Reseda Car Accident Lawyer

Reseda Car Accident Attorney

Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. Car accidents can range anywhere from a minor inconvenience to a tragic event that has an irreparable impact on your life. They are often unpredictable and can result in considerable damage, from personal property to personal injury. If your car accident was the result of someone else’s negligent behavior, you may want to speak with a Reseda car accident lawyer to see what your options are.

The legal team at Freeman & Freeman, LLP, has experience helping numerous clients in Reseda sort out the aftermath of a car accident. We can help you manage the details of pursuing your legal claims, getting the compensation you deserve, and giving you peace of mind while you recover and get your life back on track.

Car Accidents in Reseda, CA

A car accident can come out of nowhere and cause lifelong damage to your physical, emotional, and mental health. However, taking the necessary actions to pursue a claim can help you recover and hold the at-fault party accountable. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you make sense of your claim and keep you from missing any vital deadlines. Hiring a skilled Reseda personal injury lawyer to represent you may be the most important decision you make for your case.

If you are ever involved in a car accident in California and wish to proceed with pursuing compensatory damages from the negligent party, it is important to note that the statute of limitations for such a claim is two years. That means you will have two years from the date of your initial accident to start building a case, gather evidence, speak with a lawyer, and file a car accident claim.

If you are unable to file your claim before two years are up, your case will not be heard, and your opportunity to file for compensatory damages will disappear. While two years may seem sufficient, building a strong personal injury case can take time. That’s why it is vital that you start developing your claim as soon as possible with the help of an experienced Reseda car accident lawyer.

What to Do in the Event of a Car Accident

In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, the actions you take can either help or damage your future accident claim. It is important for the efficiency of your claim that you make the right choices at the right moment. While it can sometimes be difficult to know what those decisions may be amidst the chaos of a car accident, here are some important steps you can take to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible:

• Remain Calm: Your first instinct after a car accident may be to panic. It’s understandable. You have just been through a physically and emotionally traumatic event. Panicking won’t help you and may only make things worse. Try to remain calm and start to assess the situation. You will need to get your bearings in order to fully grasp what just happened.
• Do Not Flee: Whatever you do, do not attempt to flee the scene of the accident. Fleeing the scene, no matter how small or trivial the accident may seem to you, is illegal and could result in criminal charges against you for a hit-and-run. If possible, pull your vehicle over to a safe location.
• Check for Injuries: Once you have calmed yourself and gotten your vehicle to a safer location, you should immediately start checking your body for any obvious injuries. Check for blood, bruising, sprains, protrusions, and broken bones. Do the same for any passengers you may also have in the car. If you feel any persistent pain but are unable to find any external injury, be sure to mention this to the EMTs once they arrive. Check for injuries of passengers in your car, other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists. If you or someone else is injured, do not move them unless they are in immediate danger. Any person who is lying in the middle of a busy road or trapped in a burning vehicle should be moved to a safe place.
• Call 911: After checking for injuries and moving all involved to safety, you should contact the authorities as soon as possible. You will want police to come to the scene and file a valid report. You will also need emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to assess all involved for any injuries.
• Move Your Car: If at all possible, you may want to consider moving your car away from traffic and onto the side of the road. After all, the last thing you want is to accidentally cause another collision because your car was in the middle of oncoming traffic. If the police tell you it’s okay and you are physically able to do so, move your vehicle onto the shoulder. If you are too injured or the vehicle is too damaged to move, don’t worry about it.
• Exchange Information: You and any other drivers involved should exchange insurance and contact information to move forward with an insurance claim. Be sure to get their insurance carrier, full name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number. Give them the same information. If either of you already has a lawyer, you may also want to exchange their contact information. Throughout this exchange of information, it can be important to your insurance claim that you never admit fault for the accident to any degree. Even if you are fully aware that you caused the accident, do not say so. Even apologizing for the accident can be considered an admission of guilt. Taking accountability can hurt your claim when it comes time to file. Be civil, but do not accept blame.
• Document the Scene: Once police and EMTs have cleared the scene and you have exchanged the proper information with the other driver, you can start documenting the scene of the accident for your own records. Be sure to take plenty of photos of your injuries, the damage to both vehicles, the damage to the road, the conditions of the road, any warning signs or stop lights, and surrounding landmarks. Be sure to speak to any potential witnesses who saw the accident take place and may be willing to help you with their statements. You will need their contact information as well when the time comes to build your case. Be aware if there were any cameras around that might have captured the accident, perhaps near a stoplight or a local business.
• File a Police Report: When speaking to the police about what happened, you should be truthful and honest about the events that caused the accident. Again, do not admit any fault for the accident, and also don’t blame the other driver. Stay as neutral as possible in your responses. You will have the opportunity to assign fault later. The police report is about relaying the facts as they occurred. You may want to document the name, badge number, and rank of the officer you are speaking with in case you need to refer to them later. Be sure to get a clear reference number for your report before you leave so it can be easier to track it down when you need it later.
• Contact Insurance: When you have a valid police report, you will need to contact your insurance carrier to fill them in on everything that has happened. Explain the facts to them without prejudice or exaggeration. They will probably have you share the evidence you have collected thus far. Be sure not to admit fault to them, either. Throughout this process, be very careful about how you describe the accident. If you accept blame at any point, it can hurt your claim.
• See a Doctor: Even if you were cleared by EMTs at the accident scene, you should go and see a doctor anyway. They may be able to find internal injuries that the EMTs missed during the chaotic accident scene. Your doctor will give you a more thorough examination and also provide you with a valid medical record of your injuries, which will be useful later when you start developing your claim.
• See a Lawyer: If your car accident resulted in severe injuries, significant property damage, or emotional distress, you may want to reach out and retain the services of an experienced car accident lawyer. A good lawyer can help you develop a case that seeks compensatory damages from the negligent parties who caused your accident. Your lawyer can help provide you with peace of mind that your case is being handled professionally, allowing you to focus on your recovery and not miss any crucial deadlines for filing legal paperwork. On the other side, if the police determine that the accident was your fault and bring charges against you, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to defend yourself.
• Report the Accident. Any time you are involved in a car accident, you should report the accident to the proper authorities. Legally, if the accident resulted in serious injury or death, it must be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours, as per the California Vehicle Code.

