No one leaves the house expecting to be part of a car accident, but it happens numerous times each day in and around the Perris area with its congested freeways. Though most car accidents do not result in serious injury or fatalities, these life-changing consequences can easily result from any given accident. These regrettable results of a car accidents are so much greater when someone’s negligence has brought serious injury or death, which is all too often the case. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident, contact a Perris Car Accident Attorney to learn whether you may be entitled to compensation.
Accidents in Perris
Perris is a rapidly growing city with a population close to 77,000 in crowded Riverside County, and it sits beside the busy 215 freeway and State Route 74. However, that does not mean it is safe for drivers. This year alone, a car ran a red light killing a woman at Ramona Expressway and Evans Road, and another fatal accident occurred at the 29000 block of Ramona Expressway. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, several hundred people are killed and injured each year on Perris roads.
How Do Car Accidents Happen?
Usually it is the negligent driver of a vehicle that causes car accidents, however that isn’t always the case. Other parties can be responsible partially or entirely for car accidents and liable for your injuries. These can include:
- Auto manufacturers;
- Roadway maintenance agencies;
- Agencies designing or building roadways.
Roads in and around Perris have a high volume of drivers, which increases the risk of car accidents. However, unsafe driving behavior is a major contributing factor as well. Countless drivers engage in improper behavior such as:
- Speeding;
- Tailgating;
- Driving while intoxicated;
- Running red lights;
- Improper lane changes;
- Not using turn signals;
- Distracted driving such as texting behind the wheel; or
- Drowsy driving.
These behaviors can all result in car accidents resulting in serious injury or death, so it is important to consult an experienced Perris Car Accident Attorney so the cause of the accident is investigated, and you can determine if you may be entitled to compensation.
How Do I Win My Case?
Perris car accident injury victims typically assert negligence in court to argue for compensation. If you can prove the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and the breach caused your injury, they are held liable for your injuries unless they have a defense. Under negligence per se, victims who can prove the defendant broke a law, rule, or regulation and caused their injuries establish the presumption the defendant is negligent and liable.
Establishing the elements of negligence and defeating legal defenses put up by a defendant can be difficult, so it’s advisable to seek the help of an established Perris Car Accident Attorney to avoid costly mistakes.
What If I Am Partly Responsible for The Accident?
In California, even if you are partially responsible for the accident that caused your injuries, it’s still possible for you to recover compensation in some cases. In comparative negligence, the court will evaluate your case and assign each party responsible a percentage of fault. The court will reduce a victim’s award by the percentage of responsibility they bear, so if you are 20% at fault your award will be reduced by that amount, but you can still receive the rest.
How Much Can I Recover?
Once a Perris car accident victim proves the other party is liable for their injuries, they may receive compensatory damages for proven injuries. Injuries may be concrete such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. However, a victim may also be awarded damages for injuries reflecting psychological, emotional, and mental harms such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, or loss of consortium. In rare cases additional damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer’s extremely bad conduct, but these are difficult to prove and better handled by an experienced Perris Car Accident Attorney.
What Should I Do If I’m Involved in a Perris Car Accident?
Even though it may be the last thing you want to do, it’s important for you to take a few simple steps. Acting quickly can put you in a position to look after your health and greatly help any legal claim you may pursue.
Get Immediate Medical Attention
For your health and to avoid denial of your claim for recovery, it’s important for you to seek medical attention as soon as you can after a car accident. You need to be treated for apparent injuries and evaluated and treated for injuries you may not know you have. Some injuries present symptoms days or even weeks later. Follow treatment plans exactly and keep all records you receive from the providers.
Gather Information
To help establish fault and prove the extent of your injuries, collect documents and other records as quickly as you can. Photograph the accident and your injuries if possible, give a detailed statement to police for the accident report and collect the report from the responding police department or your insurer, get eyewitness contact information, and keep receipts, paystubs, and other records indicating any expense or loss incurred from your injuries.
Do Not Delay
California has a 2-year statute of limitations for bringing legal claims to recover from car accident injuries. If you do not file your claim within 2 years of your injury, you forfeit the right to receive compensation forever.
Contact a Perris Car Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident in or around Perris, contact to the knowledgeable Perris Car Accident Attorneys at Walton Injury Law today. Our attorneys spent years delivering customized, aggressive representation for victims like you and secured millions in compensation for their injuries. Contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (866) 338-7079 or use our Contact Us webpage to schedule a risk-free, no-obligation case consultation today. The initial case review is free, and you pay nothing until we win your case. Let the skilled attorneys at Walton Injury Law review your unique situation, and start working today to get secure the best possible outcome so you can get your life back on track.