Car Accident Attorneys in Burbank

Sooner or later most of us get into a car accident.  In fact, the average person is likely to get into either three or four auto accidents over the course of his or her life.  Luckily, most people survive car accidents with minor injuries.  But for those less fortunate among us, an auto accident can have devastating, long lasting consequences.

If you are seriously injured in a car accident, what you do right after the auto accident can go a long way to reduce or minimize the harm that you suffer.  The first thing you should do after an auto accident is get out of harm’s way.  Call for help after you reach safety.  Do not hesitate to call 9-1-1.  After the adrenaline subsides, try to collect evidence at the scene of the car accident.  Among other things, you can take photos and video, exchange driver license, registration, and insurance information, and get witness names, addresses, and phone numbers. You should seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible.  Some injuries (like internal bleeding for example) are not readily apparent.  Emergency rooms and urgent cares have the diagnostic tools and professionals necessary to check for injuries after a car accident.  They can treat you until you see your own doctor.

Once all this is done hire the best car accident lawyer you can find in your area.  Now you may be wondering why you need a lawyer for car accidents in the first place.  You might think to yourself “I can just call in the insurance claim myself.” In minor fender-bender auto accidents where nobody gets hurt, then calling in an insurance claim yourself is a good way to go.  However, if you suffer physical injuries in an auto accident, there are several important reasons why you should hire an attorney for car accidents.

Burbank Car Accident Lawyers Holding Culpable Parties to Account

One important reason to hire a car accident attorney is the need to identify and hold accountable all the parties who are legally responsible for your harm.  After being injured in an auto accident most people are quick to conclude that the other driver alone should be responsible.  While this may be true some of the time, it is not true all the time.  The best car accident lawyers will tell you, that there are several other parties that may have legal responsibility for your harm.  An experienced and knowledgeable auto accident lawyer who knows the ins-and-outs of car accident law can evaluate all legal theories of recovery against all potential defendants in your case.

For example, if the other driver in your auto accident was working at the time of the crash, then his or her employer may have legal responsibility for the harm that you suffered in the car accident.  This can have a significant impact on your ability to recover money damages for the harm you suffered because commercial insurance policies often have coverage limits that are much higher than personal insurance policies.  If your car accident happened in Southern California, either Burbank car accident attorney from the Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. can determine liability under the doctrine of “respondeat superior” and target all responsible parties under this doctrine.

There are countless other ways in which people who were not even at the scene of the car accident can be held legally responsible.  For example, if the other driver involved in your auto accident was underage and intoxicated, any guardian, adult friend, or parent who provided alcohol to that minor can be legally responsible for your injuries, especially if the other driver in your car accident was under 21 years old. If your auto accident happened in Burbank, Glendale, Los Angeles, or any surrounding areas, either Burbank car accident lawyer at our firm can investigate and pursue liability under this and every other potentially applicable theory.

Similarly, if the other driver does not own the car he or she drives at the time of the car accident, the registered owner may be responsible for injuries resulting from the auto accident.  An owner of a motor vehicle is vicariously liable for injuries resulting from the wrongful operation of a vehicle by any person using it with the owner’s permission. Additionally, if the owner entrusts his or her car to someone who the owner knows, or under the circumstances should know to be incompetent or fit to drive, the owner can be liable for negligent entrustment. If your car accident happened in Burbank, Glendale, or Los Angeles, any Burbank car accident lawyer at our firm can investigate and pursue liability under this theory.

Car Accident Lawyers in Burbank Maximizing Your Recovery

A second important reason to hire a car accident attorney is the need to recover full compensation.  If you have ever called an insurance company to report an auto accident claim, you know that insurance adjusters almost never want to mention or talk about anything other than vehicle damage, and medical bills.  Many folks do not know that medical bills and vehicle damage are typically the smallest and least important part of their claim.

Contrary to what insurance companies would have you believe, an individual who has suffered harm at the hands of a negligent driver is eligible for compensation to “be made whole.” This means that you are entitled to recover for all the things needed to restore you back to your pre-injury condition, or as close as possible. Compensation may be used to cover not just tangible things like medical bills and vehicle damage, but also intangible things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of earning capacity.

The best car accident attorneys will tell you, that insurance companies will go out of their way to avoid talking about intangible harms.  Even in those extremely rare occasions where intangible harms are discussed, insurance companies try to reduce their payout by grossly undervaluing pain and suffering.  Insurance companies know that unrepresented claimants simply do not have the experience which would allow them to properly value a claim for pain and suffering or emotional distress.  Car accident lawyers that try cases to juries have the experience necessary to value a claim for intangible harm.  Auto accident lawyers who negotiate with insurance companies on a regular and routine basis, can easily identify true case value.  Since intangible harms are oftentimes the most valuable component of a personal injury claim, any personal injury claimant would be well advised to retain a skilled car accident attorney.  An experienced auto accident lawyer can level the playing field and prevent the insurance companies from taking advantage of you.  The increase in case value added by a personal injury lawyer is typically multiple fold the amount they charge. Of course, each case is unique, and the damages suffered by one claimant, may be different from the damages suffered by another.  If your car accident happened in Burbank, Glendale, or Los Angeles, either one of our car accident attorney Burbank can identify and explain to you the categories of harm for which you are owed compensation under the law.

