Azusa Car Accident Lawyer

Azusa Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents happen every day in Azusa, leaving many victims with painful injuries, substantial economic losses, and many important legal questions about how they might recover. When you or a loved one suffers injuries in a car accident because of another driver’s negligence or misconduct, state law dictates they are responsible for all the losses they cause through their actions. Drivers are required to carry auto insurance, and the state utilizes a fault rule for resolving car accidents. However, an insurance claim can be difficult, and even if you succeed with your claim, there is no guarantee that the settlement check you receive will fully cover your damages.

Helping Azusa Auto Accident Victims Recover

Belgum, Fry & Van Allen has a team of experienced attorneys providing compassionate and comprehensive legal representation to Azusa area car accident victims. If you believe another driver is responsible for hurting you, you have the right to seek accountability and claim compensation for the damages you incurred. While it’s possible to try and handle your recovery on your own, working with experienced legal counsel will make every aspect of your case much easier and more likely to generate the results you hope to see. Our team is prepared to provide the compassionate and responsive legal counsel you need after another driver has caused an accident with you in the Azusa, CA area.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Azusa

The first steps you take immediately after a car accident can significantly impact later recovery efforts. If you are seriously injured, you will need to wait for first responders to take you to the hospital. If you are able to move around safely after your accident, state law requires you to report it to 911 and wait for the police to arrive. Taking this time while you wait to take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and the damage to your vehicle can be incredibly helpful to a subsequent insurance claim against the at-fault driver.

When the police arrive to investigate a car crash, they will take notes of their findings and interview everyone involved. Be honest when the police ask you questions, but do not say anything they may interpret as an admission of liability. Even if you believe you are partially responsible for the accident, say nothing to that effect and answer the officers’ questions truthfully. You should get medical treatment immediately once you are free to go, even if you believe you suffered only minor injuries.

After you address your immediate medical concerns and obtain a copy of the police report, you are ready to speak with a personal injury attorney about your recovery options. The first step in recovering from a vehicle accident is usually to file an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. However, you have a limited time in which to do this, and sometimes an insurance company will reach out with a settlement offer very soon after receiving a report of the accident.

It is always best to consult legal counsel as soon as possible after a car accident. The sooner you secure the representation of an experienced Azusa car accident attorney, the more time your legal team has to work on your case. Belgum, Fry & Van Allen can help you navigate the aftermath of a car accident and handle your insurance claim as efficiently as possible. If you have grounds for further legal action to enhance your recovery, our team is ready to help you build a compelling personal injury case.

Filing Your Auto Insurance Claim in Azusa

The insurance claim process after a car accident can be tedious and stressful but having an Azusa car accident attorney assist you with it will make it much easier to handle and more likely to offer positive results. Every driver in California must have car insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirement. A minimum coverage policy must include at least $15,000 in property damage liability coverage, at least $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, and at least $30,000 in total accident liability coverage.

If you are involved in a car accident that another driver caused, you are required to report the accident to the police and exchange insurance information with the at-fault driver. You have the right to file a claim against their auto insurance policy, seeking compensation for the damages they caused. You must also notify your insurance company about the accident, and failure to do so could interfere with your coverage, even if you were not at fault. When it comes to your claim against the at-fault driver’s policy, you have a very limited time in which to report your intent to file a claim.

An experienced Azusa car accident attorney is the best asset to have on your side if you want to maximize the compensation you obtain from the other driver’s insurance. Your attorney will help you prepare your claim and address any controversies that arise with the insurance carrier. Once you have exhausted your recovery options through insurance, remaining losses can be recovered through a personal injury claim with your attorney’s guidance.

Building a Personal Injury Case for a Car Accident in Azusa

Auto insurance may be enough to cover the damages from a minor accident, but if your losses exceed what the at-fault driver’s insurance policy can offer, you will need to file a personal injury claim to recover the rest. Again, an experienced Azusa car accident attorney is invaluable in this situation. While you may have some grasp of your immediately recognizable damages, there are many forms of compensation you may be unaware that you are eligible to claim.

