Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers

There is something about the car and Los Angeles that just go together. California is the birthplace of American car culture, the freedom of the highway, and of fast food designed to eat in the car on a cool summer night. But, our car-heavy world has a dark side: in recent years, Los Angeles has led the nation in the number of serious car accidents and fatalities on the road. In 2016 alone, 260 Los Angeles drivers were killed in vehicle crashes.

As your Los Angeles auto accident lawyer, Blair & Ramirez LLP is here to help car accident victims receive maximum compensation for the personal injuries resulting from car accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident or collision here in the Los Angeles area, call us for a free consultation.

Even as vehicles add more safety features and accident-avoidance technology, car accidents are not only continuing to occur, but are actually increasing in number and severity. Los Angeles leads the nation in the rate of injury-causing or fatal accidents, and the number of fatalities has increased by more than 55% since 2016.

Distracted driving is a major reason why the number of car accidents is on the rise nationally. Even as many drivers transition from using cell phones to hands-free setups in their vehicles, many new cars now feature touch-screen displays that compete with traditional driving distractions—the radio, eating a snack, glancing at the kids in the backseat—for the very limited attention of drivers.

In evaluating why accidents are becoming more frequent, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also pointed to larger demographic changes occurring nationally. The number of 65+ motorists has increased by 30% over the past decade.

Ultimately, NHTSA research shows that human decisions lead to 94% of serious accidents here in the United States. From driving under the influence to speeding, a vast majority of car accidents are caused by the person behind the wheel as opposed to external, non-human factors such as road conditions or vehicle failure.

The NHTSA notes that more than 3 million Americans are injured every year in car accidents. The scope and severity of such injuries can range from relatively minor scrapes and cuts to serious head and spine injuries that ultimately become debilitating for the victim. Even with all the safety advancements in modern vehicles, the number of car accident injuries are increasing.

One of the most common types of injuries experienced by car accident victims is whiplash. When a vehicle collides with another one at any speed, the force not absorbed by the vehicle itself is transferred to its occupants. This can cause sudden movement forward, stretching connective tissues and muscles throughout your body. The neck and upper back are especially vulnerable to this type of impact damage.

Not every injury is immediately apparent at the scene. For most people, the body begins pumping adrenaline at the shock and stress of an accident. This can mask pain or internal injuries for days, weeks, or months after the original collision. Many victims are able to walk away from a serious accident only to later find their back pain unbearable. As an auto accident lawyer in Los Angeles, we advise that you remain at the scene to be examined by medical personnel.

The true cost of car accidents is staggering. In 2014, the NHTSA found that traffic accidents cost Americans a combined $871 billion, with $594 billion of that coming from the “loss of life, pain, and decreased quality of life” resulting from vehicle accidents. To add insult to literal injury, auto crash victims pay for about 26% of all motor vehicle crash costs, per the NHTSA.

This is why car insurance exists, right? Yes and no. It is important to remember that insurers make money from premiums and lose money from payouts and settlements. Therefore, their interest is to maximize the former while minimizing the latter. This means that most insurers acting on behalf of the insured actively work against most car accident victims seeking compensation. This results in adjusters offer quick settlements below maximum compensation or an attempt to accumulate evidence limiting the fault of their driver.

If you need a reason to work with a personal injury and car accident lawyer in Los Angeles, consider this: as the victim of a car accident, you are entitled to maximum compensation for your injuries and property. You may not be able to get that compensation going up against insurance companies on your own.

Fortunately, injury-causing accidents are an infrequent occurrence for most drivers. However, this means that most people do not have a strong understanding of the role insurance companies play in auto accidents and compensating victims.

Despite what their commercials may otherwise imply, insurance companies are not charities. Their primary goal in the event where one of their insured is involved in an accident is to limit their losses and liability. This, in turn, means they keep more of the money they collect in the form of premiums.

An insurance adjuster may sound conciliatory when you speak to them over the phone. They may assure you that they are conducting an “investigation” that will result in all the accident’s victims being fairly compensated. In most cases, what they are actually doing is looking for reasons to limit their own liability.

California is a comparative negligence state. This means that if the insurance company determines that any percentage of the accident is your fault—even if you were the one hit by a driver carrying their insurance—they will seek to reduce your compensation by that amount. Their investigation is a means to this end: their adjuster is fishing for information that can reduce the amount they need to compensate you.

Our recommendation is that you call our team at Blair & Ramirez LLP before you speak to any insurance representatives.

Often, just the knowledge that you are working with a California car accident lawyer is a strong signal to the insurance company that you are serious about being rightfully compensated for your injuries.

Our lawyers will conduct our own investigation of the accident to determine the degree of fault of the other parties. This is where the documentation you collected at the scene of the accident comes into play. Using that, the police report, and eyewitness testimony, we can put together a successful claim that proves the exact degree of fault in accordance with the laws of the state of California. This helps ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Not every car accident or personal injury case will result in litigation. In most cases, with a claim made with the backing of our lawyers, the insurance company will make a fair settlement offer. In the event that they do not, our team of Los Angeles accident lawyers will immediately file suit to get maximum compensation for you, our client.

Blair & Ramirez LLP is here to help you recover maximum compensation for your personal injuries as the result of an auto accident. Click the button below to request a free consultation with our experienced lawyers.