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Beverly Hills Car Accident Lawyer

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Beverly Hills Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accident Attorney in Beverly Hills, CA

Car accidents happen across the United States for many reasons. These incidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths, and unfortunately many victims are unaware of their rights and responsibilities after car accidents happen. Do not assume that insurance alone will cover your losses if you experience an accident, or even that the at-fault driver will have appropriate insurance coverage in the first place. If you or a loved one suffered considerable losses in a car accident, a Beverly Hills car accident attorney is the ideal resource to consult if you want to recover as much compensation as state law allows.

Legal Representation for Car Accident Recovery in Beverly Hills

Heimanson& Wolf, LLP, has a team of experienced attorneys serving clients in Beverly Hills and surrounding areas. We know how difficult it can be to imagine facing complex legal affairs while recovering from painful injuries and the economic aftermath of a serious accident. Our team has helped many injured clients navigate all types of accident claims, and we have confronted the leading insurance companies providing auto insurance coverage to drivers across the state. Whatever your case entails, we have the resources and experience to know how to navigate you to a positive outcome in your recovery efforts.

Benefits of Hiring a Beverly Hills Car Accident Attorney

Many drivers in the Beverly Hills area experience very minor car accidents that result in little more than cosmetic damage to the vehicles involved. In some such cases, it’s possible for the drivers involved in the accident to resolve the matter swiftly through insurance. However, this is not always possible, especially when a driver has sustained severe injuries that may lead to long-term or permanent medical complications.

When you hire Heimanson& Wolf, LLP, to represent you in a car accident case, our goal is to help you recover as fully as state law allows in the swiftest and most efficient manner possible. We can make every aspect of your recovery process easier to manage and more likely to generate positive results. When we accept a case, our team takes time to learn as much as possible about our client’s needs, their unique story, and the concerns they have about their household and their future.

It’s understandable to worry about the potential cost of hiring legal representation for your claim, but most personal injury attorneys understand that the average person does not have the liquidity to hire expensive legal representation. This is why most Beverly Hills personal injury attorneys charge clients contingency fees. With a contingency agreement, the client pays nothing to their attorney if they don’t win their case. There are no upfront legal fees, and the client only pays their contingency fee once their attorney has secured a settlement. The attorney takes a flat percentage of the case award, and the client keeps the rest.

Most Commonly Cited Causes of Car Accidents in Beverly Hills, CA

When a car accident happens because of one driver’s failure to operate their vehicle correctly and responsibly, they are liable for any and all damage they cause others. Their auto insurance policy could cover some of the losses they caused the victim, but any outstanding damages will need to be recovered with a civil action. A few of the most commonly reported causes of car accidents in the Beverly Hills area that often lead to complex personal injury claims include:

  • Distracted driving. Any level of distraction behind the wheel is potentially dangerous. When a driver is not paying full attention to the road ahead of them, they put themselves and everyone around them at grave risk of injury. Across the United States, distracted driving is the leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents each year.
  • Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs. It is illegal for anyone to operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If a driver is caught operating a vehicle while intoxicated they face a DUI conviction, which can lead to jail time, fines, and loss of their driver’s license for several months or more. However, if they hurt or killed anyone due to driving under the influence they face even harsher penalties.
  • Moving violations. Whenever a driver disregards traffic signals or fails to navigate an intersection correctly, they can easily cause a serious accident. Illegal lane changes, failing to stop for red lights or stop signs, and performing illegal turns are all examples of moving violations that can potentially lead to serious accidents.
  • Speeding: While it is relatively common to see drivers moving slightly over the posted speed limit to maintain the flow of traffic, speeding both increases the chance of an accident happening and the severity of the resulting damage.
  • Vehicle and vehicle part defects. In the event a specific part or a defective vehicle causes an accident, the manufacturer could face a product liability suit from the victim. It’s possible for a defective product to affect many people, and the manufacturer could potentially face a class-action lawsuit from all affected victims.
  • Intentional misconduct behind the wheel, such as reckless or aggressive driving. If a driver engages in any directly harmful misconduct behind the wheel that results in injury or death, they are likely to face criminal charges and severe penalties once convicted.

There are many other ways for accidents to happen, and most of the car crashes reported in Beverly Hills are the result of negligence behind the wheel. If you were severely hurt in your recent accident you may have little to no recollection of the events leading up to the incident, and you may have no idea who caused it. It is also possible to be hit by a driver who flees the scene, leaving the victim to wonder how they can locate them and hold them accountable. Ultimately, every car accident claim will involve unique variables, and it is crucial to have a Beverly Hills car accident attorney examine your case as closely as possible to have the best chance of reaching a suitable outcome.

