Car accidents happen all the time in Southern California and across the country, but they never become any less tragic. A serious car accident can, without warning, cause you serious injuries or end the life of a loved one, forever changing your life in an instant. Of the 2.5 million people injured on U.S. roadways each year, roughly half suffer irreversible injuries like paralysis and brain damage, which can permanently affect their ability to function normally and live a happy life. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in a car accident in Long Beach, contact our knowledgeable attorneys at DAG Law Firm today to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or party found at fault in the accident, in order to seek financial compensation for your losses.
Affordable Long Beach Car Accident Attorney
In the United States, someone is killed in a car accident every 12 to 15 minutes, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of eight and 34. Unfortunately, despite national, state and local efforts to reduce the risk of deadly collisions, fatalities from car accidents are on the rise. In California, deaths from motor vehicle accidents exceeded the national average in 2016, increasing by 13% from 2015 and 19% from 2014. Of the 40,000 total deaths resulting from motor vehicles accidents in 2016, more than 3,700 took place in California, ranking the state second in the United States for the highest number of traffic fatalities, behind Texas.
In the aftermath of a car accident, you may be dealing with debilitating injuries, costly medical bills, lost wages due to your inability to work, or the loss of a loved one, all of which will take a great deal of your time, energy and money. You shouldn’t also be burdened with the task of holding the at-fault party liable for your losses and making sure they are made to pay for the harm they caused you. Our car accidents attorneys at DAG Law Firm have experience protecting the rights of Long Beach car accident victims and can help you and your family pursue the financial compensation you deserve for your car accident injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
Common Car Accident Injuries
The average passenger cars weighs in at more than two tons, and a collision between two such heavy vehicles can seriously injure the involved drivers and other occupants, even if the cars aren’t traveling at particularly high speeds. Traffic collisions are all different and there are a variety of factors that can affect the severity of injuries resulting from a car accident, including the kind of crash (head-on, rollover, etc.), the speed at which the vehicles are traveling, whether the occupants are wearing seatbelts, and whether the car has airbags. Some common injuries resulting from Long Beach car accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Head injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Loss of limbs
- Fractures
- Neck injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Back injury
- Wrongful death
You should always seek medical attention following a motor vehicle accident, even if you don’t think you have suffered any injuries. Some injuries may take days or even weeks to become noticeable, and at that point it may be difficult to trace the injuries back to the accident.
Possible Causes of Long Beach Car Accidents
With a population of about 440,000 and a number of large vehicles traveling its busy roadways, Long Beach sees its fair share of car accidents, especially along I-710, around the Long Beach Airport and on the I-605 San Gabriel River Freeway. Considering the amount of traffic in the Long Beach area, and the excessive speeds at which some motorists drive, your chances of getting into a car accident at some point are high, even if you exercise defensive driving habits behind the wheel. When another driver decides to be careless or reckless, your safety is essentially out of your control. Some of the most common driver-related causes of car accidents in Long Beach and across Southern California include:
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to obey traffic signals
- Tailgating
- Running red lights
- Wrong-way driving
- Road rage
- Texting while driving
- Making illegal turns
- Inexperience drivers
- Drowsy driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Other factors possibly contributing to car accidents in Long Beach may include unsafe road conditions, inclement weather, vehicle design defects and faulty auto parts, such as defective tires or brakes.
Determining Liability in Long Beach Car Accidents
As you can see, there are any number of factors that can cause a Long Beach car accident, including driver error, unsafe road conditions and auto manufacturing issues. Determining legal responsibility for a Long Beach car accident can be complicated, but liability typically depends on whether the carelessness or negligence of another person or party caused the accident. The person filing a personal injury claim for damages is tasked with proving that the other party was negligent, and this involves a great deal of familiarity with California law and the legal system as a whole. This is where your personal injury lawyer comes in. If, for example, your car accident injuries were caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver, your attorney may be able to hold that driver liable for any damages resulting from the accident, including hospital bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If the accident was caused by a defective auto part, such as faulty brakes or blowout-prone tires, the manufacturer and seller of the product may both be liable for any damages. State or local government agencies may also be held liable for damages in a Long Beach car accident, if the accident occurred on a portion of unsafe roadway that was not properly maintained.
Seeking Compensation for a Long Beach Car Accident
Too often, the negligence of careless Long Beach drivers and auto manufacturing companies cause avoidable accidents that leave innocent individuals with debilitating or life-threatening injuries. In the aftermath of a serious car accident, it is imperative that you recover compensation from the at-fault party to cover the cost of your medical bills and other damages, including any lost wages due to your inability to work and earn an income. Even if you were partially at fault for the car accident, you can still recover some compensation from any other person or party also found at fault. Under this California rule, known as comparative negligence, the percentage of the other party’s negligence determines the percentage of the resulting damages he or she is required to pay. Unlike the comparative negligence laws of some states, even California drivers found to be more than 50% responsible for a traffic accident can recover damages from the other party, with the amount of compensation owed based on their percentage of fault.
Free Car Accident Consultation in Long Beach
Finding out who is liable for your Long Beach car accident is imperative, as the liable party’s insurance will have to cover all or part of your damages from the accident. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help you with the task of proving liability in your car accident and recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries and medical expenses. For more information about filing a personal injury lawsuit following a car accident in Long Beach, call DAG Law Firm today. Our Long Beach car accident attorneys are ready to help you fight for your rights.
