Maison Law answers questions about the legal process following a car accident in California. For many injury victims, their main question involves how much they can recover in financial support–also known as compensation. While every car accident is different, the need for this financial support is very important for any recovery. We can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
How Much Compensation Can You Get After a Car Accident in California?
While many car accidents happen for similar reasons, every single car accident is different. This is also true when it comes to the legal process. Every claim is different, being based on what actually happened. This also goes for what compensation you can get when you do file a claim. Most of the time, it’s going to depend on the following markers:
- How hurt you are – How badly you’re hurt plays a huge role in the value of your claim. The more serious the injuries, the higher the potential financial support. It’s vital to get medical attention immediately and keep detailed records of your treatment and expenses to tie everything together.
- How traumatic it was – It’s not just about your physical injuries, car accidents can also leave deep emotional scars. If you experience trauma, emotional distress, or mental suffering, you may be able to recover support for these damages. Keeping track of therapy sessions and documenting your emotional state can strengthen this part of your claim.
- How it’s impacted your quality of life – A car accident might impact your ability to enjoy life as you did before or damage personal relationships. This reduced quality of life is often factored into claims, and a professional therapist can give helpful records and testimony to show this impact.
- How your work life is impacted – If the accident forces you to miss work or leaves you permanently disabled, you can get compensation for lost wages or future income loss. This is especially important if you have long-term injuries.
- How much fault you have – If you share any fault for the accident, your financial recovery might be reduced. This is called “comparative negligence.”
While these factors can shift between each claim, one thing that doesn’t shift is the statute of limitations. You have to file your claim within two years of the date of the accident to get damages at all.
What Can You Do to Strengthen a Car Accident Claim?
It’s not just about filing a claim and recovering financial support in damages after a car accident. You have to actually put together a strong claim and show the extent of your damages. This means taking certain steps right after the accident happens:
- Check for injuries and call 911 – Your health is the top priority. Assess any injuries and call for emergency help if needed. Let EMTs evaluate you when they arrive.
- Report the accident – Contact the local police or California Highway Patrol (CHP) to report the accident, especially if there are injuries or significant damage.
- Exchange important details – Make sure to swap names, phone numbers, and insurance details with the other driver(s) involved. If they flee the scene or you don’t feel comfortable, you can ask the police for help.
- Document the scene – Take photos of the vehicles, damage, and any relevant signs or signals at the scene.
- Get more medical care – Even if you get care from EMTs at the scene, get checked out by a doctor. Some injuries can take time to appear, and having medical documentation is important for your claim.
- Be careful making statements – Be careful about what you say to others involved in the accident or their insurance representatives.
- Keep all records – Save medical bills, repair estimates, and any other documents related to the accident. Hold off on repairing your car or other property until it’s been properly documented.
If you’re unable to take all these steps due to serious injuries, don’t worry. Our team can step in to make sure your claim for compensation is as strong as possible, guiding you through the process every step of the way.
What’s the Process For Recovering Compensation After a Car Accident in California?
Having legal options after a car accident doesn’t necessarily make the process easy. Every case is different, and the steps needed to secure financial support vary. However, knowing the general process can give you an idea of what to expect and the types of claims you can make.
You typically have two main options: filing an insurance claim or pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
- Insurance claim – After an accident, you’ll file a claim with the other person’s insurance company or your own. An adjuster will then review it and offer a settlement. While this is usually faster and cheaper, negotiations can drag out, and the offer might be too low to cover everything.
- Lawsuit – If the insurance settlement isn’t enough (which happens often), you can file a personal injury lawsuit and go to court. This takes more time but can lead to higher compensation. Our team will handle most of the legal work for you.
The goal of any car accident claim is to get the financial support that’s available to you under California law. Known as “damages,” these include compensation for injuries and losses. But again, it depends on the circumstances and how strong your claim is. Generally, though, you can recover:
- Medical bills
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life or companionship
- Funeral expenses if the accident was fatal
These types of damages may be available to you, but they’re not automatically granted. To recover them, you’ll need to present a strong case, which is why taking the right steps after an accident is so important, as well as having our team’s guidance and support.
Rely on Maison Law After a Car Accident in California
Being hurt in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence is incredibly frustrating and challenging. Injuries can turn your life upside down, but the legal process is there to make sure you are compensated. But having the right legal guidance and support is just as important. At Maison Law, you can rely on our team of car accident lawyers. We’ll guide you through the process and make sure you get what you’re owed. Contact us today for a free consultation.
