WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS WHEN DEALING WITH AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER?
Have you been injured in a car accident? Are you dealing with an insurance adjuster for the other driver? Do you know your legal rights regarding a car accident claim? Is the insurance adjuster pushing you to accept a settlement? It is important that you understand your legal rights when dealing with an insurance adjuster. Many people have never been injured in a car accident; therefore, they are not aware of certain rights they have regarding a claim. An insurance adjuster may take advantage of...
HY DOESN’T THE NHTSA SAY “ACCIDENT” FOR A CAR CRASH?
We use a great deal of the information published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding statistics for car, truck, bicycle, and motorcycle accidents. However, we never paid very much attention to the words the NHTSA uses to describe traffic collisions involving motor vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians until this week. While researching California accident statistics, we found a curious article entitled “Crashes Aren’t Accidents Campaign.” Apparently in 1997, the NHTSA determined that “accidents” are not accidents. Using the term “accident” to describe a...
CHRONIC PAIN AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
When you are involved in a car accident, you need to seek medical attention immediately after the collision. If you choose not to be transported to the emergency room, you should see your family doctor as soon as possible. In some cases, it is easy to access the injuries, such as in the case of a broken bone or a penetrating head injury. However, in other cases, it may be more difficult to know how seriously you are injured unless you see a physician. For...
TIPS FOR BUYING A USED VEHICLE
Many drivers choose to purchase a used vehicle to save money on the overall cost of the vehicle, including the purchase price and the insurance premium. However, you must be careful when purchasing a used vehicle. You may have heard the warning, “Buying a used car is just buying someone else’s problem.” In some cases, this may be true. However, if you take your time, do your research, and follow the tips below, you can reduce the risk of purchasing a “lemon.” Buying a Used...
CRASH ON SACRAMENTO DANGEROUS ROAD CLAIMS TWO LIVES
According to a report by Fox40 News, a man and young woman were killed in a car crash on Power Inn Road last Thursday. The 45-year old man, who was a new father, was riding his motorcycle on the southbound side of Power Inn Road. A Honda traveling in the opposite direction turned left onto 53rd Avenue in front of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist died at the accident scene. An 18-year old woman who was a passenger in the Honda died later at the hospital....
MUST HAVES FOR YOUR VEHICLE
If you are purchasing your teenager a car this year, safety is a priority. You want to choose a vehicle that will provide safe transportation for your child. Once you have purchased the vehicle, you should put together an “essential car kit” for your teen driver. Below is a list of essential items our car accident attorney believes you need in your car. Review each item in the car kit and explain why you should always have these items in any car they own. Spare...
IF SOMEONE HAS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CAN THEY GET OUT OF PAYING MY BILLS FOR A CAR WRECK?
It may not happen often; however, it does happen. Someone has a sudden emergency or a medical emergency while driving, and that driver causes a car accident. Does the emergency excuse the liability for the car wreck? Under California law, an emergency may be a legal defense to a car accident claim in some very narrow circumstances. California’s Sudden Emergency or Medical Emergency Defense Under California law, if a person has a sudden emergency or a medical emergency and causes a car wreck that person...
WHAT DO I DO IF MY CAR WAS TOTALED IN A SACRAMENTO ACCIDENT?
When you are in a car accident, you can sustain several types of damages. In all cases, there will be some level of property damage to your vehicle from the collision. The level of damage can depend on several factors including the speed at impact, the type of vehicles involved, and the type of crash (i.e. rear-end, side impact, head-on, etc.). For crashes that result in serious injuries, the victims may not be as concerned with repairing or replacing their vehicle because they are focused...
WHY DID THE INSURANCE COMPANY DENY MY CAR ACCIDENT CLAIM?
You may have heard stories about insurance companies denying car accident claims to save money. While insurance companies do try to pay as little as possible to settle a car accident claim, some insurance companies have valid reasons for denying a claim. Below are several reasons why the insurance company may be denying your claim. Failure to Prove Fault To recover compensation for a car accident, you must prove the other driver caused the crash. If there is any doubt at all about fault, the...
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T PAY MY MEDICAL BILLS FROM AN ACCIDENT?
One of the biggest expenses in a car accident case is the medical expenses. Medical bills in a car accident case can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially for traumatic injuries such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and multiple broken bones. Unfortunately, the insurance company for the other driver does not pay any medical bills until the case is settled, which could take a year or longer. Many accident victims cannot afford to pay the hospital, doctor, and other...