San Bernardino Auto Accidents – An Overview

In 2013 in San Bernardino County alone, over 6,900 people were injured or killed in auto accidents, with 1,069 of those accidents occurring within San Bernardino city limits. Thousands of people each year in San Bernardino County will be involved in a car crash. No one ever plans for a car accident. Knowing what you should do after a car accident and how to proceed to getting back to your life can make all the difference.

 Claims & Procedure: It is important to contact an experienced auto accident attorney as soon as possible following a car accident. Auto accident claims generally include both bodily injury and property damage claims. By consulting with a licensed California attorney, you can ensure that these claims are handled in a timely manner and that you receive the compensation you are due.

 Compensation for Bodily Injury: Determining the amount of damages and collecting those damages is one of the most complicated and difficult areas in a personal injury claim. Compensation in auto accidents can vary greatly based on a number of factors. One factor is the extent of physical damage. This damage can be to property or to your person. Common injuries associated with auto accidents include:

•         Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
•         Head Injuries
•         Concussions
•         Neck Injuries such as Whiplash and Sprains
•         Broken Bones or Sprains

It is important to document any injuries or property damage after an accident. It is possible you will be able to receive compensation for a number of types of damage.

 Economic Damages: Any damages that can be directly compensated with money are considered economic damages. These can include:

•         Property Damage
•         Medical Bills
•         Lost Income

 Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages include what most people generally think of as ‘pain and suffering. These sorts of damages can include:

•         Physical Pain
•         Mental Anguish
•         Trauma
•         Loss of Enjoyment
•         Loss of Quality of Life
•         Anxiety
•         Disfigurement or Scarring

 Future Damages: In some cases, there may be damages caused by the accident that are unable to ascertain in a short period after the accident but are likely to occur in the future. These can include:

•         Future Medical Procedures
•         Therapy
•         Future Lost Earnings

Future damages can be difficult to prove but can greatly increase the compensation for the injured party. It is also necessary to pursue future damages to fully compensate a victim injured in an auto accident.

 Recovery & Compensation from Insurance Companies: As with any type of accident, it is important to be aware of your rights and to protect those rights. Protect your right to compensation by promptly contacting an auto accident attorney with the experience and resources to pursue an injury claim.

Working with insurance companies is complicated and many filings are time-sensitive. California law requires motor vehicle drivers to maintain a minimum amount of liability insurance. This insurance is in place to provide compensation for a person other than the policyholder as a means to cover costs associated with personal injury or property damage. These policies are the first source of compensation if you are injured in an auto accident.

If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you may still be able to recover compensation with the help of an experienced accident attorney who may be able to pursue alternative.

 Liability & Fault: Accidents happen. Sometimes there is nothing that can be done to prevent an accident. However, there are certain dangerous behaviors which increase the risk of accidents and injuries involved:

1. Speeding or Reckless Driving: It is easy to try to cut time off a commute by driving a little faster, but the fact is that even a small increase in speed can greatly increase the risk of accidents. Vehicles traveling at high speeds are take longer to stop and the driver has a smaller window of time to react. Greater speeds can also cause more severe injuries.
2. Distracted Drivers: Between children in the backseat, navigation screens, and adjusting the radio, there are many things in vehicles competing for the driver’s attention. Distracted drivers are one of the most common causes of accidents with eighty percent of accidents nationwide involving some sort of driver distraction. This category also includes texting and driving which increases the risk of crashing by 23 times compared to non-distracted drivers.
3. Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Alcohol in the bloodstream can cause impaired judgement and greatly reduce a driver’s ability to react in a timely manner. The legal blood alcohol level for drinking and driving in California is 0.08 BAC. This doesn’t however mean that driving while under the limit is fine. Everyone’s body reacts differently to alcohol and even a small amount can have a huge impact on reactivity and cognitive ability.

There are a number of reasons an accident may happen and sometimes prevention is not possible. If you have been in an accident, establishing liability is important. Generally, the “At-Fault” or liable party can be determined by taking into account road conditions, lighting conditions, vehicle types and speeds, potentially dangerous behaviors and other details specific to the case.

California law does lend a hand in determining liability in certain instances. In the case of rear-end collisions when one vehicle does not or is unable to stop in time and hits the rear of another vehicle, the “At-Fault” party is generally considered to be the vehicle in the back. In instances where multiple vehicles are involved in rear-end collisions, it is possible for multiple drivers to be liable.

California also requires that a driver making a left-hand turn ensure that the road is clear prior to turning. This means the burden of care is on the person turning and in most cases, if an accident occurs during a left-turn it is the driver attempting the turn who will be held liable.

There are exceptions to these rules. For instance, if while attempting a left-turn the other driver speeds through the intersection or ignores traffic signals. If you are in an accident and the police are contacted, after speaking to all involved parties and witnesses, their report can be used to establish liability.

Contact a Professional San Bernardino, California Car Accident Litigation Attorney

A car accident can leave its victims suffering from lifelong injuries due to no fault of the victim. Getting compensation for those injuries is the first step to getting a life back on track.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in San Bernardino or the greater San Bernardino area, contact an experienced auto accident attorney. Contact the Inland Empire Injury Law Group. We will put our knowledge and experience to work for you. Being in a car accident is stressful enough without having to worry about receiving the necessary compensation to continue living your life. Let us get the best possible result for you.

About the Author:

The Law Office of Justin H. King