Founded in 1869, Livermore is an up-and-coming city in Alameda County. Over 91,000 people call this city home in the Tri-Valley and enjoy it for its history in the wine industry, culture, and arts. The area sees its fair share of commuters traveling in and out of the San Francisco Bay Area via State Route 84 and Interstate 580. With so much traffic, it only takes one driver to break the rules of the road to cause a motor vehicle collision resulting in significant consequences. When this happens, a party injured in the car accident may seek compensation from the negligent driver through a personal injury claim. A skilled lawyer may be invaluable as you seek financial recovery for your losses. Proving that another party was responsible for the incident may not be as straightforward as you think. Therefore, you may benefit from having the best Livermore personal injury attorney at your side after getting hurt in a recent crash.

Car accidents happen every day in Alameda County and across California. If you were injured in a recent traffic collision, our law firm can help. Call today to receive free, friendly case advice from one of our skilled Livermore personal injury attorneys at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400.

For nearly four decades, our legal team at AutoAccident.com has been fighting for the rights of those who have suffered life-changing injuries in collisions caused by the negligence of others. It is useful to discuss your case with an experienced Livermore injury lawyer immediately after a car wreck, even if that is just during a free consultation, to learn about your rights and options for financial recovery. An accident attorney will have your best interests at heart and will advise you on what to expect from the legal process. Having a lawyer on your side is also useful because they will work to ensure that you are not taken advantage of by insurance companies and defense counsel. You will receive just that when you turn to our personal injury law firm for assistance. Get started today by reaching out to us to schedule a free case evaluation with a member of our team.

A motor vehicle collision may occur because of a wide array of factors. In a bodily injury claim, it happened because another party was negligent somehow. Some of the common reasons for car accidents in Livermore, CA, may include but are not limited to:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Distracted driving, such as texting on a cell phone
• Failing to check blind spots for others on the road
• Faulty parts and equipment in motor vehicles
• Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions
• Reckless driving like weaving in and out of traffic
• Running red lights or posted stop signs

No matter the situation, an experienced personal injury lawyer from Livermore, CA, will know the best way to proceed in an accident case. Your attorney will analyze the facts, conduct an independent investigation, work with expert witnesses, and negotiate a reasonable settlement agreement with the insurance company on your behalf.

When another driver fails to exercise due care, the consequences may be severe. That is because motor vehicle crashes have the potential to result in traumatic injuries or even death to those involved. The most common injuries seen in auto accidents may include:

• Amputations
• Bone fractures
• Facial lacerations
• Internal trauma
• Lower extremity injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Upper extremity injuries

An experienced and top-rated Livermore personal injury attorney can thoroughly examine the evidence and facts in the case and work with expert witnesses to establish the extent of accident-related injuries. They work together to determine full past and future costs to seek fair compensation on behalf of the injured party through insurance negotiations or in litigation, if necessary.

A personal injury case aims to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. These may help injured parties rebuild their lives after suffering intangible harm and financial losses because of a catastrophic accident. Economic damages generally include past and future medical expenses, property damage, wage loss, lost future earning capacity, and other financial losses. Non-economic damages are subjective in nature as they reflect the injured party’s experience from harms such as loss of consortium, lost enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering.

Many drivers in California operate motor vehicles without auto insurance despite state laws requiring all motorists to carry liability coverage. What’s most unfortunate about this is that California ranks as the tenth state with the highest percentage of uninsured drivers at 16.6 percent. This was based on a report released in 2019 by the Insurance Information Institute. When involved in a crash caused by a driver without liability insurance, you may turn to your insurer for recourse if you carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. In these situations, UM coverage may apply up to the limits of the policy. Another reason why it is essential to carry uninsured motorist coverage is because it may also extend protection in a hit-and-run accident even if the suspect driver is never found.

Remember that clear and compelling evidence must demonstrate that the suspect vehicle made contact with the injured party in hit-and-run accident cases. That driver’s actions were the direct cause of resulting damages. If the suspect driver is located, whether through local law enforcement’s efforts or through a private investigator hired by an accident attorney, UM coverage may still apply if they do not have liability insurance. Conversely, UIM coverage may come into play if it is determined that the injured party’s damages exceed the negligent driver’s policy limits.

While we would expect our insurance carriers to do the right thing for us by providing fair compensation in an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim, that does not always play out in all cases. Remember that insurance companies are businesses with the primary intention of maximizing profit margins. Accomplishing that goal may often come at the expense of injured people like you. A skilled Livermore car accident lawyer can advise you on the steps to take after a motor vehicle collision caused by a driver with no liability insurance or one with minimal coverage.

When an injured party is partially responsible for a motor vehicle collision, they may be allowed to seek compensation as California follows a system of comparative fault. Under this system, the injured individual may seek a financial recovery that is reduced by the degree of fault assigned to them. If the injured person is awarded $50,000 in damages but was determined to be 20 percent at fault for the incident, they may still be entitled to the remaining 80 percent of the total award. To put this into perspective, if you were speeding down Interstate 580 or State Route 84 in Livermore and were hit by a drunk driver, comparative fault may apply.

Remember that insurance companies and defense counsel may use comparative fault to reduce their payout for an injury case. It is recommended to never admit fault in a motor vehicle collision because of the broad factors that may come into play. In these situations, it is best to have an experienced injury lawyer conduct an independent investigation of the car wreck to properly determine fault. The last thing you would want in such a situation is for the insurance carrier to shift blame onto you to pay you as little as possible on your personal injury claim. Therefore, do not delay seeking assistance from a top-rated Livermore personal injury lawyer for your case.

The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time allowed to take legal action for an injury sustained in an accident. Failure to protect the statute may result in the court’s case dismissal. Many factors have an influence on the time limit that applies to a civil case, including:

• Personal Injury: According to the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, there is a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases. If the claim is not settled with the other side within this period, a lawsuit must be filed no later than the 2nd anniversary of the accident. The same code section also applies to wrongful death matters.
• Government Entity: There is a shorter time limit for personal injury claims involving government entities. Under the California Government Code Section 911.2, a notice of claim must be submitted no later than 180 days from the incident date.

Remember that other strict filing criteria and deadlines apply to these cases, so it is essential to meet with a top Livermore auto accident attorney immediately to evaluate your case. For suggestions and tips on finding the best personal injury lawyer in your area to represent you, watch the video below.

Edward A. Smith is the founder of AutoAccident.com and practicing attorney in personal injury law since 1982. Attorney Smith understands the devastating effects of serious injuries on individuals and families. He and his legal team are dedicated to recovering the fair compensation that their clients need and deserve to put tragic car accidents behind them. In recognition of the successful Verdicts and Settlements that he has obtained on behalf of his clients, he has been invited to join as a California member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

The way our legal team treats our clients sets us apart from other law firms in Alameda County and across the state of California. Our family at AutoAccident.com is dedicated to helping families rebuild their lives after traumatic crashes. With our commitment and work built on decades of combined experience, our goal is to recover the maximum compensation our clients need to put these situations behind them. If you were injured in an accident, contact our skilled Livermore personal injury lawyers for free, friendly advice on your case at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400. We handle claims under a contingent fee arrangement meaning you owe us nothing unless we recover fair compensation on your behalf.

Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 8.10.22]

Image Credit: By “12019” via Pixabay

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