Have you been injured while driving in West Hollywood, CA? If the answer is yes, you may have legal rights. An experienced West Hollywood car accident lawyer can help you find out if the accident was caused by someone’s negligence or wrongdoing. If it was, you can ask for compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma associated with the crash, and more.
M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers are experienced car accident attorneys in West Hollywood. Since 2013, we have recovered over $400 million for our clients. This isn’t pure luck. We fight tooth and nail for our clients to get what they deserve.
We know that car crashes can be traumatizing. An injury can change your life forever. You shouldn’t have to suffer. Call our law office at (877) 300-4535 to set up a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you move forward.
How M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After A Car Accident In West Hollywood
M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience helping people who are hurt in car accidents. Our lawyers are recognized as “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers Magazine and hold a lifelong membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We are proud to have also received an Avvo Client’s Choice Award for our dedication to our clients.
When you hire our West Hollywood personal injury attorneys, we will:
- Find out what caused the accident and who is responsible
- File insurance claims and negotiate with insurance adjusters
- Collect evidence
- Consult with experts
- Calculate your damages
- File a lawsuit if necessary
Every car accident case in West Hollywood, California, is different. We won’t hesitate to tailor our strategy to meet your needs. If you want to learn more about our personal injury law firm and how we can help, call us to set up a 100% free case review.
What Causes Car Accidents in West Hollywood?
West Hollywood is an iconic part of Los Angeles. Between the Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Boulevard, there is no shortage of tourists, businesses, and things to do. Unfortunately, there is also no shortage of traffic. Like the rest of LA, the streets of West Hollywood can become congested.
This can result in car crashes. In our time working in West Hollywood, we have seen many different causes of car accidents in the area, including:
When we first start working with a client, we find out what caused the accident. This is important so that we can identify who is responsible and build a strong case in your favor. It’s normal for people not to realize how an accident happened, especially when they occur so suddenly.
If you need help finding out what caused your crash, call M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers for help.
What Is the Value of My West Hollywood Car Accident Case?
Most of our clients wonder about the value of their cases. Can you really get enough money to pay for your expenses? The short answer is yes.
Every car accident is different, and sometimes it is hard to predict exactly how much money you will receive. However, many factors can influence the amount that you are entitled to recover. A lawyer with experience in car accident cases can help you calculate your estimated case value so that you can plan accordingly.
Some of the most important considerations are:
- The extent of your physical injuries
- The permanency of your injuries and whether or not you will fully recover
- Your treatment plan and future treatment options
- The cost of your medical expenses
- The psychological impact of the accident, including the onset of mental illness
- Your quality of life after the accident compared to before the accident
- Your ability to work and earn income moving forward
We will discuss each of these elements at the beginning of the representation. Sometimes it’s easy to downplay the impact of the injury on your life. It is important to be open and honest with your lawyer, no matter how difficult, so that they can fight for the full amount of damages you deserve.
What Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims in West Hollywood?
When you settle with a defendant or win at trial, the money you receive is called damages. Damages in West Hollywood car accident cases tend to fall into three different categories. You may be entitled to some or all of these types of damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are financial losses that happen because of an accident or an injury. This is the most common form of damages and the most well-known. Economic damages are meant to reimburse a plaintiff for expenses that arose because they were hurt.
In West Hollywood car crash cases, we recover economic damages for:
- Medical bills
- Follow up doctors visits
- Cost of medicine
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Surgery costs
- Mental health treatment
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
We can usually prove economic damages through bills, invoices, and paystubs. Keep track of all documentation at the time of billing so that you don’t have to search for it later.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages pay a plaintiff for emotional and psychological losses after a car crash. These damages are intangible and can be more difficult to calculate. Examples of non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Emotional trauma
- The onset of mental illness
- Inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship
Many people don’t realize that they can recover money for this type of damages. However, they are just as important as economic damages. A car accident can leave you with lasting trauma that you would not have but for someone else’s negligence. You deserve to get paid for that.
Punitive Damages
Unlike the first two forms of damages, punitive damages are less common. You are not automatically entitled to punitive damages. That’s because their purpose is to punish the defendant for bad behavior. This is different from compensating you for your actual losses.
In California, you can ask for punitive damages only if you prove that the defendant acted with:
- Fraud
- Oppression, or
- Malice
You must prove the defendant’s state of mind by clear and convincing evidence, which is a stronger showing than for the other two types of damages. That’s not always easy to do, especially in car accident cases. Some examples where punitive damages might be appropriate are in drunk driving cases or road rage incidents.
You should speak with a lawyer to find out if you are entitled to punitive damages. It can be difficult to prove, but worth it to prevent something similar from happening in the future.
What Should I Do if the Defendant Blames Me for Causing My West Hollywood Car Accident?
It’s normal to be blamed for causing a car accident, even if you aren’t at fault. That’s how the defendant and their insurance company try to get out of paying damages. We are used to protecting our clients from unfair blame after a crash.
If you are blamed, it does not necessarily mean that your case is over. California applies a standard called “pure comparative negligence.” This doctrine says that a plaintiff can recover money from a defendant, even if they are partially at fault for causing the crash. The catch is that the damages are reduced by the plaintiff’s share of responsibility.
For example, if you are 25% responsible for causing a crash, you can recover 75% of your total damages. This is less than ideal but better than not being able to recover anything at all. Of course, our goal is always to protect you from getting blamed.
If anyone, or their insurance company, is suggesting you are at fault, you should call a lawyer immediately. It’s better to have an expert handle these types of allegations than to risk losing your case or getting less than you deserve.
Car Accidents In West Hollywood Can Cause All Types of Injuries
Unfortunately, many of our clients who are involved in West Hollywood car crashes have sustained catastrophic injuries, including:
- Head injuries
- Brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Nerve damage
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding or crushing injuries
- Burns
- Facial injuries
- Wrongful death
We can help you no matter the severity of your injury. Our lawyers will receive your medical records and talk with your doctors to fully understand the extent of the harm you’ve suffered.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in West Hollywood, California?
You can’t wait forever to file a lawsuit based on your car crash in West Hollywood. You only have two years from the date of the accident or the date that you discovered your injury.
This time will go by quickly. Before filing a lawsuit, you will probably need to negotiate with insurance and the defendant. It’s important to talk with a lawyer early on in your case so that you don’t miss your deadline. If you file your lawsuit too late, your case is dismissed.
Set Up a Free Consultation With a West Hollywood Car Accident Attorney
Don’t delay calling a West Hollywood car accident attorney to represent you. M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers are available for a free consultation to explain your legal options. Let us handle your legal case while you focus on your recovery.
