Car accidents are not at all rare in Los Angeles. Each year there are about 50,000 car accidents in Los Angeles County alone. This results in thousands of injuries that range anywhere from whiplash to bone fractures. When you get into an accident in Los Angeles, you should first call for help and get medical attention. After that, you should consider contacting a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.

After you get out of the hospital, you are likely to face several expensive bills from your stay. You will have doctor’s bills, your hospital room bill, transportation bills for the ambulance company that transported you, and any bills related to the medications that you were administered while you were in the hospital’s care. Even after you leave you are likely to continue having costs related to your accident. These costs include any expenses related to rehabilitation or physical therapy that you might need, as well as counseling or psychological costs that arise from your accident.

You are also going to have to face the fact that you will probably not be able to return to work right away. This can make matters even more difficult for your family. You already have the huge bills from the hospital to worry about, and now you may have lost your family’s only source of income to pay for them. When these things happen, it can cause stress and pain for your family.
Lawyers can help you go through all of the facts surrounding your accident and the costs that you are piling up after your accident. They will look at the accident and will give you a chance to get compensation for your injuries, pain, and suffering associated with your accident as quickly as possible. They know how to file the paperwork that needs to be filed. They have connections with judges and other law professionals that may be able to lend their expertise to these cases. They know the laws and regulations of Los Angeles and the surrounding cities. They also have experience in handling several different types of law. Overall, lawyers can be your best friend and confidant when you are going through the aftermath of your accident.

Insurance companies love to use the line “at fault” in order to deny claims from the outset, without doing any other diligent work to find out the truth. A lawyer will go beyond that simple definition of fault in order to get a better understanding of what happened. Maybe the driver that hit you was on their phone, which was never discovered by the insurance company. Maybe a dash camera of another motorist caught the accident from a different angle that shows you were really not at fault. lawyers can help you to determine who is actually at fault in order to get the insurance company to reverse their previous ruling on whether you are actually owed your settlement or not. It is not over until it is actually over.

There are a number of people who get into accidents that result in sever injury. When this happens, one of the best things anyone can do is hire a lawyer. With this kind of lawyer, individuals can get the legal representation and advice they need. Lawyers are available to go over the nature of the accident and determine if there is any way that you can receive compensation. While there are a number of law firms in Southern California, Raiser & Kenniff stands out as among the best. This Los Angeles personal injury law firm has had a very successful track record of getting millions of dollars for its clients who were injury victims due to negligence.

Raiser & Kenniff can help victims in a number of ways. First, Raiser & Kenniff can provide high quality legal representation for those who have been injured in an accident. The firm will have one of its attorneys come to court with a client. At a court hearing, the lawyer will go over the nature of the accident and convince the jury that the client is entitled to compensation. They will also attempt to convince the judge and jury that the client suffered an injury due to negligence by a company, institution, and or government agency. Another way in which Raiser & Kenniff can help clients is by getting an adequate amount of compensation to cover medical costs. There are a number of clients who don’t have health insurance, so this firm will help get clients in position to more easily afford their medical expenses during the recovery process. Raiser & Kenniff will also help by providing an initial consultation to evaluate the nature of the accident and see if compensation is possible. If your car is completely damaged, and you had a lease, we can get you a new Los Angeles car lease, with Zooomr car leasing.

Lawyers can help victims of car accidents who have suffered both mentally and physically. Since getting injured in a car accident can force someone to miss work, it is important to get adequate compensation. A lawyer can help by making arrangements with the responsible party to provide enough money for someone to meet their financial obligations while they recover. They will also be able to negotiate with the responsible person to get compensation that is fair and reasonable for both parties. As well as making financial arrangements, lawyers can provide advice and feedback on how to make an injury claim. They will help draft legal documents and file them to the responsible parties in order to resolve an injury case.

