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Car Accident Lawyer Fontana
If you've been injured in a car accident in California, you need to speak to a car accident lawyer in Fontana to protect your legal rights. An experienced accident attorney can help you receive damages that will cover the cost of medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other losses, from the at-fault driver. Going through this process alone, you may find that you've hit a wall in settlement negotiations with insurance companies, or the insurance company may outright deny your claim. During this stressful and challenging time, allow an experienced auto accident lawyer at MVP Accident Attorneys to take over settlement negotiations, and help you build a solid case that will force the insurance company to pay you the compensation you deserve.
What to Do After an Accident Not Your Fault in Fontana, CA
Immediately following a car accident, you may feel disoriented, and you may be in pain. The first step is getting help for yourself and any passengers in your vehicle. If you feel well enough to get out of your vehicle and stand, there are some important steps that you can follow during this time that will help to protect your rights and your claim.
Contact 911
Even if you feel fine, it's still important to contact the police and have them come out to the scene of the accident to investigate. When the police arrive, they will speak to both you and the other driver and obtain personal information such as your name, address, driver's license number, license plate number, and other vehicle information, in addition to discussing the events that led up to the accident. They will write an accident report, which you need to obtain a copy of. This report will be used as evidence in your claim.
Document the Details of Your Accident
You must write down as much information about the accident as possible, while your memory is still fresh. Even the smallest details can help your claim. Include information of the events that led up to the accident, any issues with debris in the streets, faulty or missing traffic signs and lights, inclement weather conditions, and anything else you can think of that may have contributed to the accident.
Take Photos
Use the camera on your phone to take pictures of the accident scene. Be sure to include photos of the damage to every vehicle involved, license plates, any debris in the road, issues with traffic signs or lights, and photos of any injuries you sustained.
Seek Medical Attention
You may not feel that a ride to the hospital in an ambulance is necessary at this time, but you should still head to the emergency room and get checked out by a medical professional. During an exam, a doctor will take a look at your injuries, document the findings, order any appropriate tests, and recommend treatment. Make sure that you follow the doctor's recommendations and schedule an appointment with your primary care physician as soon as possible. Your medical records will be used in your claim as evidence.
Contact an Auto Accident Attorney
Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can guide you through this complex legal process and discuss what your options are. They can also take over any communication with the at-fault driver's insurance company or their attorney.
Do Not Speak to an Insurance Company
The other driver's insurance company will be quick to call you to get your side of the story. They may ask you leading questions and will ask you to make a statement that they would like to record. Avoid giving a statement at this time and instead, refer the insurance company to your attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to get you to say something that could potentially harm your claim, such as playing down your injuries or admitting partial fault for the accident.
Types of Auto Accident Cases Handled by MVP Accident Attorneys
The personal injury lawyers at MVP Accident Attorneys represent clients that have been injured in many different types of auto accidents, including:
- Distracted driving
- Tire blowout
- Highway and interstate accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Intersection collisions
- Fender benders
- Fatal car accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Defective car parts
- T-bone accidents
The Dangers of Distracted Driving Auto Accidents
Driving a vehicle requires focus and concentration. A driver must pay attention to the pedestrians that populate the streets, heavy traffic, traffic laws, debris in the road, and many other challenges that can arise, such as snow or rainy weather. Any type of activity that can interfere with driving can lead to an accident, resulting in injuries or the loss of life. If you've been injured in a car accident due to a distracted driver, an auto accident lawyer may be able to help you with your accident claim.
Distracted driving involves any type of activity a driver engages in that can minimize their focus and concentration. Usage of mobile devices, GPS, or talking while driving, are the most common causes of distracted driving cases. If you’ve sustained injuries in an auto accident due to the negligence of a distracted driver, you can file a claim for compensation and hold the at-fault driver responsible for your injuries and other damages.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
A car accident lawyer may be able to help you claim compensation from the negligent driver or company if you believe your car accident was due to the negligence of the other driver. An experienced attorney can prove the other driver was responsible for the collision by conducting a thorough investigation and gathering important evidence. The attorney will review the accident to determine how the crash occurred and will investigate the accident scene, speak to any eyewitnesses, and bring in experts such as private investigators, accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and economists.
At MVP Accident Attorneys, we understand the financial hardship, emotional distress, and pain, and suffering that can come from being involved in an auto accident. Our goal is to ensure that our clients feel confident and supportive and that they have an advocate on their side who will fight for the right to compensation for their injuries from a car accident.
