If you suffered injuries in a car crash due to someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate to contact the Bakersfield personal injury lawyers of Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers. You might be able to hold the driver or another person liable for causing the accident. You could seek compensation for your medical bills and other incurred costs from your injury.
Car accidents can have immediate and long-term consequences for anyone involved. Injuries often require emergency medical care and possible ongoing treatment to heal. Medical bills are expensive and might cause financial burdens. The various challenges you face after an accident can seem overwhelming.
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers are ready to represent you in your case. We can take over every aspect and investigate to determine who was at fault. We will use our resources to gather the available evidence and try to prove someone else is liable for your injury. Our team knows how to fight insurance companies and defense attorneys for the compensation our clients deserve.
You won’t have to go through this traumatic experience alone. Our Bakersfield car accident lawyers will remain in your corner until the end. You can expect to receive the legal guidance and support necessary to navigate the complicated road ahead. We will treat you as a priority and tirelessly work to try to reach your desired result.
Call Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers at (619) 233-5020 for your free consultation to learn more about how we can help you.
Common Types of Car Accidents
A car crash can involve a range of circumstances. There are specific types of accidents that can happen depending on contributing factors. The most common types of car accidents include:
- T-bone collisions – When the front end of one vehicle crashes into the side of another, it’s called a T-bone or side-impact collision. They commonly happen in intersections but can occur in other locations as well.
- Rollover accidents – A car can tip on its side or roll over entirely when there is a sudden shift in momentum or direction. The forces placed on the vehicle cause the tires to lift off the ground.
- Single-car accidents – Collisions involving only one vehicle typically happen when someone’s actions cause a driver to swerve to avoid an accident and crash into a ditch, tree, or another stationary object.
- Hit and run accidents – Any driver involved in a collision must stop their car, locate the owner of the other vehicles, and present insurance information. When a motorist flees the scene of an accident, it’s considered a hit and run.
- Head-on collisions – A head-on accident can be deadly, especially if either driver is speeding. Severe injuries and fatalities can result from the forceful impact of the front end of two vehicles crashing into each other. In 2020, head-on collisions accounted for 58 percent of vehicle occupant deaths.
- Multi-vehicle accidents – A multi-car crash, also called a pile-up, involves three or more cars. A chain reaction often causes it. For example, if a driver at the front of a line of vehicles stops suddenly, the motorist behind them collides with the first car’s rear, causing the third driver in line to crash, as well.
- Rear-end collisions – Rear-end accidents commonly result when drivers tailgate. If someone’s car follows another person’s car too closely, the rear driver doesn’t have enough time and distance to come to a complete stop when necessary to avoid a rear-end crash.
If you sustained an injury in any of these or another type of car accident, contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers to learn about your legal options. You could pursue action against the at-fault driver to recover the compensation you need for your expenses.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
A range of factors can lead to a car accident, including:
- Distracted driving – Distractions can include anything that redirects a driver’s attention, eyes, or hands to another task. When someone doesn’t pay attention to their surroundings, they are less likely to notice stopped traffic, dangerous conditions, and road hazards. According to statistics, 3,142 people died in accidents involving distracted driving in a recent year.
- Tailgating – The danger of driving close to the rear end of another vehicle is that the following motorist might not have a fast enough reaction time to brake if the driver ahead slows down or stops. Rear-end collisions are common when drivers tailgate.
- Adverse weather – Many people think snow and ice are the only dangerous weather conditions to worry about while driving. However, rain and wind are just as hazardous. Drivers must adjust their speed and focus on the road ahead to avoid skidding or losing control.
- Driving under the influence – Drugs and alcohol impair a person’s driving abilities. They can cause poor decision-making skills, slower reaction time, altered sensory perception, and reduced motor function.
- Speeding – Driving above the speed limit places the speeding driver and the people around them at risk of serious harm. It’s more challenging to stop the vehicle or maneuver around hazardous conditions.
- Failure to yield – Many situations require one person to yield the right of way to another. For example, a driver approaching a four-way stop after someone else must allow that person to proceed first. Running the stop sign can result in a T-bone collision.
- Fatigued driving – According to statistics, around 50 percent of adult drivers admit to driving while drowsy. Additionally, 20 percent say they fell asleep at the wheel. Fatigued driving is a serious problem that inhibits driving abilities and leads to accidents.
Do not hesitate to reach out to Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries in a car crash. You have a right to hold the other driver or party liable for their misconduct.
Common Injuries Caused in Car Accidents
Car accidents can lead to various injuries ranging in severity. Some injuries don’t cause long-term problems, while others are debilitating and result in permanent impairments or disabilities.
The most common injuries in car accidents include:
- Chronic pain
- Traumatic brain injury
- Burn injuries
- Emotional and psychological injuries
- Permanent scarring
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Back and chest injuries
- Disability
- Spinal cord damage
- Internal bleeding
- Paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries
It’s common for accident victims to require medical attention for specific injuries. Unfortunately, treatment can be a burden on finances and lead to debt. The at-fault party should be financially responsible for the cost of medical care and other expenses after a car crash.
Compensation for Injuries in a Car Accident
State law requires every driver to purchase auto insurance with liability coverage. If another driver is at fault for the accident, you could file a claim with their liability insurance carrier. The settlement you receive might compensate you for losses, such as:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Medical bills
- Physical impairment or disfigurement
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
You could recover exemplary damages if you file a lawsuit against the negligent motorist. The jury might award these damages to you if you can provide clear and convincing evidence of the defendant’s fraud, oppression, or malice.
Compensation is also available if you lose a loved one in a car accident due to someone else’s negligent actions. You could pursue a wrongful death lawsuit if you are the surviving spouse, domestic partner, child, or grandchild of the deceased. The compensation you receive could cover losses, such as:
- Loss of guidance the deceased provided
- Burial and funeral costs
- Loss of enjoyment of intimacy by a surviving spouse
- The reasonable dollar value of lost household services the deceased could have provided if they had survived
- Financial support the deceased might have contributed to surviving family
- Loss of benefits or gifts family members could have received from the deceased
- Loss of comfort, assistance, love, moral support, companionship, society, care, and affection
Statute of Limitations on Car Accidents
There is a deadline to file a lawsuit against another person or a company for the injuries you sustain in a car crash. California’s statute of limitations allows two years. That means you have two years from the date of the accident to initiate your lawsuit if you want to sue for compensation.
Certain scenarios allow a plaintiff to toll the statute of limitations. This means you can delay the time when the two-year period begins to run. For example, if you are a minor when the accident happens, the statute of limitations won’t start until you turn 18 years old.
The Bakersfield car accident lawyers of Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers understand state laws regarding tolling. If you believe tolling applies in your case, we can review the circumstances and determine whether you’re eligible to extend the statutory time period.
Contact Us
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers have fought for accident victims since 2007. We dedicate our time to investigating car crashes and locating the evidence to prove who was at fault. You can expect quality customer service and ongoing communication until we resolve your case. We will never place our interests over yours. Your goal will be our goal.
We understand the financial implications of pursuing a car accident case. You won’t suffer the burden of additional costs while we seek legal action on your behalf. We take cases on contingency, so you’re not forced to pay upfront for our legal services. We won’t collect our fees unless we secure compensation for you.
If you sustained an injury in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, call Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers at (619) 233-5020 for a free consultation with one of our aggressive and experienced car accident lawyers in Bakersfield, CA, today.
