If you were involved in a car accident in La Jolla, CA, you may be entitled to compensation against the responsible party. Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers can help you file a claim for damages. Call us today at (858) 585-9031 for A free consultation to answer your questions and review your case with a La Jolla car accident attorney.
Those injured in La Jolla, California, have trusted us since 1992. Our La Jolla car accident lawyers have decades of combined experience and have recovered tens of millions for our clients. We have a 99% success rate in the cases we handle, so you’ll be in good hands if you hire us.
How Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in La Jolla, CA
California is an “at-fault” state for auto insurance, which is good news if you were injured in a crash due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. However, this does mean that you’ll likely need to go through an insurance company to secure compensation. These corporations are not looking out for you and your interests, but a La Jolla car accident attorney can help you fight back.
Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers is a nationally recognized, award-winning personal injury law firm. Our experienced La Jolla personal injury attorneys have received accolades from Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo, and other prominent legal organizations – and we’ll use our skills to benefit you and your family every step of the way.
We can help by:
- Internally investigating the crash
- Determining what your legal options are
- Calculating your damages
- Hiring experts to help further as needed
- Negotiating a full settlement
- Handling the communications
- Filing a lawsuit in court if necessary
We’re experienced trial attorneys in La Jolla, California, who want nothing more than to maximize the value of your claim. Contact our legal team today for a free case review with a La Jolla personal injury lawyer.
How Common Are Car Accidents in San Diego County?
Detailed car accident statistics for San Diego County are available through the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS).
The latest data as of this writing is from 2022 and is as follows:
- 12,838 total accidents
- 285 fatalities
- 17,386 injuries
The most common type of car accident in the area in 2022 was a rear-end collision, with nearly 30% of the total. The second-most prevalent type of crash was a broadside accident with around 24% of the overall number.
What Is My La Jolla Car Accident Claim Worth?
Once we know the facts and circumstances of your situation, we can provide you with a rough estimate of what your claim might be worth.
Until then, these are some of the considerations our legal team will look at as we evaluate your claim:
- The severity of injuries and types of injuries sustained
- Availability of supporting evidence
- Whether you contributed to the cause of the crash
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- The sum of your financial expenses
- Whether you’ll make a full medical recovery
- The terms and limits of the related insurance policies
An experienced car accident attorney in La Jolla can also make a difference, such as by effectively negotiating a favorable settlement agreement for you.
We’ll Fight for Compensation Based on Each of Your Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents in La Jolla can result in life-changing injuries, many of which lead to permanent, debilitating disabilities. You deserve maximum compensation regardless of the injuries you’ve suffered.
Our La Jolla personal injury lawyers can help you with any of the following, to name just a few examples:
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Soft tissue injuries
- Leg injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Whiplash
- Amputations
- Back injuries
- Eye injuries
- Road rash
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Ankle injuries
- Herniated discs
- Broken bones and fractures
- Burn injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Reach out to us as soon as possible after any type of car accident injury. We’ll do everything in our power to help you recover compensation.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Car Accident in La Jolla?
The two main types of damages you can recover in a car accident case are called economic and non-economic damages. These “compensatory damages” are meant to make you whole again – at least in terms of financial relief. In rare cases reaching the trial stage, punitive damages might be on the table as well.
Economic damages are for things like:
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Diminished earning capacity
- Medical bills and equipment – current and future
- Related out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages make up for losses such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Conditions like PTSD and depression
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of quality of life
- Disability and inconvenience
You must present stronger evidence to recover punitive damages, and they are only meant to “punish” the defendant for extreme behavior. Nonetheless, if they are awarded, they do go into your pocket.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in La Jolla, California
Although La Jolla car accidents can happen for almost countless reasons, some causes are especially predominant.
These include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving
- Poor weather
- Running a red light
- Road defects
- Defective parts/machinery
- Fatigued driving
- Improper lane changes
- Not yielding the right of way
- Reckless driving
- Inexperienced driving
- Road rage
- Nighttime driving
As long as another person was responsible for your crash, pursuing compensation may be your legal right. Our trusted attorneys can help you determine the best next steps during your free consultation.
What if I’m Blamed for My La Jolla Car Accident?
California is one of only a select few states with a “pure comparative negligence” standard. This is victim-friendly compared to the standards of other states. You can still potentially recover compensation after an accident in the Golden State regardless of your level of fault.
However, your damages may be reduced if you share responsibility. For example, if you are assessed 40% of the blame, your damages would be reduced by 40%. But as long as you weren’t 100% at fault, compensation is at least a possibility.
If you hire a knowledgeable car accident attorney in La Jolla, they can advocate for your interests and ensure you aren’t assigned unfair blame.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a La Jolla Car Accident Lawyer?
By and large, almost every La Jolla car accident attorney works for a contingency fee. This means that they only receive payment for their work if they successfully handle your claim. You don’t pay anything upfront or by the hour under this framework.
In most circumstances, your attorney will be paid based on the jury verdict or settlement agreement they obtain for you. You’ll agree to terms at the beginning of your case, but the contingency fee will usually be around 33% of your compensation award.
A contingency fee permits you to hire any lawyer you’d like for your case without regarding your financial situation. Furthermore, the attorney you choose will aim to increase what your claim is worth as much as possible.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
The initial aftermath of a car accident can have an outsized impact on the outcome of your personal injury case.
Keep in mind the following advice so that you can work to protect yourself and your interests:
- Call 911 to notify the police of the crash. Once they get to the accident scene, they will write a police report you can utilize for your claim.
- Exchange the necessary insurance and contact information with the other people involved in the collision.
- Cooperate with the police, but do not apologize for the accident or accept responsibility for it. It could hurt the amount of money you recover if you do.
- Gather evidence from the scene if you can, such as taking photos and videos of your injuries and damages.
- Receive medical care and treatment as soon as possible, with or without a clear injury. Some injuries will present symptoms only later on, and medical records can help your claim.
From here, schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer. They will be able to advise you on your rights and options going forward.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Car Accident Lawsuit in California?
The California statute of limitations for most car accident lawsuits is two years from the date of the crash. Do not file your lawsuit too late, as the court can dismiss it outright at that point.
There are only exceptions to this time limit for rare cases. Contacting our lawyers as promptly as possible is the best way to confirm the amount of time you have to sue the at-fault party.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Experienced La Jolla Car Accident Lawyers
Were you or a loved one injured in a car accident in La Jolla, CA? Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers can help you take legal action for compensation. Our La Jolla car accident attorneys have already won tens of millions of dollars for our clients – and we are confident we can win money for you as well.
Call today to schedule your free initial consultation.