Seeking the help of a lawyer is important for a number of reasons. He, or she, will help you resolve cases where you are injured in a car accident or if there was an injury on the job. With their specialized knowledge, they will be available to help you get representation and a financial settlement. Another reason why you should get a lawyer is because they offer professional expertise. Filing a legal claim yourself may not get you the best results. You may not be able to successfully get an adequate amount of compensation as well. However, a lawyer knows about injury cases and will know what documents to file, what to claim and also provide you with representation in court if necessary.

Getting a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer is very important if you suffer a sever injury in a car accident. A lawyer will help you determine if filing a claim will get you a favorable result. They will also tell you what you can realistically receive in a settlement. Lawyers are very useful because they have lots of experience with these cases. Since they have participated in injury cases in the past, they will know how to successfully assist injury victims in getting the right amount of compensation. Their expertise is also beneficial as they will know how to successfully inform juries and judges about the nature of the case and how it applies to the law. In other words, they will have the ability to prove to these individuals that you were injured in an accident due to wrongdoing by another party. As a result, lawyers are essential for anyone who has been injured in a car accident and is in need of help.

One of the most common questions asked by victims, is how will I pay the attorney and what does he charge. Many victims of injuries are often afraid of scheduling a consultation with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer – because they are afraid the attorney will cost a lot of money.
Most lawyers work on what is known as a contingency fee basis. This means the victim pays no fees upfront. Any fees associated with the case – are paid for, by the law firm. As a result – you aren’t responsible for any fees period. The only thing you need to focus on is getting well. This removes any pressure, or stress, associated with the court case. Furthermore, you only pay the attorney from the proceeds of the winnings. If there is no money recovered, the attorney doesn’t get paid. This form of representation doesn’t pose a risk to you – since you aren’t required to lay out any money. Typically, lawyers will charge a % of the overall settlement/verdict. Typically, attorneys charge 25-30% of the money recovered. The attorney handles everything, – and only gets paid if he/she wins

If you’re the victim of an injury you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The question many victims often have, is, what is my case worth? The answer to this, is complicated. Typically, victims of injuries can get compensation for a wide array of things. In injury cases, the injured party is paid money by the defendant. The compensation is paid in the form of a settlement or verdict. In almost every case, compensation is given for one, or more, of the items below.

Medical Care: The injured party gets compensation for all past, present, and future, medical treatment associated with the accident/injury. This includes financial compensation for any future care as well.

Income: Any income lost as a result of the accident can be compensated for. This includes past, present, and future loss of income. If there is diminished working capacity – which means lower long term income, this too can be accounted for.

Property damage: If any property was damaged as a result of the accident, then the plaintiff has the right to seek reimbursement. For example, if you car was damaged – you can ask for compensation to fix that.

Pain and Suffering – The injured party has the right to financial compensation for the mental and emotional stress associated with accident and injuries.

Loss of enjoyment – In serious cases, such as medical malpractice, the injured party will probably have a loss of enjoyment. They are entitled to financial compensation for this loss. This can be a result of injuries that get in the way of daily habits – like exercise, hobbies, or enjoying spousal company

In case you have been involved in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver, then you have all the right to be reimbursed for all your property damages and injuries. In most cases, this compensation comes by settling your claim with the at-fault or negligent party’s insurance company, and in some cases through a lawsuit.

To be able to protect your rights you have to be patient, document everything, and be persistent. To get compensated fairly after an accident without involving any form of litigation is almost always a challenge. However, when you have the support of an attorney, you are patient and persistent, then you will get compensated fairly.

Document Everything Immediately After the Crash

All accidents are chaotic, but your priority should be to seek medical attention. However, if you or your passengers haven’t experienced any serious injuries, you can help your case immeasurably by taking some of your time to document everything you can about the crash scene and what happened before the accident. Keep in mind that good evidence is always the main key to successfully winning your claim.

Call the police

When police are involved in the accident, you will add another layer of proof to your claim. In most cases, a police report will often carry a lot of weight with attorneys and insurance adjusters. Therefore, don’t make the mistake of not involving the police after the accident. The at-fault party will always try to avoid the police, and you shouldn’t fall prey to their tactics. In case you are injured, or your car is damaged, contact the police immediately. Unless the other driver has experienced serious injuries, your first priority should always be to protect your rights. The police report will include all the details of the accident scene, and evidence on the faulty party.

