It’s no secret that car accidents and crashes happen in Los Angeles all the time. California is an at-fault state. If the accident happened because someone was careless or reckless, you could sue them for compensation. The whole process of filing a third-party insurance claim and winning a fair settlement is not an easy one. Although not mandatory by law, hiring one of Los Angeles car accident attorneys could help your case. In this post, we are discussing the relevance of legal advice and representation for such car crash claims and lawsuits.
Fault makes a difference
What happens when you and the other driver share blame for the accident? In such circumstances, the insurance claims adjuster (or the court) will rely on the “pure comparative fault rule”. In California, you can recover compensation from the other party when you are more at fault than them. However, your fault percentage will determine what you get from the final settlement awarded to you. Take this example – You were given $10,000 in a settlement and were 50% at fault. You can only recover $5,000 as the final compensation in such a circumstance. Insurance companies often rely on fault to deny a claim in most situations. They will either try to prove that you were the factor in the accident or would downplay your losses.
Your claim would be worth more
Insurance companies are known for trying tactics to delay, deny claims. If the company knows that their client was at fault for the accident, the claims adjuster may call you soon and make an offer. Expectedly, this amount would be less than what you probably deserve, and more importantly, they may pressure you into accepting the same. In many cases, insurance companies try to gather more access to a claimant’s medical history so that they can pass off injuries as previous diagnoses. Your car accident attorney can help determine the true worth of your claim and will work on the strategy accordingly.
No immediate fee
If you are worried about the costs of hiring an attorney after a car accident, you should know most personal injury law firms in LA work on a contingency fee. This means that the lawyer only gets paid if they win. You don’t need a fortune to seek legal help after a car crash in LA. Just don’t delay calling an attorney for help because you have limited time to take action in California.