San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents are extremely common in San Francisco and throughout California. In fact, the majority of personal injury claims filed in the city involve car accidents. Any negligent, or careless, act can result in a crash that results in serious injuries. If you have been hurt by another person’s negligence, you should not be responsible for paying your medical bills, or your lost income. Our San Francisco car accident lawyer can help you recover compensation that can offset your losses.
What is the Law on Car Accidents in California?
Under state law, anyone who is injured in a car accident can file a lawsuit against the liable party. The term ‘liability’ refers to legal responsibility and who is at fault for the accident. Other drivers do not have to intentionally cause an accident to be found liable. Proving that another motorist operated their vehicle in an unreasonable and unsafe manner is enough to prove liability.
It is not always other drivers who cause car accidents. Poorly-marked construction sites, roadway hazards, gravel on roadways, and other hazardous road conditions can all result in a car crash. When these factors are present, it is even more important to speak to a San Francisco car accident lawyer. These claims have different time limits and procedural rules that must be followed to obtain the full damages you deserve.
Damages Available in Car Accident Lawsuits
A car accident can cause a number of physical, emotional, and financial losses. Through a lawsuit you can recover compensation, known as damages, for all of these. The most common types of damages available in car accident lawsuits are as follows:
- Current and future incidental, medical, and hospital expenses
- Current and future lost wages, including loss of earning capacity
- Current and future physical pain and suffering and mental anguish
- Property damage
- Wrongful death damages, if someone you love was killed in a crash
In California, you can collect partial damages even if you were partly liable for a crash. However, any damages you are awarded will be reduced by your same percentage of fault.
For example, another driver may have run a stop sign, hitting you as they did. However, you were looking at your phone at the time and did not see them approaching without time to stop. Running a stop sign is considered a more serious traffic violation than texting and driving. As such, you may be assigned 20 percent of fault while the other driver carries 80 percent of the blame. If you are awarded $100,000 for your injuries, they will be reduced by 20 percent and you will receive $80,000.
Our Car Accident Lawyer in San Francisco Will Protect Your Best Interests
Filing a car accident lawsuit is never easy. At Venardi Zurada, our San Francisco car accident lawyer will fight back against claims that you are partly to blame for your injuries and negotiate for the fair settlement you are entitled to. Call us now at (833) 893-6763 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about your legal options.