Following a serious car accident, you will likely be faced with expensive medical bills and other costs. Because of this, recovering damages from the at-fault party can be critical for getting your life back on track after an accident. The best way to ensure you recover the money you need and deserve is by hiring an experienced San Francisco car accident attorney.
At Omega Law Group, we are committed to providing accident victims with the legal counsel they need to recover fair compensation. Our team of experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyers will work tirelessly to get you the money you need. Contact us today to schedule a free case review with a member of our team.
An Experienced Car Accident Attorney Serving San Francisco Can Help You Identify All Liable Parties
When you are pursuing damages after a car accident, the first thing you need to do is determine who is at fault. There are a variety of potentially liable parties in a car accident case. An experienced attorney can help you determine who is to blame for your losses. Commonly responsible parties in these cases include:
- The driver of another involved vehicle
- A third-party driver whose actions caused the crash to occur
- The manufacturer of one of the involved vehicles
- A repair company that performed maintenance on one of the vehicles
- The government agency responsible for maintaining the roads where the accident occurred
This list is far from exhaustive. Your attorney will thoroughly review the details of your case to determine who should pay you compensation for your losses.
Once your lawyer has determined who is to blame for your damages, they can file a lawsuit, being sure to submit all of the required paperwork before the California personal injury statute of limitations.
Don’t Trust the Insurance Company
After a car accident, you need to use caution when engaging with representatives from the liable party’s insurance provider. Insurers work hard to convince people they are on their side, simply there to lend a helping hand. However, this is all an attempt to give accident victims a false sense of security so that they will let their guard down.
Once an insurer has gained your trust, they will use it to deny or devalue your claim. Insurance adjusters are taught a variety of tricks to manipulate accident victims out of the money they are entitled to collect. The best way to protect yourself is by declining to speak to the insurer until you have secured legal representation.
When you hire a lawyer, the insurer will have to work through them rather than contacting you directly. This setup helps level the playing field by preventing insurance providers from employing their usual tricks. If an insurer steps over the line, a lawyer can also help you file a bad faith insurance claim lawsuit against them.
Pure Comparative Negligence in California
When assessing fault after a car accident, California uses a pure comparative negligence model. What this means is that anyone who suffered damages in the accident has the right to pursue compensation as long as they were not 100% to blame for the collision.
However, if you share in the fault for the crash, you will not be able to pursue the full value of your losses. Instead, the amount you can recover will be reduced in direct proportion to your level of liability. For example, if you were 40% responsible for causing the crash, you would only be able to secure 60% of the value of your claim.
Under this example, if your losses were valued at $100,000, you would be able to collect $60,000 if you win your case.
When to Take a Settlement Deal
You should never accept the first settlement deal you receive after an accident. The amount being offered will likely only be a fraction of the full value of your compensatory damages, and if you accept the deal, you will be unable to pursue further compensation once you understand the full extent of your losses.
Before accepting any settlement offer, you should consult a car accident attorney. Your lawyer will be able to evaluate the losses you suffered and determine how much your case is worth so you can make an informed decision about any settlement offers you receive.
Even though most car accident cases end up settling out of court, it is still critical that you prepare your case for trial. Being ready and willing to take your case to court will give you leverage during settlement negotiations. Furthermore, it is critical to be ready in case settlement negotiations break down and a trial proves necessary.
Get Help from an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in San Francisco Today
The best way to improve your odds of recovering the money you need after a car accident is by securing the services of an experienced lawyer. At Omega Law Group, we will work diligently to ensure you recover favorable compensation. Our legal team is ready and waiting to get started on your case.
Contact us today by completing the contact form on our website or giving us a call and setting up a free case evaluation with a member of our legal team. During this initial consultation, we will review the details of your case, answer any questions you may have, and advise you of your legal options.