We Proudly Serve All of California
CALL 24/7 FOR AFREE
CONSULTATION
800-789-8840
Automobile accidents are an unfortunate part of life on the road. No matter how safe a driver you may be and follow driving laws, crashes can and do happen. Fortunately, California law empowers a person injured in a car accident to seek compensation from those responsible. That starts with consulting a proven car accident lawyer at Banafshe Law Firm, PC.
At Banafshe Law Firm, our car accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for clients injured in vehicle collisions, drunk driving crashes and a wide variety of other accidents. We combine decades of legal experience to ensure that the people we represent get the maximum compensation available under the circumstances. Our accident lawyers take pride in guiding clients through the legal process with experience and professionalism. We understand the tactics that insurance companies often use to try to minimize or avoid pay outs and we work aggressively to get you the money you deserve.
We also take pride in assisting our clients with obtaining the medical care they require to treat their injuries and fully heal. Once our office is retained, we assign a team of professionals to guide our clients through the legal process and handle all phases of their case so our clients can focus on obtaining the medical attention their desperately need. We have the knowledge, experience and resources to make sure our clients obtain the compensation they deserve.
Our track record of success speaks for itself. We have helped countless clients get back on their feet after an injury with optimal financial support. That includes six- and seven-figure settlements and judgments for people injured in car crashes. Our firm gives clients the confidence to focus on their physical recuperation with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we are out there fighting for them.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to a crash, from driver error to poor weather conditions. Although the result of the accident may be the same, top-notch car accident attorneys know that identifying the cause of the crash is often a key element to obtaining money damages for your injuries.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:
Understanding the cause of the crash is just one step on the road to getting compensation for car accident injuries. In some cases, the factors contributing to a collision may not be readily apparent. That’s why it’s vital that a person injured in a crash in Southern California seek the advice and counsel of a seasoned car accident lawyer.
California law is meant to protect people injured in car accidents, but these cases can also come with unnecessary complications for people who are not well versed in the law. Insurance companies often try to take advantage of these situations by aggressively pushing quick settlement for pennies on the dollar. It is vital that you do not accept an insurance settlement without first consulting an experienced car accident attorney. An insurance company is a business just like any other and their adjusters are trained to settle cases early and for as little money as possible in order to increase profits. The insurance company adjuster will be compassionate, caring, and befriend you to carry out this goal. The “final offer” or “maximum offer” an unrepresented accident victim receives is rarely, if ever, the maximum money the insurance company is willing to pay.
A driver who doesn’t live up to the duty of care is likely to be held legally liable for any accidents that happen as a result.
The money damages usually available in California car accident cases are intended to compensate an injured person for the losses related to the crash. That includes compensation for past and future pain and suffering, loss of earnings, medical bills stemming from the injuries sustained in the accident, mental therapy related to the accident and expected future medical treatment. Reimbursement for car and other property damage and missed wages due to time away from the job while the injured person recuperates is also common.
In the tragic situation in which a person is killed in an automobile accident, his or her family has the right to seek similar compensation for wrongful death.
In many cases, an injured person may be partially to blame for the collision. A driver who is speeding when he or she hits a car that changes lanes without signaling, for instance or was distracted by the GPS, may be found to share at least some of the blame.
California’s comparative negligence system determines liability based on share of fault for the accident. In other words, a person who is partially to blame for a crash will have his or her potential money damages reduced proportionate to the person’s responsibility for the collision. If this is the case, our car accident attorneys and team of professionals have the experience to reduce the amount of comparative negligence to the lowest possible amount.
When choosing a car accident lawyer, there are several factors you need to consider. You should not simply choose the first law firm you find, and you should be wary of any lawyer who claims to be the “best” in his or her field. When it comes to representing car accident victims, here are some of the most-important qualifications a lawyer can have:
If you have been injured in a car accident or other kind of traffic accident, do you need to hire a accident lawyer, or can you handle your insurance claim on your own? If you need a lawyer, when should you schedule a free initial consultation?
In order to protect your legal rights and maximize the amount you receive for your medical expenses and other losses, you are going to need experienced legal representation. You cannot rely on the insurance companies to voluntarily pay what they owe. With this in mind, if you have been injured in a car accident, you should:
Driving on a daily basis in tough traffic situations is a common occurrence. While driving a car in California is generally safe, many people will inevitably get into an auto accident at some point. If you are in an auto accident, meeting with a lawyer could be a good option. There are several tips to follow when you do meet with an auto accident lawyer.
One tip to follow is to find an attorney that specializes in auto accident law. Auto accidents are unique situations and you need to have a representative that is familiar with this type of case. The Banafshe Law Firm is a local law firm that is well aware of auto accident law and can provide you with great services to ensure you are properly represented.
After an auto accident, it is important that you meet with the lawyer as quickly as possible. After you have been in an accident, the last thing you want to do is sit and wait for the case to develop. Instead, you should try and meet with the attorney within a few days of the accident to ensure you start the legal process quickly. If you wait too long to start you could fall behind the process and end up losing out.
