Bay Point Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer

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Bay Point is an unincorporated area of Contra Costa County that lies along State Route 4. Formerly known as West Pittsburg, over 23,000 people consider Bay Point home. This area provides a scenic view of Suisun Bay and Mount Diablo that is enjoyed by many who love to hike in the San Francisco Bay Area. While Bay Point is one of the least populated areas of Contra Costa County, it still sees its fair share of traffic collisions as the county itself has a population of approximately 1.15 million. With such a high county population may come the potential for crashes. If the unexpected occurs and you find yourself involved in a car wreck, it is essential to understand your rights and options for recovery as an injured party.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Bay Point because of someone else’s negligence, turn to our experienced personal injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com for free, friendly case advice at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400. Our law firm has handled cases like yours since 1982.

Regardless of the facts and circumstances of a motor vehicle collision, it is crucial for you, as an injured party, to retain legal counsel immediately to protect your rights and interests throughout the process. You can depend on our law firm to accomplish that and to do what it takes to secure full and fair compensation on your behalf. Our law firm offers free case evaluations, so there is nothing to lose and so much to gain when you speak with one of our lawyers regarding the specifics of your car accident. We also handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not be charged anything unless we recover fair compensation for you. Contact us to get started and schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers in Bay Point, CA, today.

Why it is Important to Seek Medical Treatment After a Traffic Collision?

Seeking medical treatment immediately after a car wreck is essential to protecting your health and the integrity of a bodily injury claim should you bring one with the insurance company representing the other party or your own. That is because any delay in medical care may prompt the insurance adjuster assigned to the claim to question the severity of accident-related injuries and whether they are in connection with the traffic collision.

Physicians have extensive experience working with those injured in motor vehicle collisions and have the specialized training to recognize signs and symptoms of serious injuries. These may include a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a spinal cord injury, both of which may have considerable impacts on the life of an injured party and that of their loved ones. That is because the symptoms of an accident-related injury like a TBI may not present themselves immediately following an auto accident and may develop into a severe health condition if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

Medical records play a key role in personal injury cases arising from a wide array of accidents. The sooner you start documenting injuries related to a motor vehicle collision, the better chance you will have of recovering the fair compensation you need to move forward with your life after an accident. Your Bay Point personal injury lawyer will evaluate your medical records and other evidence to prove that the injuries in question are related to the crash. The accident attorney handling your civil case will also work with expert witnesses to determine the extent and value of damages incurred.

What Types of Losses are Recoverable in a Motor Vehicle Collision Case?

Determining the amount of compensation for economic and non-economic damages is just as essential as evaluating the sequence of events leading up to the car accident and resulting injuries. Economic damages are designed to reimburse a claimant for the financial losses they have suffered in connection with the incident. The process of proving economic damages in an injury case is generally straightforward as documents, and other evidence may be provided to demonstrate such losses. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are subjective in nature and vary in value from case to case. Damages recoverable in a personal injury claim may include:

  • Past and future medical expenses that are proven to be reasonable and necessary through clear and compelling evidence.
  • Lost wages may be demonstrated through documents such as pay stubs before and after the auto accident and a letter from the employer establishing the time the claimant missed work because of the incident.
  • Loss of future earning capacity may be established through expert witness testimony on foreseeable future lost earnings from a permanent injury or disability.
  • Pain and suffering damages reflect the emotional suffering and physical pain an injured party has been put through because of a life-changing car accident.

If you suffered a serious injury in a traffic collision in Bay Point that was not your fault, your priority should be recovering from your injuries and being with your family. When you work with an experienced injury lawyer in Bay Point, you can rest assured knowing that your case is in good hands, all while you have the time to focus on putting your life back together.

Does Insurance Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents?

The unfortunate reality about living in California is that hit-and-run accidents are common and inevitable, and Contra Costa County is no exception. Some of the possible motives behind these senseless situations are that the at-fault driver may flee for lack of liability coverage or driving under the influence (DUI). To ensure that you and your loved ones are protected in the event of a hit-and-run accident resulting in bodily injury, it is essential to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM and UIM).

The reason why it is essential to carry UM coverage is that it may help cover damages in the event of an accident caused by a hit-and-run driver that has not been located. It may also extend coverage to pedestrians and cyclists who have been injured in traffic collisions caused by drivers who have fled the scene or do not have liability coverage. Keep in mind that financial recovery through UM claims is possible through clear and convincing evidence that the suspect vehicle made contact with the claimant.

Working with an experienced Bay Point car accident lawyer may simplify the process. An attorney will work with a private investigator to track down the party responsible for the hit-and-run accident. When it has been determined that the other side carries insufficient bodily injury liability coverage, the lawyer handling the car accident case will look at their client’s insurance policy and determine whether UIM coverage may come into play.

Should You Take the First Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company for a Bay Point Car Accident?

The insurance company representing the other side may make a quick settlement offer in hopes of a claimant accepting before realizing how serious their injuries are. The same situation may also occur in first-party insurance claims through UM and UIM coverage. While we would expect the insurance carrier to do what is right for an injured party by compensating them for the damages they have suffered, that does not necessarily play out in all cases. That is because insurance companies are in the business of protecting their profit margins, and that often comes at the expense of claimants.

When an insurer presents an initial settlement offer, it is in your best interest to discuss your case with the best car accident lawyer in Bay Point, CA. Unlike the insurance carrier, an experienced injury attorney will have your best interests at heart every step of the way in the claims process. Your lawyer will stop at nothing to obtain the full and fair compensation you need for your traumatic injuries and to get your life back on track. The best part about hiring an attorney is that you can focus on recovering from your injuries, all while your lawyer works on securing fair compensation on your behalf. For information on how to select a top-rated attorney in your area, watch this video.

How Long After a Car Accident Can You Bring a Personal Injury Claim?

Filing a bodily injury claim with an insurance carrier must be done immediately following the incident. The amount of time for a notice of claim varies from insurer to insurer. If the conditions of the policy are not met, it is not uncommon for the insurance company to deny the case for reasons such as not filing a timely claim.

Other filing deadlines apply to personal injury cases in the state of California. If a settlement is not accepted from the insurance carrier within the two-year statute of limitations that applies to most cases, as outlined in the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed in civil court no later than two years from the accident date.

In cases involving negligence on the part of a government entity, a different statute of limitations may apply. Under the California Government Code Section 911.2, a notice of claim must be filed with the appropriate public agency within 180 days from the date of the incident. Failure to comply with the filing deadlines applicable to the claim may result in a case dismissal by the court and the loss of the right to seek the recovery of resulting damages.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Bay Point, CA Today

Having the right accident attorney handling your personal injury case may make all the difference in moving forward with your life after a serious crash. If you select our legal team at AutoAccident.com, you will have the experience, skills, and resources your case needs for a favorable outcome. Our track record of successful verdicts and settlements speaks for itself. Get started today by discussing your case with one of our skilled Bay Point personal injury lawyers and receive free, friendly advice at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400.

Editor's Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 7.28.22]

Photo Source: By Pixabay User "derwiki"

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