3 Financial Effects of a Car Accident:

First question that comes to mind if involved in a Car accident is, “How much is this going to cost me?” Let us look at 3 Financial Effects of a Car Accident.

Unfortunately, even if you and the other drivers involved have insurance, you may need to pay a deductible. There are certain expenses that might not be covered.An experienced Personal Injury Attorney will be able to explain the uncovered expenses.

It’s common for accident victims to underestimate the total cost of a crash(An experienced personal injury attorney will help you estimate the most accurate cost). As a result, you make unwise financial decisions such as accepting a low settlement from the insurance company.Most importantly, you might choose not to file a personal injury claim against the liable driver.

Below, we’ve outlined 3 financial effects of a car accident that all drivers should know:

1. Expect a hike in your car insurance premiums.

In some states, auto insurance companies can increase a policyholder’s premiums after an accident no matter who was at fault. Fortunately, California law prohibits insurers from upping their rates for drivers who are involved in a no-fault crash.

That said, you can certainly expect an uptick in your premiums if you are liable for the collision. The increase in the premium depends on:

• Your Insurance provider
• The cost of your claim
• The facts surrounding the accident

Therefore,this increase could be quite substantial and cost you thousands of dollars in the long run. If this happens, Compare quotes from auto insurance companies before your policy renews. Some insurers offer competitive rates to drivers with one crash on their record.

Most importantly,you get a discount simply for switching to a new provider.

2. Medical bills, lost income, and property damage aren’t the only costs to consider.

Even if the insurance company covers your healthcare expenses, lost wages, and vehicle damage, there are other costs that might arise after a crash. Alternative transportation, child care, home and vehicle modifications to accommodate any disabilities, and other expenses can add up quickly. Some Insurance providers may not cover these losses.You can obtain the necessary funds by filing a Personal Injury Claim against the party who was liable for the crash.

3. Future damages can be costlier than the damages you’ve already incurred.

The most common mistakes a car accident victim makes is accepting a low settlement before they know the full extent of their damages. Besides the medical bills and vehicle repairs, lost income should also be considered.It is also important to consider future damages such as lost earning capacity and ongoing medical care. Overlooking these losses will take a huge bite out of your savings and possibly force you to file bankruptcy.

Therefore the smartest step you take after a serious collision is to consult an attorney. Fortunately, most personal injury law firms offer free initial consultations. An experienced Personal Injury Attorney/lawyer will help you:

• Identify all potential avenues for pursuing compensation
• Calculate your damages
• Help you negotiate with the insurance company for the highest possible settlement.

Most important thing is hiring an attorney.This will send message to the insurer:

• That you expect to be treated fairly
• That you are ready to take the case to trial if they refuse to cooperate

In conclusion; get a free evaluation of your claim/case.Simply visit https://lainjury.wpengine.com/contact-us/ for a free evaluation.

Pain and Suffering in Car Accident Claims:

If you were injured in a car accident, you would be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages encompass medical bills, lost wages, and other objectively verifiable losses. Non-economic damages are subjective in nature. They include emotional distress, loss of enjoyment in life, and pain and suffering.

Non-economic damages cannot be calculated using tangible documentation. Because of this attorneys have to take a different approach to prove their value. The two most widely used methods for calculating pain and suffering are the “Per Diem” and the “Multiplier” method.

Multiplier Method for Calculating Pain and Suffering

The multiplier method involves multiplying the total past and future medical bills by a factor between 1.5 and 5. The more severe the injuries, the higher the multiplier. For example, let’s assume a pedestrian was hit by a negligent driver and suffered a spinal cord injury. In this case, the multiplier might be 4 or 5. But if the victim had only suffered a broken arm, the multiplier might be 1.5 or 2.

Per Diem Method for Calculating Pain and Suffering

There is a specific dollar value assigned to each day until you reach the Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)in Per-Diem method. That amount is usually $100 or one day’s wages. If, for example, it takes you 90 days to heal and your attorney uses a daily value of $100, your total pain and suffering would be $9,000.

Evidence to Prove Pain and Suffering

Just because your attorney uses an accepted formula to calculate pain and suffering doesn’t mean the insurance company or opposing party will cooperate. Ultimately, the success of your claim and the compensation you recover will hinge on the strength of the evidence used to prove liability and damages.

While proving medical bills, lost wages, and other objectively verifiable losses is fairly straightforward, demonstrating that non-economic damages are warranted can be challenging. Here are a few types of evidence your attorney might use to strengthen your claim:

Your daily journal that details how the injuries are affecting your life;
Photos and medical documentation that show the severity of your injuries;
Testimony from family and friends detailing the effects of the injuries on your life; and
Testimony from medical experts regarding the severity of your injuries.

The importance of hiring a skilled attorney to represent you cannot be overstated. Your lawyer can calculate your damages and compile evidence to prove their value.If your case goes to trial, your attorney will use proven litigation strategies to compel the jury into sympathizing for your condition.

Also, hiring a seasoned personal injury lawyer will tell the insurance company that you are ready to take your case to court if necessary. This could actually lead to a fair payout without having to go through the stress and hassle of trial.

Visit https://lainjury.wpengine.com/our-firm/ to know how they can help you with your claim.

Deadlines for Filing Car Accident Lawsuits in California:

Shock, anxiety, depression, anger—if you’ve ever been in a car accident, you probably felt some combination of these emotions. It’s not easy to remain calm and think clearly after a collision. Your statements and actions at the scene and over the weeks that follow will have a major impact on the outcome of your personal injury claim.

