Santa Ana Car Accident Lawyer

Santa Ana Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents happen unexpectedly in many ways every day, and it is vital for any driver who experiences an accident to know what to do in the initial aftermath, how they can recover their losses, and the value of working with a Santa Ana car accident lawyer as they attempt to resolve the case. Duque & Price have years of experience representing car accident victims in Santa Ana and can provide the legal representation you need for your recovery efforts.

Helping Car Accident Victims Recover in Santa Ana, CA

Duque & Price can assist our clients in proving fault for their recent accident and guide them through the legal process of recovering compensation for their damages. If you or a loved one are struggling with the aftermath of a car accident in the Santa Ana area, we can help you make clearer sense of your situation and handle your legal affairs on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery.

You have a relatively short time in which to pursue legal recourse for a vehicle accident in Santa Ana. You may require various forms of evidence that must be secured from the scene of the crash quickly, and witness testimony to support your claim will be most reliable if it is collected immediately following the accident. Your case may be more complex than it initially appears, but with our assistance, you can approach your recovery efforts with confidence.

Santa Ana Personal Injury Statistics

In Santa Ana and surrounding areas of California, car accidents are a leading cause of personal injuries each year. California enforces the fault rule when it comes to resolving accident cases, meaning anyone who is deemed to have caused an accident is liable for the damages they inflicted on others. Proving fault will be an essential first step in recovering from your recent car accident, and this starts by identifying the driver you believe to be responsible for causing the crash.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Santa Ana and surrounding areas include:

• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions. Exceeding the speed limit is inherently dangerous and increases the risk of a crash. Speeding also increases the severity of a crash and the likelihood of it resulting in severe injuries. Drivers must also know when to adjust their speed to account for less-than-ideal driving conditions, such as poor visibility, severe weather, and heavy traffic congestion.
• Distracted driving. Whenever a driver becomes distracted behind the wheel, they put themselves and everyone around them at grave risk. Cell phone use while driving, eating, smoking, and conversing with passengers are all potential distractions that can easily result in devastating collisions.
• Moving violations. Road signs and traffic signals exist to allow drivers to anticipate the flow of traffic and proceed safely to their destinations. When drivers commit moving violations like illegal turns, running red lights or stop signs, or failing to yield the right-of-way, they put themselves and others at severe risk and can easily cause serious accidents.
• Intoxicated driving. This is the most common illegal cause of car accidents in Santa Ana each year. Any driver who causes an accident, because they were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, faces not only civil liability for the damages they caused but also criminal charges, and their penalties would increase significantly if they caused great bodily harm or death.

Car accidents can lead to both auto insurance claims and personal injury claims. If you are unsure how to proceed in the aftermath of your recent accident, it is imperative to consult a Santa Ana car accident lawyer as soon as possible. They can help you gather various forms of physical and digital evidence to support your case, such as traffic camera footage, cell phone data, and statements from witnesses who saw your accident happen firsthand.

Most personal injuries, including car accidents, reported in the Santa Ana area are the results of “negligence,” a term that can define any failure to act with reasonable care. Your attorney can help you prove negligence and hold an at-fault driver accountable for the harm they have done, or they may need to help you prove that a defendant’s illegal actions directly caused your recent accident.

Average Personal Injury Settlement Amounts in Santa Ana

A car accident can lead to a personal injury suit in Santa Ana, but filing an auto insurance claim is usually the injured driver’s first avenue of recovery following this type of incident. All drivers in California must have auto insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements. An at-fault driver’s insurance policy can go toward paying for the damages they caused, but filing an insurance claim can be challenging without an attorney’s help.

Your Santa Ana car accident lawyer can help you navigate the insurance claim filing process and resolve any issues you encounter with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If your settlement does not fully cover your losses, or if the at-fault driver does not have insurance, you will need to file a personal injury claim against them to recoup your losses.

Under California’s personal injury laws, an injured plaintiff has the right to claim full repayment of any economic losses they suffered because of a defendant’s actions. In most personal injury cases, cited economic losses include property damage, medical expenses, and lost income. The injured plaintiff also has the right to claim projected future damages, such as their lost earning power if they have been permanently disabled by their injuries.

A plaintiff also has the right to claim compensation for their pain and suffering. The amount they receive should reflect the severity of their injuries and the scope of any long-term or permanent complications they face because of them. Your Santa Ana car accident lawyer will be an invaluable asset for maximizing this aspect of your recovery.

Ultimately, many factors can influence the final outcome of any personal injury case in California. The right attorney will be an invaluable asset to have on your side in the aftermath of a car accident. They can help you gather the evidence you will need to firmly establish liability for your damages, and they can also develop a solid legal strategy that aims for maximum compensation for your losses in the shortest possible timeframe.

FAQs

Q: How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth in Santa Ana?

A: The potential value of any car accident case in Santa Ana depends on the severity of the resulting damages. If you are able to prove another driver is directly responsible for causing the accident, you have the right to seek compensation for any and all economic losses they caused as well as compensation for your pain and suffering. Recovering as fully as possible may require filing an auto insurance claim followed by a personal injury claim.

Q: What Happens if I’m Partially Responsible for Causing a Car Accident?

A: If you are found partially responsible for causing a car accident, California’s pure comparative fault rule will come into play, and you should expect to lose a percentage of your case award that reflects your shared fault. It’s possible for a plaintiff to bear partial fault for a car accident or other personal injury in California and still recover some compensation for their damages. Your attorney may help you minimize your fault percentage.

Q: What Happens When a Car Accident in Santa Ana Is Fatal?

A: In the event a car accident in Santa Ana is fatal, the family of the deceased will likely have grounds to file a wrongful death suit against the at-fault driver. They may still file an auto insurance claim to seek compensation for some of the resulting damages, but a successful wrongful death claim may yield a more substantial recovery. The objective of a wrongful death suit is to compensate the family of the victim for their loss.

Q: Do I Need a Santa Ana Car Accident Lawyer for My Case?

A: You need a Santa Ana car accident lawyer if you want to have the greatest chance of success with your impending case. The right attorney can not only increase your chance of winning compensation for your damages, but they may also uncover forms of compensation you did not know you could claim, and they are also likely able to streamline your proceedings, reducing the time it will likely take for you to complete your case and receive compensation.

Q: What Does it Cost to Hire a Santa Ana Car Accident Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a Santa Ana car accident lawyer will only amount to a percentage of your total case award when you choose Duque & Price as your legal representatives. We take all personal injury cases on contingency, meaning we only take a percentage of the total compensation we recover from our client. There are no upfront legal fees, and you pay nothing if our firm is unable to obtain compensation for your damages for any reason.

The attorneys at Duque & Price have successfully resolved many car accident cases for our clients in Santa Ana and surrounding areas of California, and we are ready to put this experience to work for you in your upcoming case. You have a short time in which to pursue recovery, so it is crucial to contact us today and schedule your free consultation with a Santa Ana car accident lawyer you can trust to get started on your claim.