Common Types of Injuries in an Auto Accident
Every car accident is different, however, personal injury attorneys come across many of the same types of injuries that are the result of minor to severe car accidents.
This can include:
Head Injuries
When a person travels in a vehicle that's moving at sixty miles per hour and that vehicle collides with an object that forces it to cease moving abruptly, the body continues to move through that space until it meets something that slows it down. Airbags and seatbelts are designed to work together to slow down the body's acceleration, however, if the seat belt isn't used and there's no airbag to curb a body's forward motion, then there's nothing to keep it from colliding with the steering wheel or crashing through the windshield.
Head injuries in an auto accident can be closed or open and can result in a traumatic brain injury. Even if the skull remains intact, brain tissue can crash into the inside of the skull causing massive damage to the neurons that communicate with the rest of the body. A traumatic brain injury can be mild to severe and can have long-lasting negative effects.
Neck and Back Injuries
The tremendous amount of force that's present in an auto accident can do significant damage to the neck and back. Whiplash is a common injury that occurs when the neck is snapped back quickly when a car comes to a stop abruptly. Neck and back injuries can result in severe pain, limiting the accident victim's range of motion, which can significantly diminish their quality of life.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is both delicate and strong and a severe injury can result in full or partial paralysis or death. When the accident victim experiences paralysis, they are no longer able to take care of herself/himself or do the work that she/he once did.
Soft tissue Damage
Soft tissue damage involves muscle strains and sprains, pulled muscles, or a sprained upper back and neck, which can make it difficult to move. These types of injuries can sometimes resolve themselves over time and with ongoing medical treatment and rest.
Broken Bones
Depending on the nature of the accident, bone fractures can occur to the foot, knee, leg, or arms as a result of the high impact of the crash.
Psychological or Emotional Injuries
The trauma of an auto accident, seeing a loved one killed or severely injured, seeing other people severely injured, or just replaying the collision over and over in the mind can result in psychological injuries. PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder can sometimes occur. Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression must be addressed as well as the physical injuries after an accident.
Damages
After an auto accident, you can pursue a claim for damages against the at-fault driver. Your attorney can help you file an auto accident claim against the negligent driver, entity, or company to compensate for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and ongoing medical treatment if you have sustained a permanent disability.
An auto accident lawyer can help you gather evidence to build a strong case. This can include surveillance footage, eyewitness testimony, medical records, and employment records.
The sooner this evidence is gathered, the stronger your case will be. There are three types of compensation you can pursue under California law: non-economic damages, economic damages, and punitive damages.
If you sustained severe mental trauma or injuries from the auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering. Your attorney can help you structure your claim so you can receive maximum compensation.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are calculable. They can be subtracted or added and given a specific value. These types of damages can include:
- Medical expenses
- Hospitalization
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Modifications made to the home due to a disability
You will use medical bills and statements, paystubs, and other types of documentation to back up this request for damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages can be harder to place a value on. These damages are not calculable and may be harder to prove. Your Fontana car accident attorney can help you seek compensation for:
- Emotional or mental distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
For these damages, your attorney must prove that emotional and mental consequences were the direct result of the collision. This means you must have strong evidence, which your attorney can help you obtain during the investigation.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages can be very difficult to obtain and are awarded by the court as a way to punish the at-fault party for their negligent and reckless behavior. They are also awarded to deter people from committing the same reprehensible acts in the future.
How a Fontana Auto Accident Attorney Can Help
When you need a Fontana auto accident attorney, you need a legal representative with the resources, skill, experience, and proven track record to fight for you and protect your rights. That's exactly what you'll get with the lawyers at MVP Accident Attorneys. We specialize in car accident injuries and wrongful death claims. We have several years of experience recovering high settlements and fair compensation from insurance companies. The success of our California auto accident claims means we often settle personal injury cases quickly and for significantly more money for the clients we help. This is all done with a commitment to communication and caring, and a reputation for the highest integrity in the legal profession.
We work hard to help clients and their families to get through this type of complex and stressful legal process. We guide our clients through all the steps of the process with excellent communication, compassion, and care.
Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer with the Resources to Thoroughly Investigate an Accident
We will bring in experts who can help us strengthen the case and obtain the evidence that clearly proves the other driver was at fault for the accident.
A private investigator can work closely with our attorneys to gather the necessary evidence that will hold the at-fault driver and the insurance company responsible for all injuries both non-economic and economic. Our goal is to help our clients receive maximum compensation for all damages related to the car accident.
