Obtain Justice and Compensation for Your Vehicular Injuries in Alameda CA
At The Law Offices of Andrew Dosa, our skilled Alameda vehicular accident lawyer represents clients in Alameda and throughout California in personal injury and wrongful death cases. We’ve amassed millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients since our establishment.
Our commitment has always been and will continue to be to meet the needs of our clients by pursuing the best possible outcome in each case. Our vehicular accident lawyer in Alameda, CA has exclusively catered to the requirements of individuals like you.
We have received numerous accolades and are active members and leaders of state and national organizations. Our firm’s personal injury lawyers are among the top attorneys in California.
Why Do I Need an Alameda CA Vehicular Accident Lawyer?
At The Law Offices of Andrew Dosa, we believe it is always beneficial to contact our Alameda vehicular accident lawyer, even if your losses are minimal. However, it is ultimately up to you to determine if hiring a lawyer is in your best interest.
To assist you in making an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the benefits of hiring our vehicular accident lawyer in Alameda, CA.
We Can Analyze Your Accident
You will need evidence to obtain the compensation you require to pay for medical treatments and other related expenses. Specifically, you will need evidence demonstrating that the other driver was at fault and that the collision caused you physical harm, emotional distress, and financial loss.
Our Alameda vehicular accident lawyer can work with investigators to collect footage of the accident, obtain relevant police reports, interview witnesses, and assess vehicle damage. After locating the necessary documents and statements to hold the at-fault driver accountable, we will compile them into an insurance claim.
We Will Negotiate With Insurance Companies
An additional advantage of hiring our Alameda CA car accident lawyer is we can negotiate with insurance companies. Insurers are always looking for ways to take advantage of naive claimants by offering lowball settlements and attempting to discredit legitimate claims.
If you were injured in a car accident caused by another driver, you should not face their insurance company alone. If you do, you will likely not receive enough money to make a complete financial and physical recovery.
If you retain our accomplished vehicular accident lawyer in Alameda, CA, we will be able to negotiate with insurers to reach a settlement that covers all of your losses. We are adept at negotiating with even the most stubborn insurance adjusters, having spent countless hours doing so. We’ll make sure you receive every last cent you deserve.
We Possess Important Courtroom Experience
While the majority of auto accident victims receive compensation through an insurance settlement, others are forced to litigate in civil court. If the negligent party’s insurer refuses to offer a sufficient settlement, you will be forced to file a lawsuit.
Our car accident lawyer can guide you through the arduous and perplexing process of bringing a negligent driver to court. We will present the evidence we’ve gathered to the jury, call witnesses, and construct a well-reasoned argument as to why you must receive adequate compensation.
Although the likelihood of filing a lawsuit is low, the possibility of a courtroom battle is still a good reason to hire our Alameda vehicular accident lawyer. It is important to be prepared for the possibility that you will have to resort to a trial to obtain the money you need to get back on your feet.
We’ll Meet Crucial Deadlines
Our car accident attorney’s knowledge of important legal deadlines is an additional reason to hire us. If your lawsuit must be filed by a certain date, our personal injury attorney will be aware of the deadline and work expeditiously to submit everything on time.
If you file your claim late, you run the risk of not being compensated for your suffering, medical expenses, and emotional distress. Each state has a time limit for filing claims for personal injury. Your personal injury lawyer will be familiar with these deadlines in your state.
We Can Figure Out Which Damages You Owe
Without a background in personal injury law, you may be unaware of some of the damages to which you are entitled. Our qualified Alameda vehicular accident lawyer can assess the impact of your accident on all aspects of your life and determine which losses are legally recoverable.
What Are California Auto Accident Laws?
As a victim of an automobile accident in California, it is important to understand the state’s complex laws. Otherwise, you risk making an error that results in less compensation for your damages or no compensation at all.
After a serious car accident in California, contact our knowledgeable vehicular accident lawyer in Alameda, CA as soon as possible for information regarding your accident. We can make it simple to navigate the applicable laws to your case.
The Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations, or deadline for filing a claim, is one of the most important laws to understand. In California, accident victims have two years from the date of their collisions to file claims for injuries and three years to file claims for property damage. In general, courts do not make exceptions to this rule.
If the date of discovery is after the date of the collision, the clock may not begin to run until that date.
The Fault-Based Auto Insurance
California’s auto insurance laws are based on the concept of fault. All drivers are required to carry adequate auto insurance, including bodily injury coverage of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident and property damage liability coverage of $5,000. Following an accident, injured parties will file damage claims with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Depending on the circumstances, injured victims may also have the option to file lawsuits instead of filing insurance claims.
