When to Hire an Auto Accident Attorney in California

Millions of car accidents happen across the United States every year, and 500,000 of them occur in California. The most dangerous counties, accounting for half of the car accidents, are located in Southern California, including Los Angeles (#1 for auto accidents), San Diego, Riverside, Orange, and San Bernadino counties. Many of those accidents leave drivers injured, and in some cases, death occurs.
The leading causes of an auto accident are:

• Distracted driving
• Driving while intoxicated
• Speeding
• Broken Traffic Laws
• Inexperience
• Dangerous Roadways
• Failure to yield
• Bad weather

If you’ve been involved in a car accident that was not your fault, you need to take the correct steps to get the compensation owed to you for damage to your car, injury, and other issues that may have been incurred.  In the state of California, you have a 2-year statute of limitations in which to file a claim against the driver or obstacle that caused your accident. 

Do you know when you should contact an auto accident attorney in California regarding your accident? Read these helpful tips below to see if you should call our experienced attorneys here at Montero Law Firm today! 

Accident with Injury

As a general rule of thumb, any person who was injured in a car accident should consult a personal injury attorney.  

Why a Personal Injury Attorney? 

Personal injury attorneys are well-versed in these types of accident cases. When calling an attorney, make sure that they are experts in auto accident cases.  You wouldn’t want to hire a personal injury attorney who primarily works with Workers’ Compensation Claims because they, most likely, won’t be able to get you the maximum benefits owed to you due to their lack of knowledge of auto accident cases. 

Once you’re stable enough and available, consult with your personal injury attorney to discuss the next steps.  They will act as your liaison between your insurance companies, auto repair shops, medical billing agencies, and more. In addition, having an attorney as an advocate allows you time to heal and recover.  

Insurance Company Issues

Another reason to hire an attorney is complications from the responsible party’s insurance company.  When an accident occurs, insurance companies must be contacted.  You both need to report the accident to your respective insurance companies, and they will, in turn, decide how medical bills, repairs, and other items will be paid.  

In some cases, insurance companies will try to settle as quickly as possible and only cover the bare minimum to close the claim.  This fast settling tactic urges the not-at-fault driver to settle for a small lump sum to pay initial medical bills or other bills.  

By doing so, the person who was not at fault for the accident will be left paying for the rest of the medical bills, car repairs, and other payments on their own.  

This is a lose-lose situation for the person involved in the car accident because they will be paying more and not getting the compensation owed to them by the at-fault driver. 

At-Fault Driver Issues

When an accident, like a fender bender, occurs, many people exchange numbers, insurances and take photos of the damage to submit to the insurance companies. However, if someone is injured and is taken to the hospital, you cannot perform your own initial inspection of the damage and the issues.  Because of this, the at-fault driver may try to get the upper hand and not claim that the damage was as extensive to their insurance company and that it also wasn’t entirely their fault. 

Your attorney will make sure that they are held to the highest standards of the law regarding compensation and make sure that the correct claims are submitted to the insurance companies.  In addition, they will do research, ensure that all of the data and information has been investigated, and ensure that you are being treated fairly. 

Connect with Montero Law Firm

Suppose you’ve recently been injured in an accident or have been in an auto accident within the two-year California statute of limitations. In that case, you must connect with us to schedule your free consultation! We can help you receive compensation for medical bills, auto repairs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  

We are dedicated personal injury attorneys located in Southern California who are knowledgeable and experienced with auto accident cases.  Let us help you recover, heal and get the compensation you deserve! 

To learn more about our law firm, read our other articles, including the most recent “What to Look For in a Workers’ Comp Attorney in California” post.