San Bernardino Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents happen every day in San Bernardino and throughout the state, sometimes with life-changing effects for those involved. Car accidents are one of the most reported causes of accidental injuries and deaths in the United States each year. Each state has unique laws pertaining to auto insurance and determining liability for car accident damage, and every victim will experience a unique recovery process. If you or a loved one recently experienced a car accident in the San Bernardino area, the first things you must do to recover as fully as possible are to identify the party responsible and find legal counsel you can trust.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton provide client-focused legal counsel to victims of personal injuries in San Bernardino and surrounding communities. Our firm is dedicated to providing support and peace of mind to those who need it most. The aftermath of any car accident can be very difficult to navigate without an experienced attorney on your side, and we are prepared to develop a uniquely tailored legal strategy that aims for maximum recovery from your losses.

Every driver has a responsibility to operate their vehicle safely and heed traffic signals, speed limits, and all applicable traffic laws. Safe driving requires an understanding of the vehicle’s controls and physical manipulation of the vehicle, but it also requires the ability to anticipate the actions of other drivers. Defensive and attentive driving can significantly reduce your chances of causing an accident, but it isn’t possible for any driver to accurately predict the actions of others around them 100% of the time.

Accidents happen for many reasons, but if another driver is clearly at fault for your recent collision, you have the right to seek accountability. Some of the most common causes of accidents that lead to civil claims in San Bernardino include:

• Distracted driving, the leading cause of all motor vehicle accidents in the United States. A few seconds of inattentive driving is more than enough to cause a devastating accident. Likewise, cell phone use behind the wheel, cognitive distractions, anything that distracts the driver from the safe operation of their vehicle can easily cause a serious accident.
• Speeding, which not only increases the chances of an accident happening but also the severity of the resulting damage. Speeding is a major contributing factor to fatal car accidents throughout the country, and many victims who survive high-speed crashes suffer catastrophic injuries.
• Moving violations, or any failure to acknowledge posted traffic signals, warning signs, or failing to navigate traffic patterns correctly. Stop signs, traffic lights, turning lane indicators, and many different signs all exist to help drivers anticipate the actions of other drivers nearby and maintain a steady and safe flow of traffic.
• Vehicle malfunctions and defects, which may implicate manufacturers under California’s product liability laws. If an unreasonably dangerous and/or defective product causes a personal injury, the victim has the right to seek accountability from the manufacturer.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which will lead to criminal prosecution of the defendant alongside the victim’s civil claim for damages. Penalties for DUI typically include fines, jail time, and driver’s license suspension.

No matter how your recent car accident happened, the first step in recovering your damage is proving fault. This is easier in some cases than others, and it is possible for more than one party, including the plaintiff, to share fault for an accident.

California upholds a fault rule when it comes to resolving car accidents and their resulting damages. Proving fault is essential for all the recovery efforts you are likely to pursue after your accident, specifically your auto insurance claim against the other driver and your personal injury claim if insurance alone can’t cover your losses. Most car accident claims in San Bernardino pertain to acts of negligence. If this applies in your case, you must prove the at-fault driver owed you a duty of care, failed to uphold that duty of care, and directly caused the accident in question.

When a car accident results from intentional misconduct like DUI, the at-fault driver will likely be taken into police custody, and the victim is likely to have many pressing legal questions about their situation. An experienced San Bernardino car accident attorney can provide valuable guidance concerning how the defendant’s illegal misconduct could influence your final recovery. For example, the judge who handles the defendant’s sentencing in criminal court may include restitution to the victim with their other penalties, and a civil court judge could award a personal injury plaintiff punitive damages to reflect the severity of the defendant’s misconduct.

One important variable to consider if you are planning to file any civil claim for damages is the state’s pure comparative negligence law. This law allows a plaintiff to recover compensation for their damage even if they are partially at fault for causing that damage. For example, if you are found 10% at fault in a $200,000 claim, you would lose 10% of the final case award or $20,000 to reflect your comparative fault. Therefore, your San Bernardino car accident attorney will be a crucial asset if the defendant in your claim attempts to assert comparative fault to protect themselves.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have the professional resources you need on your side to establish liability for the damage another driver caused. We can consult expert witnesses like medical professionals or even accident reconstruction experts if necessary to establish fault for your damage. In addition, our firm can streamline your initial insurance claim before proceeding with a personal injury action so you can have a more robust recovery from your losses.

Every driver must have auto insurance that includes at least $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for a single person, with a minimum of $30,000 total accident liability coverage for all persons injured in an accident. In addition, minimum coverage policies must also provide at least $5,000 in property damage liability coverage that covers vehicle repair costs.

When a driver causes an accident, the injured driver has the right to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. The insurance company is legally required to investigate the claim in good faith and honor the terms of its policies. Unfortunately, many car accident victims in San Bernardino and throughout the state experienced unexpected problems with their car insurance claims, including unreasonable delays, lowball settlement offers, and unfair rejections.

