Car accidents can occur in any area where motor vehicles (especially in large numbers) are present. Some of the most common locations for car accidents include:
- Traffic intersections
- Busy highways
- Parking garages
- Parking lots
- Driveways (especially those where cars have to pull out onto a busy roadway)
If you suffered injuries in a car accident in one of these locations, the skilled legal team Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel will review your accident and determine if you can file a claim for monetary damages.
Common Injuries in Car Accidents
The injuries that a driver or passenger will suffer in a motor vehicle collision depend upon the force of the impact and other factors. Generally speaking, the more significant an impact, the more severe the injuries an accident victim will suffer.
A forceful impact might cause the accident victim’s body to move around inside their vehicle and strike something inside the vehicle. For example, the accident victim’s head might hit the headrest, steering wheel, or window in a forceful collision. As a result, the accident victim can suffer a traumatic head or brain injury.
Another common factor that determines the severity of injuries in a car accident is the speeds of the involved vehicles. In many instances, high-speed collisions result in more serious injuries. In addition, the type of collision typically plays a part in the injuries that an accident victim sustains.
In a rear-end collision, for example, the accident victim is more likely to suffer whiplash to their neck or back. In a head-on collision, where the fronts of two vehicles collide with one another, the accident victim can suffer a much more serious injury, such as a broken bone or even an injury that turns into a fatality. Other common injuries that car accident victims suffer include soft tissue injuries, internal injuries, and back/spinal cord injuries.
If you have suffered one of these injuries in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, you should seek same-day medical treatment for your injuries. A hospital emergency room doctor can thoroughly examine you, take the necessary imaging studies, and make a diagnosis. The doctor can also recommend follow-up medical treatment, such as with an orthopedist or other specialist.
Get checked out as soon as possible after your accident and you follow through with all of the recommended medical treatment. Otherwise, in a personal injury claim that you later file, the insurance company might not believe your claims. They may not feel that you took your injuries seriously—or that your injuries were not all that severe, to begin with. The way around this is to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after your car accident.
While you are still treating your car accident injuries, the knowledgeable Chico car accident attorneys at Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel can gather your medical records, bills, and other important documents. Those documents typically include the police report, investigation reports, and witness statements that are pertinent to your car accident. We will then prepare to file a demand package with the insurance company on your behalf.
Filing a Timely Chico Car Accident Claim
Victims of car accidents in Chico do not have unlimited time to bring a claim for monetary damages. California has one of the shortest statutes of limitations in the country.
From the date a car accident occurs, an accident victim only has two years to file a legal claim or a lawsuit for money damages. If the accident victim fails to bring a timely claim or lawsuit, the court will prevent them from recovering any monetary compensation for their injuries. Consequently, you need a skilled team of attorneys on board in your case as soon as possible after your car accident.
The skilled team of Chico car accident attorneys at Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel will file a timely claim or lawsuit in your case right away. Even after we file a lawsuit on your behalf, we can continue negotiating for you and work to get you the compensation you deserve from the insurance company.
By having a lawyer on board in your car accident case as soon as possible, you safeguard your right to pursue and recover the monetary compensation that you need for your injuries.
Potential Damages in Chico Car Accident Cases
To prevail in a Chico car accident claim, you, as the accident victim, will need to satisfy the legal elements of proof in your case. Specifically, you must demonstrate that the responsible driver acted unreasonably under the circumstances and that, as a result, the car accident happened. You must also demonstrate that you suffered at least one injury in the car accident and that the injury or injuries directly resulted from the accident.
If your lawyer can satisfy these legal elements, you might be entitled to recover various damages for your injuries. First of all, you can pursue economic damages to cover your medical costs and related expenses. If you had to miss time away from work after your accident, you can file a lost wage claim and pursue other out-of-pocket costs.
In addition to economic damages, you might also have a claim for noneconomic damages following your car accident. These damages compensate accident victims for their pain and suffering, mental distress, emotional anguish, inconvenience, and loss of life enjoyment caused by injuries they suffered in their accident.
The knowledgeable Chico car accident lawyers at Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel can help you pursue the maximum amount of compensation available in your case. We will zealously advocate for your interests with the insurance company, and if necessary, litigate your case to a conclusion in the California court system.
Call a Chico Car Accident Lawyer About Your Legal Matter Today
The knowledgeable legal team at Reiner, Slaughter & Frankel is here to assist you with your car accident claim from beginning to end. For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a knowledgeable Chico car accident attorney, please call us today at (530) 891-1909 or contact us online to discuss your possible personal injury claim or lawsuit.
