Nobody expects their morning commute to end in an accident. The frustration, pain, and financial stress of car accidents are difficult to deal with and may linger long after you leave the scene. You deserve answers to your questions about repairs, medical care, and who is truly to blame.
Getting advice from an Orange County personal injury lawyer protects your rights and gives you breathing room to focus on healing. Contact Avant Law Corporation to schedule a free consultation with an Orange County car accident lawyer.
Choose Avant Law Corporation
It can be difficult to find trustworthy legal help after being involved in a car accident. Here are some reasons we are the right choice for you:
- We’re proud to have served thousands of clients and recovered significant settlements, achieving substantial results that truly make an impact during these difficult times.
- At Avant Law Corporation, we go the extra mile. If an injury keeps you home or in the hospital, we’ll travel to you for a face-to-face meeting so you don’t miss out on help.
- With more than two centuries of shared experience, your claim benefits from lawyers who’ve truly seen it all.
Let us do what we do best so you can focus on feeling better and getting your life back.
How an Orange County Car Accident Attorney Can Help You After an Accident
Having an attorney after a car accident can simplify a situation that might feel totally overwhelming. Here’s how they can assist:
- They collect and review crucial evidence, such as crash reports, photos, and traffic camera footage, to clearly show what went wrong and who should be held responsible.
- Your lawyer communicates with insurance adjusters on your behalf, handling calls and paperwork so you’re not pressured into a quick or unfair settlement.
- They know how to calculate full damages, covering your medical bills, lost wages, and long-term needs, not just the expenses that are obvious and immediate.
Relying on a lawyer lets you focus on recovery, knowing your claims process is moving in the right direction.
When Do Car Accidents Lead to Personal Injury Claims?
If you’ve been involved in an accident, it’s important to understand whether you have an actionable legal claim or not. Below are some of the most common reasons injury claims are an option after a car accident:
- Phone Distractions and Multitasking: Glancing at texts, answering phone calls, or dealing with navigation systems pulls a driver’s eyes off the road. When this happens at the wrong moment, a collision can easily occur.
- Speeding, Tailgating, and Brake Checking: Driving over the limit, following too close behind someone else, or deliberately “brake checking” (slamming on brakes to startle the trailing driver) can all turn routine commutes into dangerous accidents in seconds.
- Running Signals and Ignoring Traffic Rules: Speeding through a yellow light or running a red light, making illegal U-turns, or rolling through stop signs can easily lead to sideswipes or T-bone collisions at some of the busiest intersections.
- Impaired or Fatigued Driving: Operating a vehicle while tired, drunk, or under the influence of other substances increases the chances of making mistakes. Drivers may swerve, miss cues, or overcorrect and veer off the road, causing serious accidents.
- Hazardous Roads or Mechanical Problems: Swerving to avoid potholes, dealing with sudden brake failure, or poor road markings and lighting can create significant danger and lead to crashes.
By recognizing these causes and driving defensively, you can help minimize your crash risks.
Who Can Be Liable in a Car Accident Claim?
Determining liability in a car accident claim means identifying who is legally responsible so you can recover for your injuries and losses. Below are some of the most commonly liable parties:
Negligent drivers
The most common situation is that one of the drivers involved was careless, maybe by speeding, ignoring traffic signals, texting, or driving under the influence. Liability is shown through police reports, tickets, traffic camera footage, and witness statements.
Employers of at-fault drivers
If someone was driving for work when they caused a crash (like a commercial truck or delivery van), their employer could share some responsibility. You’ll need paperwork or schedules showing the driver was on the clock, plus any company vehicle or maintenance records.
Vehicle manufacturers and automotive shops
When a malfunctioning tire, brake system, or broken light contributed to the collision, car makers, parts providers, or negligent mechanics may be liable. Evidence can include recall notices, expert opinions, and service records.
Government entities
Sometimes roads or intersections are so dangerous that the city or county could be blamed for things like missing signage, bad traffic light patterns, or unpatched potholes. Documentation often includes maintenance logs and photos of the road where the accident occurred.
The victim is partially at Fault
Sometimes, the person who was injured also played a role in the accident – for example, they were speeding, not using turn signals, or driving distracted. In these situations, California follows a pure comparative negligence system. This means that even if you’re partly at fault, you can still recover damages, but the amount you receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
405.Comparative Fault of Plaintiff
[Name of defendant] claims that [name of plaintiff]’s own negligence
contributed to [his/her/nonbinary pronoun] harm. To succeed on this
claim, [name of defendant] must prove both of the following:
1. That [name of plaintiff] was negligent; and
2. That [name of plaintiff]’s negligence was a substantial factor in
causing [his/her/nonbinary pronoun] harm.
If [name of defendant] proves the above, [name of plaintiff]’s damages are
reduced by your determination of the percentage of [name of plaintiff]’s
responsibility.
For example, if you’re found 20% responsible for the crash because you were driving slightly over the speed limit, you will only receive 80% of your total compensation.
Contact Avant Law Corporation To Schedule a Free Consultation With a Car Accident Attorney in Orange County
Car accidents can leave a lot more than property damage and confusion – they can affect so many aspects of your life. Working with an experienced lawyer helps you take charge, gather the right documents, and deal with the pushback too many victims face from insurance companies.
Competent legal support means you aren’t left dealing with the mess alone. Contact us at Avant Law Corporation to schedule a free consultation with an Orange County car accident attorney.