Drivers in El Cajon who have been involved in a car accident can find useful information below. After reading, give a call to the car accident lawyer El Cajon and schedule your consultation so we can hear about your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s understandable to have a lot of questions about car accidents. Below are some answers to help guide you.
What are the different types of damages?
There are two different types of damages: economic and non-economic. Those that can be calculated based on your expenses and money lost are economic damages. For example, your medical bills and lost wages can be considered economic damages. But if your injury left you with a lot of pain, the inability to engage in activities you used to be part of, has affected your marriage or your job, and you just feel like you’ve undergone so much emotional turmoil, then you may be able to sue for non-economic damages. These include pain and suffering and are to compensate you for the extreme and drastic change in your life that the accident has caused.
What is a statute of limitations?
The law restricts how long you have to bring a suit forward for a car accident or an injury. It’s important to not delay in seeking legal guidance. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury suit, and three years from the date of the accident to sue for property damage. If a government entity is involved, your timeframe is shorter. You have six months to notify the entity and a year from their refusal to file.
Statistics
In the year 2017, there were 744 total fatalities in injuries in El Cajon. Out of those, 56 involved alcohol, and 2 of those victims were under the age of 21. That same year, 48 motorcyclists and 38 bicyclists were injured or killed in car crashes. There were 139 DUI arrests. The top contributing factors to these crashes and injuries were speed and driving at night.
What To Do After A Car Accident?
There are many important reasons why you should follow these guidelines when you have been involved in a car accident. Some of these guidelines are required by law. For example, almost every state has a law about hit-and-run drivers. If you are involved in an accident, then you must pull over (if possible) to exchange information with the other driver.
- If you are blocking traffic then the first thing you need to do is pull over. Next, check yourself and passengers in your vehicle. Are any of you injured? Check on the other driver and any possible passengers in the vehicle. Are any of them injured? Then call 911 and let them know the status of everyone that you have checked on.
- Even if the accident is minor, you want to exchange the following information with the other driver: name, address, email address, phone number, and insurance information. If there were other passengers or witnesses then you will want to get their contact information, too. Try not to discuss the accident or who may be at fault. You want to limit how much you say this other person without an attorney present.
- When the police arrive tell them exactly what happened the way you remembered. Do not speculate about how the accident happened. Make sure you get a copy of the police report.
- Get checked: Even if you think your injuries are minor you will want to get yourself checked by medical personnel because they can identify if you are suffering from a condition injury before symptoms show up later. This is especially true in the case of internal bleeding which is severe but may not become apparent for hours.
Why You Need A Car Accident Lawyer?
When going up against the insurance company’s lawyers you want a strong ally who will fight for you to get fair compensation. Their claims adjusters are focused on reducing the payout of your claim, whereas a car accident attorney is focused on you getting the most compensation for your damages. At Injury Trial Lawyers, we suggest that you never speak to the insurance company without our car accident lawyer El Cajon present as he will try to get you to say something that can and will be used against you in court, even if you weren’t at fault.