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Car Accident Injury Lawyer in Oceanside
Oceanside Car Accident Attorney
Have you been involved in a car accident? If you, a friend, or a family member were injured you need the expert car accident attorneys at Skolnick Law Group. Serving all Oceanside, California we work on a contingency basis — there’s no payment from you unless we win compensation for you.
About Car and Passenger Vehicle Accidents
If there was only property damage from a collision, most claims can be resolved through the insurance company without the necessity of a lawyer. But when an individual was injured in a collision, it is an entirely different ballgame. Medical and other costs can quickly become another disaster for all those involved, not just the accident victim. Financial pressure caused by having a sudden change in a family’s budget to provide for the cost of physical therapy visits can cause considerable stress on a family, particularly where the injured car crash victim was the sole breadwinner.
Roughly half of the collisions that occur were avoidable, so the at-fault driver can be held liable. Did you know that when texting and driving someone is over 20 times more likely to be in an accident? Or that speeding is involved in a third of all accidents, and driving under the influence in another 1 in 7 (15%)? Congestion and poor conditions such as rain or fog are also key factors in car crashes occurring because negligent drivers fail to adjust their driving to accommodate weather or road conditions.
Each year around 10 million people are involved in car accidents. That includes some 2,700 fatalities in California alone. Just in San Diego County there are around 14,000 accidents involving one or more injuries each year. So Oceanside residents are not alone in experiencing damages caused by car crashes.
You Pay Nothing Unless Compensation is Recovered!
After a Car Accident
Who looks out for your best interests after a car accident has occurred? Certainly not the insurance companies who work hard to minimize payouts. Their job is to pay out as little as possible. Often, they prey on victims of car accidents who are initially focused on the damage to their vehicle and how they will get to physical therapy treatment visits or work without a car. Insurance companies may offer quick, low settlements which can be tempting to a car accident victim because it helps with the immediate problem (purchasing a replacement vehicle) but the long-term problem of permanent injuries with the need for future treatment gets ignored in the process. That’s why retaining a car accident lawyer is so important. You need someone who can look at the overall bigger picture and protect your long-term interests in recovering and getting back to a normal life.
You may well be frightened and distressed, but you need to take action as soon after a car accident as possible. Of course safety and medical treatment are the top priorities, but right after that comes collecting evidence yourself. That means taking as many detailed notes and photos as possible, collecting contact information and initial statements from witnesses, and obtaining the Oceanside Police report. Today, almost everyone has a cell phone with a camera on them. A useful tip is to use your cell phone camera to document everything. Take a photo of the at-fault driver’s license plate, property damage, driver’s license, registration, etc. All of the photos you take may become critical in your case at a later time, so if you have the ability to document it, do so. Be sure to take photos of the damage not only to your own vehicle but to the defendant’s vehicle as well. Sometimes, what looks like little damage to your vehicle can later be found to be more substantial than initially thought. In those cases where your car does not appear particularly damaged, the defendant’s vehicle will almost certainly show substantial, visible damage. Taking a photo of the defendant’s vehicle damage will help to combat the insurance companies’ later arguments that there was “insufficient force to cause injury.”
In dealing with insurance, you should indeed report the incident immediately, especially if you or anyone else has been injured. But give as few details about your injuries as possible – because frankly, when a collision has only just occurred, most crash victims have no idea what the nature and extent of their injuries are until they have been examined by a doctor or specialist. It is important to remember that just like the standard Miranda warning issued by police to persons being arrested, anything you say can, and may very well be used against you later down the line.
The Rights of Injury Victims
If you were injured and the other driver was negligent, you have the right to receive insurance compensation for all medical bills and rehabilitation expenses. You will also have the right to compensation for other types of losses like lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and potentially, loss of companionship.
It is important to protect your rights. You can do that by hiring an experienced car accident attorney that knows what your rights are and how to get you compensated. Initial settlement offers from insurance companies are almost always far less than what is fair and just. If you accept a low-ball initial offer, you may be setting yourself up for a financial crisis. Few people can properly anticipate all the expenses associated with ongoing disabilities. But a personal injury attorney recognizes and knows how to evaluate those losses and present them to the insurance company in a persuasive manner.
WE FIGHT TO WIN FOR YOU
OUR RESULTS
Russell S. Kohn and Suzanne Skolnick Attorneys Kohn and Skolnick represented a 60-year-old man in an under insured motorist claim against Farmers. After reduction for the worker’s compensation benefits and the third party recovery, Judge Hoffman’s net award totaled $520,000.
Our Recent WinsYour Representative in Oceanside: The Skolnick Law Group
Sometimes it is complex and difficult to prove who is at fault in car accidents even with favorable witness testimony. It is a rare case when an insurance company just rolls over and admits liability for the collision. Even in rear-end collision cases where it would appear liability is clear, defense insurance companies will often deny liability throughout the lawsuit and right up to the moment of trial. A personal injury attorney can help by cutting through the insurance company’s posturing and overcome liability arguments in favor of the injured car accident victim. That’s why you need a personal injury attorney to prove liability and get you the full compensation you deserve.
A good attorney will collect and interpret evidence (including detailed statements from witness), advocate and negotiate on your behalf, and if necessary, represent you in a court case.
That’s exactly what you get with the Skolnick Law Group. You’ll meet one-on-one with a caring personal injury lawyer having extensive knowledge of California statutes as well as insurance company procedures and tactics. We have an outstanding reputation winning in justice for injured clients as well as their families with personal attention and aggressive representation. And we’ll always be there to hear your concerns and answer your questions. We’ll even make in-home and in-hospital visits.
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Oceanside Fame
With a population of 167,086 (2010 US Census) The City of Oceanside has been home to such notables as singer Barbara Mandrell, actor Christopher Lloyd, and restauranteur Thomas Keller. Working tirelessly for the residents of our community of Oceanside is a privilege for the Skolnick Law Group. Contact our office today for a free consultation!
