Woodland Hills Car Accident Lawyer

Woodland Hills Car Accident Attorney

Our Auto Accident Lawyers Are on Your Side

For more than 30 years the Woodland Hills auto accident lawyers of Freeman & Freeman, LLP, have been representing clients in Los Angeles injured in motor vehicle collisions and accidents.

Rear-end collisions and motorcycle crashes, freeway pile-ups, vehicle defect crashes and catastrophic trucking accidents: If you have been injured and someone else’s negligent or irresponsible behavior is to blame, a Woodland Hills car accident lawyer from our firm can help you.

Call our experienced Woodland Hills car accident lawyers from wherever you are in Los Angeles County. Call any time day or night for a free consultation: 818-992-2919 or contact us online about any auto accident including the following:

• Reckless driving by another driver
• Poorly secured trucking materials
• Unsafely marked construction zones
• Inadequately maintained road conditions
• Mechanical failure of your own vehicle
• Faulty tire construction

Finding the Root Causes

The causes of your Woodland Hills auto crash may be difficult to determine and even more difficult to prove. Woodland Hills car accident lawyers with good intentions and some experience in the courtroom are not adequate.

Your attorney must have extensive knowledge and resources to draw upon in these cases in order to maximize your compensation. Do not settle for less than you need and deserve.

How We Fight for Your Rights

Our Woodland Hills car accident lawyers will call on the appropriate engineers, mechanics, medical professionals, independent accident-scene investigators and other experts to find the evidence showing you deserve justice and compensation.

Your case will be meticulously prepared for trial but we will also use our decades of experience in negotiating with insurance companies, product manufacturers, trucking companies and other parties to get the compensation you need. Though we will prepare for trial, we have been extremely successful in getting favorable settlements for our clients before trial is necessary.

Free and Fast Case Evaluations

Based on our experience, we will be able to let you know, quite quickly, what the chances of success are for your case.

You can have peace of mind knowing that if we take your case, we are confident that we can win. After all, we don’t get paid unless you do. Call us for a free case evaluation: 818-992-2919 or contact us online.

Compensation That May Be Available in a Car Accident Claim

The compensation available in a car accident claim is roughly the same that’s available in most personal injury claims. The compensation that you could receive will cover the costs that are directly associated with the injuries that you suffered as a result of the accident.

Your lawyer must demonstrate this direct connection, which is why it is critical that you keep documentation describing your injuries and the costs associated. Doctors’ notes, medical bills, and bills for the repair or replacement of damaged property can all help your lawyer prove their connection with your injuries.

Your compensation will usually come in the form of two kinds of damages, although there may occasionally be a third form.

The different forms of damages are:

Economic Damages

If you have a bill or some other clear financial component to a cost that you suffered in a car accident, that is likely going to be compensated through economic damages. These cover the financial costs associated with the injury. Medical bills, along with property damage, such as damage to a vehicle in the accident, are included in these damages.

If the injuries were serious enough for you to need to miss work, lost wages from that will also be compensated. Additionally, if the injuries are serious enough that they will require ongoing care or prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity, future medical bills, and lost earning capacity are addressed through these damages.

Non-Economic Damages

There are a number of psychological and emotional costs that someone who is injured in a car accident can suffer. Pain and suffering from the injuries is just the beginning of the potential costs. Mental anguish, loss of enjoyment in life and other challenging mental conditions can arise because of these accidents.

While these don’t have a clear way that they can be addressed financially, they are still given a value that is then compensated through non-economic damages. The monetary award may, at least, help make the issues more manageable.

Punitive Damages

It’s not likely that punitive damages will be awarded in a car accident claim, as these are usually only awarded as a kind of punishment for egregious behavior. In most cases, unless there was something malicious, such as a hit-and-run where the runner was caught or another kind of particularly reckless behavior, punitive damages aren’t likely to be awarded.

How Your Compensation Could Be Limited

There are no damages caps on car accident claims in California. However, there is another means by which your damages may be limited.

The state operates under a system of pure comparative negligence for civil claims, like a car accident. What this means is that your compensation could be limited based on whether you were determined to have any fault for the accident or injuries.

In a civil trial, the defendant is given the opportunity to prove fault on the part of the plaintiff. If they succeed in doing so, a percentage matching their share of fault will be assigned to both parties.

