Maison Law represents people who are hurt in Carmel car accidents due to another driver’s mistake.
Our personal injury lawyers aggressively seek compensation for our clients from car insurance companies.
Please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation for all local injury victims. It’s a no-risk opportunity to find out what your injury may be worth and how to hold insurance companies fully responsible for recovery costs.
Carmel Car Accident Claims Process
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Car Accident Case?
A scary collision on a local road might leave you with some fender damage and perhaps a few bruises. If your injuries aren’t too serious, you may not need the help of a lawyer. But if a reckless driver leaves you with serious injuries like head trauma or a broken bone, it becomes much more important to have a Carmel Car Accident Lawyer on your case.
The higher your medical bills go, the more an auto insurer will fight to avoid being forced to pay those invoices. They can cast doubt on what a police accident report says and try to blame you. Your Maison Law lawyer is your defense against these unfair strategies. Your lawyer gathers all evidence and uses it to build a strong case that insurance adjusters can’t deny. Your lawyer then demands the most for your injury possible and rejects settlement offers that don’t meet your needs.
Car Accident Dangers in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel traffic is made up of locals and a constant stream of tourists who come for the amazing beauty of our area. All those drivers who are unfamiliar with local roads can cause chaos at intersections and along popular routes like Highway 1.
That’s combined with the traffic from local farms and delivery companies that puts large semi-trucks and vans on our narrow streets. A collision with a big rig could leave car occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians at extreme risk.
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) tracks accidents across Monterey County each year. They documented 1,704 traffic accidents involving injuries in 2023. Those crashes tragically left 38 fatalities in their wake. Highway 1 was the scene of 137 of those serious accidents in 2023, and the elevated traffic caused at least 9 of the deaths recorded across the county.
Once a reckless driver makes a mistake that causes a collision, injured victims and grieving families should never face the costs of another driver’s mistake alone. A Maison Law car accident lawyer is a safeguard for victims to make sure they receive fair treatment and every benefit available to them from unhelpful insurance companies.
What Are The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Carmel?
While there are fewer drivers in this resort town, things can get pretty busy during the summer.
Drivers face the same distractions and poor decision-making skills as motorists in any other California city. Here are some common causes of motor vehicle accidents in and around Carmel-by-the Sea:
- Distracted driving like talking on a phone, texting, or using a navigational device when driving.
- Failure to stop at a stop sign or red light. This is a common problem at busy intersections like Junipero Street and Ocean Avenue or any street downtown that also features a lot of foot traffic.
- Following a vehicle ahead too closely and causing a rear-end collision.
- Unsafe passing or illegal lane usage that leads to a head-on accident.
- Driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Carmel Car Accident?
After an accident along a busy street downtown Carmel Street or a rural Monterey County highway, there are steps to take to make sure you have proof of what happened.
On the scene, right after a collision, you’ll find the best evidence. You’ll need this evidence when you file a claim against unhelpful insurance companies. They’ll attempt to say that you were to blame for what happened and cast doubt on how badly you are hurt.
So, if you are well enough, try to gather certain details on the scene of your traffic collision:
- Dial 911 no matter how minor you think the accident and your injuries are. Give a full report to Carmel Police or the California Highway Patrol. Allow paramedics to check you over and go to the emergency room if necessary.
- Use your cellphone to snap pictures. Take photos of the damage to all vehicles. Show relevant traffic signs and lane markings. Get pics of any visible injuries.
- Get driver’s license and insurance information from everyone involved. Don’t offer your opinion on who caused the crash or how bad your injuries are. These statements can be used against you later.
- Talk to all witnesses. Get their contact information. Your lawyer will be seeking testimony from these witnesses to strengthen your case.
- Note any security cameras nearby. Business security cameras or doorbell cams on homes may have recorded the accident.
- Alert your own car insurance company.
- Get checked out by your physician. Pay special attention to any injuries that appear in the days after an accident. Follow your doctor’s orders and see specialists if you are instructed to do so.
- Contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will also fully investigate the accident and combine the evidence with your own. Your lawyer will secure any surveillance footage, interview witnesses, and employ accident reconstruction teams if necessary. Then these factors are collected into a powerful case that car insurance adjusters will have a hard time rejecting.
What Our Clients Say
How Much Is My Car Accident Injury Worth?
A serious auto accident injury can leave someone to heal in a room at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula for days or weeks. Victims with traumatic injuries may have to be flown to the Bay Area for more intensive care.
Injured victims will wonder how much they should be demanding from a car insurance company to help pay the enormous bills to follow. They could also be struggling to stay current on normal monthly bills while losing paychecks at work as they miss shifts due to injury.
It’s hard to put an exact number on your injury claim until a skilled personal injury lawyer has investigated your case and your injury. Each case is different and everyone heals differently.
Several factors play into most car accident injury claims. You’d be listing these and other damages in order to have them considered when determining the size of a car accident settlement check:
- Totals on Medical Bills (Past and Future)
- Long Term Support for a Physical Disability
- Property Damage Totals (car/SUV/motorcycle/bike)
- Travel Costs
- Lost Income and Benefits at Work
- Pain and Suffering Including Emotional Trauma
- Loss of Quality of Life
- Policy Limits of At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Coverage
- Wrongful Death Benefits for the Families of Victims
You may still be able to seek support. You are able to file a claim on your own uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage is included with most car insurance policies unless you request in writing for it to be taken off.
You can still afford the protection of a Maison Law attorney. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the insurance settlement check you receive from an insurance company.
Two Years. California allows accident victims to wait up to 24 months to file an injury claim against an at-fault driver’s car insurance provider. Waiting beyond this deadline usually means the case will be thrown out.
Contact a Carmel Car Accident Attorney
Contact Maison Law to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an actual Carmel car accident lawyer. We want to hear what happened to you. We’re going to answer your questions and make sure you are fully aware of the insurance tactics you’ll face. These shady practices are meant to limit the money you receive. Avoiding these pitfalls will be key to earning what you’ll need to rebuild your life.
Maison Law serves all victims in Monterey County and makes sure they aren’t taken advantage of by insurance adjusters. We seek to get the maximum in compensation available for victims and their families.
