If you have been injured in a car accident call now to get a free consultation with Los Angeles car accident lawyer Allen Vaysberg at 1-800-824-5416.
As my client you will receive personalized attention to your unique situation.
I specialize in Los Angeles car accident cases and have recovered millions in compensation for my clients.
What To Do After A Los Angeles Car Accident
After a car accident or a car crash in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, it’s always a good idea to get as much information as possible. Here are some of the things that your personal injury attorneys will be looking for in a car accident lawsuit. Sometimes people don’t have complete information, but we always try to get as much information about the accident as necessary.
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- The name, address, and phone number of the other driver.
- Insurance company information for the other driver including the policy number.
- The license plate number of the other car.
- The year, make, model, and color of the other car.
- Photos that are taken of cars involved in an accident are often helpful.
- We also advise that specific information as to the accident itself be conveyed. For example, we ask for the location of the accident including the street, the lane each driver was in, the direction of travel, speed, things like that.
- If there are any witnesses at the scene of the car accident, it’s very important to get their names and numbers. Our firm hires investigators to talk to witnesses in various languages if necessary, so it’s very important to get witness information.
- If the police came to the accident scene, then it’s important to give your attorney a copy of the police officer’s card and information so we can request and order the police accident report for our client.
Preparing Details and Documents for a Car Accident Injury Claim?
Our Los Angeles car accident attorneys will send you a list of things to prepare for our free consultation. It is very likely that you will have “some” of the things on the list. When we meet with new clients in our law firm, we want to know where the accident happened.
We will basically want the “who, what, where, when, why” of the accident. Some of the questions for personal injury lawsuits may be:
- Where did the accident occur?
- Do you have contact information for the other party?
- What street were they driving on and what direction were they going? What lane were they in?
- How fast were they driving and how fast was the other driver going?
- How did the car accident occur?
- What is the extent of property damage?
- We also ask for the contact information and liability insurance information of the other driver.
- Did the police come to the scene of the accident? If so, we request a copy of the traffic collision card so that the police accident report can be ordered.
- We may ask for witness contact information so that we can have an investigator contact any witnesses and take their recorded statements.
- We may also request testimonials from car accident experts.
- Photographs of the scene of the accident or car crash are also asked for if taken.
- We always ask about the person’s car accident injuries. What specifically is bothering the person? If they have visible physical injuries, we recommend that photographs be taken. We obtain the names of any medical facilities or healthcare providers that the person has seen so that the appropriate medical records can be ordered.
Seeking Medical Attention For Injuries Resulting From A Car Accident
If you feel pain after the accident, you should get evaluated as soon as possible before pursuing a car accident lawsuit. If you have a doctor that you see for those things, you can go in for an evaluation or check-up to see what’s wrong.
If it’s a really serious car accident, then sometimes they will be taken by ambulance to a hospital to treat the injuries and attain medical records. If an ambulance isn’t called and the person is concerned they have significant or serious pain, or they’re worried, they can also go to the hospital after the accident as well.
Then once they talk to their car accident lawyer, if they need further information or guidance, our law firm can certainly try to help them to make sure they’re getting the appropriate medical treatment afterwards.
Selecting A Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
Here are some factors to consider when hiring personal injury law and car accident attorneys in Los Angeles to handle car accident claims:
- Talk to a Los Angeles car accident attorney and see if the attorney seems knowledgeable about the area of law that you’re consulting the attorney for. Being comfortable with your attorney is important.
- You want to hire a car accident attorney that is responsive and does not disappear once you sign the agreement. We try to return all of our clients’ calls and emails within 24 hours. The goal is to be actively involved and to properly work up a case on car accident claims.
- Looking into the background of an attorney in handling serious car accident cases is important. You can go on the internet and find out what their experience is involving car accidents, what their professional associations were, what organizations they belong to, are they trying to stay educated and active in this area of California law.
- Trust is important on both sides in any kind of attorney-client relationship. It is a good idea for a potential client to talk to the attorney and make sure that they feel comfortable with who they’re going to hire.
What Is Unique About Car Accident Lawyer Allen Vaysberg?
You can rest assured that we will aggressively fight for you to recover financial compensation that you deserve after surviving such car accident injuries. As your Los Angeles car accident lawyer, I am committed to providing in-depth support services for a client involved in an auto accident or crash, unlike some other car accident attorneys.
Constant Client Communication
Even during the free consultation, I am responsive to our car accident clients so that they’re not always talking to a case manager or a paralegal. I try to have a good relationship with my clients and keep them in the loop. I want to make sure that they understand what’s happening.
