Depending on their client’s needs, a car accident lawyer can do many things and perform a wide range of legal services. In general, a car accident lawyer may be able to:
- Communicate with all parties on behalf of their client
- Investigate the cause of the accident
- Locate and interview witnesses
- Compile a strong evidence file
- Assign a monetary value to a claim
- Comply with the local statute of limitations
- Negotiate a settlement with the responsible party’s insurance company
- Represent their client on trial if needed
If you were injured in a car accident, a personal injury lawyer may be able to handle these and other tasks on your behalf. If you or your lawyer can establish the liability of the responsible party who caused your accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses.
A Lawyer Can Serve as Your Representative and Advocate
When you hire a car accident lawyer to represent you, they can handle all of the communications with the responsible party, their insurance company, and their lawyers on your behalf.
Your lawyer can also answer your questions and give you legal advice so that you feel informed about making decisions in your case. At all stages of the legal process, your lawyer can defend your rights.
A Lawyer Can Collect Evidence in Your Case
A lawyer can help you collect evidence of the responsible party’s liability, which may include:
- The police report
- Photos or videos from the accident scene
- Medical records
- Witness statements
- Accident reconstruction experts’ testimonies
Your lawyer might request any evidence that you possess of the accident or your injuries to help build your case.
A Lawyer Can Assign a Monetary Value to Your Case
In addition to evidence of liability, a car accident lawyer may be able to help you collect evidence of the full range of financial expenses and losses that stem from your car accident.
Assessing the financial aftermath of a car accident can be an intricate task. It may involve receiving and calculating a plethora of bills, receipts, and estimates. Depending on the nature of your accident and your injuries, the recoverable damages in a car accident case may include:
- Required medical care, both current and future
- Injury-related income loss
- Property damage or loss
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
Evidence of the value of your damages can give your lawyer a clear picture of how much compensation to request in your insurance claim or lawsuit.
A Lawyer Can File Your Lawsuit on Time
There are deadlines to sue in California. Per California’s Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1, car accident victims typically have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, some circumstances could alter the deadlines in your case. For example, if the defendant in your case is a government agency, you may need to file an administrative claim within six months, per Government Code (GOV) §911.2.
If you wait too long and try to file a lawsuit more than two years after your accident, a judge may dismiss your lawsuit, leaving you with no way to legally compel the responsible party to pay for your losses.
A car accident lawyer can help you understand what specific deadlines pertain to your case and help you file on time.
A Lawyer Can Fight for Compensation on Your Behalf
Settlement negotiations may involve a complex back-and-forth process between both parties and their representatives. A car accident lawyer can manage this process on your behalf. They can also ensure that you do not accept a speedy settlement offer that doesn’t fairly cover your expenses and losses.
If you cannot reach a settlement agreement, your lawyer may represent you on trial. An attorney can also present your case to a judge or jury.
Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices May Be Able to Help You
If you were hurt in a car accident in Los Angeles, a car accident lawyer from Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices might be able to represent you. A full-service law firm can help you focus on your recovery. We can handle all of the legal work in your case. We also handle wrongful death lawsuits.
For a free consultation on your case with a team member, call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices today at (866) 559-7223. During this call, we can discuss your accident, your options, and what we can do for you.
If you qualify, Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices may be able to represent you on a contingency fee basis with nothing due upfront. We do not collect attorney fees from our clients in this arrangement. We only do so when they recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award.
We also cover car accidents all across California, with offices in San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Fresno, and all across Southern California.