A qualified Fresno car accident lawyer is needed if you have been involved in an auto accident in Fresno, CA. Our Fresno personal injury attorneys are always ready to file lawsuits against all responsible parties to seek just recourse for your damages. Auto accidents are the chief cause of bodily injury in the United States. Victims who have suffered harm from auto accidents are entitled to financial recovery for all damages incurred including all current and future medical costs, loss of income, property damage, and mental anguish.

About Us: Our top-rated personal injury law firm is dedicated to providing victims of auto accidents in Fresno and across the San Joaquin Valley including the cities of Madera, Clovis, Sanger, Reedley, Dinuba, Selma and Kerman. We have the resources and experience necessary to handle numerous types of auto accidents including: head on collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, rear-end auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle crashes, bicycle accidents and truck crashes.  Below you will find important legal and factual information regarding auto accidents and how to recover financially for your injuries and receive the medical attention you need. If you have any further questions after reading this article feel free to contact our law offices. All consultations are provided free of charge and our experienced lawyers will travel to Fresno and nearby cities like Madera, Sanger, Reedley, Clovis, Dinuba, Selma and Kerman to meet with you.

Steps to Follow If you Have Been Involved on an Auto Accident: 

There are several important steps which you should follow immediately after an auto accident in order to protect your legal right to compensation for the injuries and damages you have suffered.

Step One: If injured seek medical attention immediately. Contact 911 or your local paramedics (fire department) and have them transport you via ambulance to the nearest hospital emergency room. Swift medical attention and treatment for your injuries without a prolonged gap in medical treatment can play a significant role in establishing the fact that you did in fact suffer injuries from the auto accident.

Step Two: Contact the police department and make sure they take down and file a Traffic Accident Report or TCR.  Traffic Collision Reports are regarded as hearsay evidence and thus are not admissible in the court of law. However they can help gather the important evidence necessary to establish liability and insurance coverage at the time of the accident.

Step Three: Gather your own evidence from the at-fault party. If possible and reasonably safe to do so ask the at fault party for their insurance information, drivers license info, registration documents and phone number.

Step Four: Take pictures of the scene of accident, including pictures of the damage to all vehicles involved. Roadway signs, the intersection where the accident took place, any potential road hazards such as pot holes and climactic conditions at the time of the accident, are also good evidence so ideally you should take pictures of those too. Anything that could help to prove your case should be photographed so that if you end up filing a lawsuit, you can show the jury the pictures to make your case stronger.

Step Five: Retain witness information. If there are any witnesses to the accident make sure to take down their contact information including their name and phone number. Again, this is so that your case becomes stronger. For example, if the other driver claims that you ran the red light, a witness statement could be a critical element of your case to prove that you did not run the red light.

Step Six: DO NOT speak with any insurance adjusters regarding the accident or your injuries. Any statement you make to them can and will be used against you to lower or eliminate any chance you have of recovery. If the insurance adjuster calls you to obtain statements, tell them you are not ready to make a statement and you are hiring an experienced attorney.

Most Dangerous Intersections in Fresno and Clovis California: Based on extensive research we have compiled a list of the most dangerous intersections in Fresno and Clovis:

• Clovis: West Shaw Avenue and Willow Avenue: In 2015 there were 14 accidents resulting in 19 injury claims.
• Fresno: East Shaw Avenue and North Ceder Avenue: According to the Fresno Police Department there have been 15 accidents resulting in more 3 reported deaths. In the last five years there have been over 40 accidents and 16 reported injuries.
• Fresno: West Shaw and Marty Avenue:  Over the past five years there have been a reported 24 accidents resulting in 18 injuries.
• Fresno: North Palm Avenue and North Mars Avenue: Over the past five years there have been 25 reported accidents resulting in 13 injuries.
• Fresno: East Herndon Avenue and North Cedar Avenue: Over the past five years there have been 23 accidents resulting over a dozen reported injuries.

5 Five Most Frequent Tactics Used By Insurance Companies to Deny or Reduce Your Right to Recovery:

First and foremost you must realize that insurance companies do not have your interest in mind, regardless of whether they are your insurance provider or the insurance of the other parties involved in the collision. The interests of insurance companies and their employees are to earn a profit by not paying victims their rightful claims. To maximize their profits, they will do whatever it takes, including anything dishonest or unethical, to get rid of you and not pay you. Below is a list of the most common tactics used by insurance providers to reduce or eliminate your right to recovery under the law. For more information, call a skilled lawyer experienced in car accident cases.