If they have questions, I’m here to answer them, especially when the car accident claim involves complex motor vehicle accident injuries. Insurance companies typically are interested in paying as little as possible to the injured party, especially for bodily injury coverage.
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Get Proper Financial Compensation
Sometimes these companies extend the offer of quick money to supposedly help with expenses, but after signing documents to receive the money, the accident victim later learns they’ve signed away their right to file a lawsuit, and the only money they’ll receive is what they were initially paid.
As a result, it is common for the insurance company of the driver that caused the auto accident to offer “lowball” settlement offers to car accident victims.
It is important to protect all your rights by having an experienced personal injury attorney to represent you. The Law Offices of Steers & Associates has the resources and legal expertise to help you deal with all aspects of recovering from an auto accident and personal injury.
Common Worries In The Auto Accident Claims Process
Below are some of the most common client stressors and worries in the process in pursuing a car accident claim for injuries resulting from a car accident in the state of California.
Car Repair
With personal injuries involving cars in particular, people are worried about their cars. Of course, they want to make sure that their car will be repaired or paid for or if it’s totaled. They want to make sure they get a rental car if possible.
Injuries
Of course, the more serious the injuries, the more their injuries take priority. They want to make sure that they can get the most appropriate and best medical treatment that’s possible.
They want to get their car accident injuries looked at and taken care of. They need to get a good treatment plan going so they can try to recover and get back to normal as soon as possible.
Medical Bills
Clients may also worry about getting their medical bills and future physical therapy paid for and making sure they’re going to be compensated eventually. They worry about whether they will have any permanent effects or lingering pain and suffering for the rest of their lives or into the future and how the accident and paying for medical bills could affect them and their families.
On top of possible lost wages, they are concerned with receiving fair compensation to the greatest extent they can because somebody else caused them to suffer.
Paying For The Cost Of Living And Medical Expenses While Litigating A Car Accident Case
Sometimes people have ongoing medical bills and/or are out of work and are unable to make money while their car accident case is ongoing.
That’s a tough spot to be in for someone to sustain injuries after an accident. They can’t work because of their injuries. That can be devastating to a person’s financial situation and also to their family.
Out-of-Pocket Upfront Costs
When someone gets injuries from an accident, oftentimes, they treat by medical providers on what’s called a lien basis. This means they sign an agreement, with the medical providers, that they are responsible for the bill upon the conclusion of the car accident case.
The benefit of that is they don’t have to pay out-of-pocket costs upfront, especially when they’ve been injured in an accident.
Medical Insurance
Some people have medical insurance, and some don’t. If they have insurance yet have a minimal type of coverage or are required constantly to be paying deductibles and co-pays, that can be avoided if they treat on a lien basis after an accident in Los Angeles.
Compensation
If they’re missing time from work, hopefully, they’re able to get some kind of relief, to compensate for potential lost wages. However, you are entitled to compensation for medical bills related to your car accident injury.
As experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyers, our law firm certainly requests that lost earnings and impaired earning capacity, if applicable, be paid by the at-fault party when making a demand for compensation.
Biggest Mistakes People Make That Hurt Their Claims In A Car Accident Case
These are the common mistakes people commit that can decrease the chances of winning their car accident cases in Los Angeles.
- Not hiring car accident attorneys: Some people, that don’t hire experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyers initially, give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. The other driver’s insurance may have fault for the accident but then sometimes the injured person is tripped up by what the insurance adjuster is asking them. They may be saying that really it doesn’t hurt that bad and it turns out they have more significant problems than they realized.
- Not getting enough information: People often make the mistake of not getting enough information at the scene of the accident. We have had had clients who hired our firm in Los Angeles, and it turns out they didn’t give us any information about the other driver or their insurance policy so that required additional investigation. Sometimes, certain clients have only liability insurance coverage for their own insurance. So if they are injured by someone else who doesn’t have insurance or minimal insurance, they may be out of luck.
- Not pursuing treatment: Another issue is when a medical provider recommends treatment and the person doesn’t go or doesn’t follow instructions. Sometimes they may not be able to go for a time due to family obligations or a difficult work situation. If later they come back and say they are still hurting, it makes it harder if they weren’t following their treatment plan.
Likelihood Of Settling A Case With Insurance Companies After Being Involved In A Car Accident
The Difficulty of Getting a Settlement In an Auto Accident Case
The reality is it all depends. Every person’s accident, every person’s right to compensation or damages is different because every person’s body is different and every accident is different. The way an accident happened, the impact, the personal injury, and the susceptibility to an injury can be different for every person.
