CCar accidents can leave victims with some injuries and damages that can be difficult to overcome completely. While the physical injuries can be severe, the financial damages caused by medical expenses, and any damage to your property can also leave victims with a significant burden. Fortunately, victims of car accidents may be able to seek monetary compensation either through an insurance claim or a lawsuit filed against a negligent driver. If you or a loved one have suffered from a car accident in or near the city of Hanford, it may be in your best interest to seek legal representation from a skilled Hanford car accident attorney. At Normandie Law Firm our experienced Hanford car accident attorneys can guide you through the often arduous process of building your case, filing your claim, and reaching the settlement you deserve for your damages. If you have any questions after reading this article, please feel free to reach out to our law offices near Hanford, California, for a free consultation from one of our well-versed legal advisors.
Car Accidents in The City of Hanford
Whether you’re pulling out of your driveway, or on a cross-country road trip, car accidents can happen anywhere. In some cases, these accidents are very minor, such as fender benders or scratching the side of another car when pulling into a parking space. However, there are instances where a car is deemed a ‘total loss,’ and the victims of the accident have to be rushed to the hospital.
Unfortunately, car accidents can occur in the city of Hanford just as likely as they can occur in other cities throughout the country. Hanford is located just south of the San Joaquin Valley and is in the Kings County of California. According to a 2016 census performed by the California Department of Finance, the population was estimated to be around 55,000. Hanford is one of many significant agricultural hubs in and around California’s Central Valley and is located not too far east of the city of San Francisco. If you or a loved one experienced a car accident in the city of Hanford, it is highly recommended that you seek legal representation from a Hanford auto accident law firm, as they can better argue for you and your case.
One of the first things to take note of in filing either an insurance claim or lawsuit for a car accident is being able to identify the damages that you suffered. The damages of a case, play a massive role in determining the amount you may receive as a settlement payout. While property damages can add a large amount to the value of a case, physical damages can vastly exceed the number of property damages when they are particularly severe. To put it simply, hospitalization can be expensive, and as such the treatment needed to recover from certain conditions can result in a significant financial burden. Listed below are some of the common injuries victims of car accidents can suffer:
- Back and Neck Injuries: back and neck injuries can vary in severity from minor neck pain to severe damage such as dislocated spinal discs. In their more severe instances, back and neck injuries can prevent victims from returning to work and performing daily activities.
- Broken Bones: The force behind a collision with another automobile or object in the road can be truly devastating, so much so that the force can break bones. Broken bones often take a long time to heal, especially injuries like a broken pelvis, ribcage, or even hip. These injuries could prevent a victim from returning to work and their previous state of life immediately.
- Head Injuries: The force from a car accident can cause severe head injuries that can result in prolonged seizures, and other life-threatening Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs). In some, more severe cases, victims can never fully recover their damages.
- Internal Injuries: Internal bleeding to organs like the bladder, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and spleen can be challenging to treat, and in some cases can result in a case of wrongful death
- Lacerations: Often caused by broken glass and sharp metal, lacerations can be particularly painful and can leave massive scars that never heal entirely.
- Rib and Torso Injuries: The rib cage protects a multitude of the body’s vital organs, and when it breaks the whole system beneath is at risk of prolonged damage.
- Seat Belt Injuries: While seatbelts are put in place for protection, seat belts can cause injuries like whiplash which can be especially painful.
- Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: The spinal cord is an incredibly sensitive part of the body and when damaged can lead to devastating nerve damage, and may result in paralysis.
While the damages to a case help determine the amount you may receive in a settlement, the specific cause of the accident can also drastically change the outcome of your case. For example, if it is found that you were driving under the influence at the time of the crash, you could be held directly liable for the damages instead of the other driver. There are also instances where both drivers are at fault, and as such both of their insurance companies would provide coverage for the damages. Regardless of the specifics, it is crucial that retain the representation of an experienced Hanford auto accident lawyer to argue for you and your case. Listed below are some of the common causes of car accidents that may or may not be present in your case:
- Going over the speed limit
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other substances
- Distracted while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle
- Driving recklessly on the road
- Rain and other weather conditions
- Ignoring and running red lights
- Ignoring and running stop signs
- Inexperienced or young drivers
- Driving after dark which can hinder driving ability
- A defect in the design of the car
- Poor or dangerous lane changing
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
- Making an improper turn
- Following another car too closely (tailgating)
- Ice on the road
- Snow on the road
- Potholes or other defects in the road
- Driving while drowsy
- Having a tire blowout
- Animals on the road, or crossing the road.
