Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers
Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers
In Los Angeles and all of Southern California, car accidents are all too common. However, what many drivers may not realize is that they are often entitled to financial compensation following an accident—even if they are partially at fault. If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a car accident in California, you may have a legal claim for relief.
If you believe someone else was at least partially at fault for the accident, reach out to a car accident lawyer at Saeedian Law Group in Los Angeles as soon as possible.
Our Los Angeles car accident attorney can evaluate your case and help you understand your legal options. In most instances, you have two years from the date of the accident/injury to bring a claim. Don’t delay; contact Saeedian Law Group for a free, no-obligation consultation.
How Our Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can be a traumatizing event. And working toward your recovery in the aftermath can often feel like an uphill battle.
Fortunately, you do not have to navigate this process on your own.
Los Angeles car accident attorneys help California accident victims fight for their rights each and every day. The importance of having one in your corner as you pursue your California car accident claim cannot be overstated.
For example, experienced and well-versed car accident and car insurance attorneys can help you:
- Understand the law and the strength of your case;
- Gather valuable evidence to help support your claim;
- Determine and calculate what monetary damages you may be entitled to recover;
- Draft and file necessary paperwork;
- Negotiate potential settlements with opposing parties, their insurers, and their legal counsel;
- Prepare for and take your case to trial when a reasonable settlement cannot be reached; and
- Counsel and advise you throughout the entire process.
Car accident cases can turn into complicated legal disputes. However, do not underestimate the power of having competent legal representation.
Accident victims often worry about the financial cost of hiring legal counsel. However, it is important to remember that just having a Los Angeles car accident attorney can drastically increase your chances of a potential recovery.
The fact remains that a Los Angeles car accident lawyer can be an extremely valuable asset to your case as you work toward your recovery. Thus, make sure you have one in your corner as you pursue your California car accident claim.
Common Causes of Accidents in Los Angeles
There are several common reasons for car accidents, including:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving and street racing
- Fatigue
- Weather conditions
- Poor road conditions and construction
- Driving under the influence
- Inexperienced drivers
- Improper turns including U-turns and merging
Poor Weather Conditions Cause Accidents More Than We Think
As the name implies, a bad weather accident is one that occurs in adverse weather, including fog, rain, and heavy winds. Weather-related accidents also involve other hazardous conditions such as blowing sand or debris or slick pavement. Most bad or inclement weather accidents occur on wet roads after a rainstorm.
According to the Federal Highway Administration:
- About 22 percent of motor vehicle accidents each year are weather-related
- 73 percent of bad weather accidents involve wet pavement
- 46 percent of weather-related accidents occur during rainfall
- Other weather conditions that contribute to accidents include snow or sleet (17 percent), icy roads (13 percent), and fog (3 percent)
No matter how safely you drive, a car accident may be unavoidable when another driver fails to drive responsibly in certain weather conditions.
Factors Involved in Bad Weather Accidents
During bad weather conditions, drivers may run into mobility problems, such as:
- Decreased road capacity due to flooding, debris that is blown onto the roads by strong wind gusts, or road closures due to weather hazards
- Disrupted traffic signals on high capacity roads lead to long delays
- Reduced speeds on freeways due to rain or fog
Drivers in Los Angeles often encounter heavy rain which significantly reduces visibility and makes it difficult for drivers to see other vehicles or obstacles before they have time to react. Rainstorms can also make roads slippery and difficult to navigate, leading to a collision.
Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents Our Firm Assists With
There are many “subcategories” of auto accidents that can be unique from one another. Our firm confidently handles them all! If you’ve been injured in an accident at the fault of another and are looking for compensation for your injuries and losses, contact our firm today. We handle the following types of car accident cases:
- Head-on Collisions
- Sideswipes
- Rear-End Collisions
- Parking Lot Accidents
- Road Hazard Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- T-Bone Accidents
- Single-Car Accidents
- Self-Driving Car Accidents
- Uber/Rideshare & Taxi Accidents
- and More.