Sometimes, it goes pretty smoothly. Experienced car accident lawyers will write a demand letter once treatment has concluded or developed further.
If it’s clear that a claim is worth more than the insurance policy limits, an insurance company would be wise to pay that. We give them a 30 day deadline. If they don’t pay that, we could argue later on that the policy is now open and we would pursue additional compensation for our client.
Following The Client’s Lead When Accepting Offers To Settle A Case Involving A Car Accident
Ultimately the client is the one that controls whether or not to accept a settlement after the accident. If a client tells me that they absolutely insist upon taking a settlement, that the dollar amount is okay, and they want it, as a car accident attorney, I have to listen to that.
Usually, if someone has significant injuries, they’re not going to just roll over and say they don’t want to go further with a claim or case. When I’m confident that the top offer was made by the other side, I have a frank conversation with my client and explain to them what they can expect if they take this offer.
California Statute Of Limitations For Filing A Lawsuit Involving A Car Accident
The statute of limitations sets forth a deadline to file a lawsuit. In Los Angeles, CA, and the rest of California there is typically a two-year deadline from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for injuries. There are certain exceptions to this rule like medical malpractice claims, claims against government entities, or when minors are injured.
As a car accident lawyer, it’s important to gather the appropriate evidence of the accident as soon as possible, including accident reports. If an injured person has not talked to experienced car accident lawyers and it is getting close to two years, he or she needs to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Also, if a person gets injuries due to the actions of a governmental entity or employee, that person should consult with Los Angeles car accident attorneys even sooner (before six months are up).
California’s Med Pay/ Medical Payment And Comparative Fault
What would you call it if someone is partially at fault or completely at fault for car accidents or or motor vehicle collisions? Is there a term no-fault, and what does that mean in terms of percentage liability in the accident?
- We have a no fault situation in California under what’s called med pay or medical payment coverage. If you have medical payment coverage with your own insurance company, there is a dollar limit for medical bills they’ll cover for reasonable and necessary medical treatment after an accident.
- If someone is injured after an accident and they have $5,000 in medical payment coverage with their own insurance company, then their insurance will typically pay up to that limit for their medical bills even if the person was at fault for the accident.
- In California you are entitled to recover for your injuries and damages against the at fault party minus any percentage that you’re deemed to be at fault for the accident.
The Most Congested Roads in Los Angeles Where Car Accidents Occur:
Here is a map of the most congested roads in Los Angeles, California. LA is home to some of the most congested roads in the United States. Car, truck, SUV and motor vehicle accidents are common on congested roadways.
Los Angeles CA is home to 7 of the 10 most congested roads in the United States (source). The 7 most congested roads in LA are visible in the map above. Here is a quick breakdown of these roads:
- Harbor Fwy/CA-110 NB The 3.1 miles surrounding this spot is the #1 most congested road in LA (and in the USA).
- Los Angeles — Harbor Fwy/I-110 NB Most Congested Road in LA (and in the USA). The 6.5mi stretch of freeway is from W. Redondo Blvd to W 111th Pl.
- San Diego Fwy/I-405 NB This is the third most congested road in LA. The northbound lane from Santa Fe Ave. to Getty Center Dr.
- San Gabriel River Fwy/I-605 SB The fourth most congested road in LA is the 4.8miles of the San Gabriel River Freeway / Interstate 605 Southbound is LA’s fifth most congested road.
- Santa Monica Fwy/I-10 EB 15 Miles of the Santa Monica Freeway / Interstate 10 Eastbound in LA is Los Angeles’ fifth most congested road.
- Santa Monica Fwy/I-10 WB The Sixth most congested road in Los Angeles is the Westbound lane of the Santa Monica Freeway / Interstate 10.
- Los Angeles — I-110 SB This 2.5mi stretch of Interstate 110 Southbound in LA near 50th St is the 10th most congested road in the USA.
Unfortunately, congested roads mean lots of accidents with big rig, buses, vans, SUV, motorcycles, and other vehicles.
Common Car Accident Injuries In LA
Learn about the common car accident injuries in LA to help prepare your case.
Low speed impacts:
Los Angeles car accidents which take place under 10mph are low speed impacts. Injuries such as whiplash can occur no matter what speed a vehicle is going.
Frontal impacts:
Frontal impacts take place when the front of a driver’s vehicle hits something in front of them such as another vehicle, a wall, tree, animal, or other object.
