San Bernardino County Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accidents

The crowded streets of San Bernardino County can (and do) lead to daily auto accidents. California traffic law can be intimidating when faced alone and can leave you overwhelmed. Damage to your vehicle and person can bring about expensive repair bills, costly medical expenses and increased insurance premiums. Who is going to pay for all of this? How will you pay for the mounting medical bills? How soon can you go back to work?

During this time, you WILL have a lot of questions and you are going to need a lot of professional guidance to get through them all.

While you may be confident that the accident wasn’t your fault, the other party may start accusing you of causing the accident. Once both parties have exchanged information, what should you do next?

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in San Bernardino County

In any personal injury case, there are numerous claim forms and settlement papers to fill out. This task can be a daunting task by yourself. Car accident victims can feel isolated and desperate. The insurance companies will offer you a quick settlement that you may feel tempted to accept just to put the whole incident behind you, but this may not be in your best interest in the long run. Fortunately, calling an attorney is easy and painless!

At this traumatic time, you need someone on your side who understands the law and can fight for your rights. An experienced lawyer can answer your questions, investigate the accident and file your paperwork to ensure that your case is properly prepared and filed within the statute of limitations set by the court. Your initial consultation will allow your attorney to review your case with you and determine the merits of your case.

Filing a Lawsuit in San Bernardino County, California

Unfortunately, personal injury lawsuits can be tedious and time consuming. Without an experienced attorney, you may find the process discouraging and exhausting, especially when the other party or insurance company comes to court with a team of attorneys on their side.

Without a working 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 rule that you are partially to blame for the accident if the defendant in your case argues that both parties are at fault. An attorney 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 $40,000 in damages to your car and person may be reduced to $36,000 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 lawyer can identify 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 San Bernardino County Law Offices of Brent A. Duque, we maintain a staff of a highly professional, knowledgeable, dynamic 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 San Bernardino 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.