What Compensation Am I Entitled to in a Car Accident in California?

Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, there are several forms of compensation you may be able to obtain in a car accident claim in California. You could be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, the lost ability to earn a future income, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and wrongful death damages.

What Injuries Are Suffered in Most Car Accidents?

There are many injuries that you may suffer in a car accident in California. The most common injuries include:

What Is the Statute of Limitations in California for Car Accident Claims?

When looking to file a car accident claim in California, it is vital to understand the deadlines in place. The statute of limitations for personal injury currently stands at two years from the date of injury. This means if you do not file a claim within these two years, you can lose out on your chances of recovering compensation.

How Long Does a Car Accident Claim Take in West Covina, CA?

It can be difficult to offer an exact timeline as to how long your car accident case will take in California. This is because there are many factors that can influence the final time frames of these cases, including the complexity of the case, the availability of evidence, and the cooperation levels of all parties involved.

Baldwin Park Car Accident Lawyer - Auto Accident Attorney

Experienced Baldwin Park Car Accident Lawyer

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Car Accident Attorney In Baldwin Park, CA

Life in Baldwin Park can be hectic. An auto accident can throw your entire life into chaos in seconds. You face more than physical and emotional trauma. You also have to deal with increasing medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty. You’re entitled to more than just compensation. You also have the right to clarity and support. A Baldwin Park car accident lawyer can carry the legal load and give you the space and time to focus on healing.

About Us

We are dedicated to helping the people of Baldwin Park and all of Los Angeles County. The personal injury lawyers at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, based in Pasadena, have years of combined trial experience. We are the attorneys who fight for the rights of car accident victims.

Gregory R. Vanni, managing partner, was honored as Consumer Attorney of the Year. Our attorneys are past and current leaders in the legal community, including the Pasadena Bar Association. You can expect a caring, passionate, and relentless legal team that understands the community.

Understanding Personal Injuries After Car Accidents

A car accident can be a life-changing experience. You may have visible injuries or internal damage. Serious or minor injuries can take a toll on your ability to earn income, care for your family, and enjoy life. Traffic accidents can happen anywhere in Baldwin Park, even when you least expect them.

Drivers enter Baldwin Park Boulevard from the 10 while pedestrians wait to cross the road beside the bus station and nearby shopping areas. In these situations, it can be difficult to prove who is at fault. This is where a strong legal advocate can make all the difference. A personal injury claim is about more than money; it’s about getting your losses back.

Car Accident Laws

Timeliness is crucial to any personal injury case. In California, personal injury laws provide a two-year statute of limitations for most injury claims. This time limit is two years from the date you were injured. If you fail to act within the time limit, you will forfeit the opportunity to bring legal action.

Exceptions to this time limit do apply. You must submit your administrative claim about a government agency, such as the City of Baldwin Park, within six months of sustaining an injury from a dangerous roadway. Medical malpractice cases have different time limits based on when the injury was discovered.

Types of Injuries in a Car Accident

In 2022, in Los Angeles County, there were 8,944 motor vehicle accidents that resulted in fatalities or injuries. 1,676 of these involved alcohol, and 1,224 were speed-related. Car accidents can produce several different injuries, including the following:

Whiplash
Soft tissue injuries
Broken bones
Fractures
Traumatic brain injuries
Concussions
Spinal cord injuries
Internal bleeding
Psychological trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression

Each type of injury requires some form of medical attention. These issues play a large part in the financial compensation you can seek in a car accident claim. A Baldwin Park car accident attorney can look at your medical issues and help formulate a strong claim.

Fault in a Baldwin Park Car Accident Case

In California, the law holds drivers accountable for the damages they cause. California is an at-fault liability state. Several factors, such as driver errors, poor road conditions, faulty equipment, or reckless behavior, make it challenging to determine who caused a car accident.

California follows a pure comparative negligence system, which permits you to collect damages even when you share partial responsibility for the car accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault for the accident. For example, if you suffered $120,000 in damages and were found to be 20% at fault, you can recover $96,000.

The establishment of liability for a car accident requires gathering police reports and traffic camera footage, along with witness statements and professional testimony from accident reconstruction and medical professionals.

Local Baldwin Park Car Accident Risks

Motor vehicle collisions can occur anywhere, but in Baldwin Park, the high-traffic intersections and everyday locations are the most common sites of accidents. Because the 10 Freeway can be congested near Baldwin Park Blvd, Ramona Boulevard, and Puente Avenue are busy roads throughout the day, these intersections can increase the chance for a collision, particularly during rush hour.

Side streets near shopping centers and schools frequently experience traffic accidents due to speeding vehicles and drivers who fail to pay attention, making unsafe left turns. As there are many commuters and pedestrians on these roads daily, a moment’s distraction or wrong decision can lead to tragic results.

Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

When you hire a car accident lawyer, it can mean the difference between getting your life back and continuing to suffer after an accident. Insurance companies are in the business of settling cases as quickly and cheaply as possible. They rely on injured accident victims to accept the first offer before they understand the full extent of their medical bills and out-of-pocket losses.

An attorney can step in early and fight to protect your rights. Your lawyer can handle the legwork of getting police reports and medical records and can speak directly to insurance adjusters on your behalf. They will even try your case in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached. Attorneys who practice Baldwin Park car accident cases know the roads and traffic patterns in your area. They also know the judges and courts that will be involved in your case.

Most importantly, your lawyer can ensure that not only are all the damages you have suffered calculated, but also that your future damages are included. Legal representation covers expenses for ongoing medical care, along with income losses and compensation for physical distress. The correct legal support enables you to dedicate your full attention to healing and recovery.

Contact Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor

If you were injured or suffered other damages due to a car accident in Baldwin Park, Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor can help you recover compensation. Contact us today to get started. We can help you so you can focus on your recovery.