An accident involving a motor vehicle can cause stress and overwhelm everyone involved. It can seem daunting to take legal action against the person responsible for an accident-related injury and the pain it causes. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the personal injury claims process, from beginning to end.
Are you injured in a recent car accident? The AutoAccident.com Modesto car accident lawyers can help you get maximum compensation for your injuries. (209) 227-1931, (800)404-5400) to learn more. We are always available to offer friendly, free advice.
Since 1982, our auto accident lawyers have been handling cases similar to yours. We have the skills, experience, and resources to investigate motor vehicle accidents, gather evidence, and locate eyewitnesses. We can defeat the defense tactics employed by insurance companies to offer low settlements for personal injuries or to deny bodily injury claims. Our legal team won't allow insurance companies to exploit you. They are only interested in their bottom line. Contact us today to learn more about our Modesto auto accident lawyers and schedule a complimentary consultation.
An Auto Accident Attorney Who Cares About You
The area is highly trafficked thanks to the availability of Interstate 5 and State Route 99 which allow motorists to travel through Modesto. Major construction projects such as the State Route 99-Pelandale Avenue Reconstruction Project, are frequent. The area is prone to accidents involving motorbikes, cars, and big rigs.
Our law firm is a strong advocate for anyone who has been seriously injured in a car accident in Northern California. Our Modesto auto accident lawyers have the resources and experience to get the compensation that our clients deserve. Many people in Stanislaus County have been helped in motor vehicle collisions of all kinds.
Our legal team offers quality services and compassionate listening to all. We have the financial strength and financial ability to take on large trucking and insurance companies. Other personal injury lawyers also claim that they can deliver. We found that very few of them know how to get the right verdicts for severe injury victims.
The Law Offices Edward A. Smith has Modesto car accident lawyers who can help you evaluate your case and recommend the best ways to recover financial compensation. We offer legal representation for Californians who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents, even Stanislaus County residents. To schedule a complimentary case evaluation, call us today. We can help you understand your rights and provide an estimate of the value of your personal injury case.
The Most Common Causes of Auto-Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are most often caused by driver error. These are some of the most common causes of auto collisions:
- Speeding: Drivers who exceed the speed limit are often responsible for auto accidents. This happens because a motorist is unable to slow down in time to avoid an accident, or to perform evasive maneuvers.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In 2022, drunk driving resulted in the deaths of 15,511 people according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Along with driving over the speed limit and distracting driving, DUI is a major cause of death and serious injury in motor vehicle accidents.
- Falling asleep behind the wheel Tiredness from work shifts or other causes many accidents.
- Driving Without Attention to Traffic Signs and Signals: Many drivers ignore traffic signs or signals at intersections, leading to serious traffic accidents.
- Avoid driving in bad weather or on roads that are not in good condition. It is important to adjust speed and other aspects of driving according to road conditions. This is especially important on busy highways where it can lead to serious injuries.
- Driving recklessly in California on highways like Highway 99. Reckless driving can be caused by anger or lack of concern for other motorists. California penalizes reckless drivers with heavy fines.
- Not yielding the right of way Some drivers may believe they have always had the right-of-way, while others might be confused. It is essential to be familiar with the rules of the road. For example, who gets first at a stop in four directions?
- Distracted driving - Multitasking while driving can be dangerous. Many drivers text, eat and check their GPS while driving. This activity is prohibited by law. This behavior is not being stopped.
What steps are involved in the personal injury claims process?
California is considered a state at fault for motor vehicle accidents. This means that the driver's liability is transferred to them and used to calculate damages in accident lawsuits. Some cases can be entirely at the feet of one driver while others may see a split between the drivers. This is known as a comparative fault.
Imagine, for example, that a driver was driving towards an intersection, and the other driver entered it without stopping at any stop signs. The other driver, who had right of way, drove faster to enter the intersection and cross it before the oncoming car. California's comparative negligence laws ruled that both drivers were negligent in this instance.
The jury determines the percentage of fault that each driver is responsible for. This affects the amount of personal injury compensation that the victim receives.
The driver who is 60% responsible for an accident will be paid 40% of any financial damages. He or she would be entitled to $40,000. If the amount was $100,000, The personal injury damages would be split 60/60 between the driver and the other driver.
The Most Common Types Of Motor Vehicle Crashes
These are the most frequent types of auto accidents:
- Rollover accidents - Certain vehicles are more susceptible to rollovers because they have higher centers of gravity. This applies to vans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and light pickup trucks. Rollovers can be deadly and cause severe injury or death.
- Rear-end collisions: This happens when one vehicle follows another too closely. This can occur if the brake lights on the leading vehicle are not working properly.
- One-vehicle accidents: These accidents are very common. Run-off road accidents or drunk driving are common causes of single-vehicle traffic collisions.