Reseda Car Accident FAQs

Q: How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge in Reseda?

A: It is difficult to determine how much a car accident lawyer may charge in Reseda. Every car accident case is different and has its own set of complexities. An experienced car accident lawyer usually takes these factors into consideration when calculating a fee. Generally, the more complicated the case, the more an attorney may charge. You and your lawyer should determine a set fee prior to agreeing to hire them.

Q: What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Reseda?

A: The average settlement for a car accident in California can be difficult to determine. The amount you may receive in a potential settlement should reflect the severity of your injuries, the amount of property damage sustained by your vehicle, and any medical expenses you have had to endure as a result of the accident, among other factors unique to your case. It is also important to note that just because a case similar to yours resulted in a certain amount doesn’t mean yours would be the same.

Q: Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident Claim in Reseda?

A: No, by law, you do not need a lawyer for a car accident claim in Reseda. However, if you want to file a claim to recoup expenses that were caused by a car accident, it is highly recommended that you seek out and retain legal counsel who has experience in this area. Having someone on your side who understands California law and can anticipate any setbacks can only help you and your case in the long run.

Q: How Much Can Someone Sue for a Car Accident in Reseda?

A: There is no limit in California on how much someone can sue another person for a car accident. There are limits on certain non-economic damages like pain and suffering, but the economic damages have no specific cap. You and your lawyer can pursue any number that accurately reflects the amount of money you have lost due to vehicle repairs, medical expenses, lost wages, and ongoing medical care for your injuries. Your attorney can help you substantiate these claims.

Reach Out to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today

It can be overwhelming and frustrating to deal with the fallout after a car accident. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may also be facing severe, life-altering injuries. An experienced Reseda car accident lawyer can help you outline a plan and seek compensation from the party responsible for causing your injuries.

The legal team at Freeman & Freeman, LLP, understands the kind of assistance you will need throughout this ordeal. We can help you build up your case, gather evidence that supports your claim, and make sure you aren’t taken advantage of by insurance companies. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.