Auto Accident Lawyers Who Fight for You
When you have been in an auto accident, your world can literally turn upside down. You’ll not only have to manage any injuries from the crash, but you’ll also have to assess damage to your vehicle and negotiate with insurance companies for compensation.
The insurance claim process seeks to pay victims as little as possible, which is why it’s extremely important how your claim is handled. You need an experienced auto accident attorney on your side to ensure you get fair treatment and the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries. Avrek Law Firm’s top auto accident attorneys combine more than 50 years of experience to fight for victims’ rights and make sure justice is served.
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Get a free case evaluationHow do insurance companies pay out auto claims?
Insurance companies have a vested interest in protecting their own insured clients. At the same time, they want to protect their own financial concerns – they collect money from premiums and invest in the stock market and other capital-earning ventures to increase their profits. When they have to pay out on a claim, their bottom lines are affected.
To reduce the claims they pay, insurance companies represent themselves and their clients by negotiating low settlements or denying car accident claims all together. This means even your own insurance company will do everything they can to keep their money in investment accounts where they earn interest on your money.
Most experts would advise against speaking with another person’s insurance company after an auto accident. While you should call your own insurance company to report an accident, you are not required to speak with the other driver’s insurance carrier – remember, they aren’t looking out for you.
You may be wondering how to settle an auto accident claim without an attorney by your side. Since most car accident victims aren’t insurance adjusters or attorneys, it is always in your best interest to contact a skilled auto accident lawyer to represent you in an auto accident claim.
Common Causes of Injuries in Auto Accidents
Car accidents are incredibly common in the United States. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 37,000 people die in road accidents each year, and more than three million people are injured or disabled in auto accidents across the nation.
In many of these accidents, human error or negligence is the cause. The most common causes of car accidents in the United States are:
- Distracted Driving – Drivers can be easily distracted when driving by eating, drinking, cell phone use, and a number of other factors that take their eyes off the road. It takes just a few short seconds of distraction to cause an auto accident.
- Speeding – Maintaining the proper and posted speed limit while driving is a well-known law. However, some people choose to illegally ignore the speed limits. The faster a vehicle travels, the longer it takes to slow down to avoid an obstacle or road hazard.
- Driving While Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol – When a person drives while intoxicated, their reaction time and focus is greatly reduced, which increases the opportunity for an accident to occur.
- Failure to Stop at a Signal or Sign – Plain and simple, running a red light or stop sign is dangerous. It’s also illegal and can cause a catastrophic accident.
- Reckless Driving – Speeding, quick lane changes, tailgating and ignoring traffic signs and signals are all considered reckless driving, which is a common cause of accidents on both surface streets and highways.
- Weather Conditions – Driving can be more difficult when rain, fog, high winds or snow is present. Drivers who are unprepared for or inexperienced with these road conditions are more likely to be involved in an auto accident.
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Car accidents can be devastating, and can cause serious property damage, injuries or death. Injuries may require immediate and ongoing treatment, and the financial aftermath of these injuries can be life-changing. Some common injuries sustained in car accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Burn injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Disfigurement
- Loss of limbs
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by the negligence of someone else, working with the best auto accident lawyer is essential to the outcome of your claim. Avrek Law Firm’s auto accident lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in car accident injury settlement amounts for victims’ injuries and damages. We fight for you, and if we don’t win the case, you don’t pay us a penny!
You Come First – How Can We Help You?
Car accident claims can be complex, and getting fair treatment and compensation after a car accident is anything but simple. While not every accident requires an attorney, it is nearly impossible for a victim to determine the value of their case on their own. Avrek Law Firm’s car accident verdicts and settlements have overwhelmingly been in our clients’ favor, and we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in accident claims.
A top auto accident lawyer will fight for your rights and ensure justice is served, and with more than 50 years of combined experience, Avrek Law Firm helps improve victims’ chance of a fair settlement. We know what it takes to achieve top results, and offer a free case consultation to discuss the specific details of your case. To schedule a free case review, contact us online or call our office today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Assuming you have left the scene of the accident and dealt with the immediate aftermath of the crash, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Even fender benders can cause whiplash injuries and other bodily harm. Failing to document any injuries suffered in an accident makes it much harder to prove your damages and compensation.
The same line of thinking applies to any property damage to your vehicle or other personal property that may have been damaged in the crash. Make sure to get repair and/or replacement estimates for property damaged during the crash so that there is a record of the losses. Create the strongest possible record by taking color photographs of any vehicle and property damage. If you hire a personal injury attorney like Avrek Law Firm, your attorney’s office will likely help you with the property damage portion of your claim.
