San Gabriel Valley Car Accident Lawyer

San Gabriel Valley Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and fatalities in California each year. These incidents happen for many reasons and can easily result in tremendous losses for those involved. If you or a family member recently experienced a car accident in the San Gabriel Valley, it is vital to know your rights and the value of having legal counsel you can trust on your side as you seek compensation for the losses you suffered.

Legal Counsel for Car Accident Victims in San Gabriel Valley, CA

The right San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney can make a tremendous positive impact on the quality of your recovery from a serious accident. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes have more than 40 years of professional experience handling all kinds of personal injury claims for our clients, including those arising from car accidents. We know the challenges you could face in the insurance claim process and a subsequent personal injury suit against the at-fault driver. Whatever your case entails, you can trust our firm to provide ongoing support and reassurance through all phases of your recovery efforts.

How to Prove Fault for a Car Accident in San Gabriel Valley

Before the victim of a car accident in the San Gabriel Valley can recover any compensation for their damages, they must prove the exact cause of the accident and name the driver or drivers responsible for it. It’s possible for a serious accident to happen from many different causes, and a few of the most commonly cited causes of car accidents throughout the state each year include:

• Distracted and inattentive driving. Every driver has a duty of care to operate their vehicle responsibly and attentively, but distracted driving is the leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents in the United States each year. Your San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney can assist you in gathering the evidence you may need to prove the at-fault driver was distracted behind the wheel, such as video footage from traffic cameras and the driver’s cell phone records.
• Any time a driver exceeds the posted speed limit, they increase their risk of causing an accident. Speeding dramatically reduces the time and distance a driver has to slow down or stop to avoid a collision. Speeding will also cause worse injuries when a speeding driver crashes, and excessive speeding could lead to reckless driving charges for the at-fault driver.
• Traffic violations. Any failure to navigate an intersection correctly, failure to yield the right-of-way where appropriate, performing an illegal turn, or failure to stop for a red light or stop sign can easily cause a serious accident. Traffic camera footage and eyewitness statements are often invaluable for proving liability for this type of accident.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. DUI continues to be a problem throughout the state despite harsh penalties for those convicted of DUI, including fines, jail time, and driver’s license suspension. When DUI results in an accident, the at-fault driver faces not only increased penalties but also liability for the damages they inflict on others. Causing serious bodily harm in a DUI accident is likely to propel a misdemeanor DUI charge to felony status.

No matter how your accident happened, you may not recall the exact details of the moments leading up to the crash if you sustained any serious injuries. In any case, an experienced San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney is an invaluable asset for helping you gather the evidence and witness testimony you are likely going to need to firmly establish fault for your accident.

Recovering Compensation for Your San Gabriel Valley Car Accident

Every California driver is legally required to have auto insurance, and filing an auto insurance claim against an at-fault driver is likely to be your first step in recovering compensation for the losses you suffered. Once you have proven fault for your accident, you can proceed with the insurance claim process. Your San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney can assist you with filing your claim, resolve any disputes with the other driver’s insurance carrier, and assist you in maximizing your total compensation.

Your insurance claim payout may not fully cover your damages. If so, you can file a personal injury claim against the driver who injured you. Under state law, you are allowed to seek full repayment of any economic damages they inflicted. These are likely to include immediate and future medical expenses, compensation for income you are unable to earn after the accident, and vehicle repair costs not covered by insurance. You can also seek accountability for the income you will be unable to earn in the future if the defendant inflicted any permanent injuries that diminish your ability to work and earn income.

Beyond your claimable economic damages, state law also gives you the ability to seek compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced. There is no limit to this aspect of your case award under the state’s personal injury laws. Your San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney might seek a sum based on the overall seriousness of your injuries and the future medical complications you face, or they may aim for pain and suffering compensation that reflects the time it takes you to fully recover.

You may have grounds to claim more compensation than you expect for your recent car accident. Working with a seasoned San Gabriel car accident attorney is the ideal method of enhancing your total recovery as much as the law allows, but you need to move quickly to preserve your ability to recover from your damages. The sooner you connect with a trustworthy attorney, the more likely you are to secure maximum compensation for your damages.

FAQs About San Gabriel Valley, CA Car Accident Law

Why Should You Hire a San Gabriel Valley Car Accident Attorney?

Legal representation on your side makes every aspect of your recovery efforts not only easier for you to manage but also more likely to yield the results you hope to see. Your legal team can help gather the evidence needed to firmly prove fault for the accident, and they can also assist you in proving the full extent of the losses you suffered. You’ll be able to count on your San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney to guide you through the insurance claim process as well as help file your personal injury suit if insurance alone cannot fully repay your damages.

How Much Can I Win in a Car Accident Settlement in San Gabriel Valley?

The total value of your car accident case hinges on the extent of the damages you suffered. State law allows you to seek full repayment of all economic damages the at-fault driver inflicted, and you can seek pain and suffering compensation to reflect the overall seriousness of your experience. Consult your San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney to determine the full extent of the damages you are entitled to claim from the defendant.

Can I Still Recover Compensation if I’m Partially at Fault for an Accident?

Yes, it is possible for a driver to bear partial liability for a car accident and still recover compensation for their damages. However, they will lose a percentage of their total case award to reflect their shared fault. Under the state’s pure comparative negligence law, all parties that share fault for an accident will each receive a fault percentage. If a plaintiff is assigned a fault percentage, this is deducted from their case award, and they keep the rest. For example, 10% fault would mean losing 10% of the total compensation won from the defendant.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in San Gabriel Valley?

Your recovery from a recent accident will likely require an auto insurance claim followed by a personal injury claim. The time you have to file your insurance claim is shorter than you might think, sometimes as little as a couple of days after the accident. State statutes offer a two-year window in which to file personal injury cases; this means you need to file your claim within two years of the date your accident occurred.

How Much Does a San Gabriel Valley Car Accident Attorney Cost to Hire?

There is no reason to worry about your legal fees if you choose the Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes to represent your case. We only take attorneys’ fees if and when we win your case, and your fee is a set portion of the amount we recover on your behalf. There are no upfront costs for our representation and no fees at all if we cannot secure compensation for your damages for any reason. If our team cannot obtain a case award for any reason, you owe nothing, so you face no financial risk when hiring our team to represent you in your case.

The Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes has decades of professional experience handling all kinds of vehicle accident cases for clients in the San Gabriel Valley and surrounding communities. We know the various legal challenges you could face as you seek compensation for your damages and how to guide you through the proceedings your case could entail. If you want to learn about how a seasoned San Gabriel Valley car accident attorney can assist you with your recovery, contact us today and schedule a free consultation with our team.