When you are meeting with your car accident lawyer, you also want to bring as much detail about the situation as possible. This should include brining the police report, accident reports, information about the other driver, and auto damage reports. This will give the attorney enough information to properly assess your situation and determine what the right course of action will be.
After an auto accident, many people are concerned that they will be deemed liable and will be punished. While you may be nervous to give a fair account of the situation, it is important that you are as honest as possible -- even if you were doing something at problematic as texting and driving or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This part of the process will require that you continue to give accurate information about what happened, even if you are at fault. This will help your accident lawyer make informed decisions about the case.
Depending on how the auto accident occurred, what the damage is, and who is at fault, there are many different avenues that you can pursue. Some of the most common things that you could do will include filing a claim with your insurance company, suing the other party if they are at fault and are not covering damage, or considering other actions to take.
Most importantly, you need to follow the advice of your legal counsel. Your attorney will provide you with suggestions that will give you the best chance of winning your case and receiving a fair judgment. Because of this, you should be sure that you follow the attorney instructions as much as possible and stay in compliance with all other legal instructions you receive. If you found an attorney you're comfortable with and revealed all of the important information, the advice provided by the law firm is likely your best option.
In addition to taking certain steps in order to protect your rights, there are some all-too-common mistakes you need to avoid as well. For example, after a car accident, you should not:
If you have been injured in a car accident, you should hire a lawyer right away. Our phones are answered 24/7, and our lawyers can get to work on your car accident claim immediately.
It costs nothing out of pocket to hire an accident lawyer. At Banafshe Law Firm, there are no upfront fees, we handle all car accident claims on a contingency-fee basis, and advance all costs. Your initial consultation is completely free, you never pay anything out of pocket, and we only recover our fees and costs if we are successful in helping you recover just compensation. We only get paid after we collect money for you.
Our contingency fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement or verdict. As a result, you will always receive payment if your claim is successful. Additionally, even taking our fees into account, if we take your claim, it is because we believe that we can help you collect more (and probably far more) than you could collect on your own.
In addition to the factors we discussed above – experience handling car accident claims, a practice focused on personal injury representation, and a record of success in settlement negotiations and at trial – there are some other important factors to consider as well. For example, when choosing a car accident lawyer, you want to choose someone who will be there for you 24/7, and who will actually pick up the phone when you text or call.
At Banafshe Law Firm, we are dedicated to client service, and we prioritize communicating with our clients. You will be kept fully informed about the status of your case from day one, and you will never be left wondering when you will receive a response.
Yes, if you have already filed an auto insurance claim, you still have time to hire a car accident lawyer. However, it will be important for you to hire a lawyer as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the insurance companies will try to take advantage of unrepresented claimants; and, the longer you wait to seek legal representation, the more difficult it could become to collect the full compensation you deserve.
Yes, if the insurance companies have denied your claim, a lawyer may still be able to help you. At this stage, the options that are available will depend on both (i) why your claim was denied, and (ii) how long it has been since the insurance company issued its denial. Once again, it will be important for you to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible, and we encourage you to contact us immediately for a free consultation.
Your car may be declared a total loss even if it is salvageable. This occurs when the insurance company weighs the cost of repair with the car’s value. If the repairs costs are high enough, say 70% of the value, then your car will be deemed a total loss. The car’s value is determined much as it would be if you were placing it up for sale. An insurance representative inspects the wreck to determine the mileage, modifications made to the car, and its apparent condition before the accident. The insurer will then refer to actual sales figures of comparable vehicles, and price guides like the Kelly Blue Book to arrive at a figure. You should do your own research to avoid being low-balled by the insurer.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects the policyholder from being unable to recover damages in an accident where the liable party has no insurance, or not enough coverage to pay for expenses. It is useful to purchase such insurance, especially considering that in California an estimated 20% of drivers have no insurance. It is very important to purchase UM and UIM coverage with your insurance. A good rule of thumb is to carry the same UIM and UM coverage as you have in your regular policy. If you do not have or unsure if you have sufficient UM or UIM coverage contact your insurance broker.
Your insurance rate only increases if you are “at-fault” in the car accident. Making a claim for benefits under your uninsured insurance coverage (UM) or underinsurance insurance coverage (UIM) should not increase your rates if you are not at fault for the accident. UM and UIM coverage is something you pay for and you should use, with the assistance of a personal injury attorney, if the unfortunate circumstance arises
Don’t go it alone. If you have been involved in an accident, contact a car accident lawyer at Banafshe Law Firm as soon as possible for a free initial consultation.
Our office is conveniently located in Beverly Hills and we gladly serve clients throughout California. Contact us online, call 310-273-7300 or email us to speak with an car accident attorney today. Any delay might affect the outcome of your settlement and your ability to receive full compensation. Remember, our accident lawyers advance all costs and we don’t charge if we don’t collect money for you.
