Trusted Santa Monica Car Accident Lawyers: Experienced Guidance When You Need It Most
A truck or car accident can ruin more than just your day. You likely lose hours at work, accrue high medical expenses, and even experience long-term pain and suffering. If you have serious injuries from a car accident in Santa Monica, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention and then write up a report to the Santa Monica Police Department. Calling an attorney soon after is the next pivotal step.
At the Law Offices of Eric Hershler, we offer free consultations. We have experience in over 17,500 personal injury cases throughout California. The combination of our legal-system knowledge and our willingness to be accessible to our clients gives us an advantage over other firms. We strive for efficiency without losing sight of effectiveness in seeking to maximize recovery and can assist in dealing with insurance companies, who may attempt to minimize payouts.
To learn more in a free consultation, call 424-432-5084 now.
What To Know After A California Car Accident
To help you get a sense of what matters in your claim, here are a few tips if you or a loved one were in a car accident:
- Get insurance information from the driver of the other vehicle.
- Keep a record of contact information from the driver and whatever witnesses were around at the time of the accident.
- Compile hard copies of medical bills and other statements related to the injury.
- Log all missing work hours from the moment of the accident up until the present.
- Take pictures of all vehicles involved in the accident.
Taking the proper steps following a car accident can make all the difference in payment for damages. Your well-being matters. We have more than 35 years of experience giving clients legal counsel in injury and accident cases.
What Not To Do After An Injury Accident
One of the most important things you can do after a car crash has more to do with what you shouldn’t do after a car accident: talk too much. Sharing the details of your accident — on social media, with friends and especially with an insurance company — may complicate things. Obviously, you will have to speak to insurance, but keeping what you say to an absolute minimum may protect you. We guide clients through every aspect of the personal injury claims process. The sooner you call 424-432-5084, the sooner our personal injury team can begin to fight for you.
Car Crashes Involve More Than Just Cars
One of the generalizations that people make is that a car crash is between two cars. That’s not always the case. Severe injuries often result from pedestrian accidents or crashes involving commercial trucks, delivery vehicles, buses and the full range of types of vehicles. Car accidents may involve many nuances that are specific to the individual facts of the case. Potential sources of income may include other responsible parties beyond to the insurance provider for the driver — depending upon the unique circumstances.
A business, construction company or government agency may also have some responsibility for the accident. We review the details, the evidence, and all the facts, to provide individual strategies for motor vehicle accident claims.
A Full-Service Santa Monica Personal Injury Litigation Law Firm
Our experience spans across the spectrum of California motor vehicle accident personal injury claims, including those involving:
Truck And Motorcycle Accident Victims Are Prone To Catastrophic Injuries
Accidents on the road can involve vehicles of all types, shapes and sizes. These crashes are also extremely complex.
Truck crashes, for example, are complex legal pursuits. The business structure of the trucking company is important in a trucking accident investigation. What many people face is the devastation a massive truck may inflict on the accident victim and family members of the injured person. We know how to investigate these tragic accident claims.
Motorcycle accidents involve some of the most painful and dangerous injuries. Riders do not have the same level of protection that a car may provide to drivers and passengers. Moreover, many drivers fail to see motorcycles, leading to tragic motorcycle accidents.
With Uber And Lyft, Car Crashes Look Different In An App-Based World
The rise of rideshare apps and companies, especially in California, means that getting compensation for an accident is more complicated than ever before. Suddenly, there is a major corporation involved, with all the resources that entails. At the Law Offices of Eric Hershler, our team understands the nuances of Uber and Lyft accidents, and we bring our substantial reputation and experience to your case.
Car Accident Statistics For Los Angeles
According to data provided by the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), we can know a lot about accident frequency. For example, we can know that in 2019, the city of Los Angeles shows:
- 34,606 casualties from car accidents
- 1878 casualties from motorcycle accidents
- 1811 casualties bicycle accidents
Casualties, in this instance, include the numbers of those suffering injury, including fatal injury. Note that bicycle casualties saw a high level of failure to use safety equipment vast majority of bicycle casualties occurred when safety equipment.