Most personal injury claims filed in Azusa pertain to specific failures to exercise reasonable care, also called “negligence.” Success with this type of claim will require proving the at-fault driver failed to uphold a specific duty of care or that they failed to exercise the care and caution another reasonable person would likely display in the same circumstances. It is also possible for a personal injury to occur as a result of intentional misconduct or even a willful desire to harm the victim. In these cases, defendants are likely to face criminal prosecution alongside civil claims for damages from their victims.

Your Azusa car accident attorney can help you gather the physical evidence, eyewitness testimony, and expert witness input you may need to establish liability for your recent accident. Then, once you have exhausted your available recovery options through the insurance claim process, your attorney can calculate your remaining losses and list these as damages in your personal injury claim.

One important detail to remember if you intend to file any type of personal injury case in California is the state’s pure comparative negligence law. This law requires fault for any injury to be assigned to all parties that bear partial liability in proportion to their level of liability for causing the accident. This could come into play when multiple defendants bear liability but can also apply to a plaintiff if they contributed to causing the accident in any way. Whenever a personal injury plaintiff bears comparative negligence, their fault percentage is subtracted from their final case award. So, for example, bearing 10% fault in a $200,000 claim would mean losing $20,000 of the case award.

Recovering From Your Azusa Car Accident

An auto insurance policy in the state must cover bodily injury and property damage. This means you can expect a successful auto insurance claim against an at-fault driver to, at the very least, cover some of your immediate medical expenses and vehicle repair costs. In addition, any outstanding economic losses can be listed as damages in your personal injury action as long as you can prove they are the direct results of the defendant’s negligence or misconduct. Most personal injury cases filed in Azusa seek compensation for economic losses such as:

• Medical treatment costs, including emergency care immediately after an accident and any long-term treatment costs incurred by the victim due to the at-fault driver’s actions. Your Azusa car accident attorney can help you gather whatever medical documentation you need to prove the full scope and severity of your injuries.
• Lost income. Your accident could leave you too injured to work until you recover, and the defendant is liable for any lost income or business you experience during this time.
• Lost future income. Some car accidents cause catastrophic injuries, leaving victims completely disabled even after reaching maximum medical improvement from their injuries. If you face permanently diminished earning power due to your car accident, your Azusa car accident attorney will be invaluable for holding the at-fault driver accountable for the future income you could have earned if you hadn’t been injured.
• Property losses. The property damage liability coverage available from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy may only pay a fraction of your vehicle’s total value if it was damaged beyond repair in your accident. For example, if the at-fault driver’s insurance only includes $15,000 in property damage liability coverage but the total actual cash value of your vehicle was $30,000, you could seek the remainder of what insurance won’t cover as property damages in your personal injury claim.

Your economic recovery may be more substantial than you initially expected if you invest in the right attorney to handle your case. Additionally, your attorney can also ensure you receive appropriate compensation for the severity of the experience itself. State law permits a personal injury plaintiff to seek compensation for the pain and suffering the plaintiff experienced because of a defendant’s actions.

State law only limits pain and suffering compensation in medical malpractice cases, so there is no cap on the amount of pain and suffering you can seek from the defendant in your car accident claim. It may seem difficult to prove the scope and severity of the physical pain and emotional trauma you experienced, but a good attorney can assist you in determining reasonable figures that reflect your circumstances.

What to Expect From Your Azusa Car Accident Attorney

It’s normal to feel a mix of frustration, confusion, and uncertainty in the aftermath of any car accident, especially one that you know was not your fault. When you choose Belgum, Fry & Van Allen to represent you in your recovery efforts, we will immediately begin gathering whatever evidence you will need to establish liability for your recent accident. Distracted driving, moving violations, speeding, and driving under the influence are just a few of the most commonly reported causes of accidents in the Azusa area, and our team has the experience to address the unique details of your case.