Talk to Witnesses

You need to gather as much information as you can, including witness contact details. Remember to ask if they may be willing to make a verbal or written statement on what happened, and inquire on what they saw happen. You should solicit information and ask questions. The more information you get from the witnesses, the stronger your case.

Take Photographs

Use your phone or camera to take clear images of the crash scene and ensure that you reference the date you take the images for them to be authenticated. In case you don’t have a camera or phone with you or it has been damaged during the crash, you can request some of the witnesses to take pictures on your behalf. Photograph the damage to your car, the scene, and the other driver’s vehicle. Remember also to take images of any injuries that you may have sustained during the accident. In case a traffic sign or light contributed to the accident, take an image as well.

Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible

In case you have sustained serious injuries, ensure you seek immediate medical attention. Medical bills, treatment records, and your doctor’s notes are crucial evidence to prove that you were injured. Whether you are dealing with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or your no-fault insurance company, a comprehensive set of all medical records from your doctor will reduce the cost of reviewing your claim, and will also provide hard evidence on injuries sustained during the accident. This will create a strong foundation when making your claim.

Strictly follow your doctor’s orders

In case your doctor has restricted you on what you should do on a daily basis, ensure that you adhere to all the restrictions. If the attendant and injury costs are significant, don’t risk blowing all the money from the settlement by overexerting yourself. If your insurance adjuster or attorney claims that you’re malingering, they won’t hesitate to deny your claim. Therefore, don’t give them a reason.

Get Estimates for Property Damage

After seeking medical attention, the next step you should make is to collect repair estimates for your damaged car. Almost all insurance adjusters will request for independent car inspections. But if you have two or more estimates that you have collected on your own, you will be in a position to argue on the repairs you require and their estimated costs.

Be Professional, Patient, and Persistent

Claims attorneys and insurance adjusters handle hundreds of cases on a daily basis, and although your claim may be your priority, rarely will it be theirs. Dealing with such professionals will require you to practice persistence and patience.

Get an Attorney

Unfortunately, most of the times being professional and persistent won’t help expedite the claim process. In case you feel that your insurance adjuster is blocking or delaying the payment of your claim deliberately, don’t hesitate to involve an attorney. Involving an attorney will increase tension on the adjuster’s side and accelerate the settlement process.

There are about twelve states and the District of Columbia where no-fault vehicle insurance is the law. In a no-fault state, the insurance company of the policyholder will pay for most if not all of an insurance claim when an incident occurs. In the majority of places with no-fault insurance laws, the policyholder is not able to make a claim directly against the driver responsible for the accident. This rule may not apply when medical bills reach a certain amount, or an injury is determined to be very serious. The goal of no-fault insurance is to make settling claims quicker and easier.

No-fault Insurance History
During the 1960s, vehicle accidents resulting in fatal or debilitating injuries were overwhelming the judicial system. Robert E. Keeton and Jeffery O’Connell were university professors. They put forth an idea to resolve this problem known as the Keeton-O’Connell plan. Their idea was for vehicle owners to be required to purchase a type of insurance they called basic protection coverage. This plan required the driver who is at fault not be determined except under circumstances of excessive damages and bodily injury. It provided a set amount of compensation an accident victim could recover. A modified version of the Keeton-O’Connell plan was introduced to the Massachusetts legislature and adopted into law in 1970. The federal Department of Transportation (DOT) encouraged states to adopt no-fault insurance laws.

Limitations
Individuals who are in a state with no-fault vehicle insurance receive quick payment for their medical bills and lost wages. There is no argument concerning who is at fault for the accident. A policyholder’s insurance company will pay their claim. This type of vehicle insurance will only provide compensation for lost income and medical bills. There is no chance to receive compensation for things such as emotional distress, suffering, pain, lost opportunities, inconvenience and more. An insurance company is not required to pay medical bills or lost income beyond the limit of the insured’s policy. These limitations can make it difficult for a policyholder to get full reimbursement for their medical bills, lost wages and more.

