Belal Hamideh, Long Beach car accident lawyer, can help you to receive every dollar you deserve from your car accident. For years, we’ve represented clients aggressively, so as to ensure that they receive maximum compensation for everything that they’ve been through. Now, we can put that to work for you. Hablamos Espanol.
We do not charge you a fee unless we win. Even then, we will be paid on contingency, with our payment coming out of your settlement. If we don’t win your case, we don’t charge costs either. If we can help you with your case, keep in mind we have a 99% success rate. If you believe there’s any chance that you have a case, it’s worth it to reach out to us for an entirely free consultation.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
First things first: don’t leave. Don’t ever leave the scene of an accident.
Should the other driver do so, take pictures and/or video of their license plate number. That way, the authorities can find them.
As difficult as it may be, try to stay calm. Make sure no one is hurt and then check your vehicle for damage. You don’t have to make quick decisions on the spot.
Make sure you’re safe by checking your surroundings. Should there be oncoming traffic, warn them by turning on hazards, using flares, and so forth. This could include moving your vehicle to get it out of the flow of traffic if necessary.
Once you’re out of harm’s way, call 911.
If anyone is injured, don’t move them unless it’s to get them out of danger. Keep them warm, too.
After you’ve made sure that everyone is all right and help is coming, get as much information as you can. That means the name of every driver involved, as well as their license plate, insurance company, and even policy number. You’ll also want to collect information on witnesses, passengers, the vehicles involved, and where they’re located.
Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle, the accident scene itself, damage to passengers, and others as well.
Don’t apologize to the other driver. Keep discussion simple and to the point. Discussing the accident with the police and your insurance exclusively is the best policy.
When Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
Right away. That’s especially true if you or someone you love were injured in the accident. The statute of limitations in California is often two years, but in some circumstances, it can be less than that.
Additionally, the other side is going to get to work on the case as quickly as possible. In fact, the other driver’s insurance company will do everything they can to ensure you receive as little compensation as possible. Tactics include pestering you with questions, trying to trip you up, offering low-ball offers.
Hiring an attorney puts a stop to all of that. Moreover, it gives your attorney a chance to get to work on your case that much faster, thus giving you the best chance to get the compensation you deserve.
How Long Should I Wait to File a Car Accident Claim in Long Beach?
If anyone in the accident was injured or killed, or the accident resulted in more than $1,000 in property damage, you have ten days to notify the California DMV. Remember: this is not the same as suing for damages.
You have up to two years from the accidents to sue for injuries from a car accident, per California’s statute of limitations. Additionally, you have three years to file for property damage.
However, if the defendant is a governmental entity, you have 6 months to file a claim for damages and then 6 months from the denial of the claim to file a lawsuit.
Other types of injuries, like medical malpractice, have a 1-year statute of limitations. As you can see, you don’t have that much time. It behooves you to file a claim as quickly as possible.
What Are The Main Causes of Car Accidents in Long Beach?
There are many different causes of vehicular accidents in California and the surrounding area. The most common are:
- Excessive Speeding. This makes it more difficult for drivers to react and for other drivers as well as pedestrians to get out of the way.
- Driving Under the Influence. Roughly one-third of all fatal traffic accidents nationwide are a result of driving drunk or under the influence of drugs.
- Driving Distracted. Texting, using social media, talking, setting/checking directions, and changing the music are just some of the distractions drivers could face.
- Defects Within the Vehicle. Malfunctioning seat belts, engines, brakes, and more cause more accidents than many realize.
- Driving Mistakes. This could include following drivers too close, failing to yield the right of way, running red lights, inattentiveness, too-sudden lane changes, and more.
Who is Liable in a Car Accident?
Every case is different, so different parties may be found liable for the damages that you have suffered in your car accident. Often, the liable party is another driver, someone whose reckless and/or negligent actions led to your injuries.
However, they are often not the only liable. If you were hit by someone who was driving as part of their job, their employer could be liable. The owner of the vehicle could be liable. Over the years, we’ve found many different parties could be liable: marketers, shipping companies, manufacturers, even marketers – as car accident attorneys Long Beach, one of our responsibilities is to find all of the parties responsible for your injuries and make sure that you receive maximum compensation. This is true even if you were partially at fault for your accident.
Common Car Accident Injuries & How to Calculate Compensation
Just as every car accident is different, so too are the injuries you and yours could suffer. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Whiplash.
- Broken bones.
- Road rash and/or cuts.
- Back injuries (including paralysis).
- Head and Neck Injuries.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries.
- Massive Bruising.
- Emotional distress (PTSD, anxiety, and other emotional issues).
The compensation you receive for your injuries depends upon many factors. How severely you were injured, how much you were at fault (if at all) in the accident, and others. As your attorney, we will represent you as aggressively as possible. That means we will do everything in our power to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation for everything that you have been through.
What Benefits am I Entitled to?
Depending on my factors, you could be entitled to many benefits. One of the most common: payment of all of your medical expenses. If you do not have a medical care provider, we may be able to set you up with a medical care provider who, like us, will work on contingency.
Additionally, you may be able to receive compensation for any medical care you may need in the future for injuries resulting from this accident. You may receive payment for the pain and suffering you’re dealing with now as well as payment for future pain and suffering, too.
The repair of your vehicle (without any charge to you) may be a benefit you receive, as well as reimbursement for all out-of-pocket expenses related to your accident. Many clients, after having been injured in a car accident, lost wages from being unable to work their jobs. You may receive recovery of lost wages as well as compensation for wages you might lose in the future, too.
Hire The Right Car Accident Lawyer to Deal with The Insurance Companies
After you’ve been through a car accident, you may feel like you don’t want to deal with a car accident lawyer and you just want to handle your case on your own. This is not recommended.
The insurance companies know exactly what your case is worth. As soon as they learn of your accident, they will put their entire team (insurance claims adjusters, lawyers, investigators, and others) to work to make sure that you receive little to nothing for your pain, suffering, and damages.
We can handle the insurance companies. Belal Hamideh is a compassionate, experienced car accident lawyer in Long Beach. He genuinely cares about his clients and their families. His portfolio speaks for itself, as does the compensation he’s won for his clients and those who love them. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you have nothing to lose by reaching out to a car accident lawyer who can help. Schedule a free consultation today via phone call or through the contact form.