A car accident can occur in a variety of circumstances. Nevertheless, some fact patterns appear more frequently on Richmond roads and highways. For example, a common cause is distracted driving, which has become more prevalent with the advent of mobile smartphones and texting. Drivers often stare at their phones while driving, which creates an environment where a severe collision can occur. The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) stated that about 9 people are killed, and over 1,000 others suffer severe injuries in distracted driving accidents.

In addition to distracted driving, a common cause of Richmond car wrecks is speeding. In fact, an excess of 50,000 collisions involving a speeding driver occurs each year in California.

Another common cause of serious wrecks is drunk driving. In fact, roughly 12,000 collisions occur each year in California, where a drunk driver was the culprit of the impact. Of these 12,000 accidents, more than 500 involve someone losing their life.

Other common causes of car wrecks include motorists who ignore the road, neglect to be vigilant of other drivers and pedestrians and fail to entirely stop at a stop sign or stoplight.

When a car crash happens, the injuries inflicted on the drivers and any occupants can be devastating and so severe that you require weeks or months of medical treatment to try and repair the damage to your body. Some of the most commonly reported car accident injuries include:

• Bone fractures
• Cuts and facial lacerations
• Traumatic brain injury or open head wound
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Partial or full paralysis
• Nerve damage
• Neck injuries
• Loss of a limb

These are injuries that you do not simply bounce back from. The damages described above will entail multiple visits to your primary care physician, physical therapist, and other medical professionals, and you may also need surgery.

Watch the YouTube video below to understand why it is essential to contact a lawyer after your injury accident.

As you can see, a severe injury from a car accident can place a significant strain on your bodily health and finances. You could be looking at massive medical expenses and lost income (if you cannot return to your job for an extended period). 

To make matters worse, the insurance company for the other driver is not responsible for paying your medical expenses and lost wages immediately after the accident. This means you are responsible for paying your medical fees, and you can seek to be reimbursed for those costs through a personal injury claim.

The monetary damages you can pursue through a car accident personal injury include, as mentioned, financial recovery for the medical costs you incurred and are likely to incur in the future and the wages you lost due to your injuries. You can also pursue damages for the more imperceptible harms associated with a car accident injury, such as emotional distress, anxiety, mental anguish, inconvenience, and other forms of pain and suffering.

After a severe car wreck, you may be unsure whether you have a viable personal injury claim. To have a possible lawsuit, there needs to be:

• Evidence that the car accident was caused, even if only partially caused, by the negligence of the other driver.
• You or a loved one suffered harm and losses from the collision.

Do not be surprised if you receive a call from an insurance adjuster for the other driver’s auto insurance company. This is a common tactic used by virtually all insurance companies. They want to make contact as soon as possible, convince you to give a recorded statement and make a lowball settlement offer. 

This is why it makes more sense to avoid speaking with the adjuster until you have had a chance to talk to an experienced Richmond, California, car accident attorney. During the recorded statement, seemingly innocuous and innocent comments can be twisted by the insurance company to reduce or deny your claim. You should only give a recorded statement with your attorney on the line.

Waiting to contact an accident lawyer is terrible for several reasons. One of the big reasons is the statute of limitations. This is a statutory deadline that all plaintiffs must comply with when filing a personal injury lawsuit in a civil court. 

According to the California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, a two-year window exists to file a personal injury action against the other driver. When you factor in the time needed to investigate your car accident, contact witnesses, analyze medical bills, etc., it is apparent that taking action immediately is extremely important to improve your chances of obtaining financial recovery. 

Contact our Richmond car accident lawyers to help you navigate the complex personal injury claims process.

If you or someone you hold dear has suffered injury or death in a Richmond car accident, please contact our Richmond personal injury lawyers for compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice. We can be reached at (510) 631-0200 or (800) 404-5400. See the Past Verdicts and Settlements obtained by our injury lawyers.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 5.18.23] Photo by chantelle taylor on Unsplash sb [cs 953]}