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 Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

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Motorcycle Accident Attorney In Baldwin Park, CA

One of the most traveled highways in the entire country, Baldwin Park residents regularly use Interstate 10 for everyday travel. This highway sees thousands of daily commuters, but motorcyclists are the most vulnerable on the road. After a crash, it’s important to work with a Baldwin Park motorcycle accident lawyer to ensure your legal rights are protected.

Hire a Motorcycle Lawyer That You Can Trust

As of 2022, there were an estimated 802,500 motorcycles registered within California, making it a popular mode of transit for residents. Here at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, our attorneys know the devastating impacts an accident can have. We offer free consultations to those injured in Baldwin Park and surrounding cities.

Our personal injury lawyer in Baldwin Park can also meet new clients off-site, if needed. When you come in for your first appointment, you’ll be treated with the empathy that you deserve. You’ll be able to explain the details of your situation and your desires for the outcome of your case. From there, our lawyers will work tirelessly to pursue the justice you need to move forward.

California’s Motorcycle Accident Laws

As of 2023, the average daily commute for Baldwin Park residents was 29.6 minutes. This, combined with the volume of drivers, makes the chance of a crash statistically high. Motorcycle accidents tend to be more devastating than regular car accidents, due to the lack of physical protection. When an object weighing 4,200 pounds hits you, the results are quick and brutal. Luckily, California offers survivors the option to pursue compensation for their pain.

When determining the amount of compensation to award the filing party, courts use a comparative negligence system. This system uses the evidence provided to assign each person involved in the crash a percentage of fault. California law understands that there’s usually no blameless victim, and even small actions can contribute to accidents.

Even if you’re ultimately found to be 99% at fault for the accident, you can still pursue compensation. However, the final settlement amount you get will be reduced by your percentage of fault in the accident.

An example of partial negligence could be if a car hit you while speeding, and the driver was found to be 70% at fault for the crash. If in that same accident, you were operating a motorcycle and weren’t wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, you may be assigned 30% at fault for the accident and resulting injuries. The settlement amount may be awarded at $100,000, but with the split fault, it would be reduced by 30%, making your final award $70,000.

While this final amount is still substantial, so are the monetary and emotional losses incurred after a crash. The attorneys at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor will be able to calculate your estimated percentage of fault when filing your compensation request with the court.

Types of Damages Recoverable in a Motorcycle Accident Case

California courts allow survivors of crashes to request two main types of damages in their case. These are:

Economic damages. These damages are easy to calculate, as they’re based on the monetary losses you’ve suffered. It can include your medical bill, such as rehabilitation services, medications, and medical aid devices. It can include property damage to your vehicle and other personal belongings, like a bag or cell phone. If you’ve had to be out of work due to your injuries, you can also request payment for lost wages.
Non-economic damages. These damages are harder to calculate, as they’re more subjective. They’re to make up for emotional damages, such as pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. While more subjective, these damages are just as important as economic damages.

California doesn’t have a limit on the number of damages that can be requested in a motorcycle accident case, but it varies depending on the specific details of your situation.

In special circumstances, courts may award punitive damages. These damages are added on top of economic and non-economic damages. They’re awarded if the guilty party acted with extreme malice or recklessness, such as having high levels of intoxication while driving.

Punitive damages help to further punish the guilty party and deter similar actions in the future.

Steps to Take After a Crash to Preserve Your Case

After a crash, there are important steps to take to protect your health, safety, and legal case. First, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. Even if you feel fine, certain injuries may not present symptoms until later. Internal damage and concussions are common crash injuries that may not be obvious right away.

Be sure to get copies of the initial incident report filed by police and a copy of your medical records. Then, get the contact and insurance information of the other drivers involved in the crash. Collect the contact information of any witnesses, too. Your lawyer will be able to follow up with them to get an official statement of what caused the crash.

During this time, don’t admit fault or apologize at all. Doing so can cause harm to your legal case.

You will then want to collect evidence. Evidence is how the courts will make their final judgment. Having as much proof as possible can only help your pursuit of justice. Possible forms of evidence include:

Photos of the crash site, including any skid marks or property damage
Photos of damage to your vehicle and personal belongings
Photos of any visible injuries you may have
Dashcam footage
Surveillance footage from nearby businesses or residences
Traffic camera footage

Then, hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to guide you through the next steps. In addition to analyzing the evidence you present. Your lawyer can seek professionals to weigh in on what they believe caused the crash.

Reach To Our Baldwin Park Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

When you work with the team at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, you’re working with attorneys who care about their neighbors. Contact our team today to schedule your free consultation. You aren’t just another case number to us, and you deserve to have a support system during this difficult time. Let us take over the legal side of things so you can focus on rest and recovery.

Baldwin Park, CA Motorcycle Accident Resources

Common Mistakes Made After A Motorcycle Accident (And How To Avoid Them)