Although your top priority after any crash is to seek medical care, you should also take steps to protect your financial interests. Take photos of the scene and record eyewitnesses’ contact details. Most important step is that you initiate the claims process as soon as possible.

Read on to learn about critical deadlines for filing car accident claims in California:

Your Insurance Company Might Have Specific Deadlines for Reporting Accidents

Most insurance companies require policyholders to file claims within a specified time-frame. This deadline can vary from one insurer to the next, but it should be noted in your policy. It is best practice to report your accident as soon as possible. This helps the insurance company to launch an investigation while essential evidence is still available. It is also important to contact a personal injury attorney first.

Claims adjusters have incentive to find reasons to undervalue or deny claims. They are not above using unethical tactics to reduce their liability. It is not uncommon for insurance companies to take advantage of claimants’ vulnerability.They coerce them into accepting low settlements or make recorded statements and use against them. A seasoned car accident lawyer is familiar with these tactics and makes sure you are treated fairly throughout the proceedings.

Deadlines for Filing Car Accident Lawsuits in California

Apart from Insurance company’s deadlines, it is also important to know the statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits. In the state of California, the deadline for filing these lawsuits is usually 2 years from the date of the crash. If a member of your family died in a collision, you most likely have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. For tort lawsuits arising from property damage, the statute of limitations is usually three years.

The deadlines are different if you sue a government entity. You are required to file an administrative claim within six months of the accident. The government then has 45 days to respond. If your claim is denied, you can file a lawsuit in court. You only have six months to file this lawsuit if you receive a rejection letter; otherwise, you have two years from the date the cause of action accrued to file suit.

Under certain circumstances, the statute of limitations may be tolled, or postponed. This happens if :

• The injured party is a minor
• The defendant filed for bankruptcy (putting an automatic stay on other legal proceedings)
• The injured party was not mentally competent when the accident occurred

A Seasoned Lawyer Can Help You Meet All Relevant Deadlines

The best way to avoid critical mistakes after a car accident is to seek help of Personal Injury Attorney. This saves you from missing important deadlines or making statements that jeopardize your case.Having a seasoned legal ally by your side make the legal proceedings far easier to navigate. It will also reduce the stress of the claims process on you and your family.

Visit https://lainjury.wpengine.com/ to speak to our Seasoned Personal Injury Attorneys.

8 Steps to Take After a Car Accident:

With 6.5 million licensed drivers on the road, Los Angeles County certainly sees its fair share of car accidents. Many drivers do not know what to do after a collision to protect their financial interests. One small mistake at the accident scene or over the weeks that follow could prevent you from recovering fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other damages.

8 crucial steps to take after a motor-vehicle collision:

1. Check Yourself and Other People for Injuries

It goes without saying that your top priority after any accident is to seek medical care for yourself and anyone else who was hurt. Contact emergency medical services if necessary, and if someone appears to have sustained a back injury, do not move them as this could cause their injury to worsen.

2. Call the Police

Even if nobody appears to have been seriously injured, you should contact the police so an officer can create an accident report and direct traffic at the scene. This report will be essential evidence for proving liability and damages. When talking to the police, do not admit fault or speculate regarding the cause of the crash. Provide only basic details about the collision so you don’t wind up saying something that jeopardizes your subsequent claim.

3. Take Photos of the Accident Scene

Timestamped photographs can provide insight into what happened in the moments leading up to the collision. If there is a dispute regarding the cause of the crash, an accident reconstruction expert may use pictures and other evidence to corroborate events. Be sure to take wide-angle shots of the entire scene as well as closeups of property damage (both inside and outside the vehicles), injuries, skid marks, traffic signs, and weather and road conditions.

4. Move Your Vehicle to a Safe Location

If your vehicle is obstructing traffic, you should move it to a safe location as soon as possible. This will help prevent subsequent accidents.

5. Gather Insurance and Contact Details from All Drivers Involved

Take photos of the driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and license plates of all drivers involved in the collision. Also, write down their contact details and ask if the information on the insurance cards and driver’s licenses are up-to date.

6. Record the Contact Details of Eyewitnesses

If eyewitnesses saw the crash occur, their testimony may be critical for proving liability. For instance, they may have noticed the at-fault driver making an illegal maneuver just before the collision.

7. Visit a Doctor

After a serious accident, it is not uncommon for drivers and passengers to put off their medical evaluation to avoid the expense. Unfortunately, this could prove to be a costly mistake. The insurance company might argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident.Your decision of not to visit a doctor may cause your injuries to worsen and you are therefore liable for at least a portion of your damages.

8. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Most important of all the steps-which will fetch you your rightful dues.Insurance companies might promote themselves as honest and trustworthy, but they can be ruthless when it comes to denying claims. Insurance adjusters are essentially professional negotiators.They are adept at getting claimants to accept low settlements, admit fault, and make compromising statements during recorded conversations.

A seasoned personal injury lawyer can handle correspondence with the claims adjuster so you don’t end up making a statement that jeopardizes your case. Your attorney can also gather essential evidence, file subpoenas for evidence that is being withheld, arrange testimony from expert witnesses, calculate your damages, and ensure you meet all critical deadlines. Most important of all, talented lawyer can make the claims process far less stressful for you and your family by helping you navigate every step of the proceedings.

There’s No Substitute for the Advice of a Seasoned Personal Injury Lawyer

Although these 8 steps can put you in a favorable position to file a personal injury claim, there are many other tasks to complete in the aftermath of a car accident. A personal injury attorney is your best source of advice regarding your case. The sooner you schedule a consultation, the sooner you can shift your focus to what matters most: your health and your family’s well-being.