Lake of the Pines, CA, is a snug gated community around a reservoir of the same name. People move here from around California and the country to enjoy the pristine views of the water and the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range, which towers above. The Lake Pines Country Club is also a draw.

If you’re a Lake of the Pines resident and have been involved in a car accident, we can help. We can also help you if you’re not from Lake of the Pines but have been injured while visiting someone here. Contact our law firm at (916) 21-6400 for a free consultation to discuss your legal issue.

Car accidents aren’t uncommon in Nevada County. According to statistics from the Office of Traffic Safety, in 2016, 666 victims were killed or injured in car accidents. Of those, 92 were accidents involving alcohol, and 178 were speed-related.

And it wasn’t only occupants of passenger sedans who were injured. That same year, 19 bicyclists were killed or wounded, as were 27 pedestrians and 63 motorcyclists.

Other accidents are also common in Lake of the Pines. As seasoned personal injury attorneys, we’ve helped people receive compensation when injured in various accidents, such as dog bites and slips and falls.

Under California law, you can bring a lawsuit for compensation against anyone who has injured you through negligence. You can file it in the county where you are injured or the defendant lives.

Most people will do anything to avoid court, and we can’t blame them. Lawsuits are stressful, and many of my clients are afraid of having to get up in open court and testify. Fortunately, most car accident and personal injury cases can be settled outside of court, relieving everyone of the stress of going to court.

This is where a Lake of the Pines auto accident attorney comes in. Although you can indeed settle your case on your own, the fact is that many insurance companies would like nothing better than for an injured victim to represent herself. Insurance companies are in the market for making as much money as possible, which means paying out the smallest settlements likely.

If you make a claim with an insurance company, the adjuster will likely offer a tiny settlement that doesn’t remotely begin to cover your injuries. The claims adjuster might also state that they are not authorized to offer anymore, which carries a simple message: “Take it or leave it.”

As experienced injury lawyers since 1982, we’ve heard everything. And we know that insurance companies can pay more than they initially claim. With an experienced Lake of the Pines personal injury attorney by your side, you can often dramatically increase the amount of compensation you receive. You only need the right lawyer who knows how.

Many lawyers will tell you that there is no such thing as an “average” personal injury or car accident settlement. And they’re right. But few lawyers will explain what factors go into estimating the value of your injuries. When you meet with me, I’ll be frank about whether your case is worth enough to make hiring a lawyer a realistic possibility.

First, a settlement or lawsuit should compensate you for your lost money. These are out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred solely because of your accident. Things like:

• Medical bills to treat your injuries. My clients have needed surgery, weeks in the hospital, regular doctor visits, tests and blood work, prescription drugs, and rehabilitation. If successful, you should receive compensation for all these expenses.
• Lost income. Getting hit by a vehicle can put you out of work for months or longer. Even if you have sick time accrued or short-term disability, this is an actual economic loss solely attributable to the car accident.
• Property damage. Your car, bicycle, or motorcycle might need to be repaired. If a vehicle plowed into your home, you might need home repairs.

To calculate the full extent of your economic losses, go through your hospital bills, receipts, and repair estimates. Add up the amounts.

Second, California law allows you to receive compensation for pain and suffering, which is an umbrella term for all kinds of non-economic losses like:

• Physical pain
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Grief
• Inconvenience
• Disfigurement

The more serious your physical injuries, the more you can receive for these non-economic losses. Based on my experience, I can estimate how much a jury would award you in pain and suffering if your case goes to trial. That number can serve as the basis for settlement discussions.

Third, you also need to understand a couple of limitations on how much you can receive:

• Contributory fault. You might be partially responsible for the accident and your injuries. If so, the amount you can receive will be reduced by your responsibility percentage.
• Insurance limits. Many motorists carry only the minimum required insurance, a policy with a $15,000 bodily injury liability limit. Unless the motorist has other insurance or assets, this might be all you can receive regardless of how much money you have lost.

We disagreed with the myth that injured victims get a fair shake from Lake of the Pines and Nevada County insurance companies. Our state’s giant insurance companies have tried to delay, frustrate, and impede the ability of injured victims to receive total and fair compensation for their injuries.

Talk to five car accident victims, and at least one or two will have a horror story of being offered peanuts for what turned out to be life-changing injuries. Many victims, without adequate representation, accept the first offer—much to their dismay when they later realize they didn’t receive nearly enough to cover their losses. And because they signed away their right to sue later, they’re out of luck with nowhere else to turn.

We didn’t think this was right. We’ll fight for you—and get you every cent you deserve.

The following video gives you an idea of what to expect when you meet with a personal injury lawyer in the initial free consultation.

If you’ve been injured by another person’s negligence, you must consider your legal options immediately. You can sue for compensation, but you must act quickly. Any delay can cost you time and money. We’ll never let a client accept a settlement that doesn’t represent the best deal possible, and we never take a case we don’t think we can win.

Call (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for friendly and free advice, or fill out this online contact form.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 11.1.23 Photo by: Skitterphoto on pexels.com llc-da cha [cs 1148]}