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Camarillo, CA Car Accident Lawyer

California Auto Accident Lawyer Representing Injured Plaintiffs in Camarillo

From collisions on the 101 to accidents on neighborhood streets and driveways in Camarillo, car accidents happen quite frequently. While nearly all motor vehicle collisions in Camarillo are preventable, motorists often behave in negligent ways. Sometimes a driver is simply distracted by an ongoing problem at work and cannot focus on the road, unintentionally engaging in distracted driving and causing a crash. In other situations, drivers make poor choices when they are behind the wheel. For instance, a driver might decide to take a short trip despite consuming too much alcohol, or a driver may elect to run a red light in order to reach a destination more quickly.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), although traffic injuries and fatalities have decreased on California roads in recent years, thousands of people are still killed on an annual basis in motor vehicle collisions while tens of thousands more suffer injuries. If you or someone you love got hurt in a traffic crash in or around Camarillo, you should find out about your options for compensation. An experienced Camarillo, CA car accident lawyer can begin working with you on the claims process today.

What Should I Do After a Crash: Steps in the Camarillo, CA Car Accident Claims Process

If you are involved in a motor vehicle crash in Camarillo, you need to know the steps you should take afterward to ensure that you remain eligible for compensation. The following are recommendations from our Camarillo auto accident lawyers:

  • Move out of the road, if possible, and call 911 if anyone has been injured;
  • Take photographs of the crash scene, including long-shot pictures that help to clarify where the accident occurred, as well as close-up images that depict any specific damage or injuries;
  • Ask witnesses at the scene for their contact information so that you can provide it to your Camarillo auto accident attorneys;
  • Be sure to obtain contact information and insurance data from anyone else involved in the collision, and record the license plate numbers of any other vehicles involved in the crash;
  • Even if you do not immediately think you got hurt, it is extremely important to see a doctor to be assessed—many car accident injuries do not produce signs and symptoms for hours or even days, and it is essential to prevent your injuries from worsening as a result of delayed medical attention;
  • Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible, but when you do, remember that the insurance company will never be on your side—you do not want to risk making any statements that could be used against you at a later date, so stick to the facts; and
  • Contact an experienced traffic accident lawyer in Camarillo, CA as soon as possible to have an advocate on your side.

How Comparative Fault in Camarillo Could Impact Your Car Accident Case

You might be concerned that the defendant is going to argue that you are partially at fault for the accident, and you may be worried that you will not be able to obtain financial compensation by filing a lawsuit. While some states will bar a plaintiff from recovery when that plaintiff bears some or any portion of liability for a collision, California is much different. Under California’s comparative fault law, a plaintiff can recover damages regardless of that plaintiff’s proportion of fault, as long as the plaintiff is not 100 percent or entirely at fault. To be clear, California employs what is known as a “pure comparative fault” method, which means a plaintiff will recover damages even if she is at fault, but her total recovery will be reduced by her own portion of the liability.

How does this work? Imagine that a plaintiff is involved in a serious head-on collision with an intoxicated driver on the 101 in Camarillo. At the time of the accident, the plaintiff was driving beyond the posted speed limit, yet the drunk driver had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent when he drifted into the lane for opposite-facing traffic. In other words, the drunk driver seemed to be clearly responsible for the crash.

Timetable for Filing a Camarillo, CA Car Accident Lawsuit

Civil lawsuits in California come with a specific statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is the total amount of time that a plaintiff has to file a lawsuit. In most car accident cases, the “clock” on the statute of limitations begins to tick on the date that the crash occurred. Even if you do not immediately realize you suffered a serious injury, the clock on the statute of limitations will begin ticking on the date that the cause of action arose. When a plaintiff accidentally lets the clock run out, or simply fails to file a lawsuit within the statutory window, the plaintiff will have something known as a “time-barred claim.” When a claim is time-barred, the plaintiff cannot obtain compensation through a civil lawsuit.

Under California law, most car accidents in Camarillo have a two-year statute of limitations. You might be thinking that two years seems like a relatively long amount of time. Do not wait to speak with a car accident lawyer in Camarillo, however. The more time that passes, the more evidence that gets lost. In addition, if you do need to file a lawsuit, you could be waiting years before you get the compensation you deserve if you wait until the very last minute to file. Getting started as soon as possible benefits your case immensely and allows your Camarillo auto accident lawyer to gather all relevant information to support your claim.

Contact One of Our Camarillo Car Accident Attorneys

Motor vehicle collisions in Southern California can be devastating. Whether you sustained minor or life-threatening injuries, however, you should do everything you can to hold the at-fault driver accountable. At Fisher & Talwar, we are committed to providing aggressive yet compassionate representation to injured plaintiffs in Camarillo. A dedicated car accident attorney in Camarillo can get started on your claim with you today.

With years of experience serving Californians in personal injury cases, we know what it takes to build a strong car accident case. While we will do all that we can to get you the compensation you deserve through an insurance claim or settlement with the at-fault party, we are also prepared to take your case to trial if necessary. Contact Fisher & Talwar to discuss your case with one of our personal injury lawyers.