San Juan Capistrano Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident has the potential to be a life-changing experience. Every day, thousands of accidents happen all over the United States for many reasons, and it’s vital to know what to do if another driver recently caused an accident with you in the San Juan Capistrano area. In addition, the right attorney can make a tremendous difference in the quality of the final compensation you obtain from the at-fault driver.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have successfully handled many personal injury claims in San Juan Capistrano, including many generated by motor vehicle accidents. We know how to deal with difficult insurance company representatives and the other challenges injured drivers typically face in the aftermath of these accidents. Our firm can guide you through the insurance claim process after an accident, and if your settlement isn’t enough to fully compensate for your losses, we will build a personal injury claim to ensure the fullest recovery possible.

If fault for your recent car accident in the San Juan Capistrano area seems perfectly clear to you, you may wonder whether you need to hire an attorney to assist you with your recovery efforts. It may be technically possible to manage your own insurance claim and a personal injury claim on your own, but if you attempt to do so, it is likely to be far more challenging than you initially expected. Additionally, you are unlikely to secure the same compensation that an experienced attorney could have obtained on your behalf.

Easton & Easton has a team of experienced California personal injury attorneys with many successful cases behind us. We address each client’s individual needs and concerns and help them understand the legal mechanisms in play during their case proceedings. For example, if you are unsure how you can recover from your recent car accident, a San Juan Capistrano car accident attorney can provide answers to your questions and help you understand your options for legal recourse in clearer detail.

The first step in any car accident victim’s recovery efforts in California will be an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. However, before proceeding with any recovery efforts, you must prove that another driver is responsible for the incident. Motor vehicle accidents happen in many ways, and liability isn’t always clear, but if you believe another driver directly caused your accident, you have the right to seek accountability. Some of the most common examples of negligence and misconduct behind the wheel that can easily cause devastating crashes in San Juan Capistrano include:

• Distracted driving, which is responsible for most of the accidents throughout the United States each year. A few seconds of distracted driving is enough to cause a crash. Cell phone use, conversation with passengers, or anything that diverts a driver’s attention away from the road is a potentially fatal distraction.
• Speeding, which not only contributes to the number of accidents in San Juan Capistrano each year but also to the severity of the resulting damage. High-speed car accidents have a high chance of causing catastrophic or fatal injuries.
• Driving under the influence (DUI), which will lead to criminal penalties for the at-fault driver alongside their civil liability to the victim. DUI penalties typically include fines, jail time, and suspension of the defendant’s driver’s license. Penalties increase based on the severity of the offense and/or if the defendant has a record of multiple DUIs.
• Disrupting the flow of traffic through moving violations or failure to navigate traffic patterns correctly. For example, an illegal turn or failing to stop for a red light can easily result in a crash.
• Reckless driving. Unfortunately, some drivers operate their vehicles in very dangerous ways with clear disregard for the safety of others. Similar to DUI, this behavior is likely to lead to criminal penalties for the defendant alongside liability for civil damages they caused.

No matter how you believe your accident happened, you need an attorney you can trust on your side if you want to ensure appropriate compensation for your damage. The first step in your recovery is likely to be an insurance claim, followed by a personal injury claim if the at-fault driver’s insurance cannot fully cover your losses. Easton & Easton can provide ongoing legal support and guidance through your recovery efforts until you secure the fullest recovery possible under California law.

Every driver in California must have auto insurance coverage that includes bodily injury liability coverage of at least $15,000 per person injured in a single accident with at least $30,000 in total accident liability coverage for all persons injured in a single accident. The policy must also provide at least $5,000 in property damage liability coverage. The fault rule requires proving exactly how the accident happened and who is responsible for compensation.

You have a very limited time to file a claim against an at-fault driver’s insurance policy, typically only a few days after your accident. However, you should not discuss a settlement without speaking with a San Juan Capistrano car accident attorney first. An experienced attorney can draft a demand letter to the insurance company on your behalf. Not only will this significantly improve the chances of maximizing your recovery through the insurance claim, but it will also minimize the chance of any unfair handling of your case.

Most insurance companies process genuine claims for coverage in good faith, but some will engage in unethical or illegal tactics to avoid paying out on claims. The attorneys at Easton & Easton can take on large insurance companies if necessary for our client. We will ensure you encounter no bad faith handling of your claim and provide ongoing representation until you secure a favorable settlement offer.