- Head-on collisions: This happens when one driver drives in an erroneous lane. Head-on collisions can be fatal because they combine the velocity of both cars.
- Side impact accidents: Also known as a T-bone collision (motor vehicle collision), this type of accident often happens at intersections. Broadside collisions account for 25 percent of traffic deaths.
The Most Dangerous Corners in the Modesto Area
Our law firm investigated the number of accidents at intersections in Modesto for 10 years. Our legal team determined that these intersections are dangerous using this number.
- Bodem Street and Scenic Drive
- McHenry Avenue and Burchell Court
- Carver Road and Briggsmore Avenue
- Coffee Road and Briggsmore Avenue
- Evergreen Avenue and Briggsmore Avenue
- McHenry Avenue & Briggsmore Avenue
- Norwegian Avenue and McHenry Avenue
- Oakdale Road and Briggsmore Avenue
- McHenry Avenue and Orangeburg Avenue
- Standiford Avenue and Sylvan Avenue
What Kinds of Injuries Are Common in Accidents?
We have witnessed many injuries as accident lawyers from Modesto in California. The following are some of the most common injuries from traffic collisions:
- Lacerations: These are common and usually caused by sharp objects in the vehicle.
- Bruising Most bruising after an auto accident is caused by impact on the dash, steering wheel, or pressure from safety restraints.
- Broken bones including fractures in the femur or pelvis.
- Cervical strain (whiplash),: This injury is usually associated with rear-end accidents. It's caused by rapid neck and head movement.
- Traumatic brain Injury: including concussion or hemorrhage. A TBI is when the brain rubs against the bony skull surface. A severe head injury such as a head injury in a car accident can cause permanent brain damage.
- Spinal Cord Injury: at all Levels: This injury can cause partial or complete paralysis of the extremities. The extent of an injury to the spinal column will determine the severity.
- Burns - This may lead to long rehabilitation depending on the severity.
- Vertebral disc herniation: This can lead to pain and may need surgical intervention.
What to Do After a Car Accident
It is a smart idea to consider what you should do in case of a car accident. Preparation is a great idea, as most people will have three accidents in their lifetime. Here are some tips for what to do after an accident.
- If the accident occurred on a highway, immediately call the cop or California Highway Patrol.
- Keep your eyes on the accident scene.
- You should check the condition of any other occupants in your vehicle.
- Move the vehicle to the side.
- Position flares around your vehicle if you have them.
- Check on other vehicle occupants and drivers if it is safe.
- If you require an auto accident lawyer, call him.
- Contact information and details about your car, such as registration and license numbers, from other drivers involved in an accident.
- Get contact information from witnesses to the accident.
- Ask for the name of the investigating officer when the police arrive.
- Note down the details of what happened, and where it occurred.
- If you can see the injury, tell medical personnel.
- Even if you're not taken to the emergency room, make sure you see a doctor.
A lawyer is needed to represent you if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident.
Modesto Car Accident FAQ
What constitutes negligence in a traffic accident?
To be able to file a personal injury claim, a top-rated Modesto auto accident lawyer must first prove negligence. It is not just about other drivers, it can also be caused by other factors. Some of the most common causes are auto defects or failures to maintain roads in safe conditions by local and state authorities.
How can you claim compensation for a defective traffic light at a Modesto intersection
If the traffic control devices at these intersections malfunction, it could be a liability. Before a claim/lawsuit can be filed for an auto accident caused by a negligent driver there are certain conditions:
- The other driver did not follow their legal and prudent driving obligations.
- This caused an accident
- Motor vehicle collisions were the reason you were hurt
- The incident led to damages
How can you prove fault in an accident?
Modesto car accident lawyers will need to consider many factors when determining who is at fault for a crash. An attorney will listen to the client's account of what happened and then review police reports. Witness accounts give detailed descriptions of the accident from various vantage points to consolidate the overall picture.
Photos taken on the spot are a great resource. They show damage to the vehicles as well as their final location. A car accident lawyer might hire a reconstruction expert to create a digital image of the event. This invaluable tool is useful in court.
How long is a claimant required to file a personal injury suit for a motor vehicle accident?
California law allows you to file a claim within two years of the accident. This is not always true.
You have six months to file an Administrative Claim if the accident was caused by a state, city, or federal agency's negligence. This must be filed within six months of the accident. The government agency then has 45 days to respond.
You have six months to file a civil claim if the notice of claim has been denied. These six months beginning from the date you receive the reply by mail or the day it was given to you personally. You have two years to file personal injury lawsuits if you do not receive a denial letter within 45 days.
Get a free consultation with a Modesto car accident attorney today
Our Modesto car accident lawyers can help you if you have been seriously injured in an accident caused by another driver. To schedule a complimentary consultation at our Modesto office, call (209) 227-1931 or (808) 404-5400
1015 12th Street STE 7
Modesto (CA 95354)
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