The Liability Laws
The State of California does not prohibit a victim from recovering damages for partially causing a motor vehicle collision. In place of this, the rules of pure comparative negligence will reduce the victim’s award by his or her proportion of fault.
Even if the victim caused the accident 99% of the time, he or she could still recover 1% of the compensation award. Our firm can assist you in defending yourself against a comparative negligence defense.
One of the reasons clients hire The Law Offices of Andrew Dosa is due to our comprehensive and practical knowledge of California’s automobile accident laws. We keep abreast of the most recent changes to the law, and we use litigation to advocate for positive reforms.
Through our legal representation, we aim not only to help victims recover but also to have a positive impact on vehicle accident laws in general.
What Are the Most Common Type of Vehicular Accidents in California?
Our personal injury law firm handles a wide range of incidents. Several common types of vehicular accidents frequently result in severe injuries to the victims. These are some of the most common cases we encounter.
Rear-End Collisions
A rear-end collision occurs when a vehicle rear-ends the vehicle in front of it. Depending on the speed of the vehicles involved and the exact circumstances surrounding the collision, the severity of these types of accidents can range from minor to severe.
In most cases, the driver of the vehicle that rear-ends another vehicle is at fault, as these types of collisions frequently occur because one driver was following too closely or was distracted. However, if the driver of the vehicle that is rear-ended was reversing at the time of the collision, the driver may be held liable.
T-Bone Crashes
T-bone collisions, also known as side-impact collisions, occur when the front or rear of one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle. These head-on collisions frequently cause severe injuries to both parties.
Under certain conditions, any of the drivers involved in a T-bone collision could be at fault for an accident. There may be disagreement between the drivers regarding who had the right of way. Therefore, you should retain the best vehicular accident lawyer in Alameda, CA for the most effective litigation.
Sideswipe Accidents
A sideswipe collision occurs when the sides of two cars traveling in the same direction collide. Drivers failing to check their blind spot before changing lanes and drivers in parked vehicles reentering moving traffic without first ensuring the lane is clear are frequent causes of sideswipe collisions.
At low speeds, sideswipe collisions may only cause cosmetic damage, but at high speeds, the injuries are frequently severe and significant.
Head-On Accidents
When two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide head-on, this is considered a head-on collision. Even at low speeds, head-on collisions can cause serious injuries or death.
Single Vehicle Collisions
Single-vehicle accidents involve a single vehicle and can be caused by a collision with a stationary object or a departure from the roadway. These accidents can be caused by driver error resulting from factors such as intoxication or fatigue or by external factors such as hazardous road conditions or severe weather.
Obtaining a fair settlement for a single-vehicle accident is our forte as the best personal injury lawyers.
Rollover Crashes
Rollover accidents occur when one of the vehicles flips over due to a collision or a departure from the roadway. Rollover accidents are typically catastrophic, resulting in significant injuries and even death.
Hit and Run Accidents
Hit-and-run accidents can involve any collision in which one of the drivers flees the scene. Hit-and-run accidents are characterized by a driver fleeing the scene of an accident without providing contact information. They can result in a ticket (at the very least) and possibly criminal charges.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Vehicular Accidents in California?
Among the most prevalent causes of accidents in California are:
Speeding
More than 50,000 accidents are caused by excessive speed annually in California. Speeding reduces drivers’ reaction times, thereby increasing the likelihood of automobile collisions and resulting in more severe damages.
Inattentive Driving
A large number of drivers frequently engage in activities that impair their concentration, such as using cell phones, eating, reading, or conversing with passengers. Due to a lack of awareness or alertness on the roads, these motorists are more likely to cause accidents.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Every year, drunk driving causes over 12,000 fatal car accidents in California. Drunk driving accidents can be avoided by using alternative modes of transportation or by taking advantage of free programs such as the Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home program.
If you have suffered injuries or property damage due to an accident caused by an intoxicated driver, you should contact our personal injury attorney to file a claim.
Not Following Traffic Laws
Performing illegal U-turns and tailgating are just two examples of dangerous driving behaviors that can lead to serious vehicle accidents. Hundreds of accidents have been caused in California alone by drivers who disobey traffic laws or act irresponsibly on the roads and highways.
Drivers Unconscious of Their Environment
Numerous automobile collisions are caused by drivers who ignore traffic signs and signals, as well as other drivers on the road.
Manufacturer Faults
Typically, automakers are held to extremely stringent requirements for every vehicle they produce. Occasionally, their vehicle parts may malfunction, resulting in accidents that cause severe injuries to drivers and passengers.
The Poor State of the Roads
The maintenance of roads is the responsibility of the state and local governments. Potholes, unexpected elevation changes, and missing guardrails could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and crash.
Some of California’s roads are in very poor condition, and the local and state governments should be held accountable if these conditions lead to automobile accidents.
