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Santa Monica, CA
2719 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 250
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Tel: (424) 253-4254
Fax: (888) 959-8749
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One Sansome Street, Suite 3500
San Francisco, CA 94104
Tel: (415) 690-8234
Fax: (888) 959-8749
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A car accident has the potential to derail your entire life. Getting in a wreck can wound you physically and mentally, possibly leaving you with severe physical injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, or, in the worst cases, grief from the loss of a loved one. As if these challenges weren’t enough, you could also be looking down the barrel of astronomical medical expenses, immense property damage, and lost income or benefits.
That’s why it is paramount you work with the best car accident lawyer in California. With Kermani LLP on your side, you can focus on healing while they focus on assessing your claim and putting together a winning case so you get the compensation you deserve.
California Car Accident Statistics and High-Risk Areas
Even if you haven’t been in an accident, it’s worth your time as a driver to arm yourself with knowledge. The California Highway Patrol’s most recent data reports that almost 200,000 auto accidents result in injury every year in California. Worse, nearly 4,000 California car accidents each year result in fatalities.
The fact of the matter is if you live in California, you will likely one day need an auto accident attorney in California. The dire statistics from the California Highway Patrol are a result of California’s abundant dangerous highways, many of which are multi-lane interstates or are coastal highways that precariously coil around ocean-drenched cliffsides. If you’re a driver in California, you’re braving these roads:
- Interstate 5: This highway links together numerous major population centers. As such, it is frequently congested. It’s also subject to poor weather conditions and the sub-par visibility that comes with that.
- Interstate 80: Interstate 80 is known for its tendency to become backed up with semi-trucks. Pair this with high-speed limit areas and treacherous winter weather, and the danger becomes apparent.
- Interstate 15: This highway is infamous for being one of the most dangerous highways in the U.S. The section of Interstate 15 that intersects California is at the mercy of bad weather, fog, and gale-force winds.
- U.S. Route 199: The danger in this highway has little to do with the road itself. U.S. Route 199 is considered one of the most scenic in the country; as such, distracted drivers make driving down U.S. Route 199 an exercise in peril.
- State Route 138: A regular feature of this highway is crowded, overloaded traffic conditions. It is also host to mountainous, winding stretches of road.
- State Route 99: While Interstate 15 is one of the most dangerous highways in the U.S., State Route 99 has the dubious honor of being the singular most dangerous highway in the country, bar none. It is ranked as the darkest highway and as the one with the second-highest number of drunk drivers.
Hazardous roadways aside, speeding is one of the most common driving factors behind car accidents in California. Speeding tends to happen in the same areas regularly; the top locales for speeding tickets in California are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, and Sacramento.
Legal Rights and Options After a Car Accident in California
You have two legal options after a car crash in California: file a car accident claim, or file a personal injury lawsuit. If you choose to go the car accident claim route, you should understand that California is an “at fault” insurance state. As such, a driver’s first step after sustaining an injury from a car wreck is to file a claim with the at-fault party’s car insurance provider. Filing a car accident claim allows you to pursue damages incurred from the auto accident. These damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, and injuries from pain and suffering.
The process of a car accident claim happens outside of court. To settle the matter in court, you may file a personal injury lawsuit. In such an instance, your case will be brought before a judge and possibly a jury. Although most lawyers and their clients prefer to avoid trials, they have the potential to result in considerably greater compensation.
While you are not legally required to hire a car accident attorney in California to file a car accident claim, there are a few reasons you might want to do so:
- If you were in a particularly serious accident or if your case is complicated, a traffic accident lawyer in California can handle the hard parts for you.
- If you lack any kind of legal experience or knowledge, trying to represent yourself is not advised. Even with legal experience and knowledge, it is still ill-informed.
- If the other party in the accident was an uninsured motorist, hiring a car accident lawyer in CA is a must.
- If the accident in which you were involved resulted in the death of a loved one, you may have a case for wrongful death.
- Hiring CA car accident attorneys can ensure that you receive the highest possible settlement amount.
- If you seek to avoid going to court through a lawsuit, the best way is to have a lawyer.
The reasons to have a California car accident lawyer are numerous. Get in touch with Kermani LLP today to ensure a team with expertise is fighting for your compensation.
Essential Actions Post-Car Accident
After going through a car accident, there are a few simple yet crucial steps you need to take to ensure both your health and the success of your claim. While the circumstances of the accident’s aftermath are beyond your control, you should endeavor to do the following, if possible:
- Inform law enforcement: Any accident in California that results in serious injury or vehicle damage must be reported to the police within 24 hours. Failure to report an accident to law enforcement is considered a criminal offense in California and can incur fines of up to $10,000 and potential prison time. Your first order of business you should take it call the police. Once they arrive, ask the responding officers to compile a police report. Although police reports are often inaccurate, a police report could be a crucial resource for establishing the other party’s liability in the accident.
