Car accidents can be terrifying experiences. All of a sudden, you have to deal with an injury, lost time from work, and a damaged vehicle. You may be confused about your legal rights and options.
Fortunately, you do not have to go through this ordeal alone. The Los Angeles car accident lawyers with M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the California car accident claim process.
Contact us today for help with your car accident claim in Los Angeles, CA at (877) 300-4535.
How Our Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers Can Help With Your Claim
In less than a decade’s time, M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered over $400 million in compensation for our deserving clients. We are a pillar of the community, known for providing aggressive legal representation to accident victims.
If you were injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you can count on our team to:
- Quickly identify all potentially at-fault parties
- Gather evidence to establish fault and the damages you have suffered
- Calculate the value of your claim using all resources available
- Handle all communication on your behalf
- Aggressively pursue the compensation you are owed
Our car accident law firm handles all car accident claims, including:
If you were harmed in a Los Angeles, California car accident that was not your fault, you deserve dedicated legal representation. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with our Los Angeles car crash lawyers.
California Car Accident Claim Process
From speeding accidents to distracted driving crashes, every car accident claim in California is different, they generally follow this process:
Filing of a Claim
California is an at-fault state when it comes to car insurance. This means that the person responsible for a car accident is liable for damages caused by the crash, usually through a claim with their insurance company.
California’s minimum insurance liability amounts are:
- $15,000 for injury or death to one person
- $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person
- $5,000 for property damage
These are just the minimum amounts. People can purchase additional insurance. If the amount of your damages exceed the at-fault party’s liability coverage, you might consider suing the driver to be fairly compensated for all your losses.
Your claim officially begins when you file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. According to California law, the insurance company has 15 days to acknowledge receipt of your claim.
Investigation
California law also imposes an 85-day limit on insurance companies to resolve insurance claims.
During these 85 days, the insurance company must:
- Acknowledge the claim
- Provide any necessary documents for the claimant to file the claim
- Investigate the claim
- Accept or reject the claim
- Pay the settlement
The insurance company investigates the car accident and reviews any evidence related to fault for the accident and the extent of your damages, which may include:
- The 911 call you made to report the accident and seek emergency medical transport
- The accident report was prepared by the California law enforcement officer who responded to the scene
- Statements from the drivers and witnesses
- Photos of the accident scene
- Your medical records that link the accident and the injuries you suffered
- Medical bills, employment records, receipts, repair estimates, and invoices that document your damages
Your lawyer may be able to gather additional evidence and submit it to the insurance company for consideration, such as traffic, dash cam, or red light camera footage.
Negotiation
Once the insurance company has decided that the insured is responsible for the accident, the next phase of the process is to determine how much compensation should be awarded. This is a vital part of the California car accident claims process, where you can most benefit from having an experienced lawyer on your side.
Your lawyer can identify, gather, and submit evidence of the harm you have suffered, such as:
- Medical bills
- Reports from your doctors or other medical experts about projected medical expenses in the future
- Repair estimates
- Letters from your employer, pay stubs, or tax returns that show the amount of income you lost while you were recovering from your injuries
- Reports from economic experts about how your long-term earning capacity will be reduced because of your injuries
- Pain journal entries that discuss your daily symptoms and responses to your injuries
The insurance company will want to settle your claim for as little money as possible, whereas your lawyer will fight for you to be compensated for the full extent of your losses.
Settlement
Once the insurance company has agreed to settle the claim, it has 30 days to pay the compensation. This is usually paid through a check to your lawyer. Your lawyer will deduct whatever amounts are included in the retainer agreement, such as fees, costs, and medical liens. Then, you will receive the remaining proceeds.
If your case does not settle, your car accident lawyer can discuss other options for resolving your claim, such as filing a claim with your own insurance, seeking other liable parties, or filing a personal injury lawsuit.
If you were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. We are ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve.
The California car accident claim process can be complex, but with our firm on your side, you can get your life back on track. Click here for more FAQs about auto accidents or contact us today for your free, no-obligation case consultation.
Additional Car Accident Resources
