Rancho Cucamonga Car Accident Lawyer

Rancho Cucamonga Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents happen every day in Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding areas of California, and victims of these incidents are likely to face numerous legal challenges when it comes to recovering their losses. If you or a family member has been injured in an accident, you need to consult a Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer as quickly as possible to have the greatest chance of maximizing your recovery.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Auto collision cases in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Duque & Price has helped many clients in Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding communities with their car accident claims, and we know the challenges you might face in your efforts to recover from a recent accident. With our help, you can focus on your recovery with confidence and have a greater chance of maximizing the compensation you obtain from an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury suit filed after your accident.

While it is technically possible for a car accident victim to seek compensation on their own without hiring an attorney, it is far more difficult than the average person may expect and unlikely to yield a positive outcome. The victim could encounter legal obstacles that they will not know how to resolve, or they could unintentionally accept a much lower settlement than they rightfully deserve.

Our goal in every car accident case we accept is maximum recovery for our client in the most efficient possible manner. Trust our team to help you gather the evidence necessary for proving fault for the accident, guide you through the auto insurance claim filing process, and help you build a personal injury suit if necessary to ensure your recovery.

Proving Fault for a Car Crash in Rancho Cucamonga

The first legal challenge you will face in the aftermath of a car accident in Rancho Cucamonga is proving liability for the accident. The state uses the fault system to resolve all motor vehicle accident cases, meaning the party at fault for causing the accident absorbs liability for the resulting damages, and an injured driver must prove fault before they can recover any compensation.

Car accidents happen unexpectedly in various ways, and the most common cause of accidents in the Rancho Cucamonga area is driver negligence. This is a broad term that applies to any situation in which a driver fails to uphold their duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and responsibly. Some of the most common forms of driver negligence seen in Rancho Cucamonga include:

• Distracted driving. Cell phone use while driving or any other distraction can easily cause a serious accident. Your Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence you must have to prove liability for this type of accident, such as the other driver’s cell phone records.
• Poor vehicle maintenance. All drivers are required to keep their vehicles in good working condition. If a driver knew of a mechanical issue with their vehicle but did not address it, they could face liability in a resulting accident. It is also possible for a mechanic or service center to be liable if they did not perform maintenance on the vehicle correctly.
• Speeding. It is illegal to exceed posted speed limits, and accidents are not only more likely to occur with speeding but also more likely to cause catastrophic or fatal injuries. Your attorney can help you secure traffic camera footage and vehicle computer data that may confirm the at-fault driver was speeding when they caused your accident.
• Moving violations, such as illegal turns, running red lights or stop signs, or failure to yield the right of way, can easily disrupt the flow of traffic. Footage captured by traffic cameras is often essential for proving fault when an accident happens in this manner.

Proving negligence in any civil case requires proof that the at-fault driver owed the plaintiff a duty that they breached in some way and, in so doing, directly caused the plaintiff’s claimed damages. It is also possible for a car accident to happen because of illegal misconduct, such as intoxicated or reckless driving.

In this type of case, the injured plaintiff may receive additional compensation in the form of restitution and/or punitive damages, but their case may also be more challenging to resolve. Your Rancho Cucamonga personal injury lawyer can explain any such variables present in your case and help you prepare for the proceedings necessary to ensure accountability and fair recompense for the damages.

Filing Your Auto Insurance Claim in Rancho Cucamonga

Every driver must, by law, have auto insurance that meets basic coverage requirements. When a driver causes an accident, their liability coverage will pay for any damage they caused, so filing an auto insurance claim against an at-fault driver is likely to be your primary method of recovering recompense for the damages after an accident. However, dealing with insurance companies can be challenging.

Your Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer can help you file your claim, gathering the evidence you will need to submit to the insurance company to prove that their policyholder is responsible for causing your accident. If you encounter any disputes with the insurer, your attorney will know how to resolve these issues for you. Once you receive an offer, they will verify that it is acceptable and advise you of the next steps to take in your recovery.

Building Your Personal Injury Case for a Car Accident

When auto insurance will not fully cover your losses, or if an at-fault driver does not have auto insurance, you will need to file a personal injury suit in order to recover compensation for damages that another driver caused. Success with your personal injury claim will require proof of the full extent of your damages as well as proof that the defendant is solely responsible for causing them.

