If your car was clipped in California, then you have suffered damages. The amount, kind and severity of damages are dependent upon the impact. Things that impact a crash include speed, point of impact, and what resulted after the initial impact.
If the driver of another vehicle clipped your vehicle, then his or her auto insurance is responsible for the damages that resulted from the accident. You can recover compensation for your damages by filing a personal injury claim against the other party.
You need to maintain any evidence and documentation that shows what damages resulted so you can file a personal injury claim with the help of a California personal injury lawyer.
How Negligence Impacts A California Personal Injury Claim
Drivers have a responsibility when behind the wheel of a vehicle. They are required to exercise due care, which means you must be attentive and follows the rules of the road to ensure your safety and the safety of others. If a driver fails to do that, he or she is negligent and a car accident might result.
As an example, if a driver looks off the road or crosses the line and clips another vehicle, he or she has been negligent and has failed to exercise due care. When the driver crossed that line or got distracted, they became responsible for the damages that he or she caused.
The responding police officer will respond to the crash and complete an accident report that states who is at fault. Personal injury attorneys also investigate crashes and determine what were the contributing factors.
Damages From Car Being Clipped in California
The damages that result from being clipped by a car in California are dependent upon the severity of the crash. As an example, if the impact was at a high speed or at an angle that caused your car to lose control you are going to have much more significant damages than if you were traveling at a slower speed or in the process of parking.
Where your car was clipped also plays a role in the damages that result. Your car might have been clipped on the corner of the rear bumper or on the front of the vehicle.
Of course, your car has suffered damages such as dents, dings, scratches, and other damages that require the help of an auto body repair shop. If the impact was severe enough, you might have suffered physical injuries.
These injuries will require medical treatment and might require time off work. Being clipped by a car can have a serious financial impact on the involved parties.
How to Gather Evidence
If you have been involved in a car accident in California, you will want to preserve evidence and gather documentation to support your personal injury claim A personal injury claim will help you recover compensation for your damages.
If your car was clipped in California, you should stay on the scene and call the police. An accident report is a necessity.
The accident report will serve as the foundation of your personal injury claim and will show that your car was clipped in California and that damages resulted. When the police come and complete an accident report, they will conduct a preliminary investigation into the crash.
This report will usually determine fault. You should get a copy of this accident report to serve as the foundation of your claim.
Be sure to give the responding officer a statement regarding the accident. You should only state the facts and not opinions. Also, let the officer know if there were witnesses so that can be documented in your accident report.
If the witnesses have corroborating stories with yours then it is helpful to your accident injury claim and will help you recover compensation for your damages.
If your physical injuries aren’t too severe, you should get photos of the accident scene. These photos should be taken from all angles and show the damage that the vehicles suffered. Check to see if there are any witnesses.
Witnesses can be very helpful to a personal injury claim and can help you get your claim on the right track. Ask any witnesses to provide written statements and get the names of any witnesses along with their contact details.
When you leave the scene of the accident, you should continue to gather evidence that proves your losses and that shows the extent of the damages that you suffered. Always establish medical care right away.
Some injuries aren’t apparent right away, or some injuries are more serious than they initially appear, so you should go get examined by a medical professional.
Be sure to keep copies of medical records and medical bills. These will show the severity of your injuries and the costs associated with your medical care. Also, be sure to keep track of your out-of-pocket expenses associated with the accident.
As an example, if your eyeglasses were broken and you had to replace them, or if you had to buy bandages. All receipts for those kinds of costs should be kept as supporting evidence.
Check to see if your accident could have been caught on video. If you can obtain footage from a surveillance camera, traffic camera, or a dash camera, it can help tell the story and support your accident injury claim.
You should take your vehicle to a qualified automotive repair facility. You will need a written estimate for taking care of the repairs. Also, keep any tow bills and rental car receipts and ask to be reimbursed for those as well.
What Kind Of Compensation You Can Recover After An Auto Accident
If your car was clipped in California, you can recover compensation for your damages. There are various damages that you can suffer in an auto accident, so you will want to make sure you recover compensation to take care of all your losses.
Your personal injury lawyer will help you determine your losses and will calculate the value of your claim. Here is a rundown of the common losses claimed in a personal injury claim:
If your car was clipped in California, you have suffered damages. You can hold the at-fault driver responsible for your losses by pursuing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. You should enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer who handles accident injury cases in California. An attorney has strong negotiation skills and will know how to proceed with a claim.
Calculating your losses and proving negligence can be tricky, but a personal injury lawyer will know how to gather the supporting evidence and come up with fair totals for the damages that you suffered in the crash.
Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, so your lawyer will not be paid until you recover compensation for your damages. Sometimes it takes a while to settle your claim, especially if there are concerns about any future medical care or future medical lost wages.
Consult With A Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been clipped by another car in California, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer. Your attorney will investigate the crash and determine which damages you suffered as a result.
After gathering sufficient evidence, your lawyer will determine the monetary value of your claim. Working on a contingency basis, you personal injury attorney will not be paid until you get a judgment or settlement for your damages. You have nothing to lose, so schedule your free case evaluation today before it is too late.