What to Expect When You File an Auto Insurance Claim

All drivers are required to carry auto insurance, and the state uses a fault system to determine liability for the damages resulting from an accident. This means whoever is at fault is responsible for compensating the victim’s losses. Unfortunately, many people dread filing insurance claims because most insurers will do everything they possibly can to avoid paying out claim settlements. Even when a claim has supporting evidence and the policyholder is clearly liable for the claimant’s damages, an insurance company may delay a claim or engage in other unethical tactics meant to discourage the claimant. Sometimes, these bad faith tactics coerce claimants into accepting lowball settlement offers out of desperation.

Once you file your claim, the insurance company will investigate to determine whether it is valid, then the claim adjuster delivers a settlement offer in alignment with the terms of the at-fault driver’s policy. If you find a Beverly Hills car accident attorney to represent you through this process, the insurance carrier will be far less inclined to attempt any bad faith handling of your claim. The attorneys at Heimanson& Wolf, LLP, have faced all the major auto insurance carriers covering drivers in the Beverly Hills area, and we know the tactics they often use to try to avoid paying out on claims. We will help you streamline the claim filing process as much as possible, and once you have secured an acceptable settlement we can move to help you file a personal injury claim to recover your outstanding losses.

How to File Your Personal Injury Claim in Beverly Hills, CA

Even if you manage to secure a swift and acceptable settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier, the settlement you receive may not fully cover the entire scope of damage they caused. In this situation, you must file a personal injury claim against them to recover your remaining damages. Finding the right attorney to assist you with this will make the entire recovery process much easier and more likely to generate the results you hope to see.

The attorneys at Heimanson& Wolf, LLP, have helped many personal injury clients in the Beverly Hills area, including those injured in devastating car accidents. Once we have helped you secure as much compensation as possible from the defendant’s auto insurance policy, the next phase of your recovery will be a personal injury claim. This type of claim requires meeting strict prerequisites and meeting court filing deadlines. It may be technically possible to handle it alone, and many people assume this is the best option for saving money on legal fees. However, there is no substitute for reliable legal counsel when you are struggling with life-changing injuries.

An expert Beverly Hills car accident attorney is the ideal asset to have for firmly proving liability for your accident, accurately calculating your claimable damages, and streamlining the case proceedings ahead of you. Timely court filings, complete documentation, and appropriate preparation for each stage of the case are essential for success. Do not risk your recovery by assuming you can handle every one of these considerations unassisted, especially if you are struggling with painful injuries and extensive economic damage from your accident.

Claimable Damages in a Beverly Hills Personal Injury Case

It’s natural to wonder how much compensation you could potentially secure for the personal injury you recently experienced. After completing the essential first step of proving fault for the incident, the next phase of your case will be gathering the evidence necessary to prove the extent of your financial losses resulting from the defendant’s actions. State law enables the plaintiff in a personal injury case to claim:

  • Full repayment of all the medical expenses they incurred from the accident. A serious car accident can potentially result in life-changing injuries, many of which not only require extensive immediate treatment but also ongoing care and rehabilitation. The defendant who caused your accident is responsible for the full breadth of medical treatment you require to heal as fully as possible from the accident.
  • Lost wages, including lost future income, if the accident has permanently impaired your earning potential. The defendant is liable for any and all lost income you suffer because of their actions. A Beverly Hills car accident attorney with experience will be an invaluable asset for accurately calculating the future losses you are likely to sustain if you cannot work anymore because of your injuries.
  • Vehicle repair costs. An auto insurance policy that only meets the minimum coverage requirements in California may only cover a portion of the total value of your vehicle lost in your recent accident. Any remaining vehicle repair costs and all other property losses can be included in your personal injury claim as economic damages.

Aside from these economic losses, the victim of a personal injury can also hold the defendant accountable for the pain and suffering they caused. California does not place a cap or limit on pain and suffering compensation in car accident claims, so there technically is no limit to how much pain and suffering compensation you could seek from the defendant. Your Beverly Hills car accident attorney will be crucial for maximizing this aspect of your recovery. In the event you suffered any life-changing injuries and face permanent disability from the defendant’s actions, the pain and suffering compensation you obtain could form the majority of your total case award.