Car Accident Lawyer Burbank – Taking Cases to Trial When Reasonable Settlement Is Not Offered

A third important reason to hire a car accident lawyer is that most folks do not have the experience, knowledge, or training necessary to successfully prosecute a personal injury lawsuit.  If the insurance company refuses to reasonably compensate you for all your harm, then your only other option is to file suit, and have the case decided by a jury of your peers.  Success in litigation requires knowledge of both substantive and procedural law.  More importantly it requires the ability to gather and present evidence to the trier of fact.  Insurance companies with practically limitless resources have legions of lawyers and paid experts at their disposal.  Car accident lawyers that try cases to juries have the skill, knowledge, and experience to chart out and execute a successful plan to win you case. If are in Burbank, Glendale, or greater Los Angeles, either one of our car accident attorney Burbank stands ready to help.  Many lawyers are afraid to try cases when insurance companies refuse to cooperate.  While our goal in every case is to secure a reasonable resolution as soon as possible, we will not hesitate to go all the way to a verdict when an acceptable settlement is not forthcoming.

Car Accident Attorneys Burbank – Protecting Your Interests While You Heal

A fourth important reason to retain a car accident attorney is your peace of mind.  If you have suffered significant physical injuries, then you are likely experiencing physical pain and suffering.  You are likely experiencing emotional trauma, and dealing with a million things that you never anticipated ever doing, like for example going to doctors visits, undergoing diagnostic testing, doing physical therapy, coping with the inability to work, stressing out about mounting bills, dealing with the mechanic or body shop, and being bombarded by calls from insurance companies.  After a car accident, most people are at their weakest physically, and emotionally, and the last thing they need is to deal with an onslaught of new problems and headaches.  Car accident attorneys can protect your legal interests and preserve your rights allowing you to focus on healing and getting better physically.

Tips for Finding the Best Car Accident Lawyers in Burbank, Glendale, Or Elsewhere in Los Angeles County

If you are in Burbank, or surrounding areas you can try to find a lawyer by using search terms like “best car accident lawyers Burbank” or “car accident attorney Burbank” or “best car accident lawyer near me” but may not lead to the right lawyer – not because there aren’t enough personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles County, but because of the exact opposite.  The truth of the matter is that there are too many personal injury lawyers each claiming to be the best car accident lawyer in Los Angeles County. The onslaught of lawyer advertising makes it harder to find the best auto accident lawyer for your case.  To find the best car accident attorney for your case, we suggest that you look beyond the repetitive radio ads, catchy slogans, or gimmicky phone numbers. Instead, we suggest that insist on speaking directly with any personal injury lawyer you are considering, and ask them a series of questions which you can find here.  If a personal injury lawyer insists that you speak with a “case manager” or fails to answer these questions directly that may be something you wish to consider.  To speak directly with a car accident lawyer personally, and have all of your questions answered, contact the Akopyan Law Firm and speak to one of our car accident attorneys in Burbank.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents

What should I do if I get a call from the other driver’s insurance company?

You are not legally obligated to speak with the other driver’s insurance company and it is highly recommended that you refrain from doing so.  Since an insurance company’s goal is to pay out as little money as possible, most will ask loaded questions designed to extract concessions from an unknowing accident victim.  More often than not, questions are asked in a manner to suggest that you were at fault for the collision, or that their insured is not at fault, or that you were not injured, or that your injuries were minor.  This is done for the purpose of reducing the amount they would have to pay you.  If you get a call from the other driver’s insurance company, kindly get their contact information and tell them that your auto accident attorney will contact them.

The other driver’s insurance adjuster keeps asking for my recorded statement, what should I do?

You are not legally obligated to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company and we highly recommend that you do not.  These recorded interviews are oftentimes conducted with the intention of getting you to make an admission against your interests.  The insurance company is rarely making a legitimate effort to gather facts and information.  In most cases, they are playing a game of “gotcha” where they get you to admit things before you consult a personal injury lawyer. Even if you are simply trying to explain your side of the story, anything you say can and probably will be used against you in the future. Instead of communicating with the other driver’s insurance company, you should let them know that your auto accident attorney will be contacting them.

If I think the accident was my fault, should I say so?

No. You should never admit fault even if you believe that you are to blame. This is because the other party may be more at fault than you realize. Especially in car accidents – where drivers are frequently negligent due to fatigue, distractions, and intoxication – it is never a good idea to admit to any type of fault. While it is highly recommended that you comply with law enforcement, you should do your best to state what you observed, instead of giving opinion about fault or liability

Call (818) 509-9975 or contact us online to speak to a car accident lawyer in Burbank.