The Ultimate San Francisco Bay Area Car Accident Guide

The Ultimate San Francisco Bay Area Car Accident Guide Is A Helpful Resource For Car Accident Victims

It happens in a split second, you are involved in a car crash, and suddenly your life changes dramatically. You or a loved one may have sustained serious injuries in the accident, loss of income from missed work, substantial damage to your vehicle, not to mention mounting medical bills from a car crash. A car accident can be life changing, and in some cases, car accidents can even be fatal.

Understanding and navigating the insurance claims process, and complex California personal injury laws are difficult for most people. This guide is designed to be a helpful resource for Bay Area car accident victims. Read on to learn the steps to take to protect your legal rights and maximize your financial recovery for your injuries and property damage. Making the right choices may help you obtain the best outcome possible.

The Golden State of California is an incredibly beautiful and scenic place for a drive, but unfortunately, California’s roads have become more dangerous for drivers. According to California Highway Patrol’s 2019 Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle And Traffic Collisions, during 2019 there were:

• 187,211 Motor Vehicle Injury Crashes
• 269,031 Persons Were Injured
• 3,438 Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes
• 3,737 Persons Were Killed in Motor Vehicle Accidents

This comprehensive Bay Area car accident guide will answer many frequently asked questions and provide some useful information for handling your personal injury and property damage claims.

What should I do after a car accident?

After you are involved in a car accident you may be traumatized and confused. However, there are things which you should do to protect your legal rights and maximize your financial recovery, and things which you should not do as they may be harmful to your car accident claim or personal injury case. Your three immediate priorities after a motor vehicle accident are:

• Dial 911 and summon the Police and Paramedics to the accident scene
• Seek medical assistance from Paramedics on scene, and immediately afterwards at a Hospital Emergency Room
• Hire a skilled Car Accident Lawyer to advise you and to position your case for the best possible outcome

A list of the 9 steps that you should take after a car accident:

Do:

• Do remain at the accident scene. California law requires drivers to remain on the scene of an accident.
• Do dial 911 to summon the Police and Paramedics to the accident scene and get a Traffic Collision Report. Remain at the accident scene and try to be as calm and focused as possible.
• Do make sure to record all contact information and insurance information for the other parties involved in the accident and any witnesses who saw the accident occur.
• Do take extensive photographs of the vehicles, the accident scene, and your injuries. A video may also be helpful. Photographs can help your attorney prove your claim.
• Do seek emergency medical treatment at the accident scene or immediately afterward at a hospital emergency room, even if you don’t think you were injured in the accident. Your injuries may not yet be immediately apparent, but they will be within the next couple of days. It is thus best to seek an immediate medical evaluation right after being involved in a car accident. Seeking immediate medical treatment is necessary and will help support any personal injury claim that you may wish to assert as a result of the car accident.
• Do hire a qualified Car Accident Lawyer to represent you. To protect your legal rights and your financial best interest, it is important hire an experienced car accident lawyer with knowledge of California car accident and personal injury law.
• Do document all physical and emotional after-effects of the accident in a daily journal. Make sure to make and then go to all follow up medical appointments. Follow through with any prescribed medical treatments and medications. Document your injuries, symptoms, and pain and suffering. This documentation will be instrumental to your personal injury case.
• Do refer all insurance company phone calls and communications from insurance adjusters directly to your car accident lawyer.
• Do have your vehicle towed to a State licensed repair shop for inspection, and an estimate of the repair cost.

The 8 steps that should be avoided after a car accident:

Do Not:

• Do not discuss the accident with the other party or parties involved in the accident, or make any statements about the accident, except to the Police and your car accident lawyer.
• Do not admit fault. Car accident fault is complex, and sometimes a Court is necessary to determine the fault in a car accident case. You may not be at fault for the accident even if you initially think you are at fault. Never admit fault in a car accident. Doing so can damage your insurance claim. Let the accident investigators, insurers, and your car accident lawyer determine fault.
• Do not talk to the other driver’s insurance company (or give a recorded statement to your own insurance company) or the other party involved in the accident.
• Do not make any statements to any insurance company unless your car accident lawyer has agreed to it and is present. Refer all insurance company inquiries directly to your car accident lawyer.
• Do not discard damaged property such as a motorcycle helmet, bicycle, ripped or bloodied clothing, broken eyeglasses, or other damaged personal items. These items are key evidence that support your personal injury, property damage claim, and may be useful in determining who is at fault.
• Do not provide a recorded statement to any insurance company, even your own. You are not legally obligated to provide a recorded statement and should not do so without your car accident lawyer present.
• Do not speak with any insurance adjuster or other insurance company representatives. An insurance adjuster may be friendly but is certainly not your friend. Their job is to look after the insurance company’s bottom line and pay as little money as possible to settle your car accident claim. Refer all insurance adjusters directly to your car accident lawyer.
• Do not post or blog any information about the car accident or your injuries on any social media platform. Any written statements you make can be twisted or misconstrued by the insurance company and could damage your personal injury claim.

