What happens if you get in a car accident in a company car is similar to what happens if you are involved in an accident in a private vehicle. California Department of Insurance (CDI) guidelines suggest taking certain actions after a car accident to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved. Taking these steps may also help ensure you are able to seek financial compensation from the at-fault driver:
- Call police to the accident scene immediately
- Request emergency medical care, if needed
- Exchange vital information with the at-fault driver
- Obtain contact information from any witnesses
- Take photos of each vehicle from a variety of angles
- Take photos that depict the accident scene
- File a car accident report immediately
Immediately after a car accident, consider contacting a personal injury law firm. A lawyer might be able to help you determine the appropriate at-fault party. They can also assign financial liability and prepare a claim for financial compensation.
Determine Your Financial Compensation
The driver who caused your car accident in a company car might need to compensate the company for any vehicle damage. They might also need to compensate you for any injuries you sustained. This includes financial expenses and losses that stem from your injuries. According to California Civil Code (CIV) §1431.2, you might be entitled to:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Physical disability or disfigurement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Past and future lost wages and income
- Mental and emotional stress and trauma
You might also be eligible for compensation for any in-home medical or domestic assistance your injuries require and any necessary assistive medical devices. When your legal team is preparing your case for settlement negotiations or court, they will use your proof of income, car accident report, and other documents to establish your claim and validate its monetary value.
Your Case File Might Help Build Your Case
The case file your legal team builds on your behalf might significantly support your potential right to compensation. It may contain your medical records that prove the extent of any injuries you sustained and your medical bills. These can help document the cost of treating your injuries.
Provide your legal team with copies of each of the following insurance policies that might apply to your claim. That might include the policy of the company that owns or leases the car, the at-fault driver’s policy, and possibly your insurance policy.
In addition to insurance policies, your legal team might require your crash report, statements from anyone who witnessed the accident, and any photos you or anyone else took at the accident scene. If nearby businesses or residences have surveillance cameras, video footage of the accident might be available. Your lawyer may use these and other forms of evidence to establish your right to financial compensation due to negligence. They may also work to ensure your filing deadline does not expire.
Your Right to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Has a Time Limit
When a Los Angeles car accident leads to injuries that lead to financial damage, you might be entitled to hold the at-fault driver financially responsible for the negligence that caused the accident. If you are preparing to seek financial recovery from the at-fault driver, you have limited time to file your lawsuit.
California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1 generally entitles you or any passengers in your car to two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the filing deadline, you might not be able to file your lawsuit at all. With adequate notice and early involvement, your legal team might be able to ensure the filing of your lawsuit complies with the statute of limitations.
Put Our Personal Injury Team to Work on Your Compensation Claim
The aftermath of some car accidents might be more complicated than others. You might know what to do after an accident in a privately-owned car. However, you might feel uncertain about what happens if you get in a car accident in a company car. Our team might be able to help. When you are ready to seek financial compensation after a complicated car accident, get help from Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices and dial (866) 559-7223 today.