Orange County Car Accident Lawyer

Getting around in Orange County usually means driving, but that also means the risk of car accidents, no matter how careful you are. According to 2022 data from California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Record System (SWIRTS), Orange County saw: 

• 933 car accidents that caused serious injuries or fatalities.
• In 2021, there were 971 car accidents that caused serious injuries or fatalities.
  
  

No matter what kind of car accident you’re involved in, the damages can be expensive. On top of that, there’s the emotional and physical trauma that comes with a car accident, which can lead to significant medical bills and other expenses. It’s even possible to suffer life-changing injuries or lose a loved one.

Dedicated Orange County Car Accident Lawyers

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, the dedicated and experienced Orange County car accident lawyers at Maison Law are here to help.

We’re experienced in holding responsible parties accountable and ensuring our clients receive full and fair compensation. If you’ve been in a car accident anywhere in Orange County, contact us today for a free consultation to start the process.

What Kind of Orange County Car Accidents Could You Be Involved In?

Throughout Orange County, there are a variety of different types of car accidents that you could find yourself involved in. While each accident is unique, we have seen and handled several common types of accidents in our years of practice assisting car accident victims in Orange County. These include:

• Single-vehicle accidents, when a car crashes without colliding with another vehicle.
• Multi-vehicle accidents where multiple vehicles and often resulting in complex liability issues.
• Sideswipes, when the side of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle, usually while both vehicles are moving in the same direction.
• Rear-end collisions, when a car crashes into the back of another car.
• Commercial truck accidents where large trucks or commercial vehicles are involved.
• Bus accidents where buses are involved. These also involve many passengers and have unique liability considerations.
• Rideshare accidents, which involve vehicles used for ridesharing services like Uber or Lyft.
• Pedestrian accidents, where a vehicle strikes a pedestrian.
  
  

No matter the type of car accident you experience, it’s highly likely that you will sustain some injuries. Some types of accidents may lead to more severe injuries than others. Not only that, but our firm has seen many different causes of accidents. When trying to explore your options, it’s very important to understand these causes and who–or what–is responsible.

Common Causes and Injuries in Orange County Car Accidents

Car accidents in Orange County can be frustrating because they happen frequently and can be caused by various factors. When you’re driving, you have to make quick decisions that affect not only yourself but also your passengers and other drivers on the road. Similarly, other drivers are making these decisions, and if they choose to act negligently, it can lead to a car accident. Here is a look at some of the more common causes of car accidents in Orange County:

• Driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs
• Being distracted while driving or texting and driving
• Driving too fast, above the speed limit
• Driving recklessly, putting others at risk
• Driving while feeling very tired or drowsy
• Not obeying traffic laws and rules
  
  

These behaviors are not only common causes of car accidents but can also result in different types of accidents, any of which can cause serious injuries to you or your passengers. Some of the more common injuries that occur throughout Orange County car accidents can include:

• Whiplash (neck injury)
• Fractured or broken bones
• Ligament tears
• Head, neck, and shoulder injuries
• Cuts and lacerations
• Strains in the back
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
• Burn injuries
• Loss of limbs
  
  

Injuries are a significant result of car accidents and can have a major impact on your claim. It is crucial to determine who is at fault for the accident to more fully pursue your legal options after your injury.

Who is Liable For My Injuries in an Orange County Car Accident?

The key to determining who is responsible for your injuries in your Orange County car accident is to figure out who acted negligently. Our team can help you determine which damages you are entitled to. Even though every case is unique, there are certain elements that you will have to prove in order to win your case.  Basically, you will have to show the judge and jury that the other person’s negligence caused the accident.  In general, negligence has four elements that must be proven:

• The other driver or party had a responsibility to drive safely and not harm others.
• The other driver or party breached this duty.
• Their failure caused the accident.
• The accident resulted in your injuries and other damages.
  
  

With that established, you can have a better idea of who is responsible for your injuries and damages. With that said, liability can be spread across a number of different people depending on the nature of the accident–and some of the responsibility can even fall on you.  Generally speaking, any of the following parties can be liable in an Orange County car accident claim:

• Other drivers
• Owners of the vehicle
• Vehicle or parts manufacturers
• Government agencies
• Employers
• Repair shops or mechanics
  
  

Insurance Claim Process

The first step after figuring out who is responsible is to file an insurance claim with their company. From there the assigned insurance adjuster may accept the claim as-is, make a counteroffer, or reject the claim.  However, once the claim is assigned to an adjuster, they will have the full resources of the company at their disposal, including beginning their own evidence-gathering process. While every claim is different, there are some benefits to negotiating with the insurance company before filing a lawsuit:

• You can save money by not having court costs and reducing attorney’s fees
• You are more likely to receive compensation in a shorter time frame.
• There is less paperwork and time-consuming processes to deal with.
• You gain a clearer understanding of the value of your claim.
  
  

However, there are a few drawbacks to settling your case out of court:

• An insurance company is very likely going to drag the claim out, leaving you in a poor financial situation.
• The insurance company is the sole arbiter of how much your claim is worth.
• The settlement offer may not cover all of your damages.
  
  

When you’re trying to focus on recovery, dealing with the insurance company is the last thing you want to worry about. Our Orange County car accident lawyers won’t let you face navigating your recovery and filing a claim for damages alone.

What Damages Can You Recover From an Orange County Car Accident?

There’s no requirement that you have to accept the insurance company’s settlement offer. Often, their strategy is to lowball you with an initial offer hoping you’ll accept it. However, with the help of our dedicated Orange County car accident lawyers, you may be able to collect compensation in the form of damages from your car accident.

These damages are taken into account when the insurance company makes a settlement offer, but you can also pursue them by filing a lawsuit. In general, a car accident claim can involve the following damages:

• Medical expenses related to the accident
• Lost wages
• Loss of future income if you have permanent injuries
• Costs for repairing your vehicle or other damaged property
• Pain and suffering
• Psychological trauma from the accident
• Reduced quality of life
• Scarring or disfigurement
  
  

Keep in mind that these damages are general, and the specific amount you can recover depends on the facts and circumstances of your case.

Another important point is that California car accident law follows “comparative negligence,” meaning that your potential compensation is reduced based on your percentage of fault in the accident. Additionally, there is a two-year time limit (statute of limitations) for filing injury claims in California. What this means is you have two years from the date the accident occurred to file your lawsuit.

Contact Maison Law As Soon As Possible

Being involved in a car accident in Orange County is unfortunate and can sometimes be tragic. Not only that, but it can be overwhelming for you and your family to cope with injuries and other losses.

During this challenging time, it’s crucial to reach out to our team of experienced and knowledgeable Orange County car accident lawyers at Maison Law. We are here to offer you the support and guidance you need to get the treatment and benefits you deserve. To get started, contact us as soon as possible to set up your free consultation and find out more about how we can assist you.