Motorcyclists have a reputation for being rebellious, but the truth is they can (and should be) as law-abiding and courteous as anyone on the road. Because a motorcyclist is not surrounded by an iron frame for protection, they must be active in following safety protocol to keep safe. Unfortunately, motorcyclists are highly over-represented in vehicular accidents. In 2020, 5,458 motorcycle fatalities were reported. It’s the highest number ever recorded. The Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys San Diego share how to keep from being a statistic.
Safety Tips
While this article is a good start, you should take a safety course to learn all the rules of the road. Slippery roads are dangerous so check the weather before you go out. Leather doesn’t just look cool; it’s also the safest thing you can wear on a motorcycle, along with a DOT approved helmet. Give your bike a quick safety inspection before heading out. Going the speed limit and using turn signals is not only polite but safe. Avoid the blind spot of other drivers and wear reflective clothing. Don’t tailgate. Should an accident happen anyway, it’s a good idea to have a first aid kit with your bike and then call an accident lawyer San Diego for help.
Road Hazards for Motorcyclists to Watch For.
One of the most important safety tips for the motorcyclist is to watch out for hazards on the road. These can be natural or manmade hazards. Both require attention.
Natural Hazards
– Weather
Slippery snow and ice can be even more dangerous for a motorcycle than an automobile. Driving through a puddle of standing water can cause hydroplaning. Leaves may be slick with mud and water and can be dangerous to drive on. Potholes are caused by a combination of years of weather damage and human neglect.
– Debris on the road
Gravel can be hard on a motorcycle, especially when turning. Rocks and fallen branches can be a bigger hazard for motorcycles than automobiles.
Animals
Guess which animal causes over two hundred deaths a year in the United States. It’s not bears. It’s not alligators. It’s not cougars. It’s deer. Deer run out in the middle of the street and cause vehicular accidents. Be especially careful in dawn and dusk hours when deer are most active.
Manmade Hazards
– Railroad crossing
Even if you stop, look and listen like you’re supposed to, railway crossings can be tricky for motorcyclists. If the tires get caught in a track, that can cause a crash. Wood and metal can get particularly slippery when wet.
– Road connections
Edge breaks might be virtually undetectable by someone in an automobile but can be quite the problem for someone on a motorcycle. Bridge joints can also be difficult for a motorcyclist to navigate.
– Odds and Ends
If items are not sufficiently secured to a vehicle, they can fall off and be a hazard to anyone on the road. Oil spillage can make the road extra slippery and dangerous to navigate. If another driver is distracted by a cell phone or intoxicated, that can spell trouble for everyone.
Other Drivers and Motorists on your Road
Motorcycle operators are often very safe and careful. Despite their best efforts it’s the other drivers who are in a hurry, texting, chatting, and doing all kinds of things except looking out for you. Try to keep a safe cushion around your bike.
How an Attorney Can Help
If you are looking for a motorcycle accident lawyer in San Diego, contact the law office of Keith J. Stone. He will help you in determining your insurance coverage and analyze evidence to determine who was at fault. This San Diego motorcycle accident attorney will guide you in discovering your legal rights and maybe help you get compensation. Keith J. Stone is an accident attorney in San Diego who will fight for your legal rights. This San Diego injury accident attorney knows how serious injuries can get in a motorcycle accident and can get you compensation for another’s negligence.
Are there Caps to Damages in Personal Injury?
When someone has a personal injury claim in San Diego due to another person’s negligence, California law allows them to file a tort claim for compensation. Wrongful deaths, accidents involving motor vehicles, construction area accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, construction site accidents, assault injuries, and even pet attacks are all instances of situations that could lead to a tort suit.
The goal of compensation in a tort suit is to reimburse the sufferer for all the harm that has affected their lives, meaning that the payment should return them to their pre-accident status as closely as practicable.
There are two types of compensation required: economic and non-economic damages to restore someone’s life to what it was before an accident. However, for medical malpractice claims, there is a cap.
Consulting a San Diego personal injury lawyer will help you determine the best route to take to get the compensation you deserve.
