Guide to Finding California Accident Lawyer

What is a California Accident Lawyer?

An accident is anything that, caused by an external factor, results in an injury to a body, so long as the accident is not the fault of the body. Said body need not be human since accidents can, of course, occur to both cars and animals.

An accident lawyer represents injured bodies or their responsible parties in court. The state of California does not have special qualifications to become a specialist in accident law (as it does for estate law specialists or criminal law specialists, for example) so that a California accident lawyer can be any attorney practicing law in the state of California. To select the right one for you can be a difficult task but an important one since it means differentiating between the so-called “ambulance chasers” and the tireless advocates for your rights.

Types of accidents

Modern life is so complex, especially in a state as advanced and diverse as California, that there is an unprecedented number of problems that can befall a person through neglect or negligence. To name just a few:

• Wrongful Death—The loss of a loved one is a tragic experience which nothing can reverse, but the law at least offers some recourse to those whose families have been left with large financial or emotional burdens because of the negligence of a third party. For wrongful death to be proven, California accident lawyers must prove that the defendant, being negligent, caused the victim’s death. Families of victims are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of estimated future earnings, and emotional distress.

• Car accident—Thousands of automobile collisions occur every year in California, the state which leads the country in car accidents. If an accident occurs because of a vehicle violation, the driver may be at fault. These vehicle violations include driving while intoxicated, cellphone use, ignoring traffic signs and signals, speeding, and other forms of disregard for the laws of the road.

• Medical Malpractice—If you or a loved one died or was injured due to a medical professional not doing their job, you and your CA accident lawyer are entitled to file a suit. These medical professionals aren’t just doctors and surgeons; they could also include nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, and dentists. In order to win a medical malpractice suit, you must prove that the professional caused your injury by breaching their medical duty to you, and you must also demonstrate that specific damage resulted from this.

• Animal attack—Animal attacks are about more than scrapes and cuts. They can cause broken bones, infected wounds, and much worse, especially in young children. An estimated 18 people die every year because of animal attacks. The law respects the seriousness of these claims and rewards damages to those hurt by vicious animals.

• Construction liability—A construct site is a dangerous place, and workers can be hit by falling debris, exposed to asbestos or other harmful substances, even electrocuted or disfigured by poorly maintained tools and materials. Workers can sue for lost wages, medical treatment, and pain and suffering, with liable parties including not only the construction company but also possibly the site owner, the site manager, the engineers and architects, and the manufacturer of the harmful or malfunctioning materials.

• Slip and fall—If a site owner knew of, or should have known of, a condition causing a slip and fall but did not correct that condition, then he or she is liable to the victim of the slip and fall.

• Motorcycle accidents— Motorcycles many offer less protection than many other vehicles, but that doesn’t mean that motorcycle drivers are entitled to any less protection under the law than automobile drivers. If harmed by an at-fault driver, a motorcyclist may sue for compensation.

• Other vehicle accidents—Accidents can occur on trains, boats, planes, and trucks, and there are CA accident lawyers with experience with each type of accident case.

The four questions you should ask yourself in order to find the right California accident lawyer for you:

• How much can I afford to pay my attorney? Some attorneys offer discounts and reduced rates for disadvantaged clients. Others participate in legal insurance plans, which you may belong to without even knowing it. For instance, membership in a worker’s union or in a credit union may make you eligible for a mostly deducted attorney’s fee, with only a small amount of cash needed for a copay.

• How experienced is my attorney? Credentials are about more than years practicing or where they went to law school. You need to know how much experience your CA accident lawyer has in accident law, most specifically with cases related to your own. You should also know how successful they’ve been. If you have a friends or relatives who have employed your California accident lawyer, then ask them what their experience with the lawyer was like.

• Do I require special skills of my attorney? This could mean a lawyer with some additional areas of experience—having slipped on a boat means some knowledge of maritime law may help—but it could be something more general. For instance, perhaps you or the witness related to your case would be more comfortable with a bilingual attorney.

• Does my attorney have malpractice insurance? This means that if your CA accident lawyer failed you in some way and you choose to sue them for malpractice, they will have enough money to pay you.

How will I pay my California Accident Lawyer?

Often times, attorneys will be paid with a contingency fee plan, in which the client only has to pay if their claim succeeds in either a trial verdict awarding them money to compensate for their injuries or else in a cash settlement received before or during the trial. A percentage of the cash awarded to the client will then be given to the California Accident Lawyer, a percentage which is most often 30% or higher. This contingency fee may be lowered if the client pays the CA accident lawyer a large retainer when the case begins. The lawyer will keep this retainer regardless of whether any cash is awarded in the end. Others may choose to pay their attorneys using a flat or an hourly rate plan.