Every year, motor vehicle accidents, which might include car accidents, are responsible for the non-fatal injuries of three million persons in the United States. In 2017, collisions were responsible for 277,160 injuries and 3,904 fatalities in the state of California.
In spite of significant progress made in the field of automotive safety, an alarmingly high number of automobile collisions continue to take place all over the state of California. If you have been harmed in a car accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for the scratches you have sustained. Personal injury law states that a negligent motorist who causes an accident can be held financially accountable for the victim’s medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other associated costs in the event that the accident was caused by another driver.
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How many car accidents happen a year in Stockton, CA?
According to a 2019 study from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Stockton experienced about 2,172 injuries and fatal accidents that year. Alcohol was a factor in 175 of these collisions, leading to 497 DUI accusations. Out of the overall number of traffic collisions in the analysis, speeding was a factor in 418 of them.
What are the liability coverage minimum limits required in California?
In California, all drivers are obliged to have liability insurance. The state’s minimum insurance requirements for bodily injury are $15,000 for a single person’s injury or death or $30,000 for several parties involved in a motor vehicle incident. The latter requires that the $30,000 be divided among the claimants.
Do auto insurance policies cover hit-and-run accidents?
The fact that UM coverage can apply in a hit-and-run event that causes physical harm makes it especially helpful. According to a report by the California Office of Traffic Safety, there were 304 hit-and-runs in Stockton in 2019.
Knowing that your insurance coverage protects you is essential. The same may be stated if a driver’s inadequate liability insurance contributed to a vehicle accident that resulted in significant injuries.
Common reasons for Stockton car accidents
94% of car accidents, on the report of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), result from driver mistakes. While some accidents are brought on by external reasons, like bad road conditions, or internal factors, such as defective brakes, the driver is to blame in most cases.
As accident lawyers, most of the attorneys defend clients who have suffered injuries in all motor vehicle collisions. The situations we see most car accident claims personal injury victims involve :
- Driving negligence
- Distracted driving, such as texting or even eating while operating a vehicle
- Sleepy driving
- Driving while intoxicated (DUI) by drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
These mishaps frequently result in severe injuries and may even be deadly. With the aid of a stockton car accident attorneys recover compensation when a loved one is killed in a car accident.
Drivers and passengers may sustain a variety of wounds in these collisions, including:
- Harm to the brain from trauma (TBI)
- Whips
- Cuts and scrapes (lacerations)
- Head trauma
- Bone fractures (fracture)
- Nerve injury
- Bleeding inside
- Burns
- Scarring
- Damage to the spinal cord and paralysis
- Back problems
- Soft-tissue damage
- Internal harm, including organ damage
- Limb amputation or loss
- Knee and leg pain
- Hand and wrist injuries (often from the airbag deploying)
- Traumatic injuries
Additionally, emotional discomfort is a common side effect of auto accidents for many sufferers. Being involved in a collision can be quite distressing, and rehabilitation might take a while. As a result, those harmed in vehicle accidents may also struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression (PTSD).
What losses are covered in a bodily injury claim?
Economic losses and non-economic
The damages comprise the two categories of compensation in personal injury cases. The first category of damages reflects the monetary losses from the car accident, while the second category considers the incident’s intangible damages. These might comprise, but are not restricted to:
Medical Expenses:
You may be able to recover the costs of medical care for accident-related injuries by filing a personal injury attorney claim. This is conceivable as long as the medical care has been demonstrated to be reasonable and required by a preponderance of the evidence. Future medical expenses may also be claimed if there have been serious injuries.
Lost Wages:
A Stockton car accident injury may necessitate recovery time, which frequently entails time away from work. A claim for wage loss may be submitted to recover the wages that should have been received had the injured party not taken time off work to heal and go to doctor’s visits.
Loss of Future Earnings:
A claim for loss of future earning potential may be made if the injury precludes the claimant from earning money in the future. The amount of future pay loss may be difficult to estimate because medical records must attest that the injuries are permanent and will probably make it difficult for the injured party to work in the same capacity as before the accident.
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Pain and suffering damages are frequently referred to as non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are intended to account for losses that are unavoidably incurred but are valuable as direct costs. If you continue to hurt after an accident, that is a very serious loss.
Establishing Liability Car Accident in Stockton, California
In certain cases, the cause of a car collision is clear. But there can be a disagreement in many instances. Perhaps two drivers are at fault. Or a chain reaction can involve several automobiles. Or maybe the person who filed the personal injury lawsuit was at least somewhat to blame for what occurred.
To establish fault, a plaintiff must demonstrate three things:
- The plaintiff owes the defendant a duty of care.
- The defendant negligently broke
- This duty of care.
The defendant’s negligence largely brought on the plaintiff’s injuries.
The “duty of care” in an automobile accident case typically comes down to a driver disobeying traffic regulations or other fundamental driving laws. It does not imply that the motorist intentionally wanted to hurt someone. A driver’s duty of care to other road users is violated if they run a red light while distracted by their phone. The distracted motorist is legally responsible for the offense and any injuries that result from it if it results in a collision at the intersection.
A judge or jury may assign “comparative fault” to one or more parties if they simultaneously violated their duties of care, including the plaintiff. An irresponsible defendant is not exonerated by comparative fault. However, it can lessen their responsibility to make a plaintiff whole.
After a car accident, you’ll likely find it difficult to maintain composure. It is best to keep your composure at all times. Medical help should always be your top priority if there is an obvious injury. Additionally, you should always call the police. They can create an official accident report that is useful later when dealing with insurance or making a personal injury claim. You must also contact a personal injury law firm immediately after the accident.
Following these initial actions, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer Stockton car accident attorney as soon as possible. After a motor vehicle accident, you must seek guidance from the insurance company. Do not forget that hiring a lawyer does not indicate that you intend to bring a case. It simply implies that you should have a seasoned attorney advise you on your legal rights and obligations.