Cap On Non-Economic Damages ( Medical Malpractice)
Damages limits are rules that set a limit on how much non-economic damages can be awarded in a lawsuit. Each state currently has its damages cap. Meanwhile, the federal government has capped non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases at $250,000.
A cap on damages attempts to reduce service providers’ liability to manage the high expenses of doing business since juries may feel tempted to give the patient millions of dollars in non-economic damages. A San Diego personal injury attorney will fight to get you the highest compensation you deserve.
Economic/Special Damages
Economic damages, often known as special damages, pay the sufferer for expenses incurred due to the injury or accident. Special damages can refer to both past and future costs.
Medical expenditures for any injuries sustained due to the occurrence are the most typical sort of economic damages. Property damages might be sought in the event of an automobile accident to cover damage to the victim’s vehicle.
Damages for lost wages would be acceptable if the harm were severe enough to prevent the victim from working. Bills and pay stubs can easily document all of these types of losses. You do not, however, need to have a bill in hand to collect compensation for economic losses.
Victims of debilitating injuries that result in long-term or permanent disability can seek compensation for future medical treatment, rehabilitation, physical therapy, nursing care, and vocational rehabilitation, among other things. Medical experts’ estimations are commonly used to determine the value of these damages.
Non-monetary Damages
Non-economic damages, sometimes known as general damages, are intended to reimburse personal injury sufferers for intangible losses resulting from the changes in their lives caused by the injury. Pain and suffering, mental agony, and loss of consortium are examples of non-economic losses (loss of a relationship with a partner).
Tangible losses are what lawyers used to determine economic damages. Someone with a huge medical bill for a serious injury, for example, is thought to be in more pain and suffering than someone with a lesser expense and a less serious injury.
Putting a monetary value on non-economic damages can be difficult. Therefore, the best way to determine the economic value is with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Diego.
Punitive Damages
Personal injury sufferers may be eligible to recover punitive damages in some situations. The purpose of these damages is to punish the at-fault party rather than to pay the victim. Punitive damages are only available in California, where the at-fault party behaved with fraud, oppression, or malice.
A Personal Injury Attorney in San Diego knows How Much Your Case is Worth
Call The Law Offices of Keith J. Stone today if you have any questions about the possible value of a San Diego personal injury claim. We will offer you a free initial consultation and explain the types of damages to which you may be entitled.
Types of Compensatory Damages that Can Be Claimed in a Personal Injury Case
The first step in handling any personal injury case is to obtain the services of a San Diego personal injury attorney. Meanwhile, the examination of probable damages is the final step in defining the worth of any San Diego Personal injury claim.
“All individuals who suffer disadvantage as a result of another’s unlawful conduct or omission may claim from the person who is at fault a recompense in money, which is known as damages,” according to Civil Code 3281.
In a personal injury case, there are several sorts of damages that you can recover, the first of which is known as compensatory damages.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages aim to “make the plaintiff whole,” meaning an attempt to place the injured person in the exact circumstance they’d be in had the accident not occurred, also referred to as the “made whole” statute.
The courts do not provide the jury any specific instructions on how to calculate compensatory damages. The case facts determine it, and a San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer will ensure that happens.
“Special” and “General” damages are the two forms of compensatory damages. Non-financial damages, such as suffering and pain, fall under general damages. Economic damages include lost salaries, medical bills, and any out-of-pocket expenditures faced as a result of the injury.
Special Damages
Medical Expenses: In a personal injury action, the plaintiff qualifies to collect the reasonable value of medical expenses. A personal injury attorney in San Diego will help you show the following for past medical expenses:
- The reasonable cost of medical care that is considered necessary
- That any medical expenses claimed are reasonable compared to the cost of the treatment and the necessity of the treatment, and that the treatment is for the defendant’s injury.
With sufficient proof of the medical costs, the plaintiff can show this in court. An expert medical witness can substantiate the medical claims. To be entitled to compensation for future medical expenses, the plaintiff must show that:
- They are reasonably priced,
- Relevant, and
- Needed in the future.
Medical expert testimony will be required once again to demonstrate this proof in court.
In terms of medical bills, the correct value for assessing the acceptable amount of medical bills for past medical expenses is the amount paid or required to be paid, not the actual bill.