Once you have secured as much compensation as possible through your auto insurance claim, you have the right to seek compensation for any outstanding losses the defendant caused with a personal injury claim. Again, your legal team will assist you in gathering the evidence needed to establish the defendant’s fault for the incident in question and their responsibility for your damage. The economic losses you are allowed to claim in your personal injury action will typically include medical expenses, lost income, and property loss.

Property losses in most car accident claims pertain to vehicle repair costs. A successful insurance claim can provide some repayment of these losses, but if your vehicle costs more than the at-fault driver’s insurance can cover, the balance can be listed as economic damage in your personal injury action.

When a car accident results in serious injuries, the victim can hold the at-fault driver accountable for their medical expenses immediately following the accident and those they will incur in the future for managing their symptoms and reaching maximum medical improvement. Your San Juan Capistrano attorney can be incredibly helpful when it comes to providing the full scope of medical care your condition demands after the accident.

If you are unable to work because of your accident, the defendant is liable for the income you lose during this time. You can also hold them responsible for any accrued paid time off you were forced to use because of their actions. Finally, if you are completely disabled because of your injuries and cannot return to work at all, you can hold the defendant accountable for the future income you can no longer earn.

When you have legal counsel you can trust advising you after a car accident, you are far more likely to maximize the compensation you secure for the damage you suffered. The attorneys at Easton & Easton have years of experience representing clients in the San Juan Capistrano area in all civil claims, including many pertaining to car accidents. We know the common injuries these incidents cause, the medical complications many victims face after initial recovery, and the economic uncertainty their damage can quickly cause.

Our team will help you gather the evidence needed to firmly establish liability for the accident you experienced and the damage you suffered. We can secure physical evidence from the scene of the crash, photos of the accident site, traffic camera recordings, and cell phone records to support our client’s case. If necessary, we can consult expert witnesses to clarify an accident’s most complex and technical details to establish fault and/or prove the scope of our client’s damage.

We’ll seek to settle your case as swiftly as possible while seeking maximum compensation for your damage. In the event we cannot settle your case outside of court, we are fully prepared to represent you at trial. We can help you approach your courtroom sessions with confidence, make informed decisions about your proceedings, and reach much better results than you could hope to see on your own.

Q: How Much Will I Receive in My Car Accident Settlement in San Juan Capistrano?

A: State law allows you to seek full repayment of all the economic damage you suffered from the accident in question. You also have the right to claim compensation for long-term economic losses and pain and suffering. For the best chance of maximizing your recovery and for an accurate estimate of your claim’s total potential value, it’s important to secure legal representation as soon as possible after the crash.

Q: What Happens If I’m Partially to Blame for a Car Accident?

A: California upholds a pure comparative negligence law. Any plaintiff bearing partial liability for their claimed damage in a car accident case may still recover compensation. However, they lose a percentage of their case award. This is because the judge overseeing their case assigns a fault percentage based on their level of liability and then removes this percentage from their final compensation.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Case in California?

A: You may only have a few days to file an auto insurance claim after an accident, but you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim. This may sound like sufficient time, but it is always best to start working on your case as soon as possible. Then, once your injuries stabilize, reach out to a San Juan Capistrano car accident attorney you can trust to guide you through your recovery efforts.

Q: How Much Does a San Juan Capistrano Car Accident Attorney Cost?

A: The attorneys at Easton & Easton provide personal injury representation using a contingency fee policy. When you accept our representation in a civil suit, we take a percentage of the final case award as our fee. However, there are no upfront or ongoing costs for our counsel and no fee at all if we fail to secure a recovery on your behalf. Therefore, there is no risk to you by securing our legal representation to help you recover from a car accident.

Q: Is It Worth Hiring a Lawyer for a Car Accident Case?

A: Recovering from your recent car accident is likely to require an auto insurance claim, and you may also need to file a personal injury claim to ensure the fullest recovery possible. No matter how clear the fault seems for your recent accident, you have the best chance of maximizing the final compensation you obtain with an experienced attorney’s assistance. Your legal team can uncover channels of compensation you likely would have overlooked on your own and provide valuable guidance throughout all stages of your case.

The attorneys at Easton & Easton have built a strong professional record as a leading choice for personal injury representation in the San Juan Capistrano area, and we have assisted many clients through all difficult civil cases. We know how difficult it can be to face your recovery efforts while struggling in the aftermath of painful injuries and mounting economic pressure. If you are ready to secure the compensation you deserve from the driver who injured you, contact Easton & Easton today and schedule your free consultation with a San Juan Capistrano car accident attorney.