That percentage will have a direct effect on the damages that you can recover. In many states, if the plaintiff is found to be 50% or greater at fault for an accident, they are prevented from collecting any compensation.

Fortunately, because California operates on a system of pure comparative negligence, that is not the case in this state. Here, even someone who is 99% at fault could collect some compensation.

The damages awarded, though, will be reduced proportionately to the share of fault that the plaintiff holds. For example, if a plaintiff is going to be awarded $50,000, but they have been found to be 10% at fault for the accident, their final compensation will be $5,000.

Should You Settle a Claim or Take It to Court?

In the process of seeking restitution, plaintiffs will need to decide whether they want to settle a claim or take it to court. There’s no way to make a broad claim about whether that’s the right decision or not, as it will heavily depend on the specifics of each case. However, there are a few factors that are important to understand about weighing the benefits of the two options.

Opportunity

Because a settlement is a kind of compromise, both parties may be perceived as giving something up. In a civil settlement, what both parties are giving up is opportunity. For the plaintiff, they are giving up the opportunity to possibly be awarded more in the process of a full trial, while the defendant is giving up the possibility that a full trial may allow them to avoid paying anything at all.

Certainty

Both sides gain the element of certainty. For the defendant, there is the risk that they may have had to pay more by going to trial. For the plaintiff, there is the risk that going to trial results in a much lower payment or nothing at all. By settling, both sides are able to avoid that potential risk. The final payout will be whatever was agreed to by both parties.

Time

Another potential benefit of settling, particularly for the plaintiff, is the element of time. A trial could be a lengthy, difficult process. It’s not uncommon, in complex cases, for it to be months or even years before a plaintiff finally receives the compensation that they are owed. For many people, this kind of delay is not worth the wait for a higher payout. They would rather choose the quicker payout that comes shortly after a settlement.

Considerations Unique to Your Case

Whether a settlement is right for you will depend on a number of different factors:

• The amount being offered
• The offered amount when compared to the award you could potentially get in court
• Your confidence in the case’s performance in court
• How long you are willing to wait for a court award

These are all important considerations, and your lawyer can help you better understand the situation in your claim.

Automobile Accident Checklist

Involvement in an automobile accident can be a very traumatic and confusing experience. While obtaining immediate medical attention for injuries is the primary concern, it is also important to collect as much information as possible at the accident site.

The following checklist provides an outline of the most important information that needs to be gathered after an accident in order to protect your legal rights. For help, contact the car accident attorneys at Freeman & Freeman, LLP.

Our experienced personal injury attorneys can answer questions and help you recover compensation for your injuries.

1. Seek immediate medical attention. Do not hesitate to call 911 for medical help if anyone is injured. It is best not to try and move an injured person unless absolutely necessary. Explain the situation to the 911 operator and give the exact location of the accident. Be sure to mention whether an ambulance is needed. Remain on the phone until the operator tells you it is okay to hang up.
2. Safely get out of the way of traffic. If your automobile is inoperable, turn on warning lights or open you hood.
3. Call the police. If the automobile accident involves damage, injury or death, the police should be called immediately.
4. Obtain police officer information. Write down the name, badge number and city of the officer’s jurisdiction.
5. Obtain driver information. Once the injured have been helped, gather information about the other vehicles and drivers involved. Be sure to get license plate numbers, names, addresses, phone numbers and insurance information. Include a description of the other vehicles involved.
6. Obtain witness information. Write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of all witnesses to the accident. Be sure to ask any bystanders if they would be willing to give you their information in case you need them to verify the events that took place.
7. Take photographs of everything involved in the accident. Ideally, pictures should include each driver, each automobile in the accident showing any damage, skid marks, damage to any other property, as well as the surrounding area and road from different angles. Also take pictures of any external injuries if possible. The more pictures the better.
8. Create a diagram of the accident scene. Draw a diagram of the accident scene and label the positions of the vehicles, the direction they were traveling and any traffic control devices. Take supporting pictures of the scene from various angles.
9. Have a police report prepared and obtain a copy. If the police do not come to the scene of the accident, visit the nearest police station and fill out an accident report.
10. Do not discuss the accident with anyone other than your own attorney. Don’t discuss the accident with the other driver, their attorney or any insurance company (even your own). Never give a written or recorded statement, unless it is under the advice of your attorney. Anything you say from the time of the accident until your case is resolved can be used against you in court.
11. Contact your attorney. Contact your attorney as soon as possible after the accident. If you do not have an attorney, you should retain an experienced automobile accident attorney to protect your legal rights.
12. Keep a log of time off from work due to the accident. This will help you establish damages such as lost wages and can be used in court as evidence.
13. Keep a log of all medical appointments and treatments. Write down appointments with any health care providers that are related to injuries received from the accident. Include date, times, names of providers, treatment received, prescriptions, co-pays, etc.
14. Follow through with all necessary medical care. Obtain all the medical help that you need for recovery, otherwise insurance companies and their lawyers will argue that you are not as badly injured as you claim.
15. Do not sign any documents or releases without your attorney’s advice. Insurance companies and their attorneys will use any available means to reduce the amount of money they have to pay out. Consult your attorney prior to signing any documents related to the accident.
16. Do not settle your case until all present and future medical expenses are known. Under California law, you are entitled to compensation for all past medical expenses as well as any future medical costs that you might reasonably incur.
17. Keep copies of everything. In order to protect your legal rights, it is essential to keep a copy of all supporting information concerning the accident. This might include such things as police reports, medical documentation, witness information, SR-1 forms, lost wages, repair estimates and anything else that might support your case.