Commonly Sustained Injuries in Auto Accidents in Los Angeles
After a collision, you may be suffering from one or more of the following common car accident injuries:
Lacerations and Bruises
In a car accident, the force of impact against the interior compartment (e.g. dashboard, door windows, the back of the front seat) or a projectile can cause deep cuts and bone bruises, which may result in excessive bleeding and cause dangerous infections.
Strain and Sprains
Tendon strains and ligament sprains are both common car accident injuries, but torn tendons or ligaments take much longer to heal and often require surgery. Whiplash is also common in car accidents, involving muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the neck, which is caused by the sudden back-and-forth motion of the head.
Broken Bones
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of broken bones, such as fractures of the ribs, arms, legs, fingers, toes, hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, ankles, and wrists. A high-impact collision can result in crushed bones. Seriously broken bones require surgery and must be stabilized with surgical plates, pins, or screws.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage or Loss
Internal bleeding is not always properly diagnosed and may be life-threatening, which makes it crucial to receive immediate medical care. Moreover, severe injury to an organ (e.g. the spleen), may necessitate its removal which will have lasting consequences.
Head and Brain Injuries
Skull fractures, concussions, and brain injuries can be life-altering. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause severe headaches, confusion, lightheadedness, loss of consciousness, and memory loss, and may result in neurological impairments. TBIs typically require extensive rehabilitation and may even necessitate lifelong care.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Car accidents often result in back and spinal cord injuries, such as herniated discs and fractured vertebrae. Also, the spinal cord can be severed in a high-impact collision, which can result in limited mobility or even complete paralysis (e.g. paraplegia, quadriplegia).
Burns
Car fires can also occur after an accident due to fuel leaks or ruptured gas tanks, which can cause severe burns to the vehicle’s occupants. Victims can also be burned by steam, hot liquids, chemicals, or scorching surfaces. Serious burns are excruciatingly painful and can result in disfiguring scars; burn victims are also vulnerable to infection.
Wrongful Death
Some car accident injuries can be fatal. A head-on collision can lead to immediate death, while other car accident victims succumb due to complications. If you have lost a loved one due to fatal car accident injuries, you can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain just compensation.
Understanding Damages and California’s Rule of Pure Comparative Negligence
In general, the at-fault party in a car accident will be responsible for compensating the victim for his or her costs and expenses arising out of the accident. These are referred to as “damages.”
In certain situations, however, the rule of comparative negligence—which has been adopted in several states, including California—applies to liability in car accidents and other personal injury claims.
What Is Comparative Negligence?
Under this rule, anyone who is injured in an accident can bring a claim against an at-fault party, even when the injured individual was partially at fault for the accident.
The “pure” aspect of California’s pure comparative negligence law allows individuals to file personal injury claims regardless of their level of fault. This is in contrast to other forms of comparative negligence adopted in different states, which dictate that only parties who are less than 50% at fault for an accident may bring personal injury claims.
Damages in a Los Angeles Car Accident Case
There are three broad categories of damages available in a car accident claim: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic damages seek to compensate for quantifiable losses such as medical bills or days at work. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, compensate for damages that are more abstract, such as pain and suffering or mental anguish.
Unlike the first two types of damages, which compensate you for your losses, punitive damages serve the purpose of punishing the negligent party. To receive this type of damages, you must prove that the defendant knew their actions in a car accident would most likely cause harm but did them anyway. For example, a court might award punitive damages in a case where an individual was injured by a drunk driver. It is important to note, however, that punitive damages are not often awarded.
Los Angeles Auto Accident FAQs
So How Exactly Does Comparative Negligence Impact My Potential Recovery?
As a preliminary matter, before awarding any damages in a lawsuit, the court must determine your percentage of fault, if any, in causing the car accident. Your at-fault percentage will be determined by either a judge or jury.
For example, if you were using a handheld device, such as a cell phone while driving and you were hit by another motorist who blew through a stop sign, a jury may determine that you were 30% at fault for the accident, while the other driver was 70% at fault. The total amount you may recover for your damages will be reduced by your at-fault percentage.
Using the previous example, if your total damages amounted to $10,000, you will only be able to recover up to $7,000 ($10,000 minus your at-fault percentage of 30%, or $3,000).
