Citrus Heights Car Accident Attorney

If you were recently in a car accident in Citrus Heights, you may need a lawyer’s assistance with the claims process. The Citrus Heights car accident attorneys at Rosenthal Law can review your case and help you negotiate for fair compensation from an insurance company.

Our personal injury lawyers in Citrus Heights are experienced. California often tops the list of states in terms of annual traffic accident deaths. In 2016, 3,623 victims lost their lives in California car crashes. While California’s population is comparatively higher than most other states, crashes still occur at an alarming rate. Negligent and reckless drivers cause most serious and fatal collisions in California.

Why Choose Rosenthal Law?

• We handle car accident cases in Citrus Heights the way we would expect a lawyer to handle a case involving our own family member.
• We are not a mill-type personal injury law firm. Our team is selective with the cases we accept and dedicates personal attention to each client.
• Our lawyers have exclusively handled personal injury lawsuits in the Sacramento area for over 25 years. The Citrus Heights truck accident attorneys from our firm have extensive car accident case experience.
• We have the resources and personnel to take a Citrus Heights car accident claim to trial if that is what it takes for fair compensation.

Damages You Could Recover Through a Car Accident Claim

Our car collision attorneys in Citrus Heights do what they do to help injured accident victims get their lives back. We know how disabling and disrupting a serious accident can be for those involved. It is our mission to help victims and their families in any way we can, especially through the pursuit of fair and full compensation. A successful auto accident claim in Citrus Heights could result in recovery for several types of losses.

• Lifelong medical bills
• Disability-related expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost future capacity to earn
• Property damage repairs
• Pain and suffering
• Legal fees
• Punitive damages

Although a financial award cannot reverse your serious losses, it could help you and your family move forward in comfort after a serious car accident. Winning a settlement or jury verdict could give you the compensation you need to pay off unpaid medical bills, afford future health care, receive important treatments and make up for lost income. Our auto collision attorneys in Citrus Heights will work hard to obtain the award your injuries deserve.

Who Is Responsible?

In California, fault-based insurance rules require that you determine the identity of the at-fault party before you bring an insurance claim. Determining the defendant is one of the tasks our Citrus Heights auto accident lawyers can take care of on your behalf before you initiate the claims process.

• The other driver. In most car accident cases, one of the drivers will be liable for damages. The other driver could owe compensation for your losses if he or she caused your crash through an act of negligence or recklessness, such as speeding or drunk driving.
• Owner of the roadway. The private or public entity in charge of maintaining the road where the crash occurred could be liable if it negligently allowed a defect to cause the crash, including a pothole or an unsafe construction zone.
• Product manufacturer. An automaker or the manufacturer of a vehicle part could owe you compensation if a defective or dangerous part, such as a tire or seat belt, contributed to your injuries.

Some car accident cases in Citrus Heights involve multiple at-fault parties. In these situations, each defendant may be responsible for paying an amount proportionate to his or her percentage of fault. The car accident lawyers at Rosenthal Law have years of experience helping clients through even the most complex cases. Find out if we can take care of your case today during a free initial consultation.

How Does California’s Comparative Negligence Rule Affect a Car Accident Claim?

In California, it’s possible for the victim to be partially at fault for the accident but still file a personal injury claim against someone else who contributed to the accident. When this happens, each party will be assigned a percentage of fault, and the victim’s compensation will be reduced accordingly. Even if the victim is up to 99% responsible for the accident, they can still recover damages. This is known as pure comparative negligence.

As an example, if the victim was going slightly over the speed limit and was hit by a car who ran a red light, there might be a determination made that the victim was 15% at fault. If they were going to recover $100,000, this would be reduced by 15%, and they would recover $85,000 instead of $100,000. 

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in California?

In most California personal injury cases, including car accident claims, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Filing for only property damage may have a longer time. There are also exceptions to the general two-year deadline.

For example, if a government entity was involved in the accident and you’re filing a claim against it, you usually have to submit your claim to this entity within 6 months of the date of the accident. This is a significant difference from two years. You might not always know right away that a government entity is involved, so you should never just assume that you have 2 years. You should speak with a lawyer right away to make sure you don’t miss the statute of limitations. 

If the case involves a child victim, the deadline may actually be extended. Usually, the clock doesn’t start to run until they turn 18, meaning they have until they turn 20 to file their lawsuit. 

These deadlines are different from the time you’re required to file your insurance claim in. You should reach out to your insurance company as soon as possible after your accident to report at least a brief overview of what happened. You can always speak with a lawyer first if you’re feeling uneasy about it or if the situation is particularly complicated. 

What Happens if the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Enough Insurance?

Being in a car accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence isn’t always as simple as just filing an insurance claim and recovering your losses. If it turns out that the person you got into an accident with either doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your losses, you have to figure out other ways to recoup your losses. For most people, the first place to start is underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). California does not require drivers to purchase this type of insurance, so there’s no guarantee that you have it.  

If you do not have UIM coverage, another option is to file a lawsuit against the driver directly. This way, you can try to recover damages from their assets, but this only works if they actually have money or assets. You can speak with a lawyer to try to make a determination about what makes the most sense for you. 

Contact a Citrus Heights Car Accident Attorney

Consulting with a Citrus Heights auto accident attorney from Rosenthal Law can give you answers. We can give you and your family peace of mind after a serious car accident. Whether you suffered life-changing injuries or lost a loved one, we can walk you through the steps of bringing an insurance claim and/or lawsuit against an insurance company. Your family could be eligible for significant compensation from the at-fault party, if the collision resulted in serious injury or wrongful death claim in Citrus Heights. We can assess your case for free today. Call us or submit our online intake form.