Car accidents can cause serious injuries, result in extensive time off work, and result in expensive medical bills, leaving injured drivers and passengers in a precarious position. If you were injured in a car crash someone else caused, you shouldn’t have to pay the consequences. Consider consulting with an experienced car accident attorney in Long Beach, California, to discuss your legal rights and options for recovering compensation.
How a Car Accident Attorney in Long Beach Can Help After a Crash
If you were injured in an auto accident caused by someone else, California’s personal injury laws allow you to recover compensation from the at-fault driver. However, their insurance company and the insurance representatives it employs will do everything possible to reduce your recovery to protect the insurance company’s bottom line
When you contact Belal Hamideh Law, P.C. and schedule a free consultation, an experienced personal injury lawyer from our firm can meet with you at home or in the hospital to discuss the details of your case with you. We can review the accident report, photos of the accident scene, and other evidence you have to make a preliminary determination regarding fault. We then advise you of your legal rights and options for recovery.
The legal team at Belal Hamideh, P.C. cares about your health and can recommend the finest doctors to you, including those who will provide care on a lien basis so you can recover the medical treatment you need now without having to pay for it until your case settles.
Our attorneys have handled over 2,000 cases, providing us with an in-depth understanding of how insurance companies prepare and defend cases. We can handle communications with insurance companies to protect your rights and the value of your personal injury claim. We also handle settlement negotiations, fighting for the compensation you deserve. And, if the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer, a trial lawyer from our personal injury law firm can represent you at trial.
If you’d like a better understanding of your particular case, you can contact Belal Hamideh Law, P.C. for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can explain your legal rights, the potential value of your claim, and the next steps you will encounter if you choose to hire our law firm for your car accident case. Call us today to get started.
Is California a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?
Most states are either fault or no-fault states for car accidents. In fault-based states, the at-fault party is responsible for paying for the damages they cause through their negligence, typically when the car accident victim files an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance provider. In no-fault states, each driver turns to their own insurance for coverage and may be barred from filing a claim against the at-fault driver unless they have suffered serious injuries, incurred expenses exceeding a certain threshold, or meet other exceptions.
California is like most states and follows an at-fault system. To recover compensation, you will need to prove the other driver is at fault for the accident and your injuries.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Understanding the common causes of auto accidents can help determine who is at fault and responsible for paying for your damages. Leading causes of car accidents in Long Beach include:
- Distracted driving: Today’s drivers may be distracted by various stimuli, including cell phones, GPS devices, infotainment systems, pets or children in the backseat, passengers, and car controls. Distractions cause delayed reactions and significantly increase the likelihood of accidents.
- Speeding: Driving at excessive speeds makes it more difficult for drivers to stop in time to avoid a collision and increases the likelihood that they will lose control of the vehicle.
- Impaired driving: Drunk or drugged drivers do not have the same faculties as those who are unimpaired. Despite the many public awareness campaigns, drunk and drugged driving continue to be a problem on roads, with about 30% of all fatal traffic collisions attributed to drunk driving.
- Driver errors: Drivers may make various mistakes that cause collisions, such as failing to yield the right of way, running red lights or stop signs, passing unsafely, or following too closely.
Who Is Legally Responsible for a Car Accident?
In most car accidents, one or both drivers are found responsible for the accident. Because California uses a pure comparative negligence system, you can still pursue compensation if you contributed to the accident, even if you are primarily at fault. However, your compensation is reduced by your degree of fault. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you avoid having too much fault assigned to you by the insurance company.
In some instances, other parties may be legally responsible for car accidents and paying for the resulting damages, such as:
- Vehicle owners who negligently entrusted their vehicle to an unsafe driver or failed to properly maintain the vehicle
- Product manufacturers when they cause or fail to protect from auto accidents
- Employers who are responsible for drivers’ negligence when they are working
- Governmental entities responsible for road design or maintenance, when these issues contributed to the accident
An experienced attorney can help identify who is responsible for your accident.
How to Prove Liability in an Auto Accident
Because California is an at-fault state for car accidents, you will need evidence to show the other driver was responsible for the accident, such as:
- Accident reports
- Witness statements
- Photos you took of the accident scene
- Camera footage from dash cams, CCTV footage, or traffic cameras
- Reports from accident reconstruction experts
- Medical records that link your injuries to the accident
- Toxicology reports that show the at-fault driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Traffic citations to other drivers involved in the accident
- Vehicle maintenance records
- Electronic data extracted from black boxes in the vehicles involved in the crash
- Physical evidence, such as damaged car parts, skid marks, damage to fences or signs, or other evidence that helps establish fault
Your personal injury attorney can help identify, preserve, and gather critical evidence in your case.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Due to the extreme forces and physics involved, motor vehicle accidents can cause severe injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
- Spinal cord injuries, which can result in complete or partial paralysis
- Chest and abdominal injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
- PTSD and other psychological injuries
Car accidents often result in life-altering injuries. Accident victims deserve to be treated fairly and justly after they are harmed due to someone else’s negligence.
Common Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
Belal Hamideh Law, P.C. handles various types of car accident cases, including:
- Drunk driving accidents
- Rear-end crashes
- Head-on collisions
- Side-impact crashes
- Rideshare accidents, including Uber and Lyft accidents
- Pedestrian and bicyclist accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Fatal traffic collisions
Financial Compensation Recoverable After a Car Accident
Under California personal injury law, victims can seek compensation for their motor vehicle accident cases for losses, such as:
- Medical expenses, including payment for past medical bills, ambulance rides, emergency medical treatment, hospital bills, ongoing medical treatment for rehabilitation and therapy, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages for the time you missed from work and any reduction in your long-term earning capacity
- Property damage, including to cover your vehicle damage and other personal property damaged in the accident
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as rental car fees, alternative transportation expenses, transportation costs for seeking medical treatment, and amounts you pay to the towing company for your damaged vehicle
- Pain and suffering, including physical and emotional pain and suffering, mental distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
If the car accident caused the death of a loved one, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. Wrongful death lawsuits seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Final medical bills
- Lost income
- Funeral expenses
- Burial costs
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of love, affection, guidance, and training
An experienced attorney can carefully evaluate your situation and explain the damages you can seek as part of your legal claim.
What Is My Long Beach Car Accident Case Worth?
All traffic accidents are unique, as are the people involved in them. The potential value of your claim depends on various factors, including the severity of your injuries, the party or parties responsible for your injuries, the insurance coverage available, your degree of fault, whether you are represented by an experienced attorney, and more. The best way to find out the potential value of your case is to work closely with a skilled car accident lawyer.
What Is the Deadline to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in California?
The standard statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in California is two years; however, if the claim is for property damage only, the deadline is three years. If your case is against the government, you only have six months to file your legal claim.
To protect yourself from unintentionally forfeiting your right to financial recovery, don’t delay in reaching out to a personal injury attorney for assistance. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, allowing us to provide immediate legal assistance and representation without charging you until we recover compensation for your case.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today
The Long Beach car accident attorneys at Belal Hamideh Law, P.C. are dedicated to helping accident victims recover maximum compensation. We can discuss your legal rights and options during your free, no-obligation case review. Contact us today to learn more.