Under the state’s personal injury statutes, it is possible for an injured plaintiff to claim recompense for the extent of the economic damages they suffered in the accident. For most plaintiffs, these damages are likely to include property damage, medical expenses, and lost income. It is important to remember, however, that you can claim compensation for projected future losses as well.

For example, many car accidents result in catastrophic injuries. A victim could face months or even years of extensive medical treatment in order to reach maximum medical improvement from their injuries, and they may be unable to return to work in the future if they were permanently disabled. In this situation, the plaintiff could claim all future medical treatment costs as well as recompense for their lost earning capacity.

In addition to economic damages, an injured plaintiff can also seek recompense for the pain and suffering they experienced because of the defendant’s negligence or misconduct. State law does not require a plaintiff to use a specific formula to calculate pain and suffering, nor is this aspect of a plaintiff’s recovery limited in a vehicle accident case. Pain and suffering could form the bulk of your recovery if you suffered a severe injury.

Comparative Fault in a Personal Injury Case

It is important to remember that if you bear shared fault for your recent car accident, it will not necessarily prevent you from claiming compensation, but it will result in a diminished recovery. Under the state’s pure comparative fault rule, the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff will be the percentage of their case award they will lose as a penalty. Your attorney can determine whether this is cause for concern in your case.

It’s quite common for at-fault drivers to assert comparative fault in their efforts to avoid liability for the harm they have done. However, the right Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer on your side will be a valuable asset for dismantling any such arguments and preserving your case award as much as possible.

What You Should Expect From Your Rancho Cucamonga Car Accident Lawyer

When you choose Duque & Price to represent you in a car accident case, you are investing in years of professional experience handling a wide range of civil claims for damages, including auto collision cases. We know the various legal challenges you might encounter after such an incident and how to help you overcome them. Our goal is to help you prove fault and recover maximum recompense for the damages as quickly as possible.

You can rely on our team to gather the evidence you must have to prove fault for your recent accident, and then we can guide you through the insurance claim filing process if the at-fault driver has appropriate insurance coverage. If necessary, we can build a comprehensive personal injury suit for you that aims to secure as much compensation as state law allows for your damages, and we can seek to settle your claim quickly.

It’s natural to have lots of pressing legal questions in the aftermath of a damaging vehicle accident, and our team is committed to helping our clients recover as much as possible. You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery, so it’s vital to meet with a trustworthy Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer as quickly as possible after your accident.

FAQs

Q: How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth in Rancho Cucamonga?

A: The value of your car accident case in Rancho Cucamonga depends on the overall severity of your damages. If you prove another party is directly responsible for causing the accident, you can hold them accountable for the entire scope of your resulting damages. An experienced Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer can be your most important asset for ensuring maximum compensation for your losses.

Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Rancho Cucamonga Car Accident Lawyer?

A: You need to hire a Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer because you could encounter legal challenges that you will not be able to resolve alone, and you will also be more likely to maximize your recovery when you have an attorney advising you. Legal counsel allows you to focus on your medical recovery and personal obligations with peace of mind because your legal affairs will be in capable hands.

Q: What if the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Auto Insurance?

A: If the at-fault driver does not have auto insurance, then they will be personally liable for your damages, and you can proceed directly to filing a personal injury suit. If you have purchased uninsured motorist coverage with your own insurance policy, you may be able to claim compensation through your insurer without incurring any penalties or increased premiums. Your attorney can advise you of your most viable legal options in this situation.

Q: How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Car Accident Case in Rancho Cucamonga?

A: The time required to resolve a car accident case in Rancho Cucamonga will depend on the scope and severity of the damages you suffered in the accident and whether liability for the accident is clear. If you are able to resolve the case with just an insurance claim, it may only take a few weeks. Settling a civil claim may take longer, and if you need to litigate a personal injury suit, it could take several months or even longer than a year to complete.

Q: How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Rancho Cucamonga Car Accident Lawyer?

A: Hiring costs for a Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer will depend on the lawyer’s billing policy. If you choose Duque & Price to represent you, our contingency fee policy ensures that you pay nothing upfront and will only owe our firm a fee if and when we win your case. Our contingency fee will be a percentage of your case award, and you will pay nothing if our firm is unable to obtain a recovery for you.

Duque & Price has successfully resolved many auto collision cases in Rancho Cucamonga and surrounding areas, and we are ready to put this experience to work for you in your impending case. You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery, so contact our team today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Rancho Cucamonga car accident lawyer about your recovery.