Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
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Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Sacramento
Auto accidents are capable of significantly disrupting a person’s life, often presenting many emotional, financial, and physical obstacles. Those who are injured in auto collisions and those families who have lost loved ones in crashes due to another’s negligence deserve compensation for medical care; lost income, including potential income; and pain and suffering. An experienced Sacramento car accident lawyer can stand up to the insurance companies for you to make sure you get every dollar you rightfully deserve.
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At Crowell Law Offices, our Sacramento car accident lawyers have earned the respect of insurance company adjusters and insurance company attorneys from the thousands of auto accident cases we have handled over the years. Our ethical professionals will present your case in the best possible light in order to recover the compensation you deserve. If you or a family member has been injured in an auto accident caused by the negligence of another driver, call us at (916) 303-2800. We offer a free consultation to explain your rights under the law.
Car accidents are unfortunately a common phenomenon across America. California sees hundreds of thousands of car accidents every year, and deadly crashes happen all the time. But what causes these Sacramento car accidents?
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of accidents. Talking on the phone, eating, texting, adjusting settings in the car such as music or air conditioning, or talking to or handing things to passengers are all forms of distracted driving. Even a moment of lost focus can result in an accident.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal in all 50 states, and is a frequent cause of accident-related fatalities. Those driving under the influence have a decreased sense of judgment when behind the wheel and may cause devastating accidents.
The government, both local and state, are in charge of maintaining infrastructure, including roads and highways. When the government fails to handle problems like potholes, broken or missing guard rails, or outdated signage, drivers can suffer the consequences. The government agencies responsible may be held liable.
Proving Fault in a Sacramento Car Accident Claim
It is vital that an independent investigation will be conducted by an experienced car accident lawyer. Your lawyer will investigate the circumstances of the accident. Witnesses will be interviewed. A written statement will be obtained from them. Photographs will be taken of the accident scene including damage to both vehicles. Your attorney may even bring in an expert at auto accident reconstruction in order to help prove the cause of the accident and who was at fault.
Reasonable Care After a Car Accident
Your car crash likely occurred because of the carelessness or negligence of another driver. When a driver is deemed negligent, that means he or she has behaved behind the wheel in a careless, unsafe manner. The other driver may have attempted to run through a red light. He or she may have been exceeding posted speed limits. The driver may have been distracted while driving, etc. Drivers must at all times exercise “reasonable care” while behind the wheel.
Most Common Car Accident Injuries in California
Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Sacramento and beyond include distracted driving and negligence in high-risk areas. Unfortunately, even low-speed crashes can cause serious and debilitating injuries.
Some of the most common injuries Californians suffer during auto accidents include:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Soft tissue injuries
- Psychological trauma
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial injuries
- Internal organ damage
Hospitals and emergency rooms are filled with people who have suffered a wide range of injuries due to car accidents, and this isn’t a complete list. The devastating effects of a car crash are unpredictable; there are so many variables involved
Medical Treatment is Almost Always Necessary
It’s important that you seek medical treatment immediately after a car accident. Some injuries are not readily apparent, including brain injuries, and some don’t show up for days or weeks after the crash. If you wait to seek medical treatment, your injuries could become worse. Your medical records will also prove very important if you choose to pursue a lawsuit against the negligent or careless party who caused your accident. They may be essential in determining the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive.
Treatment for Auto Accident Injuries
Your doctor may order X-rays, MRIs and other screenings to help determine the extent of your injuries. Unfortunately, these diagnostic tools are very expensive to use; in many cases, you’ll end up paying out-of-pocket. It’s no wonder medical bills pile up so quickly. Outside your medical bills, you’ll still have to figure out how to pay for rehabilitation, treatments and your prescriptions. If you have health insurance, you need to know that it may not cover everything you need to recover. Sometimes long-term care is necessary, too, which can destroy your savings and cause you undue financial hardship. Make sure that you obtain copies of all of your medical records, including detailed descriptions of treatments that you have received as a result of your injuries.
Bringing a Negligence Action in Sacramento
If you have been injured due to another’s negligence like cell phone use, texting, speeding, etc., you will most likely bring a negligence action. In order to prove a claim of negligence, four elements have to be proven by the plaintiff. They include the following:
- You must prove that the driver had a duty to operate the motor vehicle with reasonable care.
- You must prove that by their action (or lack of action) the driver breached that duty to exercise “reasonable care.”
- You must prove that the cause of the crash was the other driver’s breach of their duty to exercise “reasonable care.”
- You must prove that as the result of the collision, damages were sustained.
Proving Fault After a Car Crash
In order to successfully argue a lawsuit against a careless or negligent driver, the law requires you to prove that the driver was at fault and that the accident would not have occurred if the other driver was exercising reasonable care. Your lawyer will rely heavily upon your version of events. It’s important that you remember as many details as you can about the accident; this will help your attorney reconstruct what happened.
What You Need to Prove
Under California law, your attorney will need to prove four things:
- The driver had a duty to operate the motor vehicle with reasonable care
- The driver’s action (or lack of action) was a breach of his or her duty to exercise “reasonable care”
- The cause of the crash was the other driver’s breach of their duty to exercise “reasonable care”
- As the result of the collision, damages were sustained.