We will also speak with medical professionals who will help us learn more about the impact an accident victim's injury has on every aspect of their life. This will help us put an accurate value on both non-economic and economic damages. If an accident victim has suffered a permanent disability, we will consult an economist who will be able to determine the ongoing and future costs of a client's injuries, so the attorney can incorporate medical cost inflation into settlement demands.
While an accident victim can go through this legal process on their own, having an attorney in their corner can ensure they receive a significantly higher settlement offer.
Our attorneys work hard to ensure each client receives the compensation they deserve. Our mission is to help every client and their families to get through one of the most challenging and stressful experiences in their lives and we do it with excellent communication, compassion, and caring.
Get the Legal Help You Need
Even a minor auto accident can disrupt your life. A serious accident can lead to debilitating, long-lasting injuries, such as spinal cord damage, severe burns, loss of limbs, and traumatic brain injuries. In the event you sustained a catastrophic injury, medical care can be ongoing and extensive, with the potential for personal assistance and nursing care for years or life. An auto accident victim may become permanently disabled and lose their ability to take care of themselves. Their family may face financial and emotional hardship as well as other losses. If the car accident could have been prevented, the at-fault party should be held accountable.
Filing an injury claim under California accident laws is not always a straightforward process. Difficulties and complications may arise, and you may have many questions regarding your case such as:
- How do I determine negligence?
- Does my personal injury claim involve only a first-party or a third party?
- How does no-fault insurance apply?
At MVP Accident Attorneys, we handle these types of difficulties and questions daily. Our attorneys have represented hundreds of car accident victims and have the litigation and negotiation skills necessary to help our clients receive a fair verdict in court or a fair settlement from an insurance company. Our team of experienced lawyers focuses on building stronger cases with efficiency and will fight to protect your rights throughout the process.
Wrongful Death Claims
A wrongful death is an incident in which a person dies due to the negligence of another person. If you're faced with the death of a family member, you may be justified in pursuing a claim for wrongful death. Surviving family members of the deceased person can be awarded compensation for loss of companionship and affection, loss of love, loss of future income, burial and funeral expenses, and more. Just like with a typical personal injury claim, the responsible party may be a negligent person, government entity, manufacturer of an auto part, or the vehicle, that contributed to the accident. A wrongful death claim is often a lengthy and complex process. While you may not be focused on financial loss and are still grieving the loss of a loved one, you must hold the at-fault party responsible for these losses.
What to Expect When You Meet with an Auto Accident Lawyer
Seeing an attorney about a legal matter can be overwhelming and it is typically a very emotionally charged situation. You may be worried that your case isn't big enough to warrant the services of a lawyer, but it is. After an auto accident, it's normal to feel overwhelmed and distraught.
An insurance company may be trying to convince you to accept a lowball settlement offer, but the offer they have made is not nearly enough to cover your damages and losses.
Relying on an experienced and knowledgeable legal expert who can guide you through this type of complex legal process will help you find some peace of mind during this chaotic time. Your quality-of-life matters and your attorney will be your advocate.
If you've never met with an attorney before it helps to know what you can expect from a consultation with the car accident lawyers at MVP Accident Attorneys.
During a consultation there will be a discussion about:
Injuries
Did you suffer injuries? If you did suffer injuries, what kind? Did you suffer emotional injuries as well as physical injuries? Can a medical expert vouch and prove your injuries?
Insurance
Do you have car insurance? Does the at-fault party have car insurance? Have you spoken to your insurance company? Have you spoken to the at-fault driver's insurance company?
First Party Claims
Do you want to file a lawsuit against your car insurance provider for lost wages, medical expenses, or another benefit?
Third-Party Claims
Do you want to bring a separate case against the at-fault driver in the auto accident? Do you want to file a lawsuit against their insurance company?
Quality of Life
Has your life been permanently or seriously altered due to the car accident? Has your ability to perform your regular job duties been compromised? Have you experienced a loss of quality of life?
Auto Accident Attorney Near Me
At MVP Accident Attorneys, we focus on helping accident victims and their families receive maximum compensation. We know that the success of a case depends on our dedication and hard work. Our car accident lawyers will go that extra mile from the initial investigation and through all of the facets of the legal process, using experience and resources to thoroughly investigate your claim. If we are unable to successfully negotiate a settlement agreement with an insurance company, we will fight aggressively in court to ensure that you receive a favorable outcome. If you've been seriously injured in an auto accident, contact our office today to schedule a consultation and discuss how we can help.
Related:
- Fontana Personal Injury Lawyer
- Fontana Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
- Fontana Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Fontana Rideshare Accident Lawyer