The attorneys at Heimanson& Wolf, LLP, are dedicated to maximizing our clients’ compensation as much as state law allows. The average person may not have any idea what to expect from the civil claim filing process, nor may they know how to accurately calculate the full range of damages they are legally allowed to claim from the at-fault driver. Whatever your situation requires, rest assured that our team can provide the dedicated legal support you need to approach your case with confidence.

Experienced Beverly Hills, CA Auto Accident Attorney

There are approximately 254 million passenger cars on the road in the U.S. according to a Department of Transportation (DOT) study, and the U.S. is home to three large car manufacturers: General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that car accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the United States, and the roadways in Los Angeles are some of the most congested. As the number of cars on the road have increased, the number of car accidents have similarly increased. There are approximately 33,000 fatalities each year from car accidents.

Automobile Insurance

A practical problem arises in many claims and lawsuits involving car accidents. That problem is the absence of adequate insurance limits. The minimum amount of coverage required in California is $15,000 (in some instances it is even lower). This causes serious problems with collectability if an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes severe injuries or death because of his or her inattentive or reckless driving. We often will look to a victim’s own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for additional resources.

Employer Liability

Under a doctrine called respondeat superior an employer is liable for the conduct of its employee during the course and scope of employment. This means that an employer is responsible if its employee harmed someone while the employee was working on the job. We often attempt to determine whether an employer may be responsible for the victim’s injuries under the doctrine of respondeat superior.

The Use of Experts

In many cases, the cause of an accident is clear. The at-fault party may even admit fault to the police at the scene. However, other times there will be a liability dispute. In those situations, we will often retain an expert in the field of accident reconstruction to evaluate the accident and help determine who caused the accident. Experts use different techniques to evaluate these accidents, but they often evaluate the forces involved to determine the cause.

Uninsured Motorist Arbitration

When the person who causes the accident does not have any insurance or not enough insurance to cover the harm he or she caused, the injured person can look to make up the difference on his or her own insurance policy. That coverage is called uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. A claim is then made to the victim’s own insurance. When there is a dispute about the amount of coverage that should be paid under the uninsured motorist coverage, the law requires that the dispute be handled in UM Arbitration as opposed to a lawsuit in Superior Court.

FAQs About Beverly Hills, CA Auto Accident Law

How Much Can I Recover From an Auto Insurance Claim?

Every driver must have auto insurance coverage that includes $15,000 or more in bodily injury liability coverage for a single person, at least $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for all persons injured in a single accident, and at least $5,000 in liability coverage for property damage. If your damages fall within the scope of the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage, your claim settlement may be all you require to recover. Having a Beverly Hills car accident attorney assist you with your claim significantly increases your chances of maximizing your insurance claim payout.

Will the Driver Who Hit Me Go to Prison?

If a driver causes an accident through simple negligence, they are unlikely to face criminal charges for causing a car accident. However, if they were driving drunk or broke state law in any way with their actions, the state may file criminal charges against them. Driving under the influence (DUI), aggressive and reckless driving, and driving without a license could all lead to serious criminal charges. If a driver intentionally hit you they could face a felony charge.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

It’s understandable to be concerned about the total compensation you could potentially secure if you succeed with your suit. Your Beverly Hills car accident attorney can help you maximize an insurance claim payout, and if you have outstanding losses insurance can’t cover, they will guide you through the process of filing your personal injury suit. The total potential value of your car accident claim depends on the severity of your losses, and a good attorney can provide a reasonable estimate at the outset of your recovery efforts.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim?

You have a limited time in which to file an auto insurance claim after an accident, typically only a few days. You must at least notify the insurance company of your intent to file a claim within the applicable reporting window and your Beverly Hills car accident attorney can assist you with this. You have a longer window of two years to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in California is two years, starting on the date the injury occurred.

Is It Worth Hiring a Beverly Hills Car Accident Attorney?

Investing in legal counsel you can trust is a wise decision for any personal injury claim. The right attorney will make every aspect of your impending case easier to manage, and their representation will also significantly increase the likelihood of maximizing your final recovery. Even after you account for your legal fees, the difference your attorney can make in your case will be readily apparent.

The attorneys at Heimanson& Wolf, LLP, have years of professional experience helping clients throughout the Beverly Hills area with all manner of personal injury cases. We know how challenging it is to approach the civil claim process, especially when you are recovering from painful injuries and struggling with the financial impact of the accident. You do not have to navigate your recovery efforts alone. Contact Heimanson& Wolf, LLP, today to schedule a case evaluation with our team.

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