Car Accident Lawyer in Apple Valley
Whether you are crossing Apple Valley on State Route 18 or Bear Valley Road or cruising down Rancherias Road to play a few rounds at the Apple Valley Golf Course, your serene moment behind the wheel could be shattered to bits when a negligent driver slams into your vehicle.
It’s not just a pleasant drive that a careless driver can ruin. If you’re injured in the crash, your next months and years could become agonizing as you try to recover, work, and connect with your family.
Getting by after a serious car accident is one of the most difficult things you will ever have to do. But filing a claim for compensation can make it a little easier. In California, those who have been injured in car accidents that were not their fault have legal options for recovering compensation. But those options can require a lot of research, negotiation, and court appearances, and they’re not guaranteed.
An Apple Valley car accident lawyer from Moody Law is here to help. We can guide you along the road to compensation after a car accident. For more information, see below or contact a car accident lawyer today.
Apple Valley Car Accident Statistics
Let’s begin with some startling statistics about car accidents in Apple Valley. The following statistics cover 2017, which was the latest year for which the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System had data:
- Fourteen people were killed in car accidents in Apple Valley.
- Seven of those fatal accidents involved alcohol.
- In nonfatal crashes, 143 people were injured in Apple Valley.
- Ten of the nonfatal crashes involved alcohol.
Each of those accidents represents a life that was put on hold. And many of those accidents could have been avoided if another driver had been as careful as the law requires them to be.
Common Types of Car Accidents
The Apple Valley team at Moody Law has seen all kinds of car accidents leave victims injured and bring car accident lawsuits. These are some of the more common car accident types that lead to injuries:
- Head-on collisions. Another car crashes front-first into your vehicle.
- T-bone accidents. A driver runs a red light or stop sign and hits your car from a perpendicular angle.
- Sideswipe crashes. In a lane change or similar event, a careless driver hits the side of your car with the side of their car.
- Rear-end accidents. When you are stopped or slowing, another driver slams into the rear of your vehicle.
- Rollover wrecks. Either on a sharp turn or after a side impact, your car rolls over onto its side or top.
- Single-car crashes. Your vehicle hits a stationary object. Faulty brakes or improper road signage could be to blame.
The type of motor vehicle accident you were injured in can tell you something about who is at fault — and, by extension, who should be held accountable. For example, a head-on collision is likely the fault of the other driver. Meanwhile, a rollover accident could be the fault of an auto manufacturer who made a car too top-heavy. Your dedicated car accident lawyer can help you pinpoint who is at fault in your unique case.
How to Recover Compensation After a Car Accident
After a car accident that wasn’t your fault, the ultimate goal is to recover compensation from the at-fault party or parties. In California, you may be able to recover compensation for a car accident through an insurance claim or lawsuit, but you will need to support either claim with evidence. Read on for more details.
Auto Insurance Claim
California is an at-fault state for auto insurance. Put simply, this means you can file a claim for compensation with the at-fault driver’s insurer. (You can go through your own insurance in some cases, but your insurer will later pursue compensation from the other insurer.)
Auto insurers love to put on a friendly face and call car accident victims under the guise of seeking more information about the claim. This is a trap. They want you to say the wrong thing so they can later use it against you to reduce your compensation.
Also, if you get a fast settlement offer, you don’t have to accept it without having a car accident lawyer review it first. Insurers often throw out lowball settlement offers early in the process. They hope you will be too stressed to understand that the amount won’t cover your damages. A car accident lawyer in Apple Valley can help you review any settlement offer to make sure it is fair.
Car Accident Lawsuit
Many auto insurance claims eventually lead to lawsuits because insurers will not cooperate. Insurance claim or not, you can pursue compensation from any at-fault party who caused your auto injuries. You will have to file your claim within California’s two-year statute of limitations and demand a specific and reasonable amount of compensation.
Although many lawsuits end with out-of-court settlements, you may need to fight for your compensation in court. Whether you are battling it out in court or around the settlement negotiation table, a car accident lawyer can be a powerful legal ally when you need help most.
Evidence You Will Need
Any claim you make in your pursuit of compensation needs to be backed up by evidence. Evidence in car accident lawsuits can take many forms, some of which include the following:
- Statements from people who saw the crash occur
- Statements from expert witnesses
- Medical records showing your injuries
- Police reports that document the post-accident scene
- Photos or videos of your injuries, the crash, and the area near the crash
Your Apple Valley car crash lawyer can help you find the evidence you need to support your claim for compensation.
Read More – Why Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
Common Damages in Car Crash Cases
To give yourself the best shot at making a full recovery after a car accident, you need to carefully document and list all of the ways in which your accident harmed you (called damages) and assign a monetary value to each. If your car accident claim is successful, the at-fault party will be forced to pay you for each of your damages.
The following are some common damages in car accident lawsuits:
- Vehicle damage
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Disability
- Emotional trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
Call an Apple Valley Car Accident Lawyer
Pursuing compensation after a car accident is not easy. In fact, when you’re doing so while seriously injured, it can feel downright impossible. But hiring a top Apple Valley car accident lawyer can make the impossible feel possible.
At Moody Law, we aim to be the car accident lawyer you need in order to get your life back. With a winning track record, years of experience, and countless happy clients, car accident lawyers at Moody Law brings to the table what it takes to win the car accident compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer, call (760) 867-3300 or contact us online.