If you sustained serious injuries in a car crash because of another motorist’s negligent actions, you must seek compensation that compensates you for all the damages. These damages include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. Usually, a car accident attorney in Stockton will demand a compensation amount as part of your claim settlement depending on the type of injuries you suffered and their extent. Other factors they consider include your total medical treatment costs and the insurance coverage available.
You cannot expect insurance companies to assist you during the claim process. Indeed, they won’t care about your interests. Thus, you must hire a lawyer to represent you throughout the process. Your lawyer can help collect the documents and prepare a demand package for the insurer. Also, they can handle communications with the insurer and negotiate a reasonable settlement for you.
Car Accidents and Driver Negligence
A lot of local crashes happen because of a driver’s negligent behavior. If a motorist speeds up, does not pay attention to the road, or engages in other kinds of reckless behavior, they can cause an accident and serious injuries.
Some accidents happen because of intoxicated driving. If a person gets behind the wheel while drunk or drugged, they can cause a serious collision that results in debilitating injuries and significant property damage. If a driver is drunk, they usually experience limited reflexes, delayed reaction time, and impaired vision. Because of this, they may not drive carefully. Also, they may not be able to see another car or pedestrian, possibly causing a fatal crash.
In addition, car accidents also happen due to distracted driving. A driver who is distracted will not pay attention to the road and ignore their surroundings. Particularly with the increasing use of smartphones, distracted driving leads to different accidents.
Possible Monetary Damages You Can Recover
To recover financial compensation for the injuries and losses you have sustained, you should establish the burden of proof required in your case. You must show that at-fault motorist violated their duty of care, often by violating traffic laws.
Next, you should show the accident directly resulted from the negligent action of the at-fault driver. A car accident reconstruction expert can investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident to establish a causal relationship.
Finally, you should prove you sustained an injury because of the car accident. A doctor can establish this connection. Also, your lawyer can collect supporting evidence to satisfy your burden of proof. Ideally, the monetary damages you may recover include compensation for medical expenses, lost earning capacity, lost earnings, mental distress, property damage, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and others. The insurance company may underestimate your claim’s value, so you must hire a lawyer to calculate the right value of your losses.
