Car accidents frequently cause severe and long-lasting injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and internal organ damage. To maximize your compensation after a motor vehicle collision in Riverside, California, it’s essential that you understand your rights, California’s laws, and the types of accidents that most often lead to insurance claims.
Contact Dordick Law Corporation at (310) 341-7176 for a free consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable car accident lawyer about your case. Our Riverside personal injury team will review the details of the accident that injured you, identify the at-fault parties, and explain how we can work toward holding them financially liable for the harm they caused.
Car Accident Cases Our Firm Handles in Riverside
Our lawyers handle all kinds of car accident cases in Riverside, from minor rear-end collisions to catastrophic rollover events. No matter what type of accident injured you or how severe it was, you could end up with long-term injuries that require significant medical treatment and keep you out of work for extended periods. Some of the types of car accidents our lawyers can help you seek compensation for include:
- Drunk driving accidents account for about a third of all fatal collisions due to the way alcohol impairs cognition and motor function.
- Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of car accidents, frequently occurring at intersections and in parking lots.
- Head-on collisions are some of the most severe types of accidents, often resulting in permanent disability or fatal injuries.
- Side-impact collisions include both sideswipe accidents and T-bone collisions. These accidents can be particularly dangerous due to the angle of impact.
- Multi-vehicle pileups often involve many victims, which can make it more challenging to recover the full compensation needed for your injuries.
- Single-vehicle accidents can be caused by defective vehicle components, poor vehicle maintenance, or poorly maintained roads.
- Failure to yield accidents occur when a driver doesn’t yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic, particularly at intersections or when merging onto a busy road.
- Hit-and-run accidents are when the at-fault driver flees the scene after the accident. You can seek compensation for these incidents by filing an uninsured motorist claim.
- Rollover accidents are dangerous accidents in which a vehicle rolls onto its side or roof. They can lead to serious spinal cord, head, and crushing injuries.
Car Accident Statistics
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects data on auto accidents nationwide. According to NHTSA data, speeding is one of the most significant factors contributing to fatal accidents, being present in 29 percent of all deadly car crashes.
NHTSA data also shows that nearly 12,500 individuals were killed in accidents caused by drunk drivers in a recent year. That same year saw over 3,000 deaths caused by distracted driving and over 600 deaths caused by drowsy driving.
Understanding the factors that led to the crash that harmed you is crucial for identifying the at-fault parties and holding them liable for your injuries. For example, determining the speed at which the other driver was traveling before they rear-ended you can help prove their negligence.
Examples of Car Accident Cases
A recent car accident case Dordick Law Corporation handled involved a married couple whose car was struck by a California Highway Patrol vehicle that sped through a red light at 55 MPH. Our clients were lawfully making a left turn through a green light when the patrol vehicle collided with them, causing serious neck and back injuries that led to years of pain management and treatment. In the end, our lawyers secured a $2.6 million settlement by using the officer’s dashboard camera footage as evidence.
In another case, we secured a $12.5 million settlement for several family members injured in a single-vehicle crash on I-15. The State of California was aware that this was a dangerous stretch of roadway and hadn’t taken proper precautions to prevent vehicles from drifting off the road and into a concrete culvert, leading to its liability.
After another client was struck by a drunk driver and suffered paralyzing injuries, our car accident attorneys secured the largest personal injury verdict in California for the year. The insurance company initially tried to deny our client’s claim, saying he was responsible for the accident. However, at trial, our lawyers demonstrated this was not the case and secured a $125 million verdict in our client’s favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we’ve included answers to some of the questions individuals involved in Riverside car accidents most frequently ask. If you have further questions about your case, Dordick Law Corporation will be happy to answer them for you during your free initial consultation.
What auto insurance does California require?
In California, all drivers must have liability insurance. The minimum amounts of this coverage include:
- $30,000 per person for injury or death
- $60,000 per accident for injury or death
- $15,000 per accident for property damage
Since medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses related to a car accident can add up quickly, this minimum liability coverage may not be enough to cover your damages. To reduce the impact of insurance caps on your compensation, a car accident lawyer may be able to identify multiple liable parties to spread your damages across.
Additionally, insurance companies must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as part of every policy. While policyholders can opt out of this coverage with a written waiver, it’s in your best interest to have it just in case. Uninsured motorist coverage provides compensation if a driver without insurance strikes you. Underinsured motorist coverage provides additional compensation if the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits cap your compensation.
Who could be liable for my Riverside car accident injuries?
Various parties could be liable for your Riverside car accident injuries, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Some of the parties commonly found liable in these accidents are:
- Other drivers who contributed to the crash due to their actions, such as driving while distracted, intoxicated, or fatigued
- Vehicle and component manufacturers, if a defective part, such as faulty brakes, contributed to the accident
- Vehicle maintenance providers, if poor maintenance contributed to the accident
- Government entities responsible for maintaining the roads, if faded road lines, damaged pavement, missing traffic signs, or faulty traffic lights played a role in the collision
A knowledgeable attorney can assist with identifying the at-fault parties and gathering the evidence necessary to hold them liable. In some cases, there may only be one liable party, while in others, there may be several. The more parties involved in a car accident case, the more complex and potentially time-consuming it will be.
What steps should I take after a Riverside car accident?
After a Riverside car accident, you should take several key steps to strengthen your case and protect your right to seek compensation. These steps include:
- Documenting the accident with photographs and journal entries that include everything you remember about the crash and how your injuries impact your daily life
- Seeking ongoing medical treatment until you are fully recovered or until your doctor states you are unlikely to recover further
- Keeping track of all medical and service bills related to the accident so your attorney can use them when calculating your damages
- Avoiding speaking to the at-fault party’s insurance company so it can’t use your words against you to deny or devalue your claim
- Consulting an experienced car accident lawyer who can handle all aspects of your case
Do I need to hire an attorney for a minor car accident in Riverside, CA?
Even if the accident you were involved in was relatively minor, such as a low-speed rear-end collision in a parking lot, it’s still in your best interest to speak with a car accident attorney. You can still sustain long-term injuries from accidents that initially seem minor. Additionally, some of these injuries may not display symptoms right away, leading you to believe you’re fine at first.
An attorney can help you explore your options for seeking compensation for medical expenses and property damage.
What if I am the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Riverside?
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Riverside, you can file an uninsured motorist claim with your auto insurance policy. Uninsured motorist coverage doesn’t only provide compensation when a driver without insurance strikes you. It also provides compensation when you cannot seek compensation from the driver’s insurance, such as when you don’t know the driver’s identity because they fled the scene.
You can still file a claim against the driver to seek additional compensation when they are identified, if your uninsured motorist coverage claim didn’t cover all of your losses.
Contact Our Riverside Car Accident Lawyers
Dordick Law Corporation has been representing car accident victims in Riverside since 1987. Over the decades, we’ve recovered millions for our clients through settlement negotiations and trial litigation. Our firm has been recognized for its commitment to providing comprehensive legal support, with awards from various professional organizations.
Contact us today at (310) 341-7176 for a free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. We’ll review the details of your case, go over your options for recovering the compensation you need, and answer your questions about the auto insurance claims process.
