After getting injured in a serious car accident, you will likely face significant financial costs. You may have mounting medical bills, and you may not be able to work. It doesn’t seem fair when you and your family are suffering through no fault of your own.
You deserve compensation for the financial and physical hardships you’ve endured. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about getting the money you need on your own. An experienced Fresno car accident lawyer can help.
At Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys, our Fresno personal injury lawyers have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We are here to fight for you. Contact us today for a free consultation, and tell us your story.
Should You Take a Settlement After a Car Accident?
You will likely receive an initial settlement offer shortly after your accident. Even if the number sounds good, it is likely only a fraction of the true value of your compensatory damages. If you accept the deal, you will be unable to claim further compensation.
When considering a settlement offer, you should always have an experienced attorney review it. Your lawyer will be able to determine whether or not the deal is fair. They will explain all the factors that must be considered so you can make a decision based on all the available information.
Sometimes, settlement negotiations fall through, and a trial becomes necessary. Showing the opposing party that you are not afraid to go to trial will give you leverage during settlement negotiations.
How a Fresno Car Accident Attorney Can Help
Speaking with a skilled Fresno car accident attorney before accepting a settlement offer is just one of the ways a lawyer can help you get the money you need to recover after a car accident.
While every case is different, here are some of the other benefits of hiring a car accident lawyer.
Free Consultation
We offer free case evaluations so you can tell us your story. If we agree that you have a personal injury case and you choose to hire us, we will begin to assemble a strategy to get the compensation you need.
We will also let you know if we don’t think you have a case. We want to give you the best advice we can on how to proceed.
Affordable Legal Representation
We make our services available for almost anyone by working on a contingency fee basis. We take our costs out of your settlement or award, so there are no upfront expenses. This makes legal representation affordable and levels the playing field with powerful insurance companies.
Accident Investigation
We’ll investigate your accident and determine what happened. We may review police reports, visit the accident scene, interview witnesses, or examine evidence. We want to know who was responsible so we can file the appropriate documents with the insurance provider.
Compensation Assessment
Insurance companies know what your claim is worth, but they hope you don’t. We’ll evaluate your damages and calculate a fair settlement number that can help you pay bills and get your life back on track.
Thorough Case Management
Fighting for compensation involves a lot of work. After an accident, deadlines, paperwork, and other details can be overwhelming. We can help you focus on your recovery while we take care of the tough stuff.
Settlement Negotiation
We will deal with the insurance company so you don’t have to. If they do not agree to our settlement offer, we’ll meet them at the negotiating table to secure maximum compensation.
Civil Representation
Our goal is to negotiate for you to get the money you need. This solution is usually best for all parties involved. However, if an insurance company still refuses to compensate you, we can file a civil suit and represent you in court.
Have you been involved
in an auto accident?
Our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles
and Beverly Hills are here to help.
(310) 526-8383
How Much Is a Car Accident Case Worth in Fresno?
Compensatory damages for a car accident can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your Fresno car accident lawyer will assess your damages and determine the value of your case.
To arrive at this number, they will consider a range of economic and non-economic factors. While every case is different, your damages may include:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are easiest to quantify because they involve specific monetary amounts. For example, you have a bill or invoice that tells you what you owe. These bills can add up when you are injured in a car accident and may include:
- The cost of your medical care, such as emergency room visits, doctor visits, specialists, physical therapy, and medication.
- The expenses associated with future medical costs due to your ongoing care and recovery needs.
- Your income you’ve lost because you have been unable to work due to your injury.
- Your future employment outlook if you are unable to continue in your current profession or require job retraining.
- Property damages, such as the cost to repair or replace your car after an accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages consider the psychological, emotional, and social impact of your accident. These are not always recoverable in every situation. Your car accident lawyer in Fresno can advise you whether they may apply to your case. They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are another type of damages you may recover in very specific situations. They are awarded by a court when the defendant has acted illegally or with extreme negligence or recklessness. The idea is to deter the defendant from similar future behaviors.
Dos and Don’ts After a Car Accident
It is important to contact a skilled car accident lawyer in Fresno as soon as possible for all of the reasons listed above and more. A lawyer can keep you on track and help you avoid many of the mistakes many accident victims fall for. Here are a few more things to think about:
Do Get Immediate Medical Attention
See a doctor as soon as possible after your accident, even if you feel fine. Your attorney may be able to help you make arrangements. Some injuries may have delayed symptoms that don’t reveal themselves for days or weeks.
