Car accidents range from minor collisions to crashes that permanently change how someone lives and works. They happen on freeways, on surface streets, at intersections, and in parking areas. Injured drivers and passengers are often dealing with medical treatment, time away from work, and an insurance adjuster's questions at the same time. Yadegar Law Firm represents people injured in car accidents in Encino, throughout the San Fernando Valley, across Los Angeles, and throughout California.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
- Distracted driving, including texting, phone calls, and in-car distractions
- Speeding and driving too fast for road conditions
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Failure to yield the right of way at intersections and merges
- Reckless or aggressive driving, including tailgating and unsafe lane changes
How Yadegar Law Firm, PC Can Help
We investigate car accidents, gathering police reports, medical records, witness statements, and available surveillance or dashcam footage. We work with accident reconstruction experts when needed to help establish fault. The firm negotiates directly with insurance companies, pushing back against lowball offers and bad-faith tactics. When a fair settlement cannot be reached, the firm is prepared to litigate.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Los Angeles
The steps you take after a collision can affect both your health and your legal claim. First, seek medical attention, even if you feel fine at the scene. Some serious injuries, including whiplash, traumatic brain injury, and internal bleeding, may not produce symptoms for hours or days. If you are able, document the scene: take photos of vehicle damage, the roadway, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Get the other driver's license, registration, and insurance information, and collect contact information from witnesses. California Vehicle Code § 20008 provides that the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death must, within 24 hours, make or cause to be made a written report to the California Highway Patrol or, if the accident occurred within a city, to either the CHP or the police department of that city.
Do not discuss fault at the scene, and avoid posting about the accident on social media. Insurance adjusters, including your own, may review your statements. Contact an experienced car accident attorney before giving a recorded statement to any insurance company.
Common Injuries After a Crash
Car accident injuries range from soft-tissue strains to permanent, life-altering conditions. These cases can involve whiplash and cervical spine injuries, herniated and bulging discs, traumatic brain injuries (including concussions and diffuse axonal injury), fractures of the extremities, pelvis, and ribs, internal organ damage and internal bleeding, and shoulder injuries including rotator cuff tears and labral tears. Higher-speed rear-end and broadside collisions, common in heavy freeway traffic, can cause injuries that require surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing medical care.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
After an auto accident, you will likely hear from the other driver's insurance company, often within days. Adjusters may seem friendly, but their goal is to settle your claim for as little as possible, or to find a basis to deny it altogether. They may ask for a recorded statement, request access to your full medical history, or make a quick settlement offer before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot go back for more, even if you later discover injuries that require surgery or long-term care.
At Yadegar Law Firm, PC, we handle all communication with insurance carriers so you do not have to. We evaluate settlement offers against the full scope of your damages: past and future medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. We push back against lowball offers and bad-faith tactics.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Issues
If you are hit by a driver who has no insurance, or whose policy limits are too low to cover your losses, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may apply, depending on your policy. UM/UIM claims involve your own insurance company stepping into the shoes of the at-fault driver's absent or insufficient coverage. These claims can be adversarial because your insurer may have a financial interest in minimizing your recovery. We handle UM and UIM claims throughout Los Angeles County, including Burbank, Glendale, Sherman Oaks, and the surrounding areas, and can pursue arbitration or trial when appropriate.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation about your car accident case.