What compensation can a car accident lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga get for you?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Rancho Cucamonga, then — chances are — you’re considering a lawsuit to secure the damages that you feel you’re owed. But, like most plaintiffs, you’re probably also wondering what sort of compensation a car accident lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga can get for you. That’s a complex question that depends on a lot of factors — so let’s dip our toes into some important information that you should know as you explore your options.
How much do car accident lawyers charge in Rancho Cucamonga California?
If you work with a plaintiffs’-side car accident lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga, or anywhere else in California, then chances are that you’ll be offered a contingency fee arrangement. This means that you don’t have to pay anything up-front or out-of-pocket. Yes — it will cost you a grand total of “nothing” to litigate your case. You only pay if and when your attorney secures compensation on your behalf.
In the event that your attorney wins your case (or secures a settlement, or otherwise obtains compensation for you), then they will take a percentage cut of the compensation amount. This often ranges from 25 to 40 percent, but it can be more or less depending on the particularities of the case and the arrangement.
If you “lose” your case, then you don’t have to pay. It’s a great dynamic for injured plaintiffs, as it empowers you to sue even when you don’t have any money to get started — further, it incentivizes the attorney to work efficiently and to maximize your compensation (since they’ll get paid more).
Who pays for a car accident in California?
There’s two aspects to this question: 1) liability, and 2) who “actually” pays. Let’s address these in turn.
In California, the parties responsible for paying compensation are the ones who are at fault for your injuries. In other words, the parties that are “liable” for the injuries.
California imposes a form of pure comparative negligence, which means that you can sue for damages even if you’re partially at-fault. You can also sue multiple parties who are partially at-fault. Together, these would accumulate into your total recoverable compensation.
But who actually pays? Usually, it’s not the defendant themselves. Instead, their insurer steps in to defend them in the case. If they lose, the insurer will pay out the damages from the policy itself. That’s why it’s so crucial (strategically) to sue defendants who are likely to have substantial insurance coverage — a business defendant is a better lawsuit target than an unemployed individual, for example.
How do you get money from a car accident?
To secure compensation, you’ll want to hire a car accident lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga and then work with them to develop your legal arguments. From there, they’ll submit a demand to the relevant parties. This could lead to an early settlement if all parties are willing. If there is further disagreement on the specifics of the dispute (liability, damages), then there may be more back-and-forth in negotiations. While this is happening, your attorney will likely file the claims in court, thus precipitating the beginnings of the formal legal dispute process — this may include various hearings.
If the settlement negotiation process breaks down, then trial litigation may commence. This can be quite demanding as far as resources and attention (and itself has inherent risk), so it’s best to avoid trial if possible. That being said, a trial can lead to a substantial damages award if you win.
How much can someone sue for a car accident in California?
In a car accident dispute, you can sue for the damages you sustained as a result of the defendant’s behavior (whether negligent, reckless, or intentional misconduct). These damages are a reflection of the losses suffered. As such, they can be quite diverse, and cover many different aspects of life that are impacted by the accident.
Claimed damages may include the following:
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Medical expenses
- Property loss
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- And more
Given the same exact accident scenario, damages can differ based on the injured plaintiff’s life circumstances. So, for example, if you’re unemployed, then your injury would not result in any wage loss since you aren’t currently earning. However, if you’re a high-earning professional who can’t work for a year as a result of the accident, then your wage loss damages are likely to be quite substantial.
Maximizing the damages claim is a part of any experienced attorney’s strategic toolkit — so talk to your attorney for a deeper understanding of what sort of compensation you might be able to secure, and how you’ll be attacking the case to do so.
How an attorney can help
Though television and movies and novels often portray attorneys as hyper-focused litigators whose only task is to argue in the courtroom, the truth is that plaintiffs’-side attorneys have a wide variety of duties and responsibilities. From start-to-finish, they provide comprehensive advocacy for their clients.
An experienced car accident lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga can handle the following aspects of the case on your behalf:
- Investigate the scene of the accident
- Gather and preserve evidence
- Establish contact with witnesses
- Communicate with insurers, defendants, and others on your behalf
- Develop and execute a set of persuasive legal arguments
- Engage settlement discussions with the defendant
- Navigate through the hearings process
- Push ahead to trial litigation if settlement negotiations fall through
- Secure funds after the damages award is finalized
- And more
Contact 1-800-THE-LAW2 for a Free Legal Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Rancho Cucamonga, or anywhere else, then you could be entitled to significant damages as compensation for your losses. That being said, it isn’t always easy to know what to do after the accident. First-time plaintiffs are often confused and overwhelmed by the legal process. That’s where we come in.
Contact 1-800-THE-LAW2 to connect to our network. In just 10 minutes or less, we’ll match you with an experienced car accident lawyer in Rancho Cucamonga who can provide a free legal consultation. During this consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to talk about your case in detail, and to get critical advice about how best to proceed with your claims. As there’s no obligation to continue if you decide against it, there’s no downside to getting started — call in today.
We look forward to assisting you.
