Have you recently suffered an injury in a National City accident? Was the accident the result of another person’s negligence? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm you have suffered. The money you recover from a personal injury claim can help to cover the costs of medical bills, pain, and suffering, and even lost wages. Contact the National City personal injury attorney at Injury Trial Lawyers, APC to find out how we can help to maximize the monetary award you receive.
At Injury Trial Lawyers, APC, our National City personal injury attorney has over 21 years of combined legal experience. We know how important a financial recovery can be after an accident and will fight to make sure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries. Contact us today to request a free consultation and to learn more. We will thoroughly review your case, explain your legal options, and answer any questions you have.
National City Accidents
National City is home to some of the most popular tourist attractions in San Diego County. The city, which more than 60,000 people call home, boasts shopping, museums, and beautiful coast. As a result, National City’s roads tend to become overwhelmed by traffic from residents, tourists, and city workers. Each day, an average of 568,000 miles are driven on National City roads. Over the past few years, as the economy has continued to improve, National City has seen a significant increase in the number of traffic accidents on its streets:
- 2012: 235 accidents
- 2013: 259 accidents
- 2014: 435 accidents
- 2015: 430 accidents.
Between 2013 and 2014 there was a 68 percent increase in the number of injury-causing and fatal accidents in National City. While the number of accidents declined slightly in 2015, the overall trend remained the same: traffic accidents are happening more frequently and causing more injuries.
Types of National City Accidents
Since National City has such beautiful weather and shares 3 miles of its coast with the Pacific Ocean, it should be no surprise that many people enjoy the city using alternative modes of transportation. As a result, many of National City’s accidents involve bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, of the 430 injury-causing and fatal accidents in 2015:
- 12 percent involved motorcycles
- 8 percent involved pedestrians, and
- 3 percent involved bicyclists.
Causes of National City Accidents
While there are a variety of reasons traffic accidents occur, the leading causes of National City accidents include:
- Alcohol use (11 percent)
- Speeding (21 percent)
- Driving at night (9 percent), and
- Hit and run (7 percent).
Should I File a Personal Injury Claim?
Suffering an unexpected injury can change your life forever. At the very least, injuries can require hospitalization and cause significant pain. Severe injuries may require extensive medical treatment, multiple surgeries, and painful rehabilitation. These injuries may leave you dealing with chronic pain and can even result in disability.
If this is the case, your ability to return to work may be compromised. In addition to dealing with physical and emotional trauma, you will then be faced with overwhelming financial stress. According to insurance company reports, the average cost of a bodily injury claim after a car accident is more than $15,000. It can be hard to come up with $500 for an emergency, let alone more than 30 times that amount.
As an accident victim, you have the right to pursue compensation from the person who is at fault. The money you recover from your claim can help to mitigate any financial pressures you face.
What Damages Can I Recover From a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
National City accident victims are generally entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages. The type and amount of the award you receive will depend on the extent of your injuries.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are awarded to help make up for the out-of-pocket financial costs you suffer because of an accident. These damages are intended to put you back in the financial position you would have been in if the accident had never happened. Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Transportation
- Lost wages
- Property damage, and
- Disability.
Non-Economic Damages
A serious injury can impose serious physical agony and cause you to suffer from debilitating emotional distress. Non-economic damages can be awarded to help compensate for these non-financial harms. Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Anxiety and depression
- Disfigurement
- Embarrassment, and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Statute of Limitations for National City Personal Injury Cases
When you are involved in a National City accident you may be able to recover monetary damages for your injuries. If you do not file your legal claim before the applicable statute of limitations expires you will not be able to recover the money you deserve. In most cases, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the date of your accident.
The statute of limitations may be different if your case is based on:
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injury
- Government liability, or
- Workplace injury.
You can make sure that your claim is filed on time by contacting an experienced National City personal injury attorney immediately after your accident. At Injury Trial Lawyers, APC, our National City team is always standing by to discuss your injury and personal injury case.
What Should I Do After a National City Accident?
Whether you’re injured in a boating accident off of the city’s coast or suffer a slip and fall in the Westfield Plaza Bonita, you may be entitled to monetary damages. The decisions you make immediately after an accident will affect any future legal claims you decide to pursue. Keeping these suggestions in mind will help to keep you safe and support future legal actions.
Get Medical Help: Get your injuries checked out immediately. A doctor will make sure that all of your injuries are diagnosed and treated right away, which will minimize the chances of life-threatening complications. The medical report generated by your visit will also be a valuable piece of evidence in your case.
Report the Accident: Report your injury-causing accident to the appropriate authority as soon as possible. If you’re in a car accident, this means that you should call the police and have them dispatched to the scene. If you’re injured at work, report the accident to your employer immediately to ensure that any evidence is preserved.
Gather Evidence: Collect copies of medical reports, police reports, and any other reports that may have been generated as a result of your accident. Take photographs of your injuries and the scene of the accident. Write down your memory of the incident to keep important details safe.
Refuse Early Settlement Offers: Insurance companies will try to minimize the award you receive after an accident. Some companies may decline liability altogether and try to keep you from walking away with a dime. Others may try to manipulate a stressful situation and convince you to take an early settlement offer. While this money may be appealing, especially if you are under extreme financial stress, it will not be enough to cover the full extent of your injuries. Refuse these early offers and hold out for a fair deal.
Call an Attorney: Hiring an attorney will increase the chances of maximizing the compensation you are awarded. Your attorney will know how to structure a persuasive legal argument and keep insurance companies from taking advantage of the situation. Call Injury Trial Lawyers, APC today to request a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you after your accident.
Experienced National City Personal Injury Attorney
If you have suffered an unexpected injury in National City because of another person’s negligence you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Injury Trial Lawyers, APC today to find out how we can help to make sure that you are fairly compensated by the negligent party. Our National City personal injury attorney has over 35 years of combined legal experience. We know how important a financial recovery can be and will fight to make sure that you get the money you deserve. Remember, you have a limited amount of time to file a legal claim, so it is important to act quickly. Call us today to request a free consultation and learn more.