A side-impact crash includes any situation where a vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. This type of accident is not only dangerous for the driver of the vehicle that is hit but also for any passengers.
Many side-impact accident victims find themselves dealing with an incredibly stressful situation after the crash. They may be unable to return to work or have a massive pile of medical bills that are simply too much to pay. In some serious cases, the victim may be facing a permanent disability that will have a lasting impact on their professional and personal life.
At Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices, a team member is available to speak with you about your accident in a free and no-obligation consultation. This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about your potential legal rights, the amount of compensation you may be eligible to receive, and whether a Los Angeles side-impact collision lawyer can assist you. Call now to get started at (888) 522-6291.
Side-Impact Collisions Can Lead to Catastrophic Injuries
The seriousness of a T-bone or broadside collision can range from minor bumps and bruises to fatalities. The severity of the accident often depends on several factors, including the type of vehicles involved and the speed at which the accident happened. If your vehicle was broadsided by an 18-wheeler, for example, then you are likely dealing with catastrophic injuries.
Here are some injuries that you may have suffered as a result of the crash:
- A traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage or paralysis
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Severe bruising
- Scars, burns, or other disfigurements
- Emotional distress
This is not an exhaustive list. If you can show that your injuries happened as a result of the crash, then you may be able to recover compensation for the expenses associated with those impairments.
Causes of Side-Impact Accidents
One of the most common places for a side-impact crash to occur is in an intersection. If a driver is not paying attention and enters an intersection without the right-of-way, then there is a high likelihood that they will collide with cars that do have the right-of-way and are proceeding through the intersection. Other causes of side-impact crashes include:
- Running a red light
- Making an illegal U-turn
- Turning right on a red light while other vehicles have the right-of-way
- Merging without ensuring the way is clear
- Distracted driving like texting or surfing social media
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Failing to come to a complete stop at an intersection
Although many side-impact collisions happen because a driver did not yield the right-of-way or make sure the way is clear, there can be other contributing factors like severe weather, poor visibility, road hazards, or a vehicle part malfunction. In California, distracted driving is one of the biggest threats to driver safety, with nearly 60% of drivers reporting that they were hit or nearly hit by someone who was using their cell phone, according to Go Safely California.
You can speak with a Los Angeles side-impact collision lawyer and share what happened in your accident to learn whether the other party is potentially liable. Call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices at (888) 522-6291 now. You only have two years from the date of your injury to assert your right to compensation, according to the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1.
Proving your Right to Compensation
A side-impact crash is a type of personal injury accident, which requires the plaintiff to show that the defendant acted negligently. There are four key elements that must be established in order to show that someone acted negligently:
- Duty: Drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles with reasonable care and skill. You must show that the other party owed you this duty at the time of the accident.
- Breach of duty of care: If a driver fails to act with reasonable care and skill, then that driver has breached their duty of care. Examples include running red lights, distracted driving, and drunk driving.
- Causation: It is not enough to show that the other party breached their duty of care. You must also show that there is a connection between this breach and the injuries you suffered. This element sometimes requires working with expert witnesses, like doctors and accident reconstructionists.
- Damages: If you want to claim an expense in a lawsuit, you must provide evidence to support the amount of compensation you are requesting. If you are seeking compensation for medical bills, for example, you must provide hospital bills showing the amount that you were charged.
Why You Should Consider Working with a Lawyer
There are many ways that a lawyer can assist you with this stressful and overwhelming situation. There are many key rules and processes that you have to follow, even if you simply want to negotiate a settlement. While some cases do settle, there is always the possibility that your case could go to trial. It is incredibly important to be prepared for trial if that is what ultimately happens in your case.
Other ways your lawyer will assist you include contacting experts to consult on your case, gathering evidence, responding to emails and phone calls, scheduling hearings with the court, filing court documents, and more. Your lawyer is also available to answer any questions you have about your claim and legal rights. This can save you time when it comes to researching how the process works and what you must do to recover compensation.
Call for a Free Consultation
A Los Angeles side-impact collision lawyer at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices may be able to help you during this difficult time. You do not need to pursue legal action on your own. Retaining a lawyer can help you focus on your recovery and getting your life back together after the accident. Call now at (888) 522-6291 to start taking action.
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