Maison Law supports victims who have suffered broken bones in car accidents in Redding. If you or a loved one is suffering from broken bones due to the careless actions of another driver or a hazardous condition on the road, the Car Accident Lawyers at Maison Law are here to help you get the compensation you need to get your life back on track.
If you need financial compensation for medical bills, property damage, or for missed time at work, then contact us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Broken Bone Injury?
If you are involved in a car accident and you suffer a broken bone, it is advisable to seek the counsel of one of our Car Accident Attorneys at Maison Law. Broken bones usually involve excessive and ongoing medical treatment, such as surgery and physical therapy. This alone can be extremely costly for any car accident victim. Fortunately, that’s where our lawyers can help.
One of the initial steps of recovering compensation from your accident will be to prove the other driver breached their duty of care toward you, which led to your broken. Our attorneys will thoroughly go over the details of your case and help you prove this by conducting a formal investigation. A typical investigation includes collecting evidence such as:
- Police accident reports
- Taking witness statements
- Retrieving traffic footage
- Collecting camera footage from surrounding businesses or neighborhoods where the accident occurred
- Obtaining past and current medical records
It is also recommended to contact Maison Law if:
- There were serious injuries: You will need compensation to cover your current and future medical bills if you’ve suffered serious injuries. An attorney can ensure both.
- Wrongful death: If a loved one has passed away due to the accident you will need compensation for funeral expenses and damages related to the untimely loss.
- Fault: If you are blamed for the accident, but are not at fault, an attorney can protect and assign liability to the at-fault parties. Also, an attorney can reduce liability if you are liable to some extent.
- Multiple parties involved: Multiple parties make cases complex. An attorney can manage your case while protecting your best interests and right to compensation from all liable parties.
- False police report: If a police report places blame on you, and you disagree, an attorney will gather evidence to support your claim.
Steps You Should Take After a Car Accident in Redding
A car accident can be life-altering, which is why it is important to make sure you take the necessary steps to get your life back on track. At Maison Law, we can handle your case for you, so you don’t have to worry about being taken advantage of by the insurance company or missing out on compensation you may need for current and future medical procedures. We recommend taking the following steps to ensure you have a strong case:
- Collect Medical Records: Even if your injuries seem minor, they can manifest into something much worse weeks later. So, it is recommended to check in with a doctor and get a record of your injury. An MRI or an X-ray can reveal substantial damage that you might not be aware of. These documents will be essential to building a strong case.
- Get a Police Report: Failing to alert the police does not help your case, especially if the case comes down to your word over the person responsible for your injuries. A police officer will file an accident report and may even assign blame based on their assessment. A police report is critical evidence in any claim and will play a key role in ensuring you are fully compensated.
- Gather Evidence: You should document the accident as thoroughly as possible. Take pictures of the property where the accident occurred. Take a video of yourself recounting the accident while it is still fresh in your mind.
- Collect Eye Witness Statements: if there are any eyewitnesses, try and get a statement from them. Or, at least, get their names and numbers, as they can testify on your behalf or provide a statement to corroborate your story later.
- Collect General Information: Exchange insurance information with the party responsible for your injuries, and be sure to get their name, phone number, and contact information.
- Contact Maison Law: Our firm is standing by to help car accident victims in Redding, physically and financially recover. Call, text, or email. Our door is always open to the community, and we’d love to help you through this difficult time.
What Info is Needed During a Law Firm’s Intake Process?
The intake process usually starts off with a questionnaire to assess the merits of the case. This questionnaire will provide the law firm with key information to help determine if a case is worth pursuing or not. However, if you’d like to speak directly to an attorney, you can usually setup a brief meeting to discuss the details of your situation prior to answering a questionnaire. The following data is what potential clients will need to begin the intake process with a law firm:
- Employment details: current or former employer, job title, dates of employment, and compensation information.