Our firm will guide you through the insurance claim process until you secure as much compensation as possible for your damages. Once you have exhausted available insurance coverage, we’ll assist you in building a personal injury case seeking compensation for any remaining losses. Once the at-fault driver’s insurance company sees that you have the legal representation, they will be disinclined to mishandle your claim in any way, but our team will be ready to address any discrepancies that may arise until you receive a suitable settlement.

When it comes to your personal injury case, our team has years of experience guiding clients through all types of civil cases. Whether your injury resulted from an act of negligence or an incident involving criminal misconduct of any kind, we will help you prepare for the difficult proceedings ahead of you until you receive fair compensation for your damages. Of course, we strive to settle our clients’ cases as swiftly as possible to hasten their recoveries, but we have the litigation experience necessary to represent you in a trial if a defendant is unwilling to settle.

FAQs About Azusa, CA Car Accident Law

How Long Does It Take to Receive an Auto Insurance Settlement Check?

Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging and stressful, but under ideal circumstances, it may only take a few days for you to receive a settlement offer from an at-fault driver’s insurance. Contested claims will, unfortunately, take much longer to resolve. Your Azusa car accident attorney can help you streamline the insurance claim process to secure your settlement check as soon as possible after your accident.

How Long Will It Take to Resolve a Personal Injury Claim for a Car Accident?

When the other driver’s insurance can’t fully compensate your losses, a personal injury claim will be necessary to secure the compensation your insurance claim can’t provide. The time your case will require to complete hinges on the severity and complexity of your damages, the clearness of the defendant’s liability, and numerous other variables. Some personal injury claims settle within a few weeks, while others can involve months of protracted litigation.

Will I Need to Resolve My Car Accident Case in Court?

Your recovery process following a serious car accident is likely to include an auto insurance claim followed by a civil claim for damages when your losses exceed the defendant’s insurance coverage. Most personal injury claims filed in California end with privately negotiated settlements, but litigation will be necessary if the parties involved cannot reach a mutually acceptable resolution. Your Azusa car accident attorney will advise you as to whether you should expect to face any courtroom proceedings in resolving your case.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth in Azusa?

State law allows you to seek full repayment of all the economic losses you suffered because of the other driver’s negligence or misconduct. Your Azusa car accident attorney can help you calculate the full scope of immediate and future damages your accident has caused, file an insurance claim, and then prepare a personal injury suit if necessary to maximize your recovery. Many variables influence the total potential value of your case, and an experienced attorney is the best resource to consult for an accurate estimate of your total claimable damages.

Is It Worth Hiring an Azusa Car Accident Attorney?

While it may be technically possible for you to manage your recovery efforts on your own, hiring the right attorney to assist you makes every aspect of your recovery efforts easier to manage and more likely to generate the results you hope to see. Even if you think your recovery efforts should be straightforward, it is always best to have legal counsel that you can trust on your side for these difficult cases.

Contact Us

The Belgum, Fry & Van Allen team understands that your car accident has impacted your life in many ways, and you probably have many pressing legal questions in this situation. Legal representation from a trustworthy and experienced Azusa car accident attorney is the best resource to have on your side as you work toward recovering your losses, and our team is prepared to assist you through all stages of your recovery efforts. In addition, time is a major concern for anyone after a car accident, and it’s best to secure legal counsel as quickly as possible after you address your immediate medical concerns. Contact Belgum, Fry & Van Allen to schedule your case evaluation with an experienced Azusa car accident attorney.

Azusa, CA Car Accident Resources

• When to get an Attorney for a Car Accident in California?
• Is it Too Late to File a Car Accident Claim in California?
• What to Do After a Car Accident in California That Was Not Your Fault?
• Common Types of Car Accidents in California
• California Car Accident Statistics
• Is California a No-Fault State for Car Accidents?