1. Getting you on a recorded line immediately after an auto accident: Right after an accident you may receive a friendly phone call from an insurance adjuster who will begin to ask you very specific questions regarding the collision.  One of those questions will likely be “are you hurt” or “are you in any type of pain.” Their goal is not to know how you are feeling but to make you say that you are fine or that you do not feel any pain. Most individuals who are involved in auto accidents will not feel the full extent of their injuries until at least 24 to 48 hours following an auto accident. This is due to the release of the pain suppressing chemical Adrenalin that is released throughout your body after a traumatic experience. Insurance companies are well aware of this and will attempt to get you on a recorded line stating that you are not in any pain.
2. Greatly reducing the estimated cost of repair to your vehicle: Insurance companies will provide you with a list of “certified” body shops to take your car to for repairs. These body shops work with insurance companies in order to greatly reduce the property damage estimate of your vehicle. Their intention is to argue that the force of impact to the vehicle, evidenced via the damage estimate of the vehicle, could not have caused the injuries you are claiming to have suffered.
3. Telling you that you do not need a lawyer to represent you: In many instances insurance adjusters will try to befriend you and tell you that you won’t need an attorney to represent you. They know full well that if there is no attorney representation then there is no potential threat of a lawsuit against them. If there is no potential threat of a lawsuit insurance companies will likely highly undervalue the value of the compensation you may be entitled to.
4. Lying to you about the time period you have to file a claim: In some cases an insurance company may lie about the time period you may have to file a lawsuit in the court of law. Failure to file a lawsuit within the statutory allotted time period will extinguish your right to recovery under the law.
5. Attempting to settle your injury claim early before you have had the opportunity to be diagnosed for your injuries: Adjusters will attempt to buy you off early before you know the full extent of the injuries you have suffered. Many victims will not realize that once you have accepted their payment and signed off on the release you can no longer receive payment for your damages.
6. Delaying the claims process and telling you that you can’t be seen by a doctor until the claim is processed.

Common Injuries Resulting from Auto Accidents

Below is a list of the most common injuries associated with auto accidents. If you suffered any of these injuries due to the fault of another person, you may be able to sue for damages with the help of an expert attorney who has experience in car accident cases.

• Spinal cord injuries resulting in significant back and neck pain: Back and neck pain including whiplash are the most common injuries resulting from auto accidents. Victims who have continued pain weeks following the incident should be evaluated by either a pain management doctor or a spinal cord specialist.
• Nerve damage: Common types of nerve damage resulting from auto accidents include neuropathy, Bells palsy (facial nerve damage), Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), pinched nerve, and radiculopathy.
• Trauma sustained to the head: Head trauma can result in mild concussions to severe brain damage. Signs and symptoms of brain injury include short term memory loss, nausea, vomiting, and alteration in mood and cognitive abnormalities.
• Facial injuries: Common facial injuries include a broken nose, ocular damage, fracture to the orbital socket, dental damage, broke tooth, and TMJ injures (jaw pain).
• Trauma sustained to the internal organs: Common internal organs that can be damaged include ruptured spleen, collapsed lung, damage to the kidneys resulting in acute renal failure, heart attacks, acute pancreatitis, and bowel obstruction resulting from damage to the small or large intestine.
• Orthopedic injuries: Fractured bones or damage to the skeletal system is one of the most common injuries resulting from auto accidents. Common orthopedic injuries include hand and wrist fractures, broken arms and legs, broke collar bone, foot and ankle fractures.
• Knee damage: In many cases unsuspecting drivers and passengers will bang their knees on the dashboard of a vehicle as a result of the force of an auto crash. Common types of knee damage include tears to the ACL, MCL and meniscus, and shattering of knee caps.
• Mental health damage: This is perhaps the most overlooked injury suffered by victims of auto accidents. Common mental health injuries include addiction to painkillers and opiates, anxiety, depression, and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).

Timing Deadline – Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in California

Under California state laws victims of personal injury including auto accidents have two years from the date of an accident to file a civil lawsuit for financial recovery. Failure to file will result in the loss of your rights.

• Claims against the Government: Victims of harm to the actions of a government entity must first file a claim for recovery through an administrative agency. A claim for damages needs to be filed for administrative review within six months from the date of the accident. Once the administrative claim is rejected victims have 6 months from the date of the rejections to file a civil lawsuit in the court of law.
• Minors: Individuals who sustained injuries in an auto accident as minors (under the age of 18) have two years from the date of their 18^th birthday to file a civil lawsuit in the court of law.
• Exceptions to the two year time limit: In some instances courts have granted a tolling of a statue which allows individuals the right to pursue a lawsuit even though the two year statute of limitations has passed. Common instances where a statute if tolled include cases where the plaintiff was imprisoned, mental incapacitation and physical incapacitation. If you feel you are eligible for an exception to the statute of limitations, call an accomplished attorney with expertise in car accident injury lawsuits.

Financial Damages Compensation for Victims of Auto Accidents:

Car accident victims are entitled to financial recovery for all damages incurred. Below is a list and brief explanation of damages that can be recoverable for victims of personal injury in California.

• Recovery for all current and future medical costs and rehabilitation care.
• Economic damages: This can include loss or damage or property, loss wages and loss of future earning potential due to long term injuries or permanent disabilities.
• Pain and Suffering: In the state of California victims of personal injury are entitled to receive recovery for the physical pain and mental suffering they have had to endure from an auto accident.
• Punitive damage: California courts may grant the awarding of punitive damage when the at fault defendant acted intentionally or recklessly. Common acts which can be associated with reckless conduct include driving under the influence, driven at an extremely high rate of speed, or hit and run accidents. These damages are hard to win, however, and only a top lawyer with experience handling car accident claims will be able to secure them for you.

Attorney Consultation Available Free of Charge: 

If you have any further legal questions regarding a recent auto accident or if you would like a free consultation regarding your case from one of our attorneys feel free to contact our offices. All legal consultations and case reviews are conducted by our Fresno attorneys with experience in car accident cases 100% free of charge.