If you get in a car accident in California, your first step should be to seek medical treatment for any injuries that have occurred. You must also report the accident to the police to ensure all details of the wreck are properly recorded in a police report. After you’ve begun recovering from your injuries, then you can assess your damages and take legal action against the liable party.
A car accident lawsuit in California works similarly to other states that have fault insurance laws. When you get in a wreck, you’re allowed to sue the liable party for your damages as long as you can prove that they were negligent. An Orange County car accident lawyer from Dickson Kohan & Bablove LLP can guide you through each step of the legal process as you fight to recover a settlement.
Gather Evidence Immediately
As soon as you’ve sought medical treatment and begun recovering from your injuries, your lawyer will help you gather evidence and put together a case against the at-fault party.
Any relevant records you accumulate should be kept together, including medical documents, police reports, witness testimonies, and photographs. Even if you don’t think the information will be helpful later, it’s better to keep these records just in case.
How to Handle Your Insurance Company
There’s likely a clause in your insurance policy stating that you must report every accident you’re involved in to your insurance company.
Even if you weren’t at fault for causing the accident, you may need to still give your insurance company a statement. If your insurance company calls you and asks you to record a statement, you do have the right to postpone this call until you’ve talked to a lawyer. Once you record a statement, there’s no way to take back what you’ve said, so it’s better to wait and get your thoughts in order.
Taking Legal Action Against the Liable Party
After investigating your accident and gathering sufficient evidence against the liable party in your wreck, you can officially take legal action and feel confident about going to court with your claim. You’ll need to send a demand letter to the defendant in your case explaining why you’re suing them and how much money you hope to recover. The defendant will either accept or counter your offer.
Negotiations will take place and, if a settlement can’t be decided, your lawsuit will go to court where a judge will determine a proper settlement. A car accident lawyer in Orange County will negotiate on your behalf and explain to the judge and jury why you deserve the maximum compensation.
Reach Out to an Orange County Car Accident Attorney
No one deserves to be injured in a car wreck because of someone else’s negligence. At Dickson Kohan & Bablove LLP, we strive to help injured victims seek justice after their accidents and recover quicker by easing their financial stress. If you’d like to speak with an Orange County car accident lawyer about your case, call 1-844-404-2400 to schedule a free consultation or visit our website for more information.
