Auto Accident Attorneys Southern California
Have You Been Injured in a Car Accident in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino or Orange County? We Can Help!
The California accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas will fight for a settlement you deserve and will be there to help you through this tough time. We handle car accident lawsuits in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino.
For a Free Auto Accident Consultation, Call 877-559-4529 or Fill Out the Form to the Right >>
Auto Accident statistics in the United States are mind boggling. In 2005, there were a total of 6,400,000 auto accidents. There were 2.9 million injury related accidents, with 46,636 of those accidents being fatal. If you were to break that figure down to a daily number, on average, there were 115 fatal injury related auto accidents per day, meaning every 13 minutes, one person will die due to an automobile accident.
California, being a state that relies tremendously on automobiles as a form of transportation is no exception. In 2004, there were 4,120 fatal injury related injuries caused by auto accidents, highest of any states. With its population booming, and many more drivers using the roads, many are at risk of fatal or disabling injuries. This places you or a loved one at a very high risk of an automobile accident.
With such statistics, it is important you fully protect yourself with automobile insurance. The Insurance Research Counsel has conducted studies that show that 25% of drivers in the state of California are uninsured. DMV records show that 13% of auto accidents in the state involve uninsured drivers. With the chances of being involved in an automobile accident with an uninsured driver, it is important that you make sure your insurance company sells you an uninsured motorist provision and one that protects you in the event of a serious injury.
What should you do if you are involved in an automobile accident?
- Pull your vehicle over in a safe area if possible.
- Contact the police to take a collision report, regardless if any of the parties have suffered a major injury. Many people avoid this step, especially if the other party admits fault. Do not leave the accident scene without obtaining a traffic collision report. Although a party may admit fault, it should not come to surprise that many of these same people give their insurance company a completely different version of events. A solid police report will help ensure that incriminating statements are written on paper by an authority of the law at time one is most likely to make admissions of guilt.
- Take photographs of the accident scene, vehicles involved, and any visible injuries you may have suffered.
- Seek immediate medical attention. If you are hurt in any manner, it is very critical that you receive immediate treatment for your injuries. If for any reason you are unable to make arrangements with a medical doctor, our office will refer you to a doctor that will work on a lien in an area to your convenience. Lately, insurance companies have perceived a lack of treatment in the first week of an auto accident as a sign that you are not hurt as result of the auto accident, even in the most serious of accidents.
- Do not make any statements toward liability or the accident itself to the adverse party for any reason.
- If the circumstances allow it, obtain the information for the other party. At this time, obtain the name, address, telephone number, insurance company, the policy number, license plate number, VIN number (located on the front windshield), driver's license number of all other involved parties. Read the policy card carefully and make sure it is a valid policy and one that has not expired. At times, the injuries to either party may be severe and not allow the opportunity to obtain the insurance information. If this is the case, the police officer at the scene would collect the information and make it available for both parties on the police report. Our office will immediately order this report to obtain insurance information and open the claim immediately.
- Contact an attorney immediately. It is very important that you make no statements about the nature of your auto accident to any insurance company before first consulting with an attorney. Do not take the insurance companies' perceived friendliness as an invitation to easily resolve your claim. Many of these companies take advantage of unrepresented parties to obtain incriminating statements to blame you for the accident or to devalue your claim. Remember, it is the insurance company's job to limit your settlement.
- Once you have retained an attorney's services, do not discuss your claim with the insurance company for any reason. Redirect any calls from the insurance company to your attorney's office.
If you or a loved one has suffered an automobile accident injury, contact the Law Offices of Samer Habbas. We specialize in handling personal injury cases, and have the experience to help you recover your lost wages, medical expenses and other costs from an accident or violent crime.
Please call 1-877-559-4529 to discuss your case or or you can fill out our free personal injury consultation form.
Samer Habbas Car Accident Lawyers: we can help you put you life back
in order.