You can significantly reduce your likelihood of being involved in a vehicular accident in California by remaining vigilant on the road and avoiding the above-mentioned dangerous driving practices. If you are injured in a car accident, do not forget to contact our proficient Alameda vehicular accident lawyer.
What Are the Common Injuries in a California Vehicle Accident?
Automobile collisions are one of the leading causes of personal injury in the United States. Even though automakers continue to incorporate life-saving features into new vehicles, vehicle collisions continue to pose a significant threat to American motorists. Every day, our vehicular accident lawyer in Alameda, CA handles multiple cases.
The most common automobile injuries and what to do if you or a loved one are injured in a vehicle accident are listed below.
Spinal Injuries
Although whiplash is not the only neck injury a vehicle collision can cause, it is one of the most common injuries. When an impact causes the victim’s head to be thrown forward, backward, or to the side, whiplash occurs. This action’s velocity can place significant strain on the muscles and ligaments of the neck and upper back.
Head and Brain Trauma
17.3 percent of all Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) in the United States are the result of automobile accidents. Traumatic Brain Injury can occur when a rapid movement of the skull causes the brain to strike the hard surface of the skull. Because our brains do not rest in a fixed position within the skull, a traumatic event can cause enough impact to damage the brain’s soft tissues.
Fractures
In the event of a vehicle accident, the upper and lower extremities are especially susceptible to injury and typically require both emergency and follow-up care. Broken bones are susceptible to infection and, in severe cases, may necessitate physical therapy or surgical procedures to restore full function to the injured limb.
Facial Injuries
Facial injuries can range from minor to severe, including bruises, scrapes, and cuts to fractures, deep lacerations, burns, and dental or jaw damage. Lacerations, such as deep cuts, scrapes, or punctures into the underlying skin, are common even in minor car accidents.
Psychological Damage
Regardless of physical injury, many victims of automobile accidents suffer from one or more psychological symptoms related to the event. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), for instance, is a common disorder that frequently requires professional treatment after a car accident.
Associated disorders resulting from a car accident can also include anxiety, such as a generalized state of unease, acute to severe panic attacks, or depression, whether caused by the trauma of the event or the recovery that follows.
What to Do Following an Alameda CA Vehicular Accident?
Following these steps after a vehicle accident can protect your health and compensation rights:
Call 911
Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured or if there is significant damage to vehicles or property. The police will compile an accident report that will serve as a record of your accident, and first responders will begin treating injured victims at the scene.
Obtain Medical Care
Victims with severe injuries should receive immediate medical care. Even if you believe that your injuries are relatively minor, you must see a doctor as soon as possible. Internal injuries, soft tissue injuries, stiffness, and other types of injuries can develop gradually following an accident, and injuries that initially appear to be minor can worsen.
This initial medical report can serve as valuable evidence of the severity of your injuries if you file a car accident claim.
Take Photographs
When pursuing a personal injury claim, photographs of your vehicle, your injuries, the accident scene, and anything else you believe may be relevant can serve as invaluable evidence.
Don’t Admit Fault or Apologize
You must never admit fault for an accident, whether to the police, witnesses, or the other driver. Accidents occur abruptly and can be perplexing. While it is human nature to express concern for the other driver, admitting fault or apologizing may jeopardize your right to compensation, even if it is later determined that you were not at fault or were only partially responsible for the accident.
Collect Information
You should obtain the other driver’s full name, contact information, license plate number, and insurance policy number. If there are any witnesses, you should also obtain their contact information so your personal injury attorney can communicate with them.
Document What Happened
Write down everything you can recall about the accident as soon as possible. The greater the specificity of your description of the incident, the greater your chances of receiving compensation. (womenautoknow.com)
Avoid Contact With the Insurance Company
In the days following an accident, the insurance company may contact you and ask you to sign a settlement agreement. Sign neither documents nor answer the phone if you can help it. If you sign a settlement, you may forfeit your right to receive full compensation for the accident.
Maintain Copies of Documents and Receipts
Keep a receipt for every accident-related expense. With proper documentation, it is possible to recover the costs of medical care, rental cars, vehicle repairs, medications, transportation to and from the doctor, and more.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
Our knowledgeable Alameda vehicular accident lawyer can defend you against the insurance company, compile and submit all accident-related evidence on your behalf, and assist you in obtaining maximum compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Alameda Vehicular Accident Injuries?
Every day, hundreds of auto accidents occur in California. These accidents cause economic damages in the millions of dollars. Accidents resulting from vehicular traffic leave victims with lost income from missed work, medical debt, and sometimes permanent disabilities. This raises the question of who is liable for vehicle accidents in California.
