A serious car accident can turn your life upside down, especially if you suffer lasting injuries that cause you to experience chronic pain and require extensive medical treatment. If another person or party is responsible for your car accident injuries, you may be eligible for financial compensation, which you can pursue by filing a personal injury claim. At DAG Law Firm, we have helped countless San Diego car accident victims recover damages for their injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in San Diego, contact DAG Law Firm today to explore your legal options.
Affordable San Diego Car Accident Attorney
As experienced personal injury attorneys, we know what it’s like to have your life forever changed by a serious car accident, especially when that accident causes you permanent injury or leaves your loved ones strapped with costly medical bills. Perhaps the most difficult thing about being involved in a San Diego car accident is having to cope with severe injuries while trying to figure out what steps to take next and how to recover the compensation you deserve, especially if someone else is responsible for your injuries. That’s why it’s so important to have a qualified personal injury attorney on your side throughout this process, to help you navigate the complicated process of filing a personal injury claim and seeking compensation for your injuries. Our San Diego car accident attorneys at DAG Law Firm have the experience necessary to take on your case and relieve some of the burden that comes along with being involved in a serious car accident.
Common Car Accident Injuries
With the high volume of cars on the road in San Diego and across southern California, car accidents occur with alarming frequency, often resulting in serious or life-threatening injuries. Some of the most common injuries resulting from a San Diego car accident include the following:
- Whiplash
- Head injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Shoulder or arm injury
- Leg, knee or foot injury
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Neck injury
- Loss of limbs
- Psychological injury
Even if you’ve been involved in a car accident and you don’t appear to have suffered any serious injuries, it’s critical that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Symptoms of some of the most severe car accident injuries, like concussions and spinal cord injuries, may not arise until days or even weeks after the accident occurs, at which point it may be difficult to prove that the accident was the cause of the injury.
Common Causes of San Diego Car Accidents
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.25 million people are killed every year in motor vehicle accidents, and between 20 and 50 million more suffer non-fatal injuries, many resulting in disability. In California alone, the number of car accident-related deaths increased a whopping 13% from 2015 to 2016, more than double the 6% increase we saw nationwide. The sad truth is that many of these tragedies are preventable, occurring in the same places, at the same times, and all too often for the same reasons. There are many possible causes of car accidents in San Diego, the most common being:
- Reckless driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Unsafe road conditions
- Rain, ice or fog
- Inexperienced drivers
- Night driving
- Auto part defects
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper turns
- Wrong-way driving
- Tailgating
- Road rage
Determining Liability in San Diego Car Accidents
In the aftermath of a car accident, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the task of caring for your injuries while trying to figure out what person or party was responsible for the accident. Every driver who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle has a duty to drive in a safe and reasonable manner, and when this duty is overlooked, the results can be devastating. When a car accident occurs, the person or party found at-fault in the accident may be liable for the associated damages. In the simplest of forms, there are four basic levels of fault in terms of a motor vehicle accident:
- Negligence – Careless or inadvertent conduct that results in harm or damage, such as running a red light or failing to yield the right-of-way to avoid an accident
- Recklessness or wanton conduct – Willful or purposeful disregard for the safety and welfare of others, including driving at excessive speeds, tailgating or road rage
- Intentional misconduct – Any manner by which a driver breaks the law, by drunk driving, driving over the speed limit, or committing other traffic violations
- Strict liability – Strict liability may apply to car accidents caused by defective products or to extremely hazardous activities, such as transporting explosive chemicals in a vehicle
Establishing liability in a car crash is imperative, as the at-fault party may be responsible for paying damages to the injured party for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. In some car accidents, like a rear-end collision, it is fairly obvious which party is responsible for the resulting injuries and damages. However, some accidents may require further investigation by a personal injury lawyer to determine who is at fault. Once the at-fault party is identified, it is up to your attorney to prove that the other party’s actions caused or contributed to your injuries.
Seeking Compensation for a San Diego Car Accident
There are additional adverse consequences associated with car accidents besides the most obvious physical injuries. If, for example, you sustain debilitating injuries in a car accident, you may be unable work for a period of time, which may put a significant emotional and financial burden on your family. If you can show that another person or party’s negligence or reckless behavior contributed to the injuries you sustained in a San Diego car accident, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your losses by filing a personal injury claim. Some possible at-fault parties may include:
- A negligent or reckless driver – The most common cause of a motor vehicle accident is a reckless or negligent driver. This may include a driver who speeds, runs a red light, changes lanes without looking, or drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- A negligent agency or organization – In some cases, an agency or organization may be responsible for a motor vehicle accident. An example of this would be a car accident caused by a portion of unsafe roadway that was not properly maintained by the city or state government agency.
- A negligent automobile manufacturer – Another common cause of car accidents is defective automobile parts, such as tires or brakes. If you are involved in a car accident caused by a faulty auto part, the automobile manufacturer or automotive parts manufacturer may be held responsible for your injuries.
Unfortunately, following a car accident, you can’t depend on your insurance company – or the other person’s – to get you the financial compensation you deserve. The main priority of any insurance company is to protect its bottom line, and the insurance adjuster assigned to your case will likely try to deny or diminish your claim to avoid paying you the full amount you are entitled to. Far too often, car accident victims accept low-ball offers from their insurance companies because they don’t understand the full scope of their injuries and the compensation they may qualify for.
Free Car Accident Consultation in San Diego
Car accident cases in San Diego can be complicated and confusing, especially for car accident victims who have little to no experience navigating the complex process of filing a personal injury claim in southern California. If you have suffered injuries in a car accident in San Diego, and you want to find out how you can pursue financial compensation for your losses, contact DAG Law Firm today for legal help. Our lawyers are committed to protecting the rights of car accident victims in San Diego, and will review your claim to find out if you are eligible for damages. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
