Santa Monica Car Accident Lawyer

Santa Monica Car Accident Attorney

Being in a car accident can be one of the most traumatizing experiences for drivers and passengers alike in California. Sometimes, these accidents are simple fender-benders that require minimal legal intervention. Other accidents can cause severe injuries or fatalities, which can be more complicated to legally navigate. When either happens, hiring a Santa Monica car accident lawyer can help. They can take on the legal burdens and earn you the compensation you deserve.

At McLachlan Law, APC, our car accident team is prepared to represent anyone in Santa Monica who has been involved in a crash. We have spent years representing clients in these cases, building up enough knowledge and experience in this space to secure positive outcomes. If you have recently been in a car accident and are not sure where to turn, contact our firm as soon as you can to learn more.

Qualifying Car Accident Damages for Compensation in Santa Monica, CA

The impact of a car accident ranges widely. With so many combinations of various personal and property damage to investigate, each client’s compensation award, in the end, will be very different from one another. Your ability to collect as much compensation as possible is dependent on how effectively you and your lawyer can present evidence that supports your final damage calculations.

Some of the most common damages that could be recovered via compensation include:

Medical Expenses

Racking up medical bills is one of the largest financial burdens that people face after being in a car accident in Santa Monica. Emergency services are expensive and, depending on how bad your injuries are, long-term treatment costs can also add up quickly. Common medical expenses that can qualify for reimbursement through the court include ambulance transportation, emergency room services, and surgeries, or just simply time spent at the hospital recovering.

Lost Wages

Whether it’s just for one day or several months, you might need to take some time off work to recover after a car accident. This can have serious income implications, such as making it challenging for you to pay your living expenses during your recovery period. To assist, the California court system allows you to request “lost wages” as part of your car accident compensation package. In addition to your traditional weekly pay, this can also include any bonuses or commissions that you were also unable to secure while you were recovering.

Property Damage

Any of your physical property that has been damaged in a car accident can also qualify for compensation. The main item to look at is your car. Whether you have minor cosmetic damage to fix or the car has been completely totaled, you and your Santa Monica Car accident attorney can present the value of your car in court and request compensation. Other items can include electronic devices in the car during the accident, jewelry, luggage, car seats, and more.

Pain and Suffering

In addition to economic damages, car accident victims might also be struggling emotionally in the aftermath. To address these non-economic damages, a car accident lawyer may connect their client with mental health services to quantify the impact. This can include an onset of new anxiety and depression symptoms as well as PTSD or any other condition that makes it difficult for you to integrate back into your daily routine.

Loss of Consortium

If your recent car accident has had a negative impact on your relationship with anyone important in your life, this could also qualify for car accident compensation. This may be awarded when it is evident to the court that there has been a clear loss of companionship or affection, and this can be directly linked to the car accident. For example, if your injuries prevent you from taking care of chores at home to support your family in the same way you could before, this can be compensated.

Punitive Damages

Depending on why the car accident happened, you might also collect punitive damages. This portion of a compensation package is only available when you and your lawyer can prove in court that the guilty party’s actions were intentional or especially reckless. The purpose of punitive damages is to deter the guilty party from doing this again in the future. This is the only type of compensation that does not directly link to a victim’s loss.

What Evidence Can Help My Car Accident Case in Santa Monica, CA?

To make sure you don’t miss out on what you deserve, you need to work closely with your car accident lawyer to ensure that all evidence is admissible and substantiates your argument. The more compelling evidence you can present, the higher your odds are of securing every dollar that is rightfully yours.

Some of the most sought-after evidence in these cases include:

Reports From Law Enforcement

Whenever police officers are called to a car accident scene, they begin to create an official report. Within this report, they will detail everything they observed during their time at the scene. This will include the incident’s location, time, and other essential case details. If someone was drinking and driving, evidence like the breathalyzer results and the officer’s description of their behavior will also be included. All this can objectively describe a car accident scene.

Photographs and Videos

Most people making decisions on the outcome of a car accident case were not actually at the scene of the crime. Rather, they need to rely on both sides’ evidence to better understand what happened. Photographs and videos can help take them to the exact scene of the crime as if they were actually there. Surveillance footage can display exactly what happened, while photographs of vehicle damage and personal injury can help reinforce damages.

Witness Statements

While it’s important for a plaintiff and defendant to share their own account of what happened, it’s helpful to also present some unbiased voices. Anyone who was near the scene and can testify to what they saw can be a huge help. The court is more likely to favor an unbiased account of what happened, so be sure to collect the contact details from anyone at the scene to help boost the quality of your evidence.

Medical Records

Presenting all your medical records after the car accident can help demonstrate how severe the injuries that you sustained from the accident are. Records like a doctor’s diagnosis, X-ray and CT scans, or surgical reports can also be useful to illustrate how much you have suffered and what physical injuries can be linked to the car accident. It can also reinforce the need for certain medical treatments, for which you can also request reimbursement.

FAQs

Q: How Much Do Car Accident Lawyers Charge in California?

A: There is no universal price for a car accident lawyer that can help someone anticipate the exact budget needed before starting the process. The longer a case goes on, the more legal costs will accumulate. Car accident lawyers will charge more of a premium if they have been practicing for years, as the lessons learned from previous cases are a valuable aspect of their services. Be sure to talk about costs during your first consultation to avoid unexpected fees.

Q: How Much of a Settlement Should I Expect From My Santa Monica Car Accident?

A: No two car accident cases are the same, which makes it difficult to anticipate exactly how much money will be in your final settlement. All this is dependent on what damages you are able to not only prove in court but directly link to the other party’s actions. The extent of your injuries and property damage are two strong factors in this mix. Insurance policy limits can also be a factor.

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Car Accident in Santa Monica?

A: All car accident victims have two years after the incident to file an accident claim in California. Anyone who misses this strict deadline will unfortunately forfeit their right to seek compensation, no matter how severe the injuries they sustained have been. To avoid missing essential deadlines such as this, connect with a Santa Monica car accident lawyer immediately after the incident. They can ensure that everything in your case is submitted on time to avoid losing money.

Q: How Much Do Lawyers Take From Car Accident Settlements in CA?

A: It’s not uncommon for a car accident lawyer in California to work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they are only paid for their efforts if they win the case for their clients. This pay will come from a specific percentage of the final settlement award. The exact percentage will be agreed upon by the client and attorney upfront.

Contact McLachlan Law, APC Today

If you have been in a car accident in Santa Monica and are not sure where to turn, give McLachlan Law, APC, a phone call today. Our firm has been proudly representing car accident clients in our community for many years, and we would be honored to help secure the compensation you desperately need to start taking the next steps in your life. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help.