Costa Mesa Car Accident Lawyers
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- Most Common Areas for Traffic Accidents in Costa Mesa
- Costa Mesa Traffic Accident Statistics
- Common Causes of Car Accidents in Costa Mesa California
- What Should I Do After Getting Into a Car Accident in Costa Mesa?
- How Do I Prove My Car Accident Claim?
- What Damages Are Available in Costa Mesa Car Accident Cases?
- How Much Compensation Can I Expect as an Accident Victim in Costa Mesa?
- Why Should I Hire an Accident Attorney?
- What Can I Expect from a Car Accident Case in Costa Mesa?
Costa Mesa Car Accident Lawyers Powerful Lawyers Defending the Injured
Costa Mesa is a vibrant city located in Orange County, California. The city is a great place to live. There are many economic opportunities for workers, including manufacturing, retail, and other commerce. Costa Mesa also has a rich culture that citizens and visitors can immerse themselves in, like commercial and entertainment centers throughout the city. However, if you get into a car accident, it can be challenging to focus on these opportunities. At such times, it’s essential to have a reliable legal team on your side. If you’ve been in an accident in Costa Mesa, our team of skilled Costa Mesa car accident lawyers is here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
With all the great things that Costa Mesa offers that people enjoy, the city is not exempt from horrible traffic accidents. According to the 2020 United States Census Bureau report, the city had a population of 110,750. With this number of people on the roads in Costa Mesa each day, the potential for traffic accidents is great.
A Costa Mesa car accident lawyer with experience in recovering financial compensation after car accidents can help you get access to medical treatment, recovery for lost income, and other damages you may be entitled to after suffering an injury in a traffic crash. Having a car accident lawyer in Costa Mesa working on your behalf can increase the possibility of getting financial compensation to which you may be entitled.
The car accident lawyers in Costa Mesa at Arash Law, founded by famous attorney Arash Khorsandi, Esq., have decades of experience helping our clients get the compensation they deserve after getting into a car crash. Our Costa Mesa car accident lawyers will help you build your case, guide you through the court proceedings, help you gather evidence, present the case, and help you hold the responsible parties accountable and make them pay for your harm.
Our attorneys want to help you get your life back after an accident. We work on the legal side and focus on your financial recovery so you can rest and heal physically. If you or your loved one has suffered an injury in a car accident in Costa Mesa, contact us at (888) 488-1391 or use our online chat feature to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We look forward to hearing from you.
Our client was stopped at a two-way stop sign before proceeding into an intersection where he was struck by a police cruiser traveling 70 mph, resulting in serious injuries.– ARASH KHORSANDI
Most Common Areas for Traffic Accidents in Costa Mesa
- Adams Avenue and Harbor Boulevard
- Harbor Boulevard and Gisler Avenue
- Victoria Street and Pomona Avenue
- Del Mar Avenue and Newport Boulevard
- Pomona Avenue and Victoria Street
Costa Mesa Traffic Accident Statistics
According to the California Highway Patrol Statewide System, the number of Costa Mesa traffic accidents is staggering. Car accidents can happen for many reasons. According to the California Highway Patrol Office, common causes of car accidents occurring in Costa Mesa include:
- Drivers operating their vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Risky driving
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Costa Mesa California
Drugs and Alcohol
Operating your vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lead to deadly accidents or accidents that leave victims with severe injuries and permanent disabilities. Driving under the influence is a common cause of fatal traffic crashes each year across the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- 32 people die every day in drunk driving accidents across the United States.
- In 2020, 11,654 people died in drunk driving accidents (a 14 percent increase from 2019).
Speeding
- Reduces the effectiveness of the vehicle’s safety equipment (i.e., seatbelts and airbags)
- Reduces the reaction time of the driver
- Increases the distance the vehicle needs to come to a complete stop
- Compounds the impact and, therefore, the severity of the crash
Distracted Driving
Texting while driving is the most common type of distracted driving. It is against the law in California for drivers to use their cell phones while driving. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, drivers can expect a hefty fine if they are caught texting and driving.
Risky Driving
- Fatigued driving
- Improper passing
- Wrong-way driving
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes
What Should I Do After Getting Into a Car Accident in Costa Mesa?
Get Medical Attention
Get As Much Information as You Can
Contact an Attorney
One of your first steps after an accident should be speaking to an attorney. Contacting a skilled car accident attorney in Costa Mesa immediately after an accident will protect your legal rights. Filing a lawsuit means you must comply with specific procedural rules or risk losing the right to pursue your case. Your attorney can ensure that your case will not be dismissed on a technical basis. Your attorney can also answer questions you may have and help you navigate each step of the process.
How Do I Prove My Car Accident Claim?
Every car accident lawsuit is based on a claim for negligence. There are four elements of a negligence claim-duty, breach, causation, and damages. Each of these elements must be proven for an accident plaintiff to recover damages. An experienced accident Costa Mesa car accident lawyer can help you prove your case and improve your odds of recovering damages.
Duty
Breach
Cause
Damages
How Does the Investigative Process Work?
Each insurance company will conduct its investigation as well. Your insurance company will likely start with the police report to begin its investigation. The goal of the insurance company’s investigation is to determine liability. The other driver’s insurance company representative will try to reach out to you as they complete the investigation. However, it is not a good idea for you to speak to an opposing insurance company without first speaking to a Costa Mesa car accident lawyer. Insurance companies work hard to avoid paying settlement claims, so they will use anything you say against you.
Your attorney and their legal team will conduct an independent investigation, too. During this investigation, your car accident lawyer in Costa Mesa will review the accident report and each insurance company’s findings, interview witnesses, visit the accident scene, and recreate the scene to get an idea of what happened and why. Winning your case depends on your ability to prove the following facts, which will be the subject of your attorney’s investigation:
- How did the accident happen?
