A crowded Los Angeles freeway. It’s not surprising that there are about 150 car accidents here every day.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may be feeling overwhelmed as you face mounting medical bills, missed work, and pain and suffering. You don’t need to struggle alone. Pintas & Mullins understand what you are going through, and we have resources that can take some of the burden off of your shoulders.
Your legal team in Los Angeles will set many goals throughout the personal injury claims process. One of our biggest goals will be to recover compensation for you and your family.
What Do Car Accident Lawyers Do?
The ultimate goal of a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles is to build a case that proves your eligibility for compensation. This means proving the negligence and liability of another party regarding the client’s car accident injuries and losses.
The process of building an effective personal injury case and securing compensation on behalf of a client involves multiple steps.
Investigating the Accident and Gathering Evidence
We must review the case and investigate the circumstances of the collision. Gathering relevant evidence will allow us to identify who and what negligent act caused the accident to occur, whether it was a driver, a government entity, or another party.
Once there is evidence of negligence, we can begin to build a case that shows why the negligent party is liable for the injuries the client suffered.
Calculating the Damages and Negotiating a Settlement
A personal injury attorney in Los Angeles can also calculate the types of damages and the level of compensation you may be eligible to pursue. We can file the case for damages with an insurance company and negotiate a settlement or proceed with a lawsuit to fight for a court award.
We can guide you through the entire process and navigate the legal system on your behalf while you recover.
Types of Compensation Available in Car Accident Cases
The amount of compensation your California car accident lawyers can recover will largely come from the facts and circumstances surrounding your particular case. Some of the types of compensation that you may obtain with respect to their car accident settlement may include the following:
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses encompass a variety of items and services, including doctor’s visits, emergency room visits, physical therapy, or any other bills that relate to your physical or emotional health.
Lost Wages
Some victims of a car accident are unable to immediately return to work due to physical and emotional injuries. The time that you spend unable to work and taking sick leave, vacation leave, or simply leave without pay may qualify you for compensation from a claim.
Pain and Suffering
If a victim suffers a personal injury of any kind, pain and suffering may accompany that injury. Courts and insurance companies may allow compensation for pain and suffering under certain circumstances.
For a free legal consultation with a Car Accidents Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer for a Minor Accident?
What may initially present itself as a minor car accident could quickly turn into a complicated situation. You may have hidden injuries that have not yet been diagnosed by your health care team. The liable insurance company may not be willing to compensate you for your losses fairly.
The decision of whether to hire a lawyer in any circumstance is completely your decision. If you’re on the fence, a free consultation may help you understand what your next move should be.
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What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
How much compensation you might recover will rest on the details of your case. Some circumstances that could influence the value of your case include:
- What your auto and health insurance cover
- The medical treatment your injuries required
- The cost of your ongoing damages
- Whether your car was damaged or totaled in the collision
- The willingness of the insurance company to settle
- Whether anybody died from their injuries
- The type, nature, and extent of your injuries
Your lawyer will utilize various pieces of information to determine the cost of your out-of-pocket expenses. They will consider your particular circumstances while also referencing state law and legal precedent.
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Will My Car Accident Lawyer Deal with the Insurance Company?
Yes, your car accident lawyer will deal with the insurance companies for you. Many injured claimants worry about being taken advantage of while they try to recover compensation. Your attorney will make sure that doesn’t happen to you. We can also:
- Draft and send your demand letter
- Review the details of the involved policies for coverage options
- Communicate with the claims adjuster and other representatives
- Address any obstacles that delay the progression of your claim
- Advise you on what statements could harm your case
In addition to handling all communications with the insurer, we can also work to counteract any bad faith insurance practices that threaten your claim.
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How Long Does a Car Accident Claim Take to Settle?
How long it takes your Los Angeles car accident claim to settle will depend on the cost of your damages, the insurance company’s willingness to settle, and any obstacles that impede your case’s progression.
You might be able to settle your case within a matter of days. However, if certain complications arise, it could take months for you to settle your claim.
Why We Recommend Against Accepting a Quick Settlement
After learning about your collision and injuries, the insurance company may step in and offer you a quick settlement. While this may initially appeal to you, the insurance company’s offer may not be enough to cover the cost of your accident-related damages.
Your car accident lawyer in Los Angeles can advise you on the feasibility of any offers you receive. If you do not receive any fair settlement offers, they can file a lawsuit and argue your case before a judge.
Once you accept money from an insurance company, your case is over, no matter what they tell you. Even if you incur additional expenses, the insurance company will not be responsible for compensating you.
Who Can Be Sued in a Car Accident Case?
Your car accident lawyers will identify any liable parties in your claim. There are several potential liable parties who can be sued in a car accident case. These can include:
- The driver who hit your vehicle
- The company that the driver works for
- A manufacturer who allowed a defective part to sell
- A mechanic who did not treat your vehicle with care
- A municipality that failed to maintain the roads
As every car accident is different, there is no way to know how many parties could be involved in your case prior to an in-depth, independent investigation. By analyzing the evidence in your case, a lawyer could help you explore all available avenues for compensation.
How Much Should You Settle for After a Car Accident?
Your Los Angeles car accident attorney can help you determine the specific figure you should pursue from the at-fault parties in your car accident case. Because you will only be able to accept a settlement from an insurance company once, you will need to take future costs into account.
Your team can look at your accident and how the crash affects your entire life. We will want to make sure you have enough to pay all accident costs, compensate you for your pain and suffering, and pay for our fees. We can tell you what this specific figure might look like.
How Much Do Lawyers Charge for Accident Claims?
Before you commit to working with us, we will go over the cost of our Los Angeles car accident lawyers’ services. We can give you an honest expectation of the cost and how much work we can put into your case.
During your free consultation, we will ask you questions about the accident and its aftermath. After this conversation, you can be sure of whether you want to work with the firm—and how much of your settlement your lawyer might take to pay their attorney’s fees.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident?
Every state sets a statute of limitations on filing a lawsuit for compensation after a personal injury case. These statutes include cases that involve car accidents, regardless of the type of collision that occurred, though some exceptions may apply.
According to the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. A different limit may apply for wrongful death or property damage cases, cases involving a county or state, or claims involving minors.
Regardless of when your deadline to file falls, failure to initiate this process in the time allotted will result in you losing the right to sue.
Do You Have to Go to Court for a Car Accident?
In most cases, you do not have to go to court for a car accident. However, it may be necessary to go to trial if issues of fault and liability are not clear or if the insurance company refuses to extend a fair settlement.
In court, your Los Angeles car accident lawyers will handle all communications with the other party’s legal counsel, compile all relevant evidence, and present the cost of your damages.
Consider a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
If you were a victim of someone’s negligence and suffered injuries in a car accident in Los Angeles, you may have the right to receive compensation for your losses. Consider hiring the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm.
Call us to learn how we can help you understand your legal rights and help you with your personal injury claim.
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