Most health insurance companies have agreements with other companies to provide services at a discounted fee, and the court uses this rate to calculate damages.
Meanwhile, damages received as a result of an injury are not taxable. Nonetheless, unless you use the damages for medical care, damages granted for pain and suffering when there is no underlying physical harm are liable to taxation. Punitive damages are also taxed.
Loss Of Earnings – The plaintiff is allowed additional “special damages,” such as lost earnings, upcoming earnings, and the incapacity to seek a livelihood.
Any monetary earnings or fringe privileges that you may have obtained if the injury had not occurred are included in the loss of wages. Those who have been conventionally employed will be eligible to recover any wages that have been lost or will be lost as a result of their absence from work.
Inability to Pursue a Career – If the injury is severe enough that the injured party will not pursue their intended career, they may be entitled to compensation. In this case, the percentage of the damages must reflect what you would have received less the quantity that you will gain from any additional employment if that is even possible.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer in San Diego Can Help
Damages law is a complicated area of law that the Law Offices Of Keith J. Stone are aware of and equipped to handle. Therefore, If you have a personal injury claim in San Diego, they are familiar with the law governing damages and will help you seek the best compensation.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Driving is an essential part of modern life and most of the time something you don’t spend much time thinking about. Unfortunately, if you have to drive to and from work every day your odds of being in an automobile accident greatly increase. An auto accident can occur for many reasons, including speeding, lack of awareness, bad weather, bad road conditions, mechanical failures, and simply getting distracted.
No matter the cause your well-being is of utmost importance a Car Accident Injury Attorney San Diego can help. If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need a San Diego San Diego Car Accident injury attorney we can provide the legal advice and experience you need. At the Law Offices Of Keith J. Stone, we’ve been helping people like you get the compensation you deserve for injuries, care, and pain and suffering since 1986.
Common Car Accident Injuries
When you’re in an automobile accident many injuries can occur and even if they seem minor at first can lead to expensive long-term treatment. If you’ve sustained any of the below injuries you should contact a Car Accident Injury Attorney for advice as soon as you can.
Cuts and Lacerations: automobile accidents can easily cause various cuts ranging from simple scratches to deep lacerations requiring professional medical treatment such as stitches to treat. The force of impact, striking your steering wheel, airbag impact, and shattered glass can all lead to cuts or lacerations.
Broken Bones: the force of impact and crumpling of your car can lead to broken bones. The most common broken bones in automobile accidents are the legs (femur, tibia, hips), ribs, skull fractures, back fractures, arm breaks, and others.
Head, Neck, and Spinal Injuries: your head, neck, and back are often violently jerked and placed under extreme force in a car accident. In addition to broken bones, other injuries such as concussions, whiplash, herniated discs, and other soft tissue damage can occur. If you struck your head you should contact an accident lawyer San Diego even if you think you’re OK as concussions can take time to cause symptoms and they can be severe.
Paralysis and Nerve Damage: the worst car accidents can cause injuries that are permanent such as those that damage the nervous system. Paralysis can leave you in a wheelchair or a quadriplegic. Nerve damage may not be as total but can still impact your daily life by reducing your range of motion, making walking difficult, causing tingling to the fingertips, and other long-term issues that can be life-altering.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage: sudden impact can cause internal damage that can be life-threatening and require immediate medical care, surgery, and inpatient treatment to address. Internal bleeding such as brain bleeds and broken blood vessels require immediate treatment. Organs that can be damaged include the spleen, lungs, stomach, liver, and kidneys. Such injuries often require surgery and in some cases organ transplants. Organ damage can be debilitating and you should speak with an Accident Attorney in San Diego if you’ve been hurt.
How a Lawyer Can Help You
If you’ve been in an accident you should contact a San Diego Injury Accident Attorney as soon as possible. Automobile accidents can greatly disrupt your life, and even mild injuries can lead to a great deal of personal stress. Dealing with insurance companies, law enforcement, and associated expenses such as medical care and lost wages can seem like too much to handle. That’s where we can assist you. When you need a Car Accident Lawyer in San Diego reach out to us today at 619-531-2022 or if you prefer email at keith@kjslegal.com to discuss your injury and how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Common Types of Car Accidents in California
An irrational motorist in California can disrupt your life in a split second. An automobile accident’s consequences might last for years after the collision, and some individuals’ and families’ lives will never return to normal.