Cooperation
When a policyholder has a claim under no-fault insurance, they are legally required to cooperate with their insurance company. In this situation, the common methods of dealing with an insurance company do not apply. In states that do not have no-fault insurance, legal experts will recommend an accident victim not give a recorded statement to their insurance company. A state with no-fault insurance laws may have a legal requirement for an accident victim to provide their insurance company with a recorded statement. Should a person not cooperate satisfactorily with their insurance company, the company may be able to legally terminate a policyholder’s no-fault benefits.

Variations
Each state and the District of Columbia who have no-fault insurance laws have their own variation of it. There are some states who have a no-fault choice system. Vehicle policyholders in these states are able to choose if they want to be insured using the no-fault system or use a liability-based vehicle insurance system. All states and the District of Columbia provide different rules to determine what types of damages a vehicle policyholder can pursue with an accident claim. Most permit an accident victim to pursue medical expenses as well as lost wages. Some have a requirement for all claims involving property damage to be taken directly against the negligent driver.

No-Fault Insurance Advantages
With liability-based based vehicle insurance each insurance company investigates the accident. The goal is to determine who is at fault for an accident. Once this is established, the insurance company with the policyholder holder found at fault will pay repairs and damages based on policy limits. A no-fault insurance system makes the entire claims process much more simple. Policyholders under this system get their claims paid much faster. They receive payment no matter who is determined to be at fault. The long and involved process of going to court to settle a claim is able to be eliminated. The process of litigation is usually avoided for all parties involved in an accident. Medical issues and property damage issues are resolved without the time and effort necessary to get the other insurance company to pay.

No-Fault Insurance Disadvantages
In the event of a claim, no-fault insurance changes the negative results for parties that are at-fault for an accident. With no-fault insurance, the person who is at fault for an accident may only face an increase in their vehicle insurance rates. An accident victim who is injured will have their medical expenses paid by their insurance company. The person at fault for an accident won’t be held responsible. Many insurance industry experts believe no-fault insurance promotes bad driving and fails to properly protect good drivers. No-fault insurance does not eliminate all of the resources that are wasted on litigation.

Car accidents are the most inconvenient, most stressful instances. There are more questions than answers, more confusion than clarity, and people are often injured to the point their focus is on that rather than the repairs they need on their vehicle. If you are involved in a car accident, you might wonder what you can do to help yourself get over the problems you’re face and move forward. It’s not easy, and your mind is going to face numerous distractions. One of the most confusing things about a car accident is the days following. When an appraisal or estimate is provided to you, you wonder what to do with it. Do you give it to the insurance company? What happens with that?

The Appraisal

Once an accident occurs, there is a lot to handle. The first thing you should do is contact the police. This is to get an accident report and everything on record. The police will determine who caused the accident, what happened, and they will document that. This is important to have for the insurance company, especially if someone else is to blame for the issues you’re having since the accident occurred.

Once the law has been notified, accept the medical help that’s brought to the accident scene. You need to have yourself checked out to ensure there is no injury associated with the accident. Just because you can’t see any injuries following the accident doesn’t mean they’re not there. Hopefully it means you’re fine, but many injuries associated with car accidents are internal. It’s always safer to accept the help getting checked out by a medical professional than it is to forgo that option.

Once that’s done, you’ll focus on contacting a personal injury or car accident attorney. This is a difficult time in your life, and you don’t need to worry about what happens next. An attorney’s job is to tell you what’s next, how to make things happen to your advantage, and what information you need following the accident and your injuries.

The appraisal is the most important thing you’ll deal with in the few days following your accident. The appraisal is done by an insurance company. They will come to wherever your car is being kept following the accident and appraise it for damage. They’ll then provide an estimate regarding the damages to your vehicle. The appraisal is done to help the insurance agency determine how much damage has been done, what it might take to repair the car, and how long it might take.