- Who are the responsible parties?
- Why did the person perform that action?
What Damages Are Available in Costa Mesa Car Accident Cases?
Economic Damages
Non-Economic Damages
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are awarded to accident plaintiffs when the defendant’s actions are considered wildly outrageous. The availability and amount of punitive damages depend on state law. In California, per California Civil Code section 3294, a plaintiff may be entitled to punitive damages in cases of malice, fraud, and oppression. Punitive damages are awarded in addition to economic and non-economic losses.
Settlement in a motor vehicle accident where a client was rear-ended on the freeway after his vehicle broke down; client suffered spinal injuries– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
How Much Compensation Can I Expect as an Accident Victim in Costa Mesa?
- Your specific life circumstances – Depending on your demographic, you may have a stronger case for damages. For example, a person at the hit of their career who becomes disabled after an accident may experience more loss than a young person just starting out. Another example is a person who was the sole financial provider for their family may have a stronger claim for damages than a single person with no children.
- Your patience during negotiations – To improve their odds of getting maximum compensation for their losses, accident victims should not jump on an initial settlement offer, especially before speaking with an attorney. Usually, a fast settlement offer from an insurance company is unlikely to cover all your damages. It is wise to give your injuries time to heal. That way, you have a good idea about how your injuries might affect your life moving forward and the extent of your medical bills, lost income, etc.
- Your level of liability – Some states bar an accident plaintiff from recovering monetary damages if they are assigned any percentage of fault. California is a comparative negligence state, which means that even if an accident victim is somewhat at fault, they can still recover for their losses.
What Is Comparative Negligence?
Comparative negligence is a legal doctrine that allows accident victims to recover financial compensation even if they are 99 percent at fault for causing the accident. A driver is at fault if they are responsible or partially responsible for causing an accident. When a driver is partially responsible for an accident, they can recover for their losses; however, their financial settlement will be reduced accordingly. In this case, a judge or jury will reduce the accident victim’s jury award to $50,000 if they find that the accident victim is 50 percent at fault for the accident.
Why Should I Hire an Accident Attorney?
Having an accident attorney is the best way to protect your legal rights after a traffic accident. Your attorney will guide you through the process of the lawsuit. Your Costa Mesa car accident lawyer can help you get the best outcome for your case. Having an accident attorney also gives you access to resources like expert medical witnesses and accident reconstructionists. They will also negotiate a proper financial settlement with the insurance company.
What Can I Expect from a Car Accident Case in Costa Mesa?
Free Case Evaluation
During your initial case evaluation, you can speak to your Costa Mesa car accident lawyer about the facts surrounding your case. You can feel free to ask questions about how a successful injury case is built, what evidence you need to prove your case, what compensation you can expect, the pitfalls you may face in your case and an estimate of your case’s financial value.
Discuss Your Potential Liability and All Sources of Liability
At the beginning of your case, you should openly discuss any responsibility you may have for causing the accident. You should discuss your potential fault with your car accident lawyer in Costa Mesa, so they can build their case strategy to help maximize your chances for successful results.
- The driver that hits you
- Additional drivers in a multi-car accident
- Government entities
- Companies or employers, if an employee is working at the time of the accident
Determine Your Damages
Your accident attorney will sit down with you and discuss your damages. Many traffic accident plaintiffs are unaware of the damages that they may be entitled to compensation for. An experienced car accident attorney can help you understand the extent of your losses and what you can recover for in an accident lawsuit. Examples of recoverable damages include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Current and future lost income
- Lost earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Temporary and permanent disability
File an Insurance Claim
In addition to working with the other driver’s insurance company, you may need to file an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim with your insurance company if you are in an accident with an uninsured motorist or an insured driver whose policy limits are too low to cover all your injuries. Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance is not available unless the previously stated conditions are met. Some states allow policy owners to opt out of uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage, but it is a good idea to carry it on your policy to protect yourself from damages not covered by other drivers.
Take Care of the Legal Side of Things
Filing a civil lawsuit is overwhelming to most accident victims, especially if it is the first time you have been involved in a lawsuit. An experienced accident attorney can help you ensure that your case is not dismissed on a technical basis. In civil litigation, there are many procedural rules that must be followed when a lawsuit is pending. Breaking a procedural rule can be fatal to your accident claim. Trusting your Costa Mesa accident lawyer is the best way to protect your legal rights after a wreck.
Represent You at Trial
T.V. shows and movies may make representing yourself in court look easy. However, it is not as easy as it looks. Trial advocacy is a special skill, and it is wise to trust someone with courtroom experience to handle your case for you. Your Costa Mesa car accident lawyer will help you with filing the first pleading, motions, opening and closing arguments, preparing witnesses for trial, and presenting a persuasive case to the judge or jury.
Help You Collect Compensation
Winning a case is the first step, and the next step is collecting your money. Accessing the money you won in a judgment may turn out to be an uphill battle. Your car accident attorney will help you with the legal side of collecting your settlement.
Contact Arash Law Today
The Costa Mesa car accident attorneys at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., have been helping California accident victims get the money they need after being injured in a traffic crash. We serve Costa Mesa residents and surrounding communities, including Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Laguna Woods, Stanton, Laguna Beach, Tustin, Tustin Foothills, Orange, Westminster, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Fountain Valley, and Newport Beach.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a traffic accident in California, contact our office today at (888) 488-1391 or reach out to us via our online form. We want to speak with you and help protect your legal rights after an accident. We are here to help.