After a car accident, there are a few immediate concerns to consider:
- Were you or someone else injured in the accident?
- Did your vehicle or possessions inside the vehicle suffer significant damage?
- Was someone else at fault for the accident?
As time passes, you may also want to analyze whether the car accident led to other damages, such as financial expenses or even a fear of driving. Car accidents can change people’s lives for the worse, but victims may be able to hold the negligent party or parties that caused their accident financially accountable for their damages.
If you were injured in a car accident in Lynwood or a surrounding area in Los Angeles County, call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices at (888) 522-6291 to have your case reviewed by our team for free. If you decide to have a Lynwood car accident lawyer from our firm manage your case, we can also set up your client profile during your initial call.
Our Law Firm Handles Different Types of Car Accident Cases
At Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices, we handle more than just car accident cases between two passenger vehicles. While that might be one of the more common types of car accidents, any accident involving a standard passenger car can qualify as a car accident case, including accidents involving just one vehicle.
Car accident cases can also involve:
- Semi-trucks or other commercial trucks
- Motorcycles
- Taxis
- Rideshare vehicles, like Uber and Lyft
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Scooters and other types of motorbikes
- Construction vehicles or other heavy machinery
If you were involved in an accident caused by environmental factors, such as damaged roads, you might be entitled to sue the municipality that governs the area where the accident occurred.
Your Lawyer Can Help You Calculate How Much Compensation to Demand
When pursuing compensation for your car accident, you will have to prepare a list of damages you experienced during the accident and as a result of it. Your Lynwood car accident lawyer can assess your case and help you categorize your damages into the following categories:
Economic Damages
Economic damages pertain to financial expenses or losses that resulted from the car accident. You may use receipts, invoices, and other financial documents to prove these values and calculate how much compensation you need to cover these losses.
Typically, economic damages include:
- Repair costs for your vehicle (or replacement value if it was totaled)
- Medical treatment expenses, which could include the costs for ambulance travel, surgeries, lab work, and imaging exams (e.g., X-rays)
- Other medical-related expenses, such as costs for prescription medicines or support devices (e.g., a wheelchair)
- Lost wages if you had to miss work to treat your injuries or recover
- Reduced earning potential if your injuries have affected how you perform at your job
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages encompass more general forms of losses, though they can be just as significant as financial hardships. These losses might consider how the car accident physically or emotionally affected you.
You might demand compensation for:
- Your pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
- Diminished quality of life if you incurred permanent or long-term injuries that affect your ability to perform activities or hobbies
- Mental anguish or psychological trauma, including a new phobia of driving
- Permanent changes in your appearance, such as scarring, burns, or disfigurement
Wrongful Death Damages
In the worst-case scenario, a car accident can lead to the death of a driver or passenger, and this person can be someone you love. California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §377.60 dictates which surviving family members may pursue compensation in a wrongful death case. The following types of wrongful death damages may be available to eligible survivors:
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of financial support from the decedent (if applicable)
- Loss of companionship and/or parental guidance
For information on what specific damages may be available to you, call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices at (888) 522-6291. Our car accident team offers free case reviews.
The Statute of Limitations Also Applies to Car Accident Cases
Although you may start your case with an insurance claim, if negotiations with the insurance company come to a standstill, you may need to pursue compensation through a civil action lawsuit. Because personal injury law applies to car accident cases, you are limited in how long you have to sue.
CCP §335.1 generally gives claimants two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Those who fail to file their lawsuit on time may have their case dismissed, which would absolve the negligent party from having to pay for their damages.
Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices Can Help You Fight for Compensation
If you would still like more information, call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices at (888) 522-6291 for a free consultation with a representative of our firm. During this consultation, you can learn more about what our legal team can do to help you with your case, such as collecting evidence or filling out paperwork on your behalf.
Call or text 888-522-6291 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