At Saeedian Law Group, our Los Angeles car accident lawyers can help you understand how this rule applies to your unique situation. We assist victims of all types of car accidents, including hit-and-run accidents, drunk driving collisions, distracted driving accidents, rollover accidents, side-swipe accidents, road rage incidents, and more. With every case, our goal is to help our clients secure the maximum compensation they are owed for their medical expenses, lost wages/income, pain and suffering, disability, and other damages.
What Happens If I’m In a Multi-Vehicle Accident?
Determining who was at fault in a car accident is usually challenging, but it is challenging when many drivers are involved. In some cases, only one driver is at fault for the accident. For example, suppose an intoxicated driver was driving the wrong way on the road and collided with two vehicles traveling in the right direction. In that case, the intoxicated driver is solely at fault.
Similarly, when there is a line of cars and one person is on his or her cell phone in the back of the line and doesn’t see the vehicles in front of him and crashes into the vehicle in front, he or she is the only person at fault. In other cases, there are multiple at-fault drivers who each contributed to the accident happening.
For example, suppose one driver was swerving and another driver didn’t react in time to avoid the vehicle. The second driver spun out, and there were two defendants in the car accident. Similarly, suppose a chain-reaction accident occurred. In other cases, third parties are liable for causing multi-vehicle accidents. For example, a commercial truck driver and his or her employer could be liable because of negligent hiring, improperly loaded cargo, or an unmaintained truck.
When it comes to multi-vehicle collisions, whether you can sue a person depends on the facts of the case and which driver or driver’s failure to use reasonable care under the circumstances. The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner your attorney can begin investigating your case and determining who is at fault.
What Happens If I’m In an Accident With An Out-Of-State Driver?
According to Code of Civil Procedure section 410.10, California courts have the right to exercise jurisdiction over out-of-state drivers and other nonresidents. California courts may exercise personal jurisdiction over a non-resident when the driver caused an accident in the state of California.
Under the doctrine of comparative negligence, you can still recover compensation from the out-of-state at-fault driver if you share some blame for causing the accident. Your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault, as determined by the court. Determining which laws apply to your case and where you should file your lawsuit can be complicated. The experienced attorneys at the Saeedian Law Group can help you understand your legal options and the best way to proceed with your claim.
Put Nearly a Decade of Legal Experience on Your Side With Our Los Angeles Car Attorneys
Unfortunately, insurance companies and other liable parties will often seek to take advantage of injured motorists. It is important that you know that you do not have to—nor should you—speak to any insurance adjuster from another driver’s insurance company. Instead, contact an experienced Los Angeles auto accident attorney at our firm who can help protect your right to a fair recovery. We don’t just accept the first low offer from the liable insurance company; we are fully prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.
When you trust Saeedian Law Group, you don’t owe anything unless/until we secure compensation on your behalf. We are available by phone 24/7 and always provide caring, compassionate, and personalized legal services for our clients in Los Angeles and throughout the surrounding areas.
Why Hire Saeedian Law Group as Your Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
With so many Los Angeles car accident attorneys, it can be difficult to know which one is the best attorney for the job.
Nevertheless, finding a great Los Angeles car accident lawyer will be one of the most important steps in your case. Thus, it is imperative that you hire someone with the tools and resources necessary to help you fight for your rights.
Here are a few reasons why we think Saeedian Law Group is the best car accident attorney in Los Angeles, CA, for you:
- We offer free consultations and do not charge upfront or any other costs unless and until we are able to recover for you;
- Our Los Angeles car accident attorneys strive to provide fearless advocacy and will not be afraid to take your case to trial if necessary to maximize your recovery;
- We are committed to being accessible to our clients so that you have access to your car accident injury attorney when you need them most; and
- We have a record of success and have helped our many well-deserving clients recover millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements.
If you are looking for a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles, CA, who will fight zealously for your rights, contact Saeedian Law Group today.
With offices in Beverly Hills, Modesto, San Diego, and Oxnard, our Los Angeles car accident attorneys have helped countless victims throughout California. Give our team a call today to discuss your case with a knowledgeable and experienced Los Angeles car crash lawyer.