An accident attorney in San Diego at the Law Offices Of Keith J. Stone can assist accident victims in obtaining the compensation they are entitled to following a motor vehicle injury.
Some of the most prevalent causes of car accidents in California requiring a San Diego Accident attorney are listed below.
- Not following traffic laws
- Driving recklessly and speeding
- Road rage
- Tailgating
- Driving while distracted
- Inexperienced driving
- Driving with fatigue
- Driving while impaired
- Inclement weather conditions
- Inadequate road designs and intersections
- Dangerous road situations
- Faulty vehicle parts and maintenance
Main Types of Collisions
Head-on Crash
People involved in a head-on accident are at significant risk of suffering catastrophic injuries and even death. When two automobiles collide head-on, the impact is more severe. For a head-on collision to be serious, vehicles do not need to be moving at high speeds. Many head-on collisions occur when a car drifts into the opposing lane of traffic due to distractions, intoxication, or other factors.
Rear-End Collisions
Neck injuries such as whiplash are the most common injuries caused by rear-end collisions. Whiplash usually heals in a few weeks, but it can cause chronic discomfort and lasting problems in some people.
Accidents Involving Pedestrians
Pedestrian deaths have risen in California and around the country. When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, they have no protection. As a result, pedestrian injuries are frequently fatal or life-threatening, and families reach out to a car accident lawyer in San Diego.
Side-Impact Collisions
When the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another, a collision occurs. At intersections, mainly when performing a left-hand turn across one or more lanes of traffic, T-bone collisions are prevalent. In a side-impact collision, vehicle occupants are less protected from injury since there is less metal between them and the other vehicle to protect them from the crash.
Accidents on Bicycles
In California, bicycle accidents are very common. Bicyclists, like pedestrians, are at a high risk of catastrophic and life-threatening injuries. Bicycle helmets and other safety equipment can help minimize the risk of head injuries, but they do not protect the bicyclist’s body in the event of a collision.
Accidents Caused by Drunk Driving
Drunk driving accidents, often known as impaired driving accidents, are widespread in California. Drivers who are inebriated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol have slower reaction times. Cognitive and mental abilities get affected too. Accident victims may sustain catastrophic injuries as a result of DUI accidents.
Accidents Involving Large Trucks
A car accident attorney San Diego knows that in around three-quarters of heavy truck collisions, occupants of other cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists get killed and are prepared to empathize and help the families get compensated. A conventional passenger vehicle will not be able to endure the force of a large truck collision and a massive truck.
What are the Most Common Injuries Involved in Automobile Accidents?
Some of the most common injuries stemming from motor vehicle accidents range from the head, neck, and internal injuries to fractured bones and death. Many accident victims experience severe physical pain and suffering in addition to their physical injuries. Multiple operations and months of physical, occupational, vocational therapy and an accident lawyer San Diego are required for some victims.
For a Free Consultation, Contact The Law Offices of Keith J. Stone
A car accident in California may entitle you to compensation for your injuries, losses, and damages. Our San Diego Car Accident Attorney is dedicated to ensuring that you are treated fairly. After being wounded in a traffic accident, we strive to obtain the compensation you deserve.
You take your safety seriously. When you are watchful and vigilant and you do not take unnecessary risks. It is reasonable for you to expect others to have the same standard. When you visit a public venue or a private home, you should not fear for your safety. If you have been injured in an accident while on the premises of another, then you should hold them accountable. It is right for you to seek financial compensation for the pain, injury, and losses you have sustained. To exercise this option, you should retain a San Diego personal injury attorney. Your San Diego personal injury lawyer will help you build a case against the person responsible for the accident and the injuries it caused.
