Newport Beach Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accidents

Car accidents are a daily occurrence in busy Newport Beach and California traffic law can be frightening and leave you shocked. Bodily injury and damage to your vehicle will be followed by mounting bills and increased insurance premiums. You may be left wondering who will pay for damage to your car and the the expensive medical bills. How long will you be out of work?

Questions! Questions! Questions! You will have a lot of them and you are going to need the guidance of a professional as you make your way through them all.

What happens if they start accusing you of causing the accident? You may know that the accident was the fault of the other party, but if they claim differently, you can be 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 Newport Beach

Claim forms and settlement papers are not easy to tackle on your own. Immediately following an auto accident, victims can feel isolated, bewildered and intimidated and may be tempted to settle for a quick amount that may not be in their best interest in the long run. Fortunately, calling an attorney can help you with this decision.

You need someone on your side who knows the law and can fight for your rights. An experienced attorney can answer your questions, investigate the accident 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 Newport Beach, California

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

Many people are unaware of the intricacies of traffic law. Statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit can make or break your case 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 rule that you are also to blame for the accident if the defendant 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 $50,000 in damages to your car and person may be reduced to $45,000 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 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 Newport Beach 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 Orange 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

It is generally a good idea to at least speak with a Newport Beach car accident attorney after you’ve been in an auto accident, even if you think the incident was minor. An experienced Newport Beach car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and options and can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to get you the best possible settlement for your personal injury claim.

Most car accident lawyers in Newport Beach work on a contingency basis, which means that you only pay if you win your car accident case or reach a settlement. The lawyer’s fee is a percentage of the settlement or award, so you won’t have to pay upfront costs.

It’s important to discuss the fee arrangement with your Newport Beach car accident attorney before you agree to work with them.

When selecting a car accident attorney in Newport Beach, it’s essential to choose someone with experience handling cases similar to yours and a proven record of success.

You should also consider whether the lawyer is a good fit for you personally – for example, do you feel comfortable communicating with them, and do you trust their advice? It can be helpful to ask for recommendations from friends or family, research Newport Beach car accident lawyers online, and read reviews from previous clients about their car crash cases.

The legal process for a car crashes in Newport Beach will vary depending on the specific circumstances of your case. However, in general, here are the steps you can expect:

• Gathering evidence: Your car accident attorney will gather evidence to support your claims, such as police reports, witness statements, and medical records.
• Filing a claim: The Newport Beach car accident lawyer will file a claim with the insurance company detailing the damages and serious injuries you sustained in the motor vehicle accident and the compensation you seek.
• Negotiating a settlement: A accident attorney in Newport Beach will deal with the insurance company on your behalf to try to reach a fair settlement that covers all of your medical expenses, damages, and serious injuries.
• Going to court: If the insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer may recommend taking the case to court. A judge or jury will then decide on the outcome of the car crash case.

The amount of money you can get from a car accident settlement in Newport Beach will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. Factors that can affect the settlement amount include the severity of your common car accident injuries, the number of medical expenses you have incurred, and the number of lost wages you have suffered.

In general, the more serious the injuries and the more damages you have suffered, the higher the settlement amount is likely to be. There are minor injuries, but there are also severe ones from car crashes, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, etc.

The time it takes to get a settlement from car accidents in Newport Beach will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. If the insurance company is willing to offer a fair settlement for your medical bills, the process may be resolved relatively quickly.

However, the process may take longer if the insurance company disputes your car accident claim or your case goes to court. It’s essential to work with experienced Newport Beach car accident attorneys who can help you navigate the legal process and work toward a resolution as efficiently as possible.

It is possible to file a car accident lawsuit in Newport Beach even if you were partly at fault for the motor vehicle accident. California is a comparative negligence state, which means that the number of damages you can recover will be reduced by the percentage of fault you bear for the car crash.

If you are awarded $100,000 in damages but are found to be 20% at fault for the accident, you would only be able to recover $80,000. Your accident attorney in Newport Beach can help you understand your rights and options in this situation.

Newport Beach car accident victims of hit-and-run car accidents can file an auto collision lawsuit to recover damages. Your lawyer can help you understand your rights and options and can work with the police and insurance company to try to identify the responsible party.

If the other driver was uninsured and you were injured in a car accident in Newport Beach, you may be able to file a car accident lawsuit to recover damages. You may also be able to make a claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage if you have this type of coverage on your own insurance policy.

Suppose the other driver was underinsured, and you were injured in a car accident. In that case, you may be able to file a Newport Beach car accident lawsuit to recover damages and avoid medical expenses. Car accident victims may also be able to make a claim under their own underinsured motorist coverage if they have this type of coverage on their own insurance policy.

It’s always smart to have certain coverages like the underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage, just in case you get into a Newport Beach car accident.