- Seek medical care: Even if you feel okay, your body’s adrenaline may be preventing you from realizing you are injured. You should go to a hospital as soon as possible. Even minor injuries can become majorly complicated if left untreated. Furthermore, a medical report is an important evidence in a car accident claim.
- Take photographs: Snap photos of the accident scene, including the damage inflicted to both vehicles. Make sure you also get pictures of wounds sustained by you and your passengers (if applicable). Gathering more data will significantly reinforce the robustness of your case.
- Don’t apologize: While you may want to apologize out of courtesy, this can be taken as an admission of fault and will be used against your case. Talk only to the police and a qualified California traffic accident lawyer.
Damages and Compensation
You might be confused about whether your car accident resulted in a valid compensation claim. Fortunately, the criteria are simple. To collect damages, your accident must have been at least partly caused by another party’s negligence and caused you or a family member to sustain serious physical injuries. A free evaluation from Kermani LLP can determine this.
The Advantage of Choosing Kermani LLP for Your Car Accident Claim
When looking for a CA car accident lawyer, you must opt for quality. The advantage of choosing Kermani LLP is multifaceted; they will provide a free evaluation, they have an extensive track record as CA car accident attorneys dealing with physical injury cases, and they have been practicing in the personal injury space since 2011.
Evaluating and Representing Your Car Accident Case
If you’re stumped on where to begin, just know that Kermani LLP can give you a free case evaluation. Get in contact with them today so your case can be assessed by the best lawyers for auto accidents in California. If your case goes to court, there can be no one better to represent you.
Kermani LLP’s Commitment to Clients and No Fee Guarantee
The thought of a hefty price tag may leave you hesitant about hiring a California auto accident attorney. However, Kermani LLP’s commitment to their clients means they have a “no fee guarantee”. You won’t pay anything if you don’t win!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do car accident lawyers charge in California?
Most car accident attorneys in California work on a contingency fee basis. This type of payment arrangement means your lawyer will help you resolve your situation and won’t get paid until you do. You’ll agree on a percentage that your lawyer will receive once you get your check. At Kermani LLP, lawyers also charge you the associated fees, only after they win your case.
What is the average settlement for a car accident in California?
Every car accident situation is unique, and the settlement award received should reflect the exact losses the injured party experienced. That said, the average car accident settlement award is usually around $20,000 in California.
How much can someone sue for in a car accident in California?
An injured party can file a claim for compensation for the exact amount of the losses they endured as a result of the crash. These losses should cover all economic and non-economic damages sustained by the injured party. There is no cap to damages in car accident cases in California.
What’s the most a lawyer can take from a settlement in California?
There isn’t a cap to the percentage a car accident attorney can claim from your settlement check. That said, most lawyers don’t charge over 40% in California. You and your lawyer should agree on a percentage before your lawyer is officially ‘hired’ by you and before you sign any paperwork.
Should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident in California?
If your losses are minor and the claim is straightforward, then you may be able to file an insurance claim and resolve the situation quickly without legal help. However, if you run into issues, then you may want to hire a lawyer to get the problem resolved.
How is fault determined in car accidents in California?
Fault in a California car accident will be determined on a case-by-case basis dependent on the available evidence. Sometimes, the fault is obvious and is determined immediately at the scene by the police. In other accidents, an independent investigation is conducted to determine what or who could’ve caused the accident.
What is the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim in California?
In California, you have up to two years from the date of your car accident to file a compensation claim.
Can I still file a personal injury claim if I was partially at fault in California?
Yes. California operates on a comparative fault basis, so you can still file a claim even if you were partially responsible for a car accident. Your settlement award will be reduced based on your percentage of fault in the accident.
How long does it typically take to settle a car accident claim in California?
A car accident claim in California will typically get resolved within a few months, but some cases take a much longer time to get sorted out. It can take up to a few years to solve a complex claim with multiple liable parties, substantial losses, long-term or permanent damages, or other complicated factors. In general, your case will resolve faster if you hire a strong legal team and build up a solid case upfront. The stronger your case is in the beginning, the more likely you are to reach a quick settlement.
What types of damages can I recover in a car accident lawsuit in California?
In a car accident claim in California, you can file for economic or non-economic damages. Economic damages are easy to calculate, like medical expenses or lost wages. Non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering, trauma, or emotional distress.
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