When the Driver Does Not Own the Vehicle
The following is the general rule in California. If the at-fault driver was operating the vehicle with the owner’s permission, the owner is responsible for the collision. However, the liability of the vehicle owner is typically limited.
There are, however, three significant exceptions to this rule. Even if they were not driving, car owners could be held fully liable for automobile accidents.
- The car owner is negligent if they lend their vehicle to an unlicensed motorist. The driver is legally negligent and will bear full responsibility for your damages.
- The second exception is when a vehicle owner lends their vehicle to another person despite knowing that it is unsafe due to a defect or a malfunctioning component.
- When operating a company vehicle.
When the Driver is in a Company Vehicle
Accidents may occur when the at-fault driver is operating a work vehicle. If the driver was working for the car owner at the time of the accident, the owner or employer is typically liable for the damages. This indicates that the driver is using the vehicle for work or is driving directly to or from a work location.
Generally, the owner or employer is not held liable if a driver uses a work vehicle for non-work-related purposes. Additionally, the driver is held accountable when he or she is not on the clock and using the vehicle for personal reasons.
Vehicle Accidents Involving Pedestrians
In California, if a driver encounters a pedestrian, the pedestrian has the right-of-way in the majority of situations. Moreover, because drivers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of others on the road, they are frequently liable for any injuries a pedestrian sustains in an automobile accident.
The extensive response requires consulting the California Vehicle Code. This provision states that drivers “shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection unless otherwise provided for in this chapter.”
Even if a pedestrian is crossing a section of the road where there is no crosswalk, drivers must still exercise reasonable care for their safety.
Vehicle Accidents Involving Bicyclists
Frequently, road conditions can contribute to bike accidents. Damaged road signs, for instance, can lead to miscommunications and misunderstandings between cyclists and motorists. Because cyclists are exposed to vehicles on the road, missing or damaged road signs can have devastating effects.
Moreover, the city or property owners may be held liable if road conditions contributed to a bicycle-vehicle collision. If they are responsible for maintaining proper signage, they may be negligently responsible for the collision.
How to Prove Negligence in a California Vehicle Accident?
In the context of personal injury law, “negligence” refers to a plaintiff’s legal doctrine. This legal theory is the foundation for the vast majority of auto accident claims and other types of personal injury lawsuits. When someone is negligent, they fail to meet the expected standard of care.
This is the duty to exercise the same degree of caution that a reasonable person would in the same or comparable circumstances. The duty of care, in the context of a vehicle accident claim, typically refers to a driver’s responsibility to obey traffic laws, drive cautiously, and prevent vehicle accidents.
To establish negligence in an automobile accident case, clear and convincing evidence must demonstrate that the driver or another defendant breached their duty of care. A breach of duty is a violation of the required level of care in a given circumstance.
The victim must then demonstrate that the defendant’s breach of duty was the direct cause of the car accident. In other words, the collision would not have occurred if not for the negligence of the defendant. In California, establishing the elements of an auto accident claim requires proof of negligence.
Evidence may include a police accident report, photographs, video footage, signed eyewitness statements, the testimony of auto accident experts, a crash reconstruction, medical records, cell phone records, and employment records of a commercial driver, among others.
A qualified vehicular accident lawyer in Alameda, CA can assist you in gathering all available evidence to prove the defendant’s negligence in your car accident case.
What Compensations Can I Receive for My Vehicular Accident Injuries?
If you are eligible to file a claim for damages, we will assist you in determining which types and amounts to include in your initial demand letter to the negligent party. Surviving an auto accident results in a variety of distinct damages and losses.
A competent vehicular accident lawyer in Alameda, CA from The Law Offices of Andrew Dosa can evaluate your case and determine a fair amount to seek in compensation. A higher settlement and/or other forms of compensation may be involved in your case. Your case could involve any of the following:
- Existing medical liabilities
- Future hospital expenses and medical costs
- Temporary or permanent accommodations for a disability
- Past and future wages lost
- Vehicle maintenance and replacement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Lost pleasure in life
- Accidental death damages
- Punitive damages
Talk to Our Experienced Alameda Vehicular Accident Lawyer Today
Our professional Alameda vehicular accident lawyer is committed to helping the injured and their loved ones in recovering and return to normal life. We recognize that being hurt in a vehicle accident is a traumatic experience. Some injury victims may be unable to return to work for an extended period, which can be a burden on the family as a whole.
Our legal team is here to assist in relieving this burden and ensuring that you receive fair compensation. At The Law Offices of Andrew Dosa, we believe that no one should have to suffer due to the negligence of another driver. To set up a free consultation, please call our office or fill out the form on our website. Our law office also offers legal services in Criminal Defense and Estate Planning.