The estimate is then determined based on the repairs necessary to get your car in working order. Once your appraisal is in hand, you’re free to have your car repaired.

The Fine Print

Whether you are working with your own insurance company or the company of the person to blame for your accident, you want to check with the insurance company regarding where to have your car repaired. Insurance companies typically provide a list of acceptable repair locations you can take advantage of. This is to ensure the person or company doing the repairs to the vehicle are licensed, insured, and professional. Insurance companies want to know the work being done to your car is good work since they’re paying for it.

How to Use the Estimate

Now that you have the estimate and have spoken to the insurance company handling the payment of services to repair your car, find a location. You’ll have the car taken to them, and there is very little you must do as a result. Your job now is to wait for them to call you to pick up your car when the repairs have been completed. There is no need to seek help anywhere else for payment, and there is no reason you should be required to pay anything upon picking up your car. The body shop handling the repairs will contact the insurance company and send your bill their way to have it taken care of. In some cases, Los Angeles car lease companies like Zooomr, Avvis, and Enterprise, will work directly with your insurance provider and roll your settlement/compensation into a new car lease.

If you have any questions or you are still confused about how this works, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney to ask the questions you need asked. Personal injury and car accident attorneys work hard to provide you with answers to help you feel more comfortable as the process continues. You want to be sure you are handling everything as you should when your car is in need of repair, and that’s what attorneys are here to help with. Call one today to ask any questions you need, to find out what you can do to help with your case. You have questions following accidents, and an attorney has the answers you’re looking for.

After a car accident in which the other driver was clearly at fault, you might be confused about who pays for the medical bills as they accrue. Your doctor as well as labs and hospitals expect to be paid for their services. Eventually, the bills will be paid through the settlement that you win against the other driver. Until that time, the medical bills will need to be resolved. It’s unlikely that your doctor or the hospital will wait 6 months to a year for the case to be resolved.

The At-Fault Driver’s Coverage
Responsibility for the medical costs that can pile up after an accident rests with the driver who was at fault in the accident. Payments for health appointments, tests and therapy should be billed against the driver’s insurance coverage. While your health insurance could end up being billed in the future, the other driver’s insurance company should be billed for any services.

Normally, at your appointments, you can let the billing clerk know that you’ve been in an accident. They’ll ask for the name of the insurance company as well as any claims number you may have in place. Many doctors are familiar with the procedures when dealing with insurance companies after accidents.

Auto Policy Payments
The part of the policy that pays for injuries is the personal injury protection portion that is carried by most insured motorists. The amount that is covered will vary by the policy the person has purchased though. They might have purchased as little as possible, or basic coverage, in order to pay low monthly premiums.

This means that there could be a limit of $10,000 for your medical bills. The insurance company will be charged up to the amount of $10,000 under that coverage. After you’ve hit the limit for the driver’s insurance coverage, that’s when it’ll revert to your health insurance.

Reverting to Your Health Insurance
Once you’ve hit the limit of the other driver’s insurance, your medical insurance will begin to cover the medical bills. This means that you’ll have to pay your deductible or co-payments based on how your plan works. Any charges that are not covered under your health insurance will have to be paid out of your own pocket.

Recovering Co-Payments and Deductibles
When the other driver is at fault, you shouldn’t be required to pay anything out of your own pocket due to the injuries you sustained. In some cases, you’ll be able to recover the payments you’ve made to the doctor for your visits. It might even include prescriptions that you had to pay for due to the injuries from the accident. It’s important that you talk to your attorney about keeping records of the payments you’ve had to make. He or she will help you to detail the payments for compensation.

Injured without Health Insurance
Unfortunately, not everyone has health insurance coverage. If you don’t have health insurance, you might have to make payments for your appointments out of your own pocket. You could also apply for a state-funded health insurance plan that will help you with those medical expenses that aren’t covered by the other driver’s insurance.

Payment Arrangements with Providers
Some health care providers might be able to bill you later for the appointments if they know you’re there as a result of a car accident. When a patient promises to pay the bills later after a settlement, the provider might have the patient sign a lien that is sent to the lawyer. This is a contract that promises the payment will go to the provider before the client sees any of the proceeds.