You Must Base Your Claim on Negligence
Premises liability claims are based on tort law. The latter is a field of law that allows persons who have suffered material injury owing to the action or inaction of another to claim compensation from them. Property owners have a legal obligation to see to the safety of people who visit their premises. If you are injured on the premises of another because they failed to keep the space in a reasonably safe condition, then you can hold them accountable. Your case will be based on the fact of their negligence. You can prove negligence by showing that they failed to take the measures that any prudent property would have taken under similar circumstances.
Specifically, you must prove that the property owner had a duty of care, that they did not fulfil that duty of care, that their failure caused the accident, and that you suffered harm because of the accident.
Compensation You Can Claim
You may have a clear-cut case against the property owner. However, you will most likely have to deal with their insurance company. And the lawyers for insurance companies will try to minimize the amount of compensation you can receive. These attorneys are especially aggressive and will put up a fight. That is why you need a San Diego premises liability attorney who is equally aggressive, skilled, and determined.
You should not work with the insurance company on your own. In fact, if they try to contact you, it is imperative that you refer them to your San Diego premises liability lawyer. Your premises liability attorney in San Diego will attempt to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company or their lawyers for the following damages:
- Medical treatment
- Loss of current and future wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
Protecting Yourself and Your Case
If you had an accident on another person’s property, the event may leave you temporarily confused and disoriented. But you should pull yourself together as quickly as possible. You have a roll in protecting any future case you may have against the property owner. To protect yourself and your case, you should take the following steps after the accident:
- Go to the hospital immediately
- Secure relevant evidence if you can
- Report the incident to the property owner
- Call a lawyer as soon as possible
The more you are able to document the accident and the effect of it the easier it will be to prove your case against the party responsible. However, you may be in circumstances in which this is not possible. That is okay. Your attorney will send professional investigators to interview people who witnessed the accident and gather other types of evidence. Nowadays there is bound to be one or two people who captured the accident and its aftermath on their smartphone cameras.
If you have been in an accident on someone else’s property, then you should speak to a premises liability lawyer in San Diego at the Law Offices of Keith J. Stone.
You cannot bring back your departed loved one. You can remember them and grieve for them, but you cannot reclaim what you have lost. However, it is possible to hold people accountable for their death. If you have good reason to believe that the death of your loved one owes to the recklessness, incompetence, or violent maliciousness of another, then you should hire a San Diego wrongful death attorney and file suit against them. San Diego wrongful death lawyers have the experience and expertise to deal with these kinds of cases.
Holding People Accountable
A wrongful death suit is the only instrument that survivors have to hold the people who caused the death of their loved one accountable. A wrongful death suit can be filed on any occasion when the action or inaction of a person caused the death of another. Here are some of the most common cases:
- Accidents and product defects
If your loved one was killed in a car accident caused by the recklessness or negligence of another driver, you can sue that person for compensation. You can likewise sue the owners of a public venue in which your loved one died owing to unsafe conditions.
If you believe that a malfunctioning or defective part in a device your loved one operated was a direct cause of their death, then you should have the matter investigated. If you find sufficient evidence to shore up your suspicions, then you should file suit.
- Medical malpractice
Doctors should have the training, insight, experience, and expertise to correctly diagnose and treat medical problems. It is one thing for your loved one to undergo a risk surgery in which you acknowledge the risks. It is quite another for them to undergo a routine surgery that leads to their death. In the latter case, you should hire a wrongful death attorney in San Diego and build a case.
You can also build a case if your loved one was misdiagnosed and you can prove it led to their death. Physicians can also be held accountable for prescription errors that lead to death.
- Murder
Murder cases are investigated and prosecuted by the district attorney’s office. However, you can also file a civil suit against the person you have good reason to believe murdered your loved one. The standard of proof is lower for a civil suit. The preponderance of the evidence will get you a win in civil court. Indeed, if the DA cannot make the case against the person suspected of the murder, they can turn the evidence they have collected over to your wrongful death attorney in San Diego who can use it in the civil trial.
The O.J. Simpson case is the most famous example of this happening. After Simpson’s acquittal in the criminal trial, the family of Ron Goldman sued him in civil court and won.
