Oakland Car Accident Lawyer

When you experience a car accident, if you are seriously injured, wait for emergency medical services to arrive. If you are not seriously injured and are able, move to a safe location but do not leave the scene of the accident. Do not admit fault. Call the police. While waiting for the police to arrive, exchange insurance information with any other drivers involved in the accident. Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles involved. Identify any witnesses who saw the accident and obtain their contact information. Receive medical attention as soon as possible, even if you think you are not injured. Notify the insurance company. As soon as you are able, contact an experienced car accident lawyer.

To prove that another driver was at fault, you must show that the driver was negligent. This means you must prove that the other driver created an unsafe situation by acting carelessly or unreasonably while they were driving. This could include showing that the driver was distracted, not paying attention, driving dangerously, driving while intoxicated or sleepy, failing to abide by traffic laws, or any such irresponsible behavior. You must then prove that the other driver’s behavior was a proximate cause of the accident, that you were injured because of the accident, and that you suffered actual physical or financial damages as a result of the accident.

Even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you may still be able to receive compensation for your injuries and property damage. California applies a strict comparative negligence theory in personal injury cases. This means that each party is financially responsible for the damage they caused. So, if you can show that the other driver was 75% responsible for the accident and you were only 25% to blame, the other driver may still be responsible for 75% of your damages.

It may be beneficial to settle with the insurance company if you receive fair compensation for your injuries. However, the insurance adjuster’s goal is to offer you the smallest settlement possible. You should never accept any offer from the insurance company until you speak with an experienced car accident lawyer first. Your lawyer will help you value your damages and negotiate with the insurance company to be sure you are fairly compensated for your losses.

If the other driver was at fault for your accident, you may recover economic damages, which includes the cost of any damage to your vehicle or other personal property, financial expenses associated with your injuries and recovery, including the cost of emergency treatment, surgeries and procedures, hospital stays, doctor visits, medicines, therapy, rehabilitation, travel expenses related to your treatment, lost income, loss of future wages, and more. You also may receive compensation for your pain and suffering. If a loved one was killed in the accident, you may obtain compensation for their wrongful death.

You should retain an experienced car accident attorney to have the best chance of recovering maximum compensation for your injuries. Although you can file a car accident claim by yourself, you place yourself at a great disadvantage by pursuing your claim without the assistance of a lawyer who knows how to handle a car accident case. An experienced Oakland car accident lawyer will know what evidence you need to show fault, how to value your injuries, how to negotiate with the insurance companies, and how to litigate your case if you have to go to court.