It’s important to discuss this kind of lien with your attorney before signing any paperwork, but it might be the only option you have if there’s no medical insurance coverage.

If your health insurance company pays your medical bills, but later you are reimbursed for the costs through your settlement with the other driver’s insurance company, you may have to send that money to the health insurance company. This is another scenario that needs to be discussed with your attorney since he or she is familiar with your case.

Before scheduling appointments with various medical practitioners, understand your rights when it comes to the other driver being at fault. Talk to your attorney in detail about how things should proceed. It’s important that any decisions regarding your medical treatment are filtered through knowledge about the procedures and payment options available.

The problem with car accident injuries is that they take a long time to heal. Most injuries are serious enough you can’t find relief from them for several weeks. It’s not uncommon for car accident victims to end up in the hospital after an accident, and it’s not uncommon for them to need a few days or even a few weeks in there to get over what’s ailing them. Injuries of this nature are dangerous, and they can cost victims more than just their good health. Your finances come into question when you’re involved in an accident such as this. If you are in an accident and you realize you cannot go back to work, you have two financial issues with which to contend.

The first is your lack of paycheck. Most employers will provide medical leave as dictated by the law, but they’ll only pay you so much and for so long while you’re not in the office. When your paycheck disappears as you recover, you are left without income. This typically means your injuries are severe, which means you’re going to incur medical debt. The bills won’t stop coming in just because you are out of work, which leaves you unable to pay your day-to-day expenses as well as your newly acquired medical bills. The most common questions people have regarding this type of lost wage is whether they have the legal ability to file for unemployment insurance while they’re in the midst of a lawsuit.

Lawsuits Following Accidents

Most people who incur thousands of dollars in medical debt sue the driver who caused their injuries with their own negligence. Since most insurance companies will only pay up to $10,000 in medical bills, it’s not uncommon for people to turn to the help of a personal injury attorney to assist with these issues. If they can’t get more than that and their medical bills are extensive, what are they to do? They can’t afford that, but they can’t forgo medical help. It’s then they decide to talk to an attorney about suing for damages.

If you’re suing the at-fault driver for damages incurred during an accident, how can you apply for unemployment benefits? There are some very serious considerations you must make in a situation like this, and the answer to this commonly asked question is never black and white.

Unemployment and Litigation

The simple fact is you are entitled to unemployment funds if you’re involved in and accident and cannot work. However, there are laws that delve much deeper into this situation, and they’re not always so easy to understand. Unemployment is reserved for those who are fired or ‘let go’ from work, and it’s not for those who cannot work because of injuries. That’s disability, but it’s not uncommon for accident victims to confuse the two.

You can file for disability, but the laws are strict. Some of the most common deciding factors on what you can do while litigation is pending focus on where you live and what kind of insurance you have. The other most common factor is your injury. There are strict laws in place in every state regarding your injuries and what they mean to your overall health.

There are laws that dictate how much and when you can apply for disability insurance following an accident if you have tissue injuries, bone injuries, head injuries, and more. We cannot tell you what you can apply for, when you can apply for it, and what you’ll need. You can apply during pending litigation, but it’s your insurance company that has all the information you need.

The best thing you can do in this time is contact the insurance company to see what you need to do to get the ball rolling to make up for lost wages. It’s not always fast or easy, so you’ll need to start right away. Your insurance company can provide you with a checklist of items, and it will prove valuable to you during this time.

Your other option is to contact a personal injury attorney. This is the person with a vast knowledge of the law regarding car accidents, injuries, insurance, pending litigation, and lost wages. They can answer your questions, provide you with insight, and help you file paperwork you’re not certain you understand. It’s a difficult time, but knowing how to understand the law can help you get through the process of applying for financial help easier and faster. Let a professional help you navigate the law and all the fine print that comes along with working with insurance companies. It can be confusing, and there’s nothing you can do about that.