If you have Easton & Easton represent your recovery efforts after a car accident in San Bernardino, our team will help you draft your initial demand letter to the insurance company, ensuring they deliver a suitable response to your claim. If any disputes arise, we will handle these issues on your behalf until you receive a suitable settlement offer. It’s important to remember that even if you have a relatively easy time securing an insurance claim payout, there is no guarantee the settlement will completely cover your damage. In this situation, you may proceed with a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

California law provides broad flexibility to personal injury plaintiffs in terms of the damages they are legally allowed to claim in their civil suits. You can seek full compensation for all economic losses you and your family have sustained due to the defendant’s actions. For example, most car accident claims filed in San Bernardino seek compensation for economic damage, such as:

• Medical treatment costs. Many car accidents result in traumatic injuries that demand immediate medical attention. Spinal injuries, internal organ damage, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and many other injuries are all possible in a serious accident, and many victims sustain multiple serious injuries. The defendant is responsible for all the medical expenses you incur from the accident they caused.
• Long-term health care expenses. Unfortunately, many car accidents cause permanent damage to those involved. When a victim requires extensive ongoing medical care after their initial recovery, the defendant is responsible for these expenses as well. Rehabilitation, ongoing physical and/or occupational therapy, required medical devices, prescription costs, and any other ongoing medical treatment costs are the defendant’s responsibility.
• Property damage, such as vehicle repair costs and any property inside the victim’s vehicle that was destroyed in the accident. The defendant’s insurance may cover some of this damage, and all outstanding property losses can be included in the plaintiff’s personal injury action.
• Lost income. A car accident could leave the victim unable to work while their injuries heal. The defendant is liable for their lost wages during this time, including repayment of the value of any paid time off the victim was compelled to use during their initial recovery. For example, if your injuries were severe enough that you were unable to work for two months and you were forced to take a medical leave of absence, a good attorney can potentially help you secure two months’ worth of lost wages from the defendant who caused your injuries.
• Lost future income. Some catastrophic injuries leave victims completely unable to work and support themselves. If you are left permanently disabled by your accident, your San Bernardino car accident attorney can help you calculate the income you would have reasonably expected to earn until retirement and hold the defendant responsible for your lost earning potential.

Once you have an experienced San Bernardino car accident attorney working on your case, you will be far more likely to accurately calculate all your claimable immediate and long-term economic damage. However, this will not be the end of your recovery when you have the right attorney handling your case.

State law enables the plaintiff in a personal injury action to claim pain and suffering compensation for the physical pain and mental anguish caused by the defendant’s actions. Your San Bernardino car accident attorney can help you determine a suitable figure based on the severity of your condition following the accident. There is no limit to the amount of pain and suffering compensation a plaintiff can claim from a defendant as long as they can make a compelling case that their desired compensation is justifiable in light of their condition.

It can be incredibly daunting to face the aftermath of a car accident. Painful injuries and vehicle repair costs compound with lost income and extended recovery time to create a very challenging financial situation for the victim and their family. This desperation compels many car accident victims to accept lowball insurance claim settlement offers, essentially giving up substantial compensation they are legally allowed to recover. Some victims of car accidents mistakenly believe that legal representation is unaffordable or that taking legal action wouldn’t yield results worth the cost of pursuing their claim.

When you choose Easton & Easton to represent you after another driver has injured you in a car accident, we’ll begin building your case by reviewing the details of how your accident happened and who is responsible. Regardless of the clarity of liability for the accident, our firm is fully equipped to gather any evidence you need to prove the truth of your experience. We can secure traffic camera records, vehicle computer records, the defendant’s cell phone data, eyewitness statements, and various other forms of evidence to support your case.

Our goal in every personal injury claim we represent is to help our client recover as fully as state law allows. We know you are likely to have many questions regarding your impending recovery efforts, and we want to help you approach this difficult situation with peace of mind. The sooner you secure reliable legal counsel to assist you with your claim, the more likely you are to maximize the results of all the recovery efforts you choose to pursue after your accident.

Q: Do I Really Need to Hire a San Bernardino Car Accident Attorney?

A: There is no legal requirement to hire legal counsel to assist in your recovery efforts after a car accident. However, your recovery is likely to entail an auto insurance claim and a civil suit if you sustain serious losses. While it may technically be possible to manage your own recovery efforts after your accident, you always have the best chance of maximizing the results of a civil action with reliable legal counsel on your side.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Car Accident Claim?

A: State law enables you to seek full repayment of all the economic damage the at-fault driver caused. You can secure some initial recovery through a claim against their auto insurance policy, but if this isn’t enough to cover the full amount of your losses, you can proceed with a personal injury claim to recover the rest. Your San Bernardino car accident attorney can provide an estimate of the total compensation you could receive if you succeed with your recovery efforts, and the right attorney handling your claim will significantly increase your chances of success.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a San Bernardino Car Accident Attorney?

A: If you are concerned about the potential cost of hiring an attorney when you are already struggling with the economic impact of your accident, legal counsel you can trust may be more accessible and affordable than you initially assumed. The attorneys at Easton & Easton accept personal injury cases on a contingency basis. Therefore, there are no upfront legal fees and no cost for our representation if we do not secure compensation on your behalf. If we win your case, the contingency fee is a percentage of the final case award.

Q: Can a Driver Go to Jail for Causing a Car Accident Injury?

A: If a driver causes an accident through an honest mistake or simple negligence, it would be unlikely for them to face prosecution unless they caused extreme or fatal injuries. However, if the defendant was intentionally harmful in their actions, if their behavior exceeded the scope of typical negligence, or if they were directly involved in any illegal misconduct at the time of the crash, they could potentially face a wide range of criminal charges. For example, if a drunk driver caused your accident, they would face a DUI charge from the state and your civil claim for damages.

Q: How Soon Should I Hire a San Bernardino Car Accident Attorney?

A: It is always best to secure legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible after your accident. You have a very limited time to file an auto insurance claim after an accident, and working with a reliable attorney will significantly increase your chances of reaching a suitable response to your claim. Additionally, if you must file a personal injury claim, it is always best to start building your case as soon as possible.

Easton & Easton has the professional experience necessary to handle the toughest car accident claims in San Bernardino. Whether you know another driver is definitely to blame for your recent crash or you have concerns about bearing partial liability, our firm can provide the individualized legal counsel you need to have the best chance of success with your recovery efforts. To explore your options for legal recourse with the help of an experienced and compassionate San Bernardino car accident attorney, contact Easton & Easton. Schedule a free consultation and learn how we can assist in your recovery.