Lake Elsinore Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accidents

Auto accidents can occur in the blink of an eye on the busy streets of Lake Elsinore. California traffic law can be confusing and leave you puzzled. Damage to your person and vehicle conjure up visions of mounting bills and increased insurance premiums. Who is going to pay for the repairs on your car? Who is responsible for the expensive medical bills? When can you go back to work?

What happens if the other party start accusing you of causing the accident? You may know that the accident wasn’t your fault, but they claim differently and now you’re faced with a he said/she said scenario. Once the accident has happened and you’ve exchanged information, what do you do next?

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in Lake Elsinore

Filling out all the claim forms and settlements can be daunting on your own. After an auto accident, victims can feel alone, distressed and desperate. You may be tempted to accept a quick settlement just to put the whole incident behind you, but this may not be in your best interest in the long run. Fortunately, an experienced attorney is just a phone call away!

You need someone on your side of the table who knows the law and can fight for your rights. An experienced attorney can investigate the accident, answer your questions and file your paperwork to ensure that your case is properly prepared and filed within the time limit required by the court. Your initial consultation will allow your attorney to review your case and determine whether or not you are entitled to compensation for damages.

Filing a Lawsuit in Lake Elsinore, California

Unfortunately, personal injury lawsuits can be exhausting and time-consuming. Without an attorney, you may find the process laborious and stressful, especially when the other party or insurance company is armed with a team of attorneys on their side.

Without a thorough knowledge of the intricacies of traffic law and statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit, your case can be over before you even enter a courtroom. Your attorney knows the timeline required as well as how to fill out and file the extensive paperwork a lawsuit includes. Too many victims of car accidents are unable to collect the damages they deserve because the paperwork was filed too late or documents were improperly filled out or missing altogether. Don’t let this happen to you!

Shared Fault Laws in California

California traffic law includes a clause for Shared Fault claims. The courts can actually decide that both parties are partially to blame for the accident if the defendent in your case argues that both parties are at fault. A lawyer can explain this clause and the possible implications that may effect the amount of compensation you receive.

Example of Shared Fault Claim:
Let’s assume that the defendant who hit your car ran a stop sign. Let’s also assume that you were driving 10 miles over the posted speed limit. The attorney for the other party might argue that you take on a percentage of the blame. If the court finds you to be 10% at fault for the accident, your lawsuit for $20,000 in damages to your car and person may be reduced to $18,000 once your fault is subtracted.

Financial Limits for California Lawsuits

There are often exceptions to the rules that you may qualify for but not even know about. An experienced attorney can find these exceptions to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

For instance, California law places limits on financial gains for certain types of damage. An uninsured driver may not be eligible to collect the full compensation that those who have insurance may be entitled to. Damages such as pain and suffering, that does not have a determinable monetary amount to award, may not be awarded to an uninsured driver under California law.

In the end, your personal injury attorney is your advocate in court. At the Lake Elsinore Law Offices of Brent A. Duque, we maintain a staff of a highly professional, knowledgeable, aggressive and successful car accident attorneys who represent injured people through our offices that stretch across Southern California. Time limitations apply to any injury claim you might have, so for purposes of investigating a possible case and possibly preserving evidence, it’s best for you to contact us immediately after an accident.

Contact our Riverside County Personal Injury Attorney at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

The first step taken by car accident lawyers when launching personal injury claims is to determine the cause of the auto accident. 

In that regard, car accident attorneys serving the residents of Lake Elsinore regularly deal with car crashes that are caused by the same recurring causes, such as:

• Over speeding
• Drunken driving
• Distractions to driver (eating, talking to backseat passengers, using a cell phone)
• Running a red light
• Reckless overtaking
• Not paying attention to road signs

However, regardless of the cause of the car accident, personal injury law in California entitles the victims to fair compensation from the at-fault driver or their insurance company. As such, you need to approach a reputable car accident attorney in Lake Elsinore for assistance.
Seeking compensation for serious injuries or wrongful death caused by a car accident is often a long and complicated process, especially in cases where the insurance company of the responsible party is refusing to pay.

In such situations, you need a good team of Lake Elsinore personal injury attorneys to assist you with the step-by-step process that starts soon after the accident. 

Car accident lawyers can assist with the following:

• Determining the cause of the accident and who the at-fault driver is
• Gathering evidence in the form of medical reports, police reports, and photos of the accident scene
• Interviewing witnesses
• Detailing all the expenses incurred, such as payments made for the treatment of catastrophic injuries
• Filing a Lake Elsinore car accident claim and fighting for the victim’s rights
• Winning maximum compensation for the victims or their family members

In Lake Elsinore, CA, there is a limited time frame in which car accident victims can claim compensation for injuries and losses sustained in a car crash. This is called the Statute of Limitations and the state of California has set this at two years from the date of the car accident.

However, in some cases, the injuries may not be discovered immediately, as is the case with some types of head injuries. When that happens, the statute of limitations is adjusted to one year from the date the injury was discovered. 

Either way, there is very little time for victims to make their claims, so they need to approach an experienced car accident lawyer in Lake Elsinore as soon as possible and ask for a free consultation.
It can be very frustrating for victims of a Lake Elsinore car accident to have to deal with a negligent driver who refuses to admit any wrongdoing, let alone agree to pay damages. When this happens, launching a lawsuit against the at-fault party and the insurance company is the only way forward.

Victims should take care to follow these steps to maximize their chances of receiving fair compensation:

• Obtain a police report and get the contact details of witnesses
• Take photos of the car crash
• Avoid talking to any insurance company representatives and never admit fault
• Seek medical attention, even if you think you have only suffered minor injuries
• Call experienced car accident lawyers for a free consultation

Lake Elsinore has a lot of car accident lawyers to choose from. When faced with a potentially difficult fight for fair compensation, you need to have the best legal team in your corner. Look for the following qualities of top-notch auto accident lawyers:

• Intimate knowledge of California personal injury law
• Many years of experience serving the residents of Lake Elsinore in car accident claims
• Good track record of winning damages 
• Great customer reviews from satisfied former clients

A reliable Lake Elsinore car accident lawyer can help auto accident victims to win economic and non-economic damages, such as:

• Medical bills for the treatment of a serious injury
• Compensation for wrongful death
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering