Huntington Beach Car Accident Attorney

What is Negligence in Regard to Car Accidents in Huntington Beach?

For a personal injury claim to be successful, there needs to be proven negligence. For a car accident, your attorney will need to prove that:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care 
• They breached that duty by acting in a certain way 
• Their actions or inactions caused your injuries
• You were harmed or injured as a direct result of the defendant’s actions 

Whether you are worried about how you will pay your bills or you are concerned about being unable to return to work because of an injury, you deserve to have an experienced car accident attorney who can advocate for you. Do not try to hold negligent parties accountable for your damages alone. If you or someone you care about was injured in a Huntington Beach car accident that resulted from an unsafe driver, you will need serious legal help for the protection of your rights and interests.

Who Is Liable for a Car Accident in Huntington Beach?

Car accidents often happen quickly, and with the amount of factors that contribute to collisions, it can be challenging to know who breached their duty of care and caused your injuries. With a thorough investigation and attention to detail, our skilled car accident lawyers in Huntington Beach can identify a liable party, which, depending on your unique circumstances, can include one or more of the following:

• Another Driver: If another motor vehicle driver, such as a truck driver or motorcyclist, fails to follow traffic laws, drives recklessly, or drives under the influence, they could be responsible for the accident and your injuries.
• Pedestrian: Like drivers, pedestrians owe those around them a duty of care to follow traffic signs and use caution when crossing roads. If they fail to do this, they could be liable for an accident.
• Manufacturer: Perhaps a defective part caused a vehicle to malfunction. In this case, the manufacturer would be responsible for the damages that result from the defective part.
• Government Entity or Property Owner: Property owners and government agencies are responsible for maintaining their roads to keep them safe for drivers. If they fail to do this, they could be held accountable for an accident.
• Employer: If the liable party was working when the accident occurred, their employer might take responsibility for their breach of duty.

In many cases, multiple parties share fault for a car accident, including the injured driver, making claims more complex and intricate. California uses a pure comparative negligence system for these situations. This means each party involved receives a percentage of fault, which gets deducted from their respective damages. For example, if you are 10% at fault, and your claim is worth $150,000, you will receive $135,000. We understand this system and fight tirelessly for the fair settlement you deserve.

How to Prove Fault in Your California Car Accident Claim

As the victim of another party’s negligence filing a car accident claim, you carry the burden of proof. This means you are responsible for proving the at-fault party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and directly caused the accident and your injuries, which resulted in damages. Our Younglove Law Group lawyers can help you do this by gathering and analyzing evidence, like the following:

• Medical records
• Phone records
• Security and traffic camera footage
• Police report
• Maintenance records
• Witness testimony
• Personal statements
• Photographs and videos
• Expert testimony
• Pay stubs and tax documents

Because you carry the burden of proof when filing a car accident claim in Huntington Beach, it is essential to take steps to protect your rights, such as seeking immediate medical attention and contacting the police. Seeing a medical professional right away creates a record of your injury, proving it exists, while the police report the authorities create contains important details about the accident that can prove your case.

How Are Damages Calculated for Car Accident Claims

Every car accident claim is different, so there is no clear-cut way to calculate its value. We consider several factors, including the severity of your injuries, your total amount of damages, available insurance coverage, and comparative negligence, when determining your case’s worth to ensure your settlement reflects your physical, emotional, and financial losses. 

The methods used to calculate damages after a car accident in Huntington Beach include the following:

Economic Damages

When calculating economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, we use your medical bills, invoices, receipts, pay stubs, and tax returns to determine the current and future extent of your losses. We leave no stone unturned and use the documents and information we collect to prove your economic damages and their value.

Non-Economic Damages

Due to their subjective nature, non-economic damages, like pain and suffering and emotional distress, are often much more complicated to calculate. Multiple methods are used to determine the value of these damages, including the multiplier and the per diem methods. With the multiplier method, the value of your economic damages gets multiplied by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity and impact of your injuries.

The per diem method assigns a compensatory value per day of your recovery after the accident. Generally, these earnings are similar to your daily income if the accident had not occurred.  With the help of a trusted Huntington Beach car accident lawyer, you can better understand your claim’s value and avoid settling for a lowball offer from insurance companies.