Common Causes Of Car Crashes
Statistics are great for telling us what has happened in a very clean, numbers-oriented matter. However, what statistics may not as clearly illustrate is the circumstances leading up to an accident. For example, there are many circumstances that increase the chances of an accident, such as:
- Poor maintenance on commercial vehicles
- Poor driving conditions during storms
- Unstable roadways
- Distracted drivers not paying attention to the road
- Impaired drivers
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Driver fatigue
- Inexperienced drivers
- Poor road design or maintenance
- Vehicle defects
- Weather conditions
- Animal crossings
- Driver inattention
As a driver, there is a limit to what you can control. But when you get in an accident, and you have injuries, you can get the help you deserve.
Reach Out For Information
Our team will work to put your counseling needs first. Protect your future and contact our office today. Call 424-432-5084 or send an email to arrange a free consultation to discuss your car accident claim. Our team’s extensive experience in handling car accident cases ensures that we are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the legal system for you. Absolutely no legal fees unless you recover compensation.
Answering Common Questions About California Car Accidents
Whether you have been in a car accident before or this is your first one, you might have questions about what you need to do with your claim. At the Law Offices of Eric Hershler, we hear from many clients involved in crashes in Santa Monica and throughout the area. We want to take a moment to answer some of these questions. Call us at 424-432-5084 or send us an email with your questions or to schedule your free consultation.
How do I know what my case is worth?
The best way for you to find out the value of your claim is to schedule a consultation with our team. We can sit down with you, discuss what happened and give you an idea of what you can expect going forward. But you should do that before you talk with insurance companies.
We have met with too many clients who have settled with an insurer for pennies on the dollar, never realizing the harm they have done to their case. They took the insurance adjuster’s word for it and made decisions that resulted in them suffering severe financial consequences when injuries and damages in the car accident were more serious than anticipated.
My insurance company is pushing me to settle. What do I do?
Do nothing until you have talked to an attorney. While you might think that your insurance company is looking out for you, the sad truth is that this is not the case. They are focused on settling any and all claims for as little compensation as possible because, ultimately, that is what protects their bottom lines. They may offer a quick settlement that seems generous initially but doesn’t account for future medical expenses or long-term impacts of your injuries.
Do not talk to them at all about your case until you have had the chance to get a clear picture of your injuries and what sort of care you will need, which is needed to determine the real value of your case. Always consult with an attorney to ensure you’re receiving a fair offer.
How long will my case take to settle?
The answer to this question is going to depend on a lot of different factors. This can include the severity of the accident and your injuries, as well as the insurance companies that are involved in the case. There is no one-size-fits-all answer we can give here because each accident has its own facts and circumstances.
What we can do is give you an honest assessment and evaluation of your options when you come in to meet with us. When you connect with us, we will look at your case, determine what we feel are the best approaches to take and help you decide what is right for your future.
Our goal is to obtain closure; we are not a law firm that is going to simply drag out your case forever. Nor are we a firm that looks to settle immediately. We put together an efficient plan that is designed to get you maximum compensation. Along the way, we involve you in the process and present you with information when important decisions need to be made.
Will my accident case end up going to court?
We make every effort to settle cases before litigation becomes necessary. That being said, there are some claims that simply cannot be resolved prior to trial. If we feel that going to court is the right move to make in your case, we will present you with that option, and you can decide if that is what you want to do. Our attorney is an experienced and accomplished trial lawyer, and he is not afraid to try a case if that is the best way to recover maximum compensation for our clients.
Who is responsible for an Uber or Lyft accident?
Rideshare accidents are complicated because the individual driver and the company can both be at fault for an injury. In some cases, both share legal responsibility for injuries they cause. Courts determine responsibility based on the cause of the accident, whether your accident was still a part of the “ride,” and a variety of other factors.
Can a rideshare company use my phone data in my case?
In some cases, a rideshare company may request phone data like GPS information or other data through the discovery process. Most of your information is protected, and the process is highly limited.
Should I accept a settlement offer from my rideshare provider?
You should never accept an offer until you talk to an attorney. Rideshare insurance companies often contact car accident victims quickly with a compensation package long before the injured person truly understands the extent of their injury. Make sure you know for sure that a settlement is fair by speaking to a lawyer.
How much can I expect from a rideshare settlement?
Every case is different, and your settlement depends on the nature of your injury and the circumstances of your crash.
For a full evaluation, or answers to your individual questions, reach out to the Law Offices of Eric Hershler in Santa Monica. Call 424-432-5084.
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