While you should report the accident to your insurance provider in a timely manner, it is always the best practice to speak with an attorney first – the insurer may offer an initial settlement that is not in your best interest. You should never, under any circumstance, speak with another driver’s insurer or give any type of statement as they may be used against you.
The auto accident claim process is a minefield for the inexperienced. In theory, the insurance companies are supposed to oversee the process in an equitable manner, but they consistently put their needs before those of accident victims. Hiring the attorneys at Avrek Law Firm ensures your needs come first. This means personalized attention and the recovery of maximum compensation for all losses suffered during an auto accident.
The question of how much a car accident victim is entitled to is not only one of the most frequently asked questions, but it is also the most difficult to answer. A better way to answer this question is to outline what a victim may be entitled to so you may then discuss with an attorney. Car accident victims are typically eligible to receive compensation for:
- Medical bills and hospital expenses, including future medical costs
- Rehabilitations
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
It is vital to keep detailed records related to the auto accident. Lost work time and wages, pain and suffering, limitation incurred because of the accident and all out-of-pocket expenses, like transportation, medical treatments, physical therapy, and medicine, should all be carefully documented. Additionally, follow all doctor’s orders to the letter – failure to do so could be viewed by another party that your injuries and suffering are less severe than you claim.
Similar to the question of how much a lawsuit is worth, who can be the subject of a lawsuit depends on the details specific to your case. The obvious defendant in a car accident case is the driver of the vehicle that is at fault, but depending on the actual circumstances, a number of other parties can be held liable for damages.
For example, if your car was recently repaired incorrectly and this caused you to crash, the repair technician might bear responsibility. Similarly, if you were struck by a drunk driver who was served drinks at a local establishment despite being obviously intoxicated, the server or establishment could be found at fault. A government agency that designed a dangerous intersection or roadway section is another possible defendant. In short, any party that contributed to the accident by acting carelessly or recklessly can have a lawsuit brought against them.
Each type of lawsuit has a filing deadline. For example, in California, there is a “statute of limitations” for personal injury cases, which is typically two years from the date of the accident for public or government entities. The statute of limitations is one year for medical malpractice claims in California, but every state is different, so it is important to call a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so you know your rights.
Based on the terms of your auto insurance policy, your insurer should pay for auto accident damages that you caused. It may also cover you for damage caused by a driver who has no auto insurance (uninsured motorist coverage). Insurers are bound by law to fulfill policy terms. A denied claim, underpaid claim or untimely payment could constitute insurance bad faith, which is also a type of case on which Avrek Law Firm works.
Avrek Law Firm accepts personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you do not pay any legal fees unless your claim is successfully resolved. At that point, you will pay Avrek Law Firm a percentage of the total award or settlement. The percentage is agreed upon when you decide to hire our firm to represent you. If you do not win or settle the case, you do not pay any legal fees.
We understand that you have many choices when it comes to resolving motor vehicle accidents. Avrek Law Firm’s attorneys have more than 50 years of personal injury case experience, and many of our top settlements and judgements speak clearly for our successful track record in handling auto accident cases. We feel that we give clients that best possible chance to obtain maximum compensation, and our many satisfied clients will agree.
Types of Auto Accidents
Pedestrian Accidents
A pedestrian accident occurs when a person is hit by an automobile. Depending on the situation, this accident could be the fault of the pedestrian or the driver. For example, if a pedestrian crosses a street or intersection while the light is green and gets hit by a car, the accident responsibility will likely fall upon them. However, if a driver speeds through a red light and hits a pedestrian, the driver would be at fault.
Rear-End Accidents
When one vehicle collides into the rear end of another, a rear-end accident has occurred. This type of accident can happen for any number of reasons, including distracted driving, weather conditions, tailgating and sudden stops, or driver error. Depending on how fast the car was going, the severity of the crash can be minor or catastrophic. There are some exceptions, but the driver of the car that rear ends the automobile in front of them is usually at fault in this type of accident.
Minor Damage Accidents
A small collision that does little harm to people or vehicle involved in an accident is usually considered minor. Minor damage accidents can occur when a car is moving at a slow speed, often in a parking lot or driveway. Single-car accidents can also be considered minor, but can also cause expensive damage to a vehicle.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit-and-run car accidents happen when a driver hits another car, person, thing or animal, then knowingly leaves the scene of the accident without providing their insurance information. Legally, even if a driver hits a parked car and the owner is not around, they must stop and leave a note with their contact information or it will be considered a hit-and-run. This type of accident can be considered a misdemeanor, felony or infraction, depending on the state laws.