How to Protect Your Rights After a Huntington Beach Car Accident

The aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming, making it difficult to navigate the complexities of the legal process and protect your rights. With the following strategic actions, you can prioritize your health and give you the best chance of securing the fair settlement you deserve:

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Even if you feel fine after a car accident, you should seek immediate medical attention. The shock and adrenaline you feel might minimize pain, but a medical professional can identify any underlying injuries. Not only does this help you kickstart your recovery and understand the impact of the accident, but it also creates a medical record of your injuries, which helps prove they exist in your claim.

Contact the Police

If any injuries or damages exceeding $1,000 occur in a car accident, you should call the police.  When officers arrive at the scene, they will create a police report, an official recording of the accident containing important information about the parties involved and the potential cause. We can use the police report to prove your side of the story and counter any disputes from insurance companies.

Document Everything

If you can, taking photos and videos of the scene uninterrupted and your injuries can help document crucial details of the accident. Exchanging information with other parties and witnesses can help you file your claim faster and get statements confirming your story and liability. Additionally, keeping every bill, invoice, and receipt related to your injuries can help us accurately calculate your claim’s worth. Journaling about your appointments and how your injuries have impacted your life can also help prove your non-economic damages.

Avoid Speaking to Insurance Companies

While it might seem reasonable for insurance adjusters to call you shortly after an accident, they will likely use everything you say against you to avoid paying you your full settlement value. Therefore, it is essential to consult with an experienced lawyer before speaking to insurance companies to prevent these errors.

Contact a Lawyer

In addition to helping you speak with insurance companies, our dedicated car accident attorneys in Huntington Beach manage all elements of your claim so you can focus on recovery. We also communicate with you every step of the way so you never feel lost and always know what to expect. Working with a lawyer helps you better understand your rights and gives you the knowledge you need to make the best decisions for your future.

How Can a Lawyer Help With Your Huntington Beach Car Accident Claim?

After suffering injuries in a car accident, you deserve to focus on your recovery instead of worrying about the complicated legal process. At Younglove Law Group, we can help you do just that. Our experienced team handles every aspect of your claim, including the following, to take your legal burdens off your shoulders:

• Thoroughly investigating the accident
• Collecting and reviewing evidence
• Interviewing witnesses
• Answering your legal questions
• Accurately calculating your claim’s value
• Utilizing valuable resources, like accident reconstructionists and traffic analysts, to strengthen your claim
• Navigating state and federal laws that apply to your claim
• Developing personalized strategies to fight for a fair settlement
• Negotiating with insurance adjusters on your behalf
• Taking your claim to court if necessary

Not only do we manage every element of your claim, but we do so efficiently, working hard to meet California law’s two-year statute of limitations. While two years might seem like plenty of time to file your claim on your own, the process can be complex, and your recovery could make it challenging to meet this deadline without help from our professionals. With our client-focused approach and decades of combined experience, you can trust us to build a strong claim and help you take advantage of your opportunity to fight for your rights.

Why Choose Younglove Law Group for Your Huntington Beach Car Accident Claim?

When looking for a car accident attorney to help you file your car accident claim, finding a team you can trust to advocate for your rights and help you navigate your claim’s unique complexities is important. At Younglove Law Group, we have extensive experience handling all types of car accident claims, including high-value, intricate cases that need to go to court. Our reputable team sets us apart in the following ways:

• Client-Focused Approach: We always put our clients first, prioritizing recovery and communication while paying attention to every detail. Our lawyers understand the physical and emotional challenges you face after your accident, so we work closely with you to meet your needs and take your legal burdens off your shoulders.
• Proven Track Record: With a proven track record of over $50 million recovered for our clients, you can feel confident working with us, regardless of your claim’s value or complexity.
• Affordable Services: We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not have to pay a fee unless we win your case. 
• Experienced Representation: Our tenacious lawyers have over 20 years of experience, giving us the knowledge, resources, and skills to take on your claim and increase your chance of receiving a fair settlement.

We are committed to establishing trust with every car accident victim we work with, taking the time to listen to your story and develop a personalized plan based on your unique needs and circumstances. Our Huntington Beach car accident attorneys work with you from the beginning and guide you through the legal process to help achieve a successful outcome.