Not Everyone Can File a Wrongful Death Suit
Surviving spouses, children, and parents have a right to file a wrongful death suit. Some states extend this right to siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren under certain circumstances. If you were not married to the deceased but had a long-term relationship with them, it may also be possible for you to have standing in such a suit—especially if you have children with them and were financially dependent on them. A wrongful death attorney San Diego can help you establish your right to sue.
You can recover the following damages:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of their expected income
- Loss of the value of services that they would have provided
- Loss of care, guidance, love, and companionship
Before you file your suit, you should contact a wrongful death lawyer in San Diego. A wrongful death attorney will know how to build a solid case for your compensation. If you are looking to get justice for your deceased loved one, you should speak to a wrongful death lawyer San Diego at the Law Offices of Keith J. Stone.
You drive to survive. You don’t take unnecessary chances on the road, and you follow all the rules. But this is not always enough. It is not uncommon for other drivers to speed, get distracted, or make unwise moves on the road. Such recklessness can lead to an accident. Not all such accidents are catastrophic. You may get into a minor fender bender with another driver—the kind of accident that is more of an annoyance than a serious problem.
If you are in a minor vehicle accident, you may think it unnecessary to report it to the authorities. There are good reasons why you should.
After a vehicle accident, no matter how minor, you should immediately call the police. While waiting for the police you can exchange information with the other driver. When the officers arrive, they will ask you questions about the accident. You should tell them what you know, but you need not say anything that puts you at fault for the accident. Making a false statement to the police is a crime, so you should avoid doing it. But if the officer asks you a question that you are uncomfortable answering, you can tell them that you would rather speak to your San Diego car accident attorney first.
Once the officer has all the information from both parties, they will file a formal report.
Filing a Car Accident Report
In the state of California, drivers involved in accidents that result in injury or death must contact the police and make a written report within 24 hours of the incident. You must file a report with the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of the accident.
You should also review your insurance policy to determine how long you have to file a report with them. Before doing so, you may want to contact a car accident attorney in San Diego. In most instances, you will need to file a claim soon after the accident. California has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims and a three-year time limit for property damage claims.
When you speak to the officer who arrives at the scene and they take your statement, this is essentially filing your car accident report to the police. As far as the Department of Motor Vehicles, you can submit your report online by downloading an SR 1 from their website.
You should be aware that not filing a report can put you on the wrong side of the law. You must report the accident, no matter how minor or who was at fault, if it involved injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage.
Why It is In Your Interest to Report the Accident
A car accident may seem minor because you do not feel pain, dizziness, or any other symptoms that indicate a serious injury. However, you never know what will happen in the future. You may have suffered an internal injury in the accident, and the symptoms may not appear until much later. If this is the case, a police record of the accident will be helpful.
A San Diego personal injury attorney can help you make a case against the other driver. You will need to make a claim against them, and this starts with official documentation of the accident. You have up to two years after the injury is discovered to make a claim. But to get your lawsuit off the ground, you must have proof that it actually occurred. And the easiest way to demonstrate this is to have a police, DMV, and insurance report on file.
A San Diego personal injury lawyer can help with all of this. You should call the San Diego personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Keith J. Stone to review your legal options.
You are a careful driver. You follow all traffic rules and never take unnecessary risks. Other drivers are not so conscientious. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver, you have the right to claim compensation. A San Diego personal injury attorney can help you do so.
When There Is No Doubt
It can be difficult to determine the exact causes and circumstances of accidents. It can be even harder to establish liability. However, there are some accidents in which there is little doubt as to what happened and who is liable for it. A no-doubt liability accident is one in which it is quite obvious to all parties which driver was at fault and thus liable for damages.
Examples of no-doubt liability accidents include:
- Rear-end accidents
Drivers should leave a decent amount of braking space between their car and the car ahead. This is fundamental to good driving practice. If you have been smashed into from behind, the driver who did it will almost always be held responsible, no matter what your reason for stopping. The only way that you can be held responsible for such an accident is if you had a malfunctioning brake light.
- DUI accidents
Drugs and alcohol diminish a person’s ability to see, hear, and judge. Anyone who is under the influence of such substances does not have full use of their cognitive and motor functions. If a drunk or drugged up driver has caused an accident, they will be cited for it and criminally charged. They will also have civil liability.