- Nature of the complaint: type of carelessness that led to your injury (premise liability, car accident, defective equipment)
- Timeline of events: dates of key incidents, formal complaints filed, relevant communications with employer
- Witnesses: names and contact information of potential witnesses to the alleged misconduct
- Documentation: list of relevant documents (x-rays, MRIs, doctor’s diagnosis, physical therapy appointments, workers’ compensation forms)
- Prior legal action: if you’ve filed previous personal injury claims, then the details of your previous case may be relevant to your new case
- Medical information: details about your medical diagnosis and treatment plan
- Social media presence: your injury may be documented online, as well as you discussing the details of your personal injury
Driver’s Rights to Recover Compensation After Being Injured in a Car Accident
California State Law has set the framework for protecting injured drivers and determining fault after a car accident in Redding, especially if you suffered a broken leg as a result of another driver’s carelessness. California Laws implemented to protect the rights of injured drivers include:
- Comparative Negligence Law: This law allows an injured party who shares fault for their injuries to receive compensation. Comparative negligence determines liability, assigning a percentage of fault to all parties involved.
- California Law mandates that all drivers carry minimum liability insurance to cover damages in the event of an accident.
- California Civil Code 335.1: This law gives car accident victims two years from the day of their accident to file a personal injury claim to pursue compensation for damages.
- California Vehicle Code 20008: Drivers are required to report a car accident to police within 24 hours of being in an accident. Even if you were not at fault, you are required to report the accident to the police.
- Distracted Driving Law: Using your cell phone or similar electronic communication device while driving in California is illegal. Only hands-free communication is permitted while driving. If your accident was caused by a distracted driver, then you’ll have a strong case to recover necessary damages.
If you have any questions about your legal right to compensation after a car accident, please don’t hesitate to contact Maison Law today for a free case review.
Factors That Influence Settlement Negotiations for a Broken Leg
Factors to consider when calculating a broken leg injury settlement are:
- Liability: the degree to which the defendant is found responsible for the injury can add value to your settlement. The more reckless the defendant’s actions usually result in a higher settlement.
- Insurance coverage: the defendant’s insurance policy limits can cap the maximum settlement amount. If the defendant has an insufficient insurance policy, then alternate means of compensation will have to be pursued.
- Legal representation: the expertise and negotiation skills of a Personal Injury Attorney will impact the outcome of your case.
- Contributory negligence: California is a comparative negligence state, meaning either party can be found 1% – 99% at fault for the incident. This can potentially lower your settlement based on your percentage of fault.
- Nature and extent of Injury: the cost of all reasonably necessary medical treatment and the estimated cost of future medical treatment are essential to the value of a case.
- Objective findings for physical pain: pain is a subjective thing, so, objective evidence is needed to support it in a personal injury case. This is usually presented in the form of X-rays and MRIs.
- Medical history of the victim: the prior medical history of the plaintiff comes into play if they were injured in the same area where they already have a medical history of issues. Under California, the negligent party is not responsible for prior injuries unless they were made worse by the incident.
- Plaintiff’s age: the age of the victim comes into play if the injury may have been a result of “degenerative changes” rather than the careless act, or hazardous condition.
- The occupation of the victim: the amount the injured victim was making and the amount they can no longer make due to their injuries plays a large role in determining their settlement.
How Settlement Negotiations Begin
In most personal injury cases, such as a broken bone injury, the negotiation process begins with a demand letter. A demand letter is normally written by an attorney and includes:
- The time, date, and location of the accident
- The name of the person/company/government entity at fault, along with their contact information (if applicable)
- Details of the injuries you’ve sustained directly from the accident
- Summary of damages incurred, which include medical bills, lost wages, and non-economic damages
- Supporting documents, which may include X-rays, MRIs, and other photos or videos of the accident if you have them
After a demand letter is sent, negotiation can begin. At the beginning of negotiations, either party will make an initial settlement offer. If your initial settlement offer is low, do not be surprised. The first settlement offer is intentionally low and it is recommended to never take the first offer. If you do end up accepting a settlement offer, it is important to note you will be giving up your right to pursue additional damages and claims against all parties involved in your accident.
Contact Maison Law | Redding Car Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the carelessness of another driver in Redding, the Car Accident attorneys at Maison Law can help. We understand how to deal with insurance companies and protect your right to fair compensation. If liability is a question, then we will provide you with a custom legal plan of action to minimize your fault or remove it from your case entirely.
See what legal options are available to you by contacting Maison Law today for a free consultation and case review.