Arden-Arcade is a beautiful area in Sacramento County, specifically located east of Sacramento and west of Carmichael. Arden-Arcade is accessible by numerous roads and highways, including Interstate 80, Capital City Freeway, U.S. Route 50, and thoroughfares such as Arden Way, Alta Arden Expressway, El Camino Avenue, Fair Oaks Boulevard, and Marconi Avenue. The major arterial streets in Arden-Arcade include Bell Street, Edison Avenue, Morse Avenue, and Whitney Avenue.

If you or a family member is injured in a car accident in or around Arden-Arcade, you may be able to pursue financial restitution from the driver who hit you through a personal injury claim. Call our experienced injury attorneys at (916) 921-6400 for a free case evaluation.

When another driver collides with your vehicle, causing bodily injuries, there are specific steps you need to take to protect your legal rights and strengthen your potential personal injury claim. First and foremost, call the police and remain at the accident scene. Never leave the scene until authorities have arrived. Of course, if you are seriously injured, and an ambulance arrives to transport you to the hospital, you should immediately get medical treatment.

• Obtain Important Accident Information – If you are physically able, obtain the full name, cell phone number, address, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and automobile insurance information from the driver that hit you. This is vital information that will be needed for filing your claim. The same goes for passengers in the at-fault driver’s vehicle and eyewitnesses who saw the collision.
• Taking Photographs – Again, if you are physically able, take photographs of the accident scene, the damage to your vehicle, and any visible bodily injuries. Given the prevalence of smartphones, you can take high-quality pictures with your cell phone. These photos are important because they illustrate the extent of the damage to you and your vehicle.
• Be Sure the Police Report Make a Report – When authorities arrive, make sure they are planning to draft and submit a police report. This is another piece of valuable evidence since the police report will often provide a general overview of what occurred leading up to the accident and, most importantly, whether the other driver was cited for violating traffic laws.
• Contact Your Auto Insurance Company – After receiving medical treatment for your injuries, notify your auto insurance company that you were involved in an accident. Do not be surprised if the insurance company for the other driver tries to contact you and asks for a recorded statement. When their insured is the cause of an accident, most insurance companies will attempt to contact the victim and request that they provide a recorded statement. Politely decline the request and advise them that you intend to speak to an attorney. You should also be skeptical of any quick settlement offer the insurance adjuster conveys. This is another common tactic utilized by many insurance companies. They make a lowball settlement offer before you have completed all of your medical treatment in the hopes you accept and limit the amount of potential financial liability for the insurance company.
• Speak to an Experienced Injury Lawyer – When you speak to an Arden-Arcade personal injury lawyer, they will likely ask about the severity of accident-related injuries and whether you have sought medical treatment. Make sure you keep track of all your medical bills and treatment records. These include doctor’s notes, physical therapy notes, chiropractic notes, and other documentation. Request copies of all medical reports and invoices from your treatment providers.

The video below explains more about contacting a personal injury lawyer following a car accident.

Discuss this issue with your injury lawyer if you do not have health insurance and are concerned about paying for your medical expenses. Your attorney may be able to refer you to a medical specialist for treatment without you having to pay out of pocket. Essentially, the medical provider takes out a lien on your injury claim and is compensated when a financial recovery is obtained in your case.

In addition to tracking your medical expenses and treatment, keep track of the amount of time you have missed from work due to the accident and the amount of income you have lost. You should also keep a journal detailing how the accident has negatively affected your quality of life. Write down the opportunities you have been forced to forego, and events missed due to the severity of your injuries.

The records and invoices described above are essential to compile and maintain because they underpin your economic and non-economic damages claim. The vast majority of expenses and losses you suffer from the accident can be compensated. Common types of recoverable damages include:

• Lost income (both income that could have been made while you were recovering and future income)
• Incurred and future medical bills
• Mental anguish and psychological trauma (i.e., pain and suffering)

A common question asked by clients is how much they can reasonably expect to receive, either through a settlement or jury verdict. The honest answer is that it depends on the facts of your case and the amount of economic and non-economic damages you suffered. The more extensive your bodily injuries and lost wages are, the more likely you will receive a more substantial financial recovery.

Arden-Arcade boasts some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Sacramento, including the affluent areas of Arden Park, Arden Oaks, Sierra Oaks, and Sierra Oaks Vista. This is important because if someone earning a substantial salary is seriously injured in an accident, the amount of recoverable damages also increases.