Ridgecrest residents can hit the road each morning and evening without realizing the dangers that can pop up along busy routes like Business 395 and Norma Street. Mostly, they have to watch out for the reckless actions of other drivers. Another driver’s decision to glance at a cell phone or to go well over the speed limit can force you and your family into a frightening crash.
The Ridgecrest car accident lawyers at Maison Law help victims of careless drivers get the support they need in recovery. Contact us to set up a free consultation about your case. There’s no obligation for your consultation, but if you decide we can help you get the most out of your injury claim, you won’t need any upfront money. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement you are awarded.
Car Accident Dangers in Ridgecrest
Driving in high-traffic areas of Ridgecrest, you probably see several mistakes made by motorists each day. If you are a cautious driver, you can often steer clear of these errors in judgment. A driver on Highway 178 may switch lanes without checking mirrors and blind spots. A driver may be distracted by a phone call while trying to make a left turn off of Bowman Road. The driver could turn right in front of you, leaving only seconds to avoid an impact.
You and your family can be put at risk by large farm vehicles and big rigs that travel Ridgecrest roads. Amazon and FedEx trucks zipping carelessly zipping in and out of our neighborhoods are another obstacle to safe travel.
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) tracks accidents across Kern County each year. They documented 69 traffic accidents involving injury in Ridgecrest in 2022. That was only down slightly from the 77 serious accidents recorded in 2021.
For a small city, Ridgecrest sees plenty of fender benders and also a lot of major accidents involving life-threatening harm to drivers and passengers. These victims need the best medical care available and they need the support necessary to pay for every hospital bill they receive. A Ridgecrest car accident lawyer helps victims hold an at-fault driver’s auto insurance provider fully responsible for these costs and others.
What to Do After a Ridgecrest Car Accident?
First, make sure that there’s medical help on the way if you or someone else appears to have been injured in the car collision. Call 911.
Then, once the scene is secure and safe if you feel strong enough, you should try to collect valuable evidence. This evidence can disappear forever once a car accident is cleaned up and cleared. If you must go to the emergency room, ask someone with you or a helpful witness to gather details for you.
Do your best to collect this information:
- Give a full report to Ridgecrest police or the California Highway Patrol. Make sure to tell them if you saw the other driver behaving carelessly or recklessly.
- Take photos. Document the scene. Show lane markings and traffic signs and the damage to the vehicles involved. Take photos of any injuries that are visible and any damage to clothing.
- Get contact information from witnesses.
- Check the area for the possibility of surveillance cams on local businesses or around the front doors of homes. Jot down the addresses.
- Don’t talk about fault or how badly you are hurt with the other drivers involved. You likely won’t know the answer to either question until days later. Any speculation you offer could be used by insurance companies to hurt your case down the road.
- Schedule an appointment with your own doctor, even if you’ve already been to the emergency room. Sometimes you won’t know you’re injured until the day after an accident when pain suddenly appears. Follow the doctor’s orders and see recommended specialists. Attend physical therapy if it’s prescribed.
- Keep any damaged clothing and personal items. Don’t throw evidence out.
Allow Your Ridgecrest Car Accident Attorney to Investigate Your Case
You will turn this evidence over to your Maison Law car accident attorney so your lawyer can begin constructing a strong case for you. Your Lawyer also fully investigates your case, gets testimony from witnesses, and collects medical evidence of how badly you’ve been hurt.
This evidence is critical when car insurance companies try to limit the support you receive or even attempt to offer you no support at all. A car insurance adjuster can try to shift blame in an accident to you, simply to avoid having to pay you. They can also question the severity of your injury and only offer to pay for an emergency room visit when you or a loved one might need weeks or months of expensive medical care.
Lawyers use the past experiences they’ve had with dealing with insurance companies to identify when an insurer is making you a “lowball” offer that won’t cover all of your costs. Your Ridgecrest car accident lawyer would be rejecting that settlement on your behalf and demanding more.
How Much Is My Car Accident Injury Worth?
A serious auto accident injury can sideline someone for weeks or longer causing them to, understandably, be anxious about their physical and financial wellbeing.
Injured victims will wonder how much they should be demanding from a car insurance company to pay their hospital bills. 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 Ridgecrest 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file an injury claim after a Ridgecrest accident?
The statute of limitations on your car crash injury is two years. If you wait longer to file a claim with an insurance company, the insurer is usually allowed to reject it. Your recovery bills will be yours to pay.
Can I get injury support if I’m struck by an uninsured driver in Ridgecrest?
Yes. You’ll be filing an accident claim against your own car insurance provider. You’d use your uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage isn’t mandatory to have in California, but most insurers include it unless you reject it in writing.
Can I get injury compensation if I’m struck by a hit-and-run driver who is never identified?
Yes. You would file a claim on your uninsured motorist coverage. You could receive money to help pay all of your medical bills even if a hit-and-run suspect is never found.
What if I can’t afford to pay a Ridgecrest car accident lawyer?
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 settlement check you receive.
Contact a Ridgecrest Car Accident Lawyer
Contact Maison Law to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an actual Ridgecrest 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’s fair for your car accident injury claim.
Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, has worked for major corporations and dealt with some of the biggest insurers in the world. He now uses his inside knowledge to make sure Kern County victims aren’t taken advantage of by corporate lawyers and insurance adjusters.
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