Californians are highly mobile, with approximately 394,608 total lane miles to travel on and exciting big cities to visit, like Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland and others. The state’s busiest highways include US 101, I-5, I-580, I-9, I-210 and I-80, each bearing around 300,000 vehicles daily.
With this amount of traffic, it is no surprise that California also is one of the leaders in the nation for auto accidents and fatalities. In 2013, there were 3,000 auto accident fatalities in California, about a tenth of the national total of 32,719. Similarly high were DWI accidents where drivers tested for blood alcohol numbered at 867 out of 10,076 nationwide. In addition to thousands of fatal accidents, people are injured annually in millions of non-fatal auto accidents each year.
Visitors and residents are best served by an experienced California Auto Accidents Attorney if they, or a loved one, suffer injuries or death in one of these auto accidents. Even with modern safety equipment like air bags, seat belts and other safety equipment on board, drivers and passengers are exposed to dangers by the sheer numbers of vehicles on state highways and byways. There are many factors that contribute to auto accidents, including speeding, distracted driving and DUI/alcohol or drugs.
A California Auto Accident Attorney is familiar with local court systems and the state regulations that apply to auto accidents and liability issues. They can dig into all the evidence available for your case, interview accident witnesses and work with their own expert witnesses to interpret accident reports as they prepare to present your case. Claims vary, but in general will include all accident-related expenses for personal injury care and sometimes property damage claims. Depending on your individual case, you may have other legal options that apply to your auto accident experience.
In brief, California auto accidents are regulated by the state laws. This includes a two year statute of limitations for Personal Injury accident claims for most cases. If your claim is against a government agency at a state, county or city level, this time limit is far less, just six months from the date of the accident. If you delay filing until after either of these time limits, you will be unable to pursue compensation claims for that auto accident.
Auto accidents happen daily across the state, causing physical, mental and emotional injuries to victims and damage to property. The causes vary greatly, but top reasons auto accidents happen include speeding, distracted driving, use of controlled substances, drunk driving and inexperience. Youthful drivers have many of these accidents, as do older drivers. Being unfamiliar with the roads affects new drivers, visitors to the state and others who are driving through new territory. A combination of factors can easily snowball into a few seconds of inattention that results in a crash. This is amplified when drivers deliberately disobey driving laws, run stop signs, pass illegally or make sudden moves or turns.
If you are involved in auto accidents, you must know what to do. The first obligation is, of course, to see if anyone is injured or needs immediate medical attention. There are other steps to take right away, for your own protection and that of others.
Your California Auto Accidents Attorney can inform you about to what extent you may be allowed to pursue Personal Injury Compensation for Auto Accidents. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and who is liable for damages, you may make specific claims for accident-related expenses. Typical expenses include work/income loss, medical care expenses, recovery costs, damage repair and future expected costs. If the victim dies, their survivors may seek compensation for funeral and burial costs.
Rules for auto accident compensation are complex, which is yet another reason why it is smartest to work closely with an experienced California Auto Accidents Personal Injury Attorney. Don’t delay in getting the legal advice and representation you need when you are involved in an auto accident. If a loved one died in an auto accident, the attorney will work with survivors.
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