Our Tarzana car accident lawyers have collected millions of dollars for car accident victims. When innocent people are hurt by others on the road, they may be entitled to financial compensation. Any car accident can produce serious injuries. Our lawyers specialize in helping victims claim the compensation that they deserve.
LA Century Law is a premier personal injury and accident law firm serving Tarzana with locations throughout Southern California. We are committed to helping clients receive compensation for injuries and damages. Contact us today to see how we can aggressively represent you after a car accident.
Types of Car Accident Claims
The Tarzana car accident lawyers at LA Century Law accept a wide variety of car accident claims, including:
- Single and multi-vehicle car crashes
- Truck and semi-truck accidents
- Uber, Lyft, and taxi accidents
- Delivery driver and mail delivery injuries
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian and bicyclist
- Trailer sway and load problems
- Pile-ups
- Vehicle fires
- Incidents involving police and other emergency vehicles
- Injuries caused by dangerous road conditions and designs
- Claims involving drunk driving and driving under the influence of drugs
- Accidents that result from poor vehicle design and maintenance
- Catastrophic injury, spinal cord injury, and paralysis
What Laws Apply to California Car Accident Claims?
California car accident claims are based on negligence. Negligence is the absence of ordinary or reasonable care in the circumstances. If a party causes an accident based on negligence or other misconduct, they are liable to pay damages to victims.
For example, when someone fails to stop at a stoplight, they are negligent. Speeding, following too closely, and failing to keep tail lights working on a vehicle are all ways a driver can be negligent. There doesn’t always have to be a traffic law that a person violated. There must be an evaluation of the events leading to the accident to determine whether a party acted with negligence.
Who May Be Held Responsible for a Car Accident?
Of course, the driver is the first person that comes to mind when you think of who may be responsible for a car accident. Some of the parties to explore when it comes to accident liability are:
- The vehicle driver
- Vehicle owner
- An employer of the vehicle driver
- Manufacturer of the vehicle
- A party transporting goods in a truck or trailer
- Government entities
- Someone who furnishes alcohol to a minor
To receive fair compensation for a car accident, is critical to explore who may be legally liable. There may be multiple parties to name in your claim and additional insurance policies that may pay damages.
What is comparative negligence?
As you explore rules and laws related to car accidents, specifically in California, you will discover that California is a “comparative fault” negligence state. It is a legal term that addresses a situation where multiple parties are at fault. California law allows parties in a car accident to claim compensation based on fault. A party who has some measure of fault for the accident is not prohibited from bringing a claim. Their fault may impact the amount that they receive.
Thus, in California, even if you are mostly at fault (e.g. 80% at fault for causing a crash), you may still be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Comparative fault is an issue that is decided by the jury at trial. The parties can investigate the claim and determine if shared fault may be an issue. However, you’re not at fault just because the other party doesn’t want to pay compensation. Let our lawyers evaluate if comparative fault is an issue in your claim and how to respond if it is raised.
What Damages Can I Receive for My Car Accident?
Damages available in a car accident are the current and future losses that stem from the accident. Some of the losses you have can be totaled with a calculator. Other types of losses you know you have, but there isn’t a way to measure them based on out-of-pocket loss. California law recognizes both economic and non-economic damages for car accident claims.
You may claim compensation for:
- Medical bills, both current and future
- Income and career loss, including benefits
- Property damage, vehicle repairs
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of limb, scars, and disfigurement
- Wrongful death compensation
- Punitive damages (if the case qualifies)
To receive compensation for a category of damages, you must identify that you have it and take steps to claim it. You must have evidence to prove your losses, which may include medical records, bills, your own testimony, expert witnesses, and more.
What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
It can be devastating to realize that the other party in a car accident doesn’t have insurance. However, don’t assume that you cannot receive compensation. You may have uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage that may pay damages. In addition, the driver may be personally liable for damages, or another party may be liable for negligent entrustment of the vehicle.
Don’t assume that there’s nothing you can do if the other party in a car accident doesn’t have insurance. Our lawyers can explore other ways for you to collect fair compensation for an accident.
Can I still collect for a car accident if I don’t have insurance?
If you don’t have car insurance, it may still be possible to receive compensation if the other party is at fault. After all, not having insurance isn’t what caused the accident. If you were injured in a car accident and you were driving without insurance at the time, you cannot recover non-economic damages. Economic losses may still be available, like medical bills and lost income, but you cannot claim pain and suffering or emotional anguish.
Car Accident Lawsuit FAQs
How do I bring a car accident claim?
Sometimes, we can negotiate fair compensation by filing directly through an insurance company. Other circumstances require a legal claim. Starting a claim involves drafting legal documents that meet technical requirements. You must file them with the court and comply with the service of process. Our lawyers can take all the steps to bring your claim as your representative.
What’s the time limit to start a claim?
Usually, the time limit to start a car accident claim in California is two years. However, when the claim is against a government entity, the time frame may be as short as six months. On the other hand, there are things that may extend the statute of limitations.
A claim is not formally started by making a report to an insurance company. It takes filing a complaint in court to comply with the timeline. Our lawyers can assist you with the steps needed to make your claim.
How often do car accident cases go to trial?
It’s rare for a car accident case to go to trial. Most of the time, building a strong case allows you to negotiate an appropriate settlement. However, it’s critical to aggressively pursue the case as though it will go to trial.
Our lawyers can help you understand if there are factors in your case that make a trial likely. We diligently build the evidence to put you in a strong position to resolve your case favorably.
How do I calculate compensation for a car accident?
Calculating compensation for a car accident begins with identifying how the accident has changed your life. Begin by totaling up your financial losses, including costs and ways that you can no longer earn income. Include future damages and property loss. You may rely on experts to prove future costs to a reasonable certainty.
There isn’t a precise calculator for determining pain and suffering compensation. It’s relative to the suffering that you experience from the accident. Our lawyers can help you understand how non-economic damages may be valued in your case.
The amount of compensation that you receive doesn’t depend on the total of your damages alone. The clarity of fault, shared fault, and the proof of the causation of your damages are just a few things that may play a role in the value of your case. Our lawyers can help you understand what your claim is likely worth.
Does California use no-fault laws?
No, California is not a no-fault state. You may claim compensation from the party responsible regardless of the severity of your damages. Although the state does not have no-fault laws, all drivers are required to carry minimum liability insurance to pay damages in the event of an accident.
Tarzana Car Accident Lawyers Taking New Cases
Our Tarzana car accident lawyers are currently taking new cases. Don’t suffer from a car accident without getting the legal representation you deserve. At LA Century Law, our mission is to represent you when you have been harmed by the actions of others. We are a civil law firm representing individuals in various practice areas.
We view our law firm as family, and our clients are an extension of our family. Time is limited, so don’t wait to contact us. Call or send us a message today to begin.
