance companies and car accident victims and know exactly what strategies and negotiation tactics to use to force an insurance company to pay you what you deserve. These lawyers are also highly skilled trial attorneys and will be prepared to fight for you in court if the insurance company refuses to provide a fair offer. To learn more about the services we offer, call Lem Garcia Law today to schedule a consultation today and find out how we can help.

Get Your 100% Free Case Evaluation Today