Auto Accidents

In the U.S., there are millions of miles of public roadways that are traveled by millions of Americans every day. While vehicles are becoming safer every year, and accidents are generally preventable, with so many miles of asphalt and concrete filled with vehicles, there are bound to be accidents—some minor, some severe, and some fatal. Unfortunately, these happen on a daily basis.
Studies show that there is an average of more than two people killed every day in Southern California because of car accidents. Most of these accidents are caused by driver negligence and distraction. If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a car collision in the City of Los Angeles or the surrounding area, contact Les for a consultation at 818-584-3560.

What Are the Most Common Injuries from Car Accidents?
In the US, Car accidents are a leading cause of injuries. The location and severity of the injuries can vary depending on many factors. The most common injuries include:

• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Brain injuries
• Broken and fractured bones
• Cuts, bruises, and burns
• Whiplash
• Internal damage
• PTSD

If you are involved in a car accident, make sure you do the following:
Stay at the scene: Never leave the scene of an accident until you have been cleared to do so. If you flee the scene, it is considered a hit-and-run. You can face serious criminal penalties, especially when injuries are sustained.
Exchange information: Get names, phone numbers, addresses, drivers’ license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance information from all drivers involved. If there are passengers, also obtain their names, numbers, and addresses. You also want to gather contact information for any witnesses at the scene.
Take pictures: If you can, take pictures at the scene of the accident–any damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle or vehicles related to the accident, skid marks and debris from the accident in the street. Be sure to get photos of any injuries as well. Photos will help determine who is at fault in case of disputes, serve as important pieces of evidence if your case goes to court, and can help determine compensation for your claim.
Call the police: Whenever there is injury or death, the police must be called. Always gather officer names and badge numbers and request that a police report be filed.
Avoid discussing the accident: You should not discuss the accident with anyone except your attorney, YOUR insurance company, and the police. Never talk to the other insurance company; refer the call to your lawyer instead.
Seek medical attention and keep track of your medical treatment: Seek medical attention immediately if you feel either that you were or may have been injured in the auto accident. If there is any question as to whether you sustained injuries as a result of the collision, the best thing is to have that question answered without delay. Get in to see your doctor/chiropractor as soon as you can; or if there’s going to be a delay, then go to the emergency hospital. Note any doctors or other medical professionals you received treatment from–names, street addresses, telephone numbers. Keep a detailed record of dates, times, treatments, and/or medications you receive. Request a copy of all medical reports and expenses. Keep a record–like a diary–of how your injuries have impacted your daily life. Include any time off work, missed routine activities, and how the injuries have affected your family life and personal life.
Inform your insurance company: Review your insurance policy and then contact your insurance company immediately. Explain the facts of the accident clearly. Obtain and review any police report filed so you can check for accuracy and determine who was at fault. Keep a detailed account of all conversations with insurance company representatives and be sure to take note of their names, phone numbers, and job titles.
Request vehicle valuation: Know your rights with respect to the repair and/or replacement of your vehicle: Take your vehicle to the auto body repair shop of your choice, and get a free estimate as to the repair cost. You should remind the body shop, moreover, to make sure and take plenty of photos of all of the damage to the vehicle.
Before having the work started, the estimate needs to be reviewed without delay by either your own insurance company or the insurance company of the person or persons responsible for the accident. If the accident is not your fault, and assuming you’re covered for property damage, you have the option of either referring the matter of the repair of your vehicle to your own insurance company or the insurance company for the negligent/careless driver or drivers. As a practical matter, it’s usually the better practice to go through your own insurance company (when, of course, you have the appropriate coverage). There usually is a deductible when you go through your own insurance company, but your insurance carrier should be able to collect that for you as the case progresses as long as the responsible party is the other driver and then reimburse you.
But neither the insurance company for the responsible party nor your own insurance company–especially not your own insurance company–has the right to play games with you when it comes to fixing your vehicle. One of the benefits from having an attorney represent you is that the lawyer will generally manage to make things work more smoothly with the insurer when it comes to getting the car repaired. (Many insurance adjusters will generally resist their natural inclination to play games when the attorney is on the phone.)
Now what happens if your car is totaled in the accident? If your car is totaled, then both the insurance company for the party responsible and especially your own insurance company owe you a fair payout so that you can replace the vehicle you lost with a comparable one (same make, same model, same year, and more or less the same interior features). Again, having a lawyer take care of this–and my office will do this for no fee to the client we’re representing in a personal injury case–most often cuts down on lots of wasted hours and considerable grief.
Reject early settlement offers: Never sign a release with the other insurance company. Refer all offers to your lawyer. Never accept an offer until all medical treatments have concluded, and you have been fully released by your medical provider. Always consult with an experienced personal injury attorney prior to signing any legal documents related to your accident.
A word about uninsured motorist insurance: The most important thing someone can do to protect himself/herself against catastrophic injury resulting from an auto accident is to carry as much uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance as is affordable. If an accident victim sustains serious and permanent injuries as the result of the careless driving of someone else, chances are that the person responsible will not have any or at least not nearly enough insurance; and that’s especially so in the City of Los Angeles. One can end up in a wheelchair for the remainder of one’s life and have a multi-million dollar case; but unless the accident victim carries a million dollar umbrella that includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM), what can be recovered from the party at fault is probably not even enough to pay the hospital bill. Always remember that the bankruptcy code is used not only to give people a fresh start but also to shield them from the consequences of the damage they do to others. UM affords the coverage the person who caused the collision should have had but didn’t in an amount that will, hopefully, be sufficient to adequately compensate the auto accident victim for the injury suffered. For that reason, it’s good to have the umbrella with $1,000,000 of uninsured motorist coverage or, if the umbrella is not affordable, then at least as much UM as one can afford.
Consult with an experienced auto accident lawyer to answer your questions: Auto accident claims can be complicated, especially if injuries were sustained in the accident. A personal injury attorney can help ensure you receive a fair settlement and recover maximum compensation for your injuries. If you would like to discuss your car accident case with an experienced attorney capable of dealing with your issues, contact Les Zador at 818-584-3560 and request a consultation. All auto accident cases are taken on a contingency, meaning that you do not pay unless your case is successful.