Car accidents can have some truly devastating consequences, and as such, it is in your best interest that you seek adequate legal representation to ensure that you receive compensation for all of the damages that you have suffered. In some instances, this compensation can cover things like medical expenses, a loss of wages, property damages, and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Depending on your insurance provider, filing an insurance claim can only amount in providing coverage for property damages and a portion of the medical expenses. Determining how you want to file your case can drastically change the case’s outcome.
Filing A Car Accident Claim
Often when Hanford clients come into our law firm seeking assistance for their car accident case, they are unaware of what they should do to ensure the best outcome for their case. In most cases, victims make the disastrous mistake of not collecting adequate evidence immediately after the crash. In most cases, this is not their fault, as many are left dazed and confused after a car wreck. However, our Hanford car accident lawyers always recommend that you at least obtain a picture of the other drivers’ license, license plate, and insurance information. Collecting this evidence is critical to the overall outcome of your case. Other evidence such as photographs of the property damage done to your vehicle; video footage from a nearby security cam; eyewitness testimonies; and medical bills that detail your injuries can all play into the eventual outcome of your case.
Many injured drivers are unsure of when they should or shouldn’t file a lawsuit for their car accident. In most minor accidents, insurance companies will provide compensation that covers for damages like minor medical expenses and property damage. However, this is not always the case in more severe car accidents. Victims who experience severe damages as a result of their accident can sue the other driver’s insurance company to receive more suitable compensation. There are also instances of shared fault, where both drivers involved played some part in causing the accident. In these cases, each driver’s own insurance company would provide coverage for the accident.
However, there are also cases where a driver acted negligently behind the wheel. Negligence behind the wheel can include things like speeding, drinking while under the influence, or simply driving recklessly. If this is the case, you can sue the other driver or the other driver’s insurance company for the driver’s negligent actions. When filing these kinds of lawsuits, you must be able to prove the other driver’s negligence and how said negligence directly caused your injuries. Filing a claim of negligence requires that you use the previously mentioned evidence to prove the following components:
- Duty: The plaintiff (injured or damaged party) must be able to show that the defendant (other driver involved) owed a legal obligation to the plaintiff under the particular circumstances of the case.
- Breach: The plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant breached said legal duty through specific actions or failure to act appropriately
- Causation: The plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant’s actions or lack thereof caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- Damages: The plaintiff must be able to show that they endured some specific damages. This aspect can usually be shown through the presentation of medical records, a loss of wages, or a loss of potential income.
One of the most significant factors involved in filing a lawsuit for a car accident is being able to follow the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is the period in which an injured party can bring a case to court. This time limit varies from state to state and can change drastically depending on the type of case the statute is being applied to. For example, if you suffered personal injury after a car accident in the state of California, you have two years from the date of the accident to bring your case to court. Failing to follow the statute of limitations can result in your case being dismissed from court entirely.
The statute of limitations and the process of filing a lawsuit or insurance claim can be a truly trying process. While every individual has a right to represent themselves, it is always in your best interest that you seek guidance from an attorney that has expertise in filing claims for car accidents. Having the right attorney by your side can make the difference between filing a successful claim for compensation and having your case dismissed from court.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
If you or a loved one have experienced damages as a result of a car accident in Hanford you may be eligible to file a claim for significant monetary compensation. However, it is highly recommended that you seek assistance from a car accident attorney in Hanford. At Normandie Law Firm, our attorneys with experience in handling car accident cases are committed to ensuring all of our clients receive the resources they require to claim the compensation they deserve for their damages. Those who file a claim with our law firm can expect to find some if not all of the following damages compensable to them:
- All of you medical and hospitalization costs
- All of your future medical care and treatment
- A loss of income and loss of future earnings due to long-term recovery or permanent disability due to the accident
- Compensable economic damages include loss of property or damaged property.
- Compensable non-economic damages include emotional distress, trauma, PTSD resulting from the accident, pain and suffering and anxiety.
While our law firm is based near Hanford, our attorneys also practice in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Orange County, Riverside, Fresno, and throughout the state of California.
Free Second Opinions
Other attorneys will sign you up for their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge.
Zero Fee Guarantee-No Upfront Fees Ever
If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and we can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