Rear end collisions:
Accidents or impacts from the rear are a very common type of car accident. This is when a car, truck, SUV or other automobile hits the rear of your vehicle. Often, the driver who was in the rear is at fault in these accidents. A common cause of rear end collisions is distracted driving. Injuries to people in the impacted car vary drastically.
Side collisions:
Car accidents involving side collisions often results in a driver or passenger’s head hitting the side of the vehicle (door, window, etc). Injuries may include concussion, brain damage, or spinal damage.
Intersection collisions:
Intersection collisions are often very serious accidents. For example, T-Bone accidents happen when drivers run red lights and crash into the side of another driver’s vehicle. Head on collisions happen at intersections as well when a vehicle crosses an opposing lane of traffic to turn left.
Distracted Driving Car Accidents
Unfortunately, distracted driving accidents are on the rise in Los Angeles. People are watching TV, applying makeup, checking Instagram, looking up things on Google, and unfortunately, texting and driving.
Distracted Driving Law In California
According to California car accident laws, a person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication, unless the electronic wireless communications device is specifically designed and configured to allow voice-operated and hands-free operation to dictate, send, or listen to a text-based communication, and it is used in that manner while driving.
– California vehicle code 23123.5
Distracted Driving Accidents Statistics
Texting and playing with your phone involves visual, mental, and manual distractions. These car accident statistics in Los Angeles speak for themselves:
- The FCC says that nationwide, about 18% of fatal auto accidents are caused by a distracted driver.
- California has 2,758 Traffic fatalities each year – California Highway Patrol.
- The NHTSA informs us that reading a text takes around 4.6 seconds. An automobile traveling at 55MPH covers 80 feet per second. 80 * 4.6 = 368 feet. 1 American football field = 300 feet. Unfortunately, there are people on the road traveling around in a 4,000lb car driving the length of a football field with their eyes off of the road.
Los Angeles Car Accident Legal Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have To Talk To The Other Party’s Insurance Company?
In California, you are not required to make a statement to the other party’s insurance claims adjuster after being involved in a car accident.
How Do I Know If I Have A Case After A Car Accident?
Gathering evidence and deciding whether or not you have a viable case after being injured in a car accident is a two-way street between experienced lawyers in Los Angeles and their clients. The goal of an attorney is to work on a client’s case efficiently starting with our free consultation. We always try to ensure that our clients cooperate with us.
We ask clients for documents or information to the extent that they can adequately provide them. For car accident situations, it’s important that the injured person try to get as much information and present as much evidence as possible.
Obviously, someone is seriously injured; they can’t do much at the scene of an accident. If you’re not sure if you have a case or not please feel free to call us today for free and friendly advice.
Can I Represent Myself?
Some people feel they can handle it on their own; they feel that they don’t need an attorney at that point. We had a client that came to us for a free consultation but then he decided he wanted to handle it on his own.
He came back to us a few months later after being unsuccessful with settlement negotiations. We were able to get him a large recovery after a lawsuit was filed and work was done for almost two years.
A lot of times, car accident victims trying to get compensation on their own get lowballed by insurance companies. It just depends on what the person’s goals are.
We don’t force anybody to hire us, and nobody should be forced to hire an attorney. If we think we can help an injured person who’s interested, then we explain to them their options and go from there.
How Much Does It Cost For An Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer In Los Angeles To Represent You?
We do not get paid upfront as personal injury attorneys. Our retainer agreement provides follows a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get attorney fees if there’s a recovery. We don’t charge anything for the property damage part of the claim.
If our injured client needs compensation for their car if it’s totaled or if money is paid for repairs, we’re not going to get a percentage for that part of the claim or for rental reimbursement.
We do get a percentage for the bodily injury part of a claim including medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of earnings. That’s pretty much the standard in the personal injury field.
Our consultations of course are free.
What if I am in a Lyft Accident in LA?
Uber and Lyft are examples of a transportation network company (TNC) / ridesharing app rapidly replacing Taxis. Uber and Lyft are popular in LA and other parts of Southern California. Many people arriving in LA and Southern California via airplane use Uber or Lyft as soon as they arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) since allowed beginning December of 2015.
What is a Sigalert?
Unique to Southern California are “Sig-Alerts”, which are named after Loyd Sigmon. Loyd developed a device which LAPD and other authorities used to use to alert the media of catastrophes. Now, Sigalerts are exclusively used for SoCal freeway accidents, specifically, they are used for any wreck or problem which blocks 2 or more lanes of a freeway for 2 or more hours. Sigalerts are issued here by California Highway Patrol (CHP): http://cad.chp.ca.gov/Traffic.aspx.