The majority of personal injury cases in California result from auto accidents. Here are some of the things anyone injured in an auto accident should know. While most (over 90%) of these cases settle before trial, or even settle without the filing of a lawsuit, much of the work in preparing and pursuing these cases is based upon how well the parties believe the case would do in court. Our decades of successful personal injury practice gives us the ability to evaluate cases, so you will know whether a settlement offer is fair.

Insurance carriers look at records of what other injured persons accepted for similar claims, as well as jury verdict reports. They also look at the reputation of the attorneys representing the injured person. Since personal injury settlements are “full and final” when they are made, the settlement process should not be rushed. Settlement should not be attempted until you have had all the treatment you are going to have, or, if that is not possible, until your condition is stabile, and your doctors have a handle on your expected future condition. Our strong reputation with insurance carriers and defense attorneys gives us the ability to settle cases, as they know we will stand up for our clients, and will take the case to court if the settlement offer is not fair.

In many cases, due to the complexity of the claim, a dispute about who is at fault, or simply the size of the claim, a lawsuit will be needed. We can help you determine when, and if, you case need to go to court. Although most lawsuits settle, this process can take many months, so it is important to determine when to get the lawsuit started. If it is clear that your case is headed to court, we will recommend an aggressive approach, and seek your consent to file a lawsuit early in the process.

Auto accidents typically cause injuries such as spinal injuries to the upper and lower back, traumatic brain injuries, knee injuries, and lacerations. We have had a lot of experience in working with clients with these injuries, and have a considerable understanding of the anatomy and medicine involved. We can help you see that you get the best care possible, giving you feedback on the doctors you are seeing, what they are telling you, and the tests and treatment you are getting.

In a California personal injury case, you are entitled to be paid for the value of medical and other care rendered, for pain, suffering, and mental suffering caused, for damage to your car and any other property, and for loss of earnings. When a case involves a death, there is a different measure of damages, based upon the survivors’ losses, both monetary and physical. If you need help recovering money for damage to your car, this is always done free of charge for our personal injury clients.

California has a two-year statute of limitations for automobile accident cases. This limit runs from the date of the accident, and the case must be settled or filed in court before it runs. For cases involving a public entity, such as a city or county vehicle, there is a six-month claims period, so these cases will be lost unless a proper claim is promptly filed. Even though you may have plenty of time before your time limit is up, we can help guide you through the process from day one, helping to insure that the proper groundwork is done for your claim.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a California auto accident, click here for a free consultation or call 415-541-0300 to speak to a California auto accident lawyer in San Francisco at Callaway & Wolf.