Rancho Cucamonga Car Accident Lawyer

How Our Car Accident Lawyers in California Can Help?

Seeking compensation for the damages and injuries suffered by a car accident can be a complex and challenging endeavor, especially if you have no legal expertise. Insurance companies are not bothered about your best interests. They just want to profit. Thankfully, a car accident lawyer can come to your rescue. Besides having a deep understanding of the law and proper communication, there are a host of tasks with which a lawyer can help you.

Hiring a car accident lawyer in California doesn’t mean you have to go to trial. There are many steps in any car accident claim where you will benefit from Rancho Cucamonga car accident attorneys:

• Assessing your claim. In order to know how strong your claim is, your lawyer may review photos and footage of the accident, talk to witnesses, and look into medical reports. They will know what evidence needs to be gathered to fortify your position. They can also explain your legal rights and prepare you for what’s coming ahead.
• Insurance company discussions. Insurance companies want to pay as little as possible, and their representatives will try to interpret your information to their own benefit. Car accident lawyers can speak on their client’s behalf and help with their client’s statements so that insurance adjusters can’t pull a fast one.
• Settlement negotiations. Most personal injury cases settle so that parties can avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of trial. Car accident attorneys make sure your legal rights are protected and that the other side won’t successfully low ball you. Some cases go to mediation or arbitration. Your lawyer can make sure the rules are followed and the proceedings are fair.
• Trial. An auto car accident lawsuit can be complicated. Not only are there special rules in court procedures, but also strategic considerations when it comes to witness examinations (and cross-examinations) and legal arguments. Lawyers present legal research and case precedents so the judge can determine an appropriate award. Prior to the actual trial, there is the discovery process, motions, and other pretrial matters.

We cover all types of accident cases

Negligence is one of the common causes of car accidents in Rancho Cucamonga. However, there may be a lot of other factors to consider when it comes to accidents involving drunk drivers or hit and runs. With decades of experience behind us, we can help you with all types of car accident cases, even those where you are partially at fault for the accident. Accidents caused due to faulty parts are also handled by our expert lawyers.

Some of the personal injury claims where our lawyers thrive include:

• Bone fractures
• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Herniated discs
• Burns
• Paralysis and nerve damage
• Amputation
• Whiplash injuries
• Wrongful death

Our Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyers know that insurance companies are not the only ones liable to compensate you for losses. Apart from insurers, our attorneys will also consider recovering your money from uninsured motorists, government agencies and car manufacturers. For instance, if an accident was caused due to a missing traffic signal, the government agency that bears responsibility for safe conditions on the road will be approached. No insurance company will go through the trouble of identifying alternate sources and getting you a fair compensation, but our expert lawyers will.

Compensation for Car Accident Victims

If you have been in a car accident caused by someone else, you are entitled to compensation for injuries and losses you suffer as a result. This may include:

• Medical costs — immediate and ongoing
• Loss of earnings or reduced earning capacity — due to time off work or no longer being able to work in the same capacity after the injuries
• Loss of economic opportunities — if there were future job or other opportunities that you can no longer take advantage of because of the nature and extent of your injuries
• Lifestyle changes, pain, and suffering — physical and mental changes caused by the car accident 
• Damage to property — including your car and any property damaged as a result of the car accident
• Punitive damages — a special type of damage award meant to send a clear deterrent message to someone whose conduct is particularly bad
• Loss of consortium — if your spouse has been killed in a fatal car accident, so you are deprived of their companionship

Your claim for costs must be supported by the evidence, which can include investigative reports, medical reports, witness testimony, expert opinions, and/or other documentation. A car accident law firm will ensure that you have the evidence you need — for example, sending you to obtain a second physician’s opinion, further medical tests, and more.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in California

According to the State of California DMV, common causes of car accidents in the state include:

• Unsafe speed. Maximum speed limits are there to ensure that traffic moves at a safe speed given the neighborhood, environment, and other considerations. Speeding increases the risk of causing a collision and can increase the severity of damage or injury caused by a car accident.
• Driver distractions. When driving, it is important for the driver to keep their eyes and attention on the road and hands on the wheel. Any activity that causes the driver to lose concentration or takes their attention away from driving carefully can cause a vehicular accident. This may include eating or drinking, rummaging through a bag, putting make-up on, reading, and more.
• Cellular phone use. Many jurisdictions now have a separate traffic offense for talking on the phone and/or texting. This is a distraction that causes many car crashes every day.
• Driving on the wrong side of the road. Driving on the wrong side of a roadway heightens the risk of a head-on collision, which can cause serious injuries or even death.
• Improper turns. Turn signals exist so that other drivers know what you are about to do and (re)act accordingly. Turning lanes provide a safer, less obstructive area to execute a turn. By not following the proper protocol when turning, you are surprising other drivers and not allowing them to safely maneuver around you.
• Violation of the right-of-way rules. Right-of-way rules exist so that there is a consistent order in which drivers take turns to complete their actions safely. If someone else has the right of way but you move first, you could cause a collision.

Violation of stop signals and signs. Stop signs, lights, and other road markings help traffic move in a safe, orderly fashion. Disobeying signage and the rules of the road increases the risk of causing a car accident.

Proving a Car Accident Claim in Rancho Cucamonga

To succeed at a car accident claim, you must prove the following elements:

• The other person caused the accident, intentionally or through negligence.
• You were injured as a result of this accident.
• Your injuries caused you to suffer losses.

Negligence is based on the idea that in certain circumstances, people have a duty of care toward others. In the context of a car accident, drivers have a duty of care toward others on the road because driving is inherently dangerous and there are rules governing good driving. Every driver should always pay attention to the road and drive with reasonable care. This includes following traffic laws and being mindful of other drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists, as well as their own passengers.

To prove the fault and liability of the other driver, evidence can include:

• Police reports
• Witness statements
• Accident re-constructionist findings
• Photos or video footage of the accident scene

To prove the nature and extent of your injuries, evidence can include:

• Photos of your injuries
• Medical reports, diagnoses, and recommendations
• Hospital records
• Witness statements

To prove that your injuries have caused you to suffer losses, evidence can include:

• Accounting records
• Invoices and receipts for medical care
• Statements from your employer about missed work
• Physician reports that you can no longer work in the same capacity as before the accident

In a car accident lawsuit, the person who brought the legal action, the plaintiff, must prove these elements “by a preponderance of the evidence” — that it is more likely than not that the plaintiff’s allegations are true. This is a civil law claim, so the plaintiff has a lower burden of proof than in a criminal case, where the prosecution must prove its allegations “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Remember that the defendant may have evidence of their own and can make a counterclaim for damages. The judge will have to assess the strength and weaknesses of both sides and make a determination.