Sylmar Car Accident Attorney

When you’ve been injured in a car accident, there is no doubt that you will have a lot of questions about what to do next. Here are some things to know as you go through the process.

Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer

There are several reasons why you would want to hire an attorney rather than assume the risk of representing yourself. Taking a look at a few of these reasons will allow you to understand what to expect from your attorney, and how they can fight for you.

Fight Back Against Insurance Companies

First of all, when the insurance company’s attorneys and adjusters—who are experts on the law and have been working in this industry for years—see that someone without that knowledge is representing themselves, they will work aggressively to work a better deal for themselves, since they know that you don’t have the knowledge to object. Hiring an attorney who will aggressively go after the insurance companies means that you’re more likely to get the full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured.

Car accident law seems very simple on the surface, but laws can and do change, and that doesn’t often get disseminated to the public very well. There are advocacy groups who promote legislation that they believe will reduce drunk driving and are constantly fighting to change laws. In other cases, ordinances might be changed in jurisdictions or other local regulations may be in place that you are unaware of. These may not happen very often, but when they do, they can affect the outcome of your case. And a Sylmar car accident attorney will know about these updates, and how they affect clients.

Access to Expert Witnesses

Another reason why you want to hire an attorney is because of the access to resources an individual may not have. Your attorney can’t possibly know all the details of biochemistry, mechanical engineering, physics, etc. that will be necessary in a case where the facts are being disputed by the insurance company. That’s where an expert on forces, for example, can explain how and why a weird injured was able to occur under the right circumstances.

If your attorney is considering litigation, then an expert can help discover or interpret evidence to benefit your case in court. When working with these legal experts, the utmost care is taken to ensure your privacy, and sensitive information about your case is only shared with the expert as it relates to your case.

If there were any factors related to your car, your blood alcohol content (BAC) results or any other roadside testing, or the precariousness of the area where your accident occured, then an expert witness may be able to help explain your situation to a judge and jury.

Car Accident Statistics In Sylmar

For the year 2018, the Los Angeles Police Department reported that there were a total of 18,202 traffic collisions. Here are the statistics on those accidents:

• Fatal accidents: 90
• Hit and run accidents: 8,991
• Accidents caused by driving under the influence (DUI): 465

Wearing a seatbelt, not driving while intoxicated, and never driving while distracted will help reduce your chances of being involved in an accident.

FAQ About Car Accidents in Sylmar

There is no doubt that you have many questions, so here are some of the more frequently asked questions from new clients.

1. What is hiring a great lawyer going to cost me?

Don’t wait to call an attorney. You don’t have to pay a penny upfront. Your attorney at The King Law Firm is going to fight aggressively to ensure you get the highest possible compensation. If they do not win, you don’t pay. Our commitment is to justice, and to helping people in the Sylmar community get the compensation they deserve after personal injuries and car accidents.

1. Are all car accidents treated the same under the law?

No. There are some things that get oversimplified when passed around by the general public, to the point where the information is just false. In fact, a lot can change the outcome of a car accident case, such as whether or not the driver was wearing a seatbelt or was intoxicated at the time of the accident. There are also a number of myths about alcohol, such as drinking coffee to help someone sober up enough to drive home. Anytime you get behind the wheel after drinking, you risk getting into an accident and being held responsible for the outcome.

What does get confusing is understanding “fault” versus “no-fault” state. Each state adopts its own laws in regards to how insurance companies will handle how much a person is responsible for having caused an accident. California is a “fault” state, which means that you can receive compensation from the other party if they are fault, even if you are also at fault.

1. How does my car’s worth get estimated, and by who?

An adjuster or an appraiser from the insurance company will look at the vehicle wherever it is being held, to inspect it and then write an initial estimate. The mechanics in the shop will also give their input because if there are other issues they find during the repair process that need to be charged, they will have to get approval from the insurer before making those repairs. Sometimes the adjuster will even return to do an additional inspection. For repairs such as replacing a bumper, you will be given an estimate and can compare it with other mechanics in the area. If you agree to the amount, it will be paid to repair what was damaged. If the damages were so severe that they are more than the worth of the car, then you can seek the replacement value of your vehicle.

1. When should I see a doctor?

Immediately! If you declined medical help at the scene of the accident, for any reason, then you need to see a doctor urgently in order to be assessed for any injuries and to have a paper trail should symptoms show up later. Unfortunately, because of how the body is formed, injuries deep in the tissues, neck, and joints may not begin to bother you for a while. You want to be assessed to ensure you don’t have any slight symptoms whatsoever, whether or not they may evolve into a worse injury later.