How do I know if I have a personal injury claim?

If you were injured in the car accident, and you were not at fault, or if you were only partially at fault, you likely have a valid personal injury claim. You will need to discuss the specifics of your case with a car accident lawyer who can determine the validity and estimated value of your case.

How a Car Accident Lawyer can help with your Car Accident Claim

An insurance settlement or monetary damages from a claim or lawsuit can help to offset the financial toll of a car accident and compensate you for your pain and suffering, however the process of recovering this compensation is not easy. This is one of the most valuable ways that a car accident attorney can help you. By taking over the insurance claim, settlement negotiations, and any litigation, your attorney will expertly handle the entire car accident claim and legal process so you can focus your time and energy on recovering from your injuries.

Gathering evidence, identifying your damages, and substantiating them, will help build a solid case so you obtain the most advantageous outcome possible. However, keep in mind that if you do not reach a settlement with the insurance company, your case will require a lawsuit before your statutory claim deadline runs out. While 95% of car accident cases settle without a court trial, the insurance company and their lawyers will attempt to build a strong defense against any claims that you’ve made. Representing yourself in an insurance claim or lawsuit is always ill-advised. Having an expert car accident lawyer fighting for you gives you the best chance for optimal financial recovery from your car accident claim. An Insurance Industry study found that individuals who are represented by a lawyer receive on average a settlement which is three (3) times more than those individuals who are self-represented. 

When should you hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

While California has a two (2) year statute of limitations for filing a car accident injury claim, from a practical perspective obtaining legal representation right after a car accident has occurred will provide you with the best opportunity for a successful resolution of your claim. Hiring a car accident lawyer immediately after your accident will give you the best chance of maximizing your financial compensation for any personal injury and property damages you have sustained in the car accident.

How do I choose a Car Accident Lawyer?

Hiring a car accident lawyer to advocate on your behalf will level the playing field, and help you recover just and proper compensation for your injuries and property damage.

Many people might think that the decision to hire a lawyer after a car accident is an easy one but picking the best personal injury attorney requires careful thought. There are certain things you will always want to look for when evaluating personal injury law firms and car accident attorneys. First, consider their experience. You will want to look at not just how much legal experience they have but also what type of cases and law they’ve practiced within that time frame. For example, San Francisco based Hassell Law Group exclusively practices personal injury law, and their attorneys have over 85 years of combined legal experience. Experience matters when dealing with billion-dollar insurance companies. Choosing the right car accident lawyer can dramatically increase your chances of a successful outcome and substantial compensation for your auto accident injury claim.

In addition to experience, you should also consider their success rate and whether or not the attorney has taken cases to trial. Settlements are a reasonable option in most car accident cases, but litigation and even a trial is sometimes necessary to obtain fair compensation for auto accident victims. You will want someone highly experienced with litigation and trial and well-versed in how to win cases in that arena.

A lawyer’s reputation should be an essential aspect of your decision process. This is partly dictated by their success rate, but also their client reviews, working relationships, and standing with their state bar. Take the time to read reviews from past clients or ask for references from firms you’re considering hiring. Does the attorney receive a large number of positive reviews from former clients on review sites such as Avvo, Google Reviews and Yelp? If so, this is a good indication that they are well respected in their field and have excellent skill, credibility, and integrity. You may also want to visit the California State Bar website to check for a lawyer’s disciplinary actions or client complaints. Choosing the right car accident lawyer is key to the success of your case.

We offer San Francisco Bay Area Car Accident Victims a Free Consultation, and there are No Attorney’s Fees Unless We Recover Money For You

At The Hassell Law Group, our legal team are experts in car accident law and personal injury law with over 100 years of combined legal experience, and experience matters. We stand up to aggressive insurance companies and have a history of obtaining award-winning results for our clients. We fight every step of the way to achieve the best possible outcome for our car accident clients. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no risk in hiring our law firm. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. We welcome your questions, and our legal team looks forward to helping you obtain just and proper compensation for your personal injury claim.

 

The general information provided in this guide should not be considered legal advice and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.