A car accident can change your life forever. Major accidents can mean serious injuries that lead to long-term recovery, economic hardships, and incredible pain and suffering. Even minor crashes can cause injuries that require months of healing and expensive medical care.
When you are hurt in a car accident due to the reckless actions of another person, you deserve compensation. A Santa Ana car accident lawyer can help you get the money you need to pay your bills and take care of your family.
At Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys, we have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and awards for accident victims like you. Our Santa Ana personal injury lawyers are here to help you fight for your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Should You Take a Settlement for a Car Accident?
In most cases, it is not wise to take a settlement after a car accident until you speak with an attorney. Insurance companies may offer an initial settlement, and it can seem like a lot of money. However, insurance companies may not have your best interests in mind.
Insurance companies know what your claim is worth, but they hope you do not. They offer less than you deserve, hoping that if you take it, they’ll be off the hook for a bargain. Insurance companies are businesses, and many are more concerned about their bottom lines.
A Santa Ana car accident attorney can evaluate your damages and determine the true worth of your car accident claim, as well as whether an offer is fair. We aren’t going to let an insurance company tell you what you are worth.
What Is a Car Accident Case Worth in Santa Ana?
Car accident claims can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands and occasionally millions of dollars. There is no way to guess what your case is worth without a thorough evaluation by a skilled Santa Ana car accident attorney.
We will assess your economic and non-economic damages to arrive at a fair maximum compensation amount.
Economic Damages
We’ll consider the expenses and bills you have incurred because of your accident so you can be compensated for your financial hardships. These are known as economic damages because they are attached to a specific dollar amount. Economic damages may include:
- Healthcare costs: Your lawyer can help you seek funds to cover your medical care expenses, including the costs of emergency treatment, doctor’s visits, specialist visits, medications, and physical therapy.
- Future healthcare costs: You can recover the costs of ongoing care and long-term treatments as part of your economic damages.
- Lost wages: You may qualify for compensation to cover the wages you lost while off work recovering from car accident injuries.
- Future inability to work: Your lawyer may also focus on your diminished earning potential for some accidents. Generally, we help clients seek this kind of compensation if an accident results in a disabling condition, like paralysis.
- Property damage: A collision may badly damage your vehicle. In this situation, your attorney can help you seek compensation to cover the cost of repairs. You may get funds to replace a totaled vehicle.
Non-Economic Losses
Your car accident lawyer in Santa Ana may help you secure funds for your non-economic losses. These do not come with tangible economic costs, but they are every bit as real:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
Non-economic losses can be hard to recover. Your car accident attorney can let you know if any of the following may apply to your case.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, punitive damages are available when the defendant acted illegally or with extreme negligence. They are intended to punish the defendant and discourage them from similar actions in the future, and they can add to your award significantly.
A court awards punitive damages, so they would not be part of a settlement with an insurance company. You would need to file a civil lawsuit. Your attorney can help you plan your strategy if they believe punitive damages may be applicable to your case.
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 a Santa Ana Attorney Can Help
The days and weeks after a car accident are often extremely stressful. Treatment for your injuries, making up for lost wages, finding a way to repair damage to your vehicle, and meeting the needs of your family are all important and need to be addressed.
When you hire a car accident attorney in Santa Ana, you have the peace of mind of knowing that you don’t have to deal with it alone. You have an ally who is looking out for you and helping you get your life back on track.
A lawyer can review your situation and determine if someone else owed you a duty of care, failed to uphold that duty, and directly caused your injuries and any financial losses. While every case is different, here are some of the ways we may be able to help:
Offer Legal Advice
During your free initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to tell us your story. We will probably have many questions, and we hope you will have questions for us as well. Communication is essential if we are going to get the compensation you deserve.
If we don’t think you have a case, we’ll be honest and let you know. We won’t take cases unless they have merit, and you deserve to have a fair assessment of your legal options.
If we agree that you have a case, we will offer our best advice on how to proceed. If we agree to work together, we will begin putting together a strategy. This starts with researching the accident and uncovering the facts.
Identify Liable Parties
We want to know what happened and who was responsible for your injuries. This will help us understand which insurance companies to approach for your claim. We may investigate the accident by:
- Looking for video surveillance footage of the collision
- Interviewing any eyewitnesses to get official statements
- Acquiring a copy of the car accident report
- Visiting the scene of your crash
In some cases, you may be partially responsible for the accident. Under California’s comparative negligence laws, you may still be eligible for partial compensation.