Car Accidents FAQ

At Freeman & Freeman, LLP, we have addressed the concerns and legal needs of our California injured clients for more than four decades. After a car accident, we know that you may have questions, many concerns and bills to pay.

Therefore, we have compiled some of the most common questions from our clients in the hope that they may be useful for you or a loved one, as follows:

Q: Should I talk to the police without my lawyer after an accident?

A: We are all expected to cooperate with the relevant authorities when required. Therefore, after a car accident, you are expected to answer all the questions of a police officer. We advise you to do the following when speaking with any authority:

• Never admit you are at fault. Insurance companies and police officers could consider your statements as a confession and use them against you.
• Keep calm at all times. Aggressive answers or attitudes can also play against you if your case escalates. We highly advise our clients to remain calm and cooperative with the police and emergency services.
• Call a lawyer if you believe your rights are at stake. Insurance companies and police officers are highly trained to obtain confessions. If you think your rights were violated, talk to your lawyer to discuss your case.

You can contact an experienced lawyer to file your insurance claim, whether minor or major. A lawyer’s advice and assistance can play an essential part in protecting your rights.

Q: Do I have to report a car collision to the Department of Motor Vehicles?

A. Yes. Regardless of the severity of the collision and the party at fault, you should report it to the DMV in writing using an SR 1 form within 10 days after the accident. Your insurance agent or legal representative can help you comply with this requirement.

Q: What does it mean that California is an at-fault state?

A. It means you can recover compensation from the party that was at fault for the accident. Proving liability may be a difficult task that depends on the facts and evidence you are able to provide. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can assist you in gathering the information insurance companies and authorities require to determine liability.

Q: When do I have to take my car accident case to court?

A: Under certain circumstances, and if the parties cannot agree in significant aspects involving liability, amount of compensation or severity of injuries suffered by the victim(s), your case may go to trial. However, many insurance companies avoid this step and make every effort to settle an issue before it goes to court due to the high costs of litigation.

From filing insurance claims to maximizing compensation or seeking justice, we have fought for our clients and guided them to protect their interests. You pay our fees only after we recover your compensation.

Free Consultation for Woodland Hills Accident Victims ▪ No Attorneys’ Fees Unless We Win

Freeman & Freeman, LLP, has helped innumerable clients throughout Los Angeles and California obtain successful results in car accident lawsuits — and our record proves it. Our Woodland Hills car accident lawyers have recovered more than $220 million for our clients who have been seriously injured in California. We can help you.

The results of each case depend on the specific facts, but we have won verdicts and large settlements for our auto accident personal injury clients throughout California. In some of the most complex, highest stakes and challenging cases imaginable, we have been victorious.

When insurance companies refuse to pay; when responsible parties refuse to admit their wrongdoing; when people have been seriously injured in Woodland Hills auto accidents, lawyers at Freeman & Freeman, LLP, stand up for victims.

Contact experienced Woodland Hills car accident lawyers today to discuss your claim. We offer a free consultation and handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. If we don’t win your case, we collect no attorneys’ fees.