If you were seriously injured in a DUI accident, the insurance company of the drunk driver cannot reject your claim for compensation.
- T-bone collisions
These are also known as left-turn accidents. Drivers who want to make a left-turn must ensure the road is clear before doing so. A driver who ignores this rule can smash into the side of a vehicle entering the intersection. If you were t-boned by another driver, you are the injured party. The only way that you can be held responsible for such an accident is if you were speeding or running a red light when you were struck by the vehicle.
Why You Will Still Need a San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer
The sequence of events that led to the accident may be quite clear. It may be impossible for anyone to dispute who is at fault for the crash. You will nevertheless need a car accident attorney in San Diego.
To get the compensation you are entitled to, you will need to draw up and submit a range of documents. Even in a no-doubt liability case, the amount of money that you receive will be open to negotiation and dispute. A San Diego car accident attorney will ensure that you get a fair settlement. The only way to maximize your compensation is to prove the extent of the injuries you have suffered and the damage done to your vehicle. Only a lawyer with the knowledge, traffic law expertise, and resources can ensure that you receive what is rightfully yours. You will need to be assessed by independent medical experts. The long-term effects of your injuries and the debilitating effects they have had on your body will need to be proven. You will also need to be compensated for the revenue you have lost because of your injuries. These tasks are best left to attorneys who know how to get results.
If you have been in a car accident, you should consult with the San Diego personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Keith J. Stone. They will help you review your legal options.
You take your safety seriously when on the road. You put the well-being of yourself, your passengers, and your fellow drivers first. You follow the rules and resist taking unnecessary risks. Unfortunately, these are not habits shared by all drivers. And if you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence and inattention, then you should seek compensation.
As an accident victim, you have rights. Hiring a San Diego Personal Injury Attorney is the best way to preserve them.
Protecting Your Rights After a Car Accident
A car accident can cost you a great deal in money, pain, and stress. If the accident is severe enough to cause serious injury, it can put you in the hospital for some time. A serious car accident can make a current medical condition worse, it can cause disfigurement, it can make it impossible for you to return to your line of work, and it can even lead to permanent disability.
If your finances were already in a precarious state, a car accident can trigger a complete financial collapse. If you are like most people, then you are without the cash reserves to deal with medical bills, loss of income, and expenses for long-term treatment. It is right for you to seek compensation from the person who caused the crash.
To do so, you will need to build a case—starting immediately after the accident.
You Have The Right To:
• Seek compensation if you have suffered an accident caused by another
• Call the police and file an official report with them regarding the accident
• Speak to people who witnessed the accident, which includes recording their statements on your cell phone camera and directing them to make statements to the police
• Take photos of the damage done to your car and the accident scene
• Take photos of your injuries after you are admitted to the hospital for treatment
• Seek and obtain medical attention, which should include a full examination and a record of injuries found and treatment administered
• Remain silent, which means that you do not have to answer questions by police that suggest you were at fault for the accident
What You Should Not Do:
• Your rights are accompanied by responsibilities. If you are to build a case for compensation, you must stay within the boundaries of law and do nothing to undermine your claim.
• You should not:
o Admit to wrongdoing to the police or anyone else
o Leave the scene, as it is illegal, and you can be criminally charged for doing so
o Agree to speak to an insurance company representative without your San Diego personal injury lawyer
o Agree to any offer made by the insurance company without your San Diego car accident attorney
Your Lawyer is Your First and Only Line of Defense
You should contact a car accident or Personal Injury Attorney in San Diego soon after the accident. Your lawyer will be the only person who puts your interests first. They will be your advocate and defender, and they will work tirelessly to get you the money you deserve.
Even if the accident and the injuries you sustained because of it seem straightforward, you must prove every claim that you make. Your lawyer will know how to gather the evidence necessary to link the actions of the other driver to the resulting accident and your pain and suffering. Your lawyer will also know how to communicate and negotiate with the insurance company. They will ensure you get a settlement that is commensurate with all that you have been through.
Protect Your Rights By Contacting Us
If you have been injured in an accident, you should call the San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys at the Law Offices of Keith J. Stone. They will ensure that your rights and interests are protected.
