When we first meet with a car accident victim, they usually ask us the same question – what is my case worth? Unlike some of the Los Angeles car accident attorneys who promise to get their clients millions of dollars, we prefer to be honest with our clients. If we don’t think your case has much value, we’ll let you know. It all depends on the facts of your case.
What we do is offer new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to explain what happened to a license California injury lawyer. Once we have an idea of what happened, we’ll review whatever documentation you have. If it appears that you have a valid case, we’ll more than likely be willing to help you. Since your initial consultation is free, you have nothing to lose.
Your Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney Must First Prove Negligence
One thing we always tell our clients is that you can’t count your damages before they’ve hatched. If your California injury lawyer can’t prove that the other driver caused the crash, you’ll walk away with nothing. This is why we offer clients a free, initial consultation. This way, we know ahead of time whether our client’s case has value. If we meet with you and don’t think your case is worth more than a few hundred dollars, we wouldn’t want to handle your case. It has to make economic sense for both you and your Los Angeles car accident lawyer.
In order to prove fault, your attorney must prove negligence. Negligence is just another way of saying that the defendant didn’t behave the way a reasonable person would given the circumstances. There are four elements of negligence, and you need to demonstrate all four They include the following:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care – This is a given in a car accident. All drivers owe a certain duty of care to other motorists.
- You must also show that they breached this duty – In order to do this, you need to show that the defendant behaved in a way that a normal person wouldn’t have behaved. For example, if the other driver was arrested for DUI at the crash scene, that would be evidence of their breach. The same is true if they were cited for texting and driving immediately before the crash.
- You were injured – Your Los Angeles car accident attorney can’t get you damages if they can’t show that you were hurt. It isn’t enough that you were involved in an accident. You also have to show that you were actually hurt.
- Your injuries were caused by the defendant’s breach of duty – You need to demonstrate that you wouldn’t have gotten hurt had the defendant behaved the way they should have.
Once your attorney has proved these four things, they can move on to proving your damages.
Your California Injury Lawyer Also Has to Prove Your Damages
Before you can collect a dime, your California injury lawyer must prove that you suffered an injury. Technically, your injuries can be either physical or financial. However, for the most part, pain and suffering damages are reserved for people who suffered terrible physical injuries.
Your Los Angeles car accident lawyer has to prove each and every type of damages you demand in your complaint. For example, if your attorney demands damages for lost future income, you need to prove that you’re disabled. It can be a partial or total disability. It all depends on the facts of your case and the severity of your injuries.
If Your Injuries Were Serious, You Will Likely Receive Pain and Suffering
The only people who are entitled to pain and suffering are those plaintiffs who suffered serious injuries. If the only injury you suffered was whiplash, your Los Angeles car accident attorney won’t be able to get you damages for pain and suffering. The same is true if you just suffered a few bumps and bruises. The reason the judge awards a car accident victim pain and suffering is to compensate them for any mental and physical anguish they experienced. If you only suffered minor injuries, it’ll be very difficult for your California injury lawyer to convince the court that you deserve pain and suffering.
If, on the other hand, your injuries were quite serious, there’s a good chance you’ll be entitled to pain and suffering. The general rule in personal injury is that your Los Angeles car accident lawyer can demand pain and suffering equal to about three times your medical bills. This is because medical bills are a fair representation of just how serious your injuries were. For example, if you suffered a spinal cord injury, your medical bills will likely be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your attorney, therefore, will demand close to a million dollars in pain and suffering. Just remember – you’re never guaranteed these damages. It all comes down to the facts of your case. It also depends on what your attorney can prove.
Your Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney Will Fight to Get You Damages
If you or your loved one were involved in a car accident, there’s a good chance you’re entitled to damages. It all depends on the nature and extent of your injuries. Your Los Angeles car accident attorney will do what they can to prove your case. They understand that the reason you hired a California injury lawyer in the first place was so you’d get paid. As much as people say they want justice, what our clients really want is compensation for their injuries.
We suggest you contact our office as soon as possible after your car crash. If you wait too long, it may be too late for your attorney to help. When we review your case, we’ll look to see what kinds of damages you may be entitled to. During your free, initial consultation, your lawyer will give you an idea of what your case is worth. They can also answer any questions you may have. Since the initial consultation is free, you have nothing to lose.