Siskiyou County Car Accident Lawyer

Siskiyou County Car Accident Attorney

A vehicle collision can be a traumatic event and may leave victims in pain and debt. If you or someone close to you has sustained a personal injury, you may need more medical attention and care than the treatment you receive at the scene of the accident. You may need compensation and legal support. Working with a Siskiyou County car accident lawyer is the first step you can take toward appropriate compensation.

Barr and Mudford has helped families in Northern California since 1967. The sole focus of our legal team is representing clients who’ve sustained a personal injury, so we have in-depth knowledge to navigate insurance companies, complicated medical issues, and the legal system. Your attorney can help you determine the next steps so you can focus on recovering and getting your life back to normal.

Understanding California Car Accident Laws

Drivers in California are required to have minimum insurance coverage on their vehicles and proof of financial responsibility. Drivers who do not maintain this may face serious penalties. The minimum coverage includes:

• $15,000 for bodily injury for each person
• $30,000 for bodily injury for each accident
• $5,000 for property damage for each accident

California uses a “pure comparative negligence” rule for car accidents. A percentage of fault is given to each driver, and each driver is financially responsible for that percentage of the damages. This means that even if you are injured, you may still be accountable for some of the damages in a car accident.

If You Are in a Car Accident

First, do not leave the scene of the accident. If you do, you can be charged for “hit and run,” which carries a hard penalty. Move your car or truck out of traffic and check yourself and other people involved in the accident for injuries. Then, call local emergency services to report the collision and any injuries.

Be sure to follow any additional instructions the emergency operator provides. The police will take a statement from you about what happened to cause the accident, and it’s important that you don’t admit fault or apologize.

Take photos of any damage, the scene of the accident, the positions of the vehicles, and weather or road conditions if possible. Make sure you get the contact, insurance, and driver’s license information of any drivers involved. Make a note of their license plate numbers as well. If any witnesses are present, try to get their contact information too. For a detailed guide on what steps to take after an accident, visit Seven Things to Do After a Car Accident.

After the Accident

Get checked out by a medical professional, even if you don’t feel hurt. Sometimes, injuries can take a little while to start hurting, so you may need to be checked out again after the accident. Make sure you keep all your records and medical bills and follow any treatment plans you receive.

Report the car accident to your insurance company as soon as possible, preferably on the same day. If it’s not possible that day due to injury or other reasons, report the accident when you can. Only give facts regarding the accident, and note your claim number.

Keep all documentation regarding the accident together. This may include:

• The police report
• Medical bills and records
• Repair estimates
• Communication, including emails, with insurance companies
• Contact information for everyone at the scene
• Photos of damage and injuries
• Documentation of lost wages, if applicable

Other drivers’ insurance companies or attorneys may contact you soon after the crash. They may try to pressure you to sign a settlement offer, and you may be tempted to do so in order to get the process over as quickly as possible. However, once you sign a settlement, you can lose the right to seek any additional compensation and get stuck with an insufficient settlement.

A Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights

An experienced personal injury attorney can make sure your rights are preserved after a collision, regardless of the cause. They’ll want to take a statement from you and see any documentation you have. They may even be able to deal with the insurance companies for you. Most importantly, your lawyer can advocate for you while you’re recovering.

FAQs

Q: Will a Car Accident Go on Your Driving Record in California?

A: In California, all vehicle collisions that are reported to the DMV, as required by law, will show on your driving record. Exceptions can be made for some accidents, such as those where there is less than $1000 in total damage or if the reporting law enforcement officer determines another driver was at fault, and you do not have any negligence regarding the accident.

Q: How Much Do Accident Attorneys Charge in California?

A: Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency. This means injured victims don’t pay anything upfront. Instead, the lawyer then takes a percentage of the total settlement. The percentage may depend on how complex the case is and whether the case is settled out of court or has to go to trial. Make sure to ask about fees in your consultation before committing to a lawyer.

Q: Can You Sue for a Car Accident in California?

A: Yes, you can sue for a car accident in California for damages to property such as your vehicle and for any personal injury sustained as a result of another driver’s negligence. The amount you can receive in damages may be limited by any amount of negligence assigned to you if you were driving as well. Your personal injury lawyer can help you determine what you might be entitled to.

Q: How Long After a Car Accident Can You Sue in California?

A: You can usually sue for damages from a car accident for two years from the date the accident occurred in California. There are some exceptions, however, that might make the time you have to file a claim either longer or shorter. For example, if the plaintiff is a minor, turning 18 may extend the deadline.

Your Siskiyou County Car Accident Lawyers

At Barr and Mudford, we understand how stressful and even frightening a car accident can be and how much worse that is when you or a loved one sustained a personal injury as a result. Our skilled attorneys can review the details of your case and develop a legal strategy to get you the support you need. Contact our office today to set up a consultation.