Assess Your Maximum Compensation
The insurance company may have offered you a lowball settlement. We will review your economic and non-economic hardships and come up with a fair number that can make a difference in your life. We can also file claims on your behalf.
We can even handle all communication, which is often a good idea. Insurance companies sometimes use questionable tactics to try to show that you aren’t as hurt as you claim. They may call to check in on you, making it seem like they are concerned and there to help.
What they are really doing is trying to catch saying something they can use against you. Instead of playing their game, let us talk to them.
Negotiate With Insurance Companies
Our team uses several different methods to resolve car accident cases. In many situations, we focus on negotiating an insurance settlement. We stand up for you when dealing with insurance agents and review all offers they make after a collision.
Settling out of court can allow you to secure compensation more quickly than filing a lawsuit. However, the insurance company may refuse to accept a fair deal. You can rely on us to help with a personal injury lawsuit in this situation.
Represent You in Court
We would like to settle your case through negotiations whenever possible. This is best for everyone involved. Civil trials, especially lengthy ones, can be stressful.
But, sometimes, insurance companies still refuse to agree to fair compensation for your injuries. When that happens, we can file a civil suit on your behalf and represent you in court.
We have the legal training and experience to confidently present your claim in court, handle the evidence, and speak to the judge and jury on your behalf.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accident injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Some of the most common injuries we see include:
- Whiplash: A neck injury caused by sudden movement of the head, whiplash can cause problems that linger long after a crash.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Caused by damage to the head, TBIs can range from mild to severe.
- Fractured bones: In car accidents, broken bones are common in the arms, legs, ribs, and collarbone.
- Internal injuries: Blunt force trauma can cause severe damage to internal organs such as the liver, spleen, or lungs.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spine can result in lifelong issues and partial or complete paralysis.
- Chest injuries: Seatbelts, airbags, and blunt force can cause rib fractures, lung damage, or other serious injuries.
- Contusions: Minor bruises or deep contusions can occur with impact or due to pressure from seatbelts.
- Lacerations: Deep cuts and lacerations can be serious injuries that result in permanent scarring and disfigurement.
- Dislocated joints: Knees, shoulder, and hip locations are common injuries in accidents.
Injured in a car crash?
Our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles and
Beverly Hills are here to help.
(310) 526-8383
Can a Lawyer Help With a Fatal Car Accident Case?
Your family may have a chance to file a claim for financial damages after a deadly crash. You can turn to a Santa Ana wrongful death lawyer to get compassionate assistance with your legal situation.
Let our family take care of your family after a fatal crash. We’ll provide you with the emotional support you need as you move through the legal process.
Putting Our Clients First.
always.
Hurt In a Car Accident?
Get a Free Initial Consultation from Omega Law Group
Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in California
California uses a statute of limitations to control how long you can wait to file your personal injury claim after a crash. Generally, drivers only have two years to seek compensation. Waiting too long can result in losing your rights to pursue your case.
Several exceptions may toll the statute of limitations, such as:
- When the victim is a minor, the statute of limitations starts when the victim turns 18.
- When the whereabouts of a defendant are unknown, the statute of limitations will pause until they are located or apprehended.
- When damages or injuries are not immediately revealed, the statute of limitations begins when damages become known.
- When a defendant has concealed their behavior, the statute of limitations starts when their actions are revealed.
Your Santa Ana car accident attorney can help you understand how the California statute of limitations will impact your case. It is smart to reach out to a law firm immediately after a collision.
How Much Does a Santa Ana Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Many people worry about the cost of hiring an attorney. However, when you are injured and need help, the cost of quality legal representation is the last thing you should worry about.
We handle car crash claims in California on a contingency basis. This means we receive a percentage of your final compensation, and you will only pay our legal fees after we resolve your claim. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Insurance companies will approach negotiations for your settlement with a team of powerful attorneys. It is only fair that you have the same. By working under this contingency agreement, we make legal representation available to almost anyone.
Speak to a Car Accident Lawyer in Santa Ana Today
When you are injured in a car accident, it is tough to know where to turn for help. Your debts are mounting, you can’t work, and the insurance company that is supposed to help seems like they aren’t on your side. It can feel like an impossible situation.
A Santa Ana car accident attorney can help. Omega Law Group has decades of combined legal experience, allowing us to take on complex cases. We prioritize personalized care for our clients and respond quickly if you have any questions about your claim.
We have a reputation for successfully handling car accident claims, and we’ll fight to get you the compensation you need. Contact us today for a free consultation to find out how we can help.