The most important thing is to make sure you are on the road to recovery after your accident. However, seeing a medical professional and following their advice shows you are taking your injuries seriously and can help your claim.
Don’t Talk About the Accident on Social Media
Of course, you are going to let your friends and family know you have been in a car accident, and if social media is how you communicate with them, there is nothing wrong with that. However, it is not a good idea to discuss the details of your case.
Insurance company representatives may monitor your social media accounts and look for ways to avoid paying you what you deserve. This makes fighting for a claim tougher for your attorney. Don’t give insurance companies more information than they need.
Do Keep Detailed Records
Making notes on the events before and after your accident can help your attorney understand how the crash happened and who was to blame from your perspective. Hang on to receipts and bills that show your economic damages.
It also may help to keep notes on how your accident has caused hardship for you and your family. Your attorney can refer to them to get an idea of whether you are eligible for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Don’t Talk to Representatives From the Liable Party’s Insurance Company
After suffering injuries in a car accident, you will likely need to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. While the insurance adjuster will likely be friendly and claim to be on your side, they are really aiming to get you to let your guard down. The more you trust them, the easier it is for them to take advantage of you and deny or devalue your claim.
Insurers are experienced in toeing the line of what is legally allowed to prevent having to pay out the full value of claims. They will employ a wide range of tricks in their attempt to avoid paying you the money you deserve. The best approach you can take to protect yourself is to decline to speak to any insurance representatives until you have hired an attorney.
Once you have a Fresno car accident attorney, the insurance company will be blocked from contacting you directly. By making them communicate through your attorney, you will eliminate their ability to use their normal tricks.
Injured in a car crash?
Our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles and
Beverly Hills are here to help.
(310) 526-8383
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Fresno
Car crashes occur in almost any way. Here are the most common causes of car accidents our Fresno car accident attorneys see:
- Distracted driving: People who use their phones or focus on other tasks may take their eyes off the road and cause an accident.
- Impaired driving: Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications can reduce reaction times and impair decision-making.
- Exhaustion: Drivers such as commercial truckers or rideshare operators may work long hours without rest, which can lead to poor reaction times and an increased chance of accidents.
- Speeding and aggressive driving: Drivers who drive too fast for road conditions or make aggressive decisions are more likely to cause crashes.
- Inexperienced drivers: Young drivers or those without a lot of experience may make poor decisions and not be able to handle adverse situations.
- Road conditions: Dangerous road conditions due to weather, poor upkeep, or construction zones can present hazards and cause accidents when drivers don’t slow down.
Putting Our Clients First.
always.
Hurt In a Car Accident?
Get a Free Initial Consultation from Omega Law Group
Proving Fault in a Car Accident
When looking to secure damages after a car accident, the first thing you must do is determine who is liable for your losses. You won’t be able to file a claim until you know who is at fault. In car accident cases, there are often several parties that can potentially be liable for your losses.
An experienced attorney will investigate to figure out who is to blame. Some of the parties most commonly at fault in car accident cases include:
- The driver of another vehicle involved in the crash
- A repair company that performed maintenance on one of the vehicles
- The manufacturer of one of the vehicles
- A third-party driver whose actions caused the collision
- The government body responsible for maintaining the roads where the accident occurred
These are far from the only parties that can be at fault for a car accident. Once your attorney has determined who is liable for your damages, they will proceed to ensure that all the necessary paperwork is completed and filed well in advance of the California personal injury statute of limitations.
Pure Comparative Negligence in California
After suffering damages in a car accident, your ability to collect compensation is decided based on California’s pure comparative negligence rule. With this rule, as long as you were not solely responsible for causing an accident, any party that suffered damages has the right to pursue compensation.
However, the amount of money available will be directly affected by the level of fault you hold. For example, if you are determined to have been 10% to blame for your accident, you won’t be able to collect more than 90% of the full value of your claim.
That means that if your losses are valued at $100,000, the maximum compensation you can recover will be $90,000.
Get Help From an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Fresno Today
The best way to increase your chances of getting the money you need following a car accident is by hiring an experienced lawyer. At Omega Law Group, we put our clients first. Always. Our dedicated team of Fresno car accident lawyers will do everything we can to ensure you recover the money you need and deserve.
Contact us today for your free case evaluation with a member of our legal staff. During this initial consultation, we will review the details of your case, answer your questions, and advise you of your legal options.
