Laguna Hills Motor Vehicle Accident Law Firm Vehicle Litigation

In the majority of motor vehicle collision cases, the plaintiff's award is lowered by their percentage of fault. This is decided by the jury based on the evidence presented to them.

To be liable for a personal injury the defendant must have been negligent at the time of the incident. Liability is determined by the degree to which the negligence contributed to the accident.

Liability

The goal of a claim for shoreline motor vehicle accident lawyer vehicle accidents is to seek compensation from the party who caused the injuries and losses caused by their negligence. Unless the injured victim lives in one of the few states that operate under a no fault insurance system and a trucking accident lawsuit will require showing that the defendant's negligent actions or failure to act caused a collision and the resulting bodily injury.

An experienced attorney can assist you in determining whether the at-fault driver or another defendant is responsible for your losses. The majority of auto accident cases hinge on a plaintiff's capacity to prove their defendant's liability based on the tort liability standard, including a defendant's duty to the plaintiff, the breach of this duty, actual and proximate cause, and injuries.

A knowledgeable lawyer can assist you in determining the extent of liability in cases where the insured driver or the owner of the vehicle may be the subject of a lawsuit as well. Most automobile insurance policies contain an affirmative coverage for anyone who is operating the vehicle with owner's permission but subject to certain restrictions. This analysis will include a review of CPLR SS 1602.

Damages

A successful motor vehicle lawsuit can establish the damages incurred by the plaintiff. This is usually accomplished by providing a detailed record of the expenses incurred out of pocket and also future losses that are likely to arise from the injuries sustained. These are referred to as economic or noneconomic damages.

The first is for things like medical expenses and lost income as well as compensation for intangibles such as pain and suffering. It can be difficult to quantify a dollar amount on non-economic damages like mental suffering and loss of enjoyment in life.

Your lawyer will assist in the calculation of your damages through the use of a variety of methodologies. This may include retaining accident reconstruction experts who will look over police reports, photos witness statements, and other evidence to reconstruct the crash.

Your attorney will also be able to support your claim by obtaining expert opinions that outline the economic and noneconomic effects of your injuries. These will include estimates of costs for future care and support, wage projections and other financial factors. These are essential to ensure you are fully compensated for any losses that you have suffered and continue to experience in the near future.

Comparative Fault

A system known as comparative fault or contributory negligence, determines the amount of fault an injured person is held responsible for in a car accident. It's a key issue in many cases and one that your attorney could be required to prove.

Most states have a form of comparative fault rule that allows victims to receive compensation regardless of whether their part of the blame lies with an accident. However, the amount of their settlement will be reduced according to their level of blame. For example If a jury awards you $100,000 for your injuries, but concludes that you're 40% at fault, you'd receive only $60,000.

However, the law is much more complicated than that, as there are two distinct varieties of modified comparative fault rules. The first is the 50% bar rule. This bar rule blocks the injured party from receiving compensation if they're responsible for more than 50 percent. It is used by some states, including Colorado and Utah. Another variation is known as pure comparative fault, which permits victims to recover damages even if they are found to be 99 % at fault.

Statute of limitations

In most cases, a person who is injured in a car accident is entitled to file a lawsuit against the person who caused the accident. However, these lawsuits must be filed within a specified time period, referred to as the statute of limitations or the victim's legal claim is forfeited and barred forever.

The statute of limitation is not a factor in whether or whether an insurance company representing the defendant will settle the case. It's all about the first incident that led to the case, the incident or accident that caused the injury. The exact time at which the clock starts to run is essential for compliance with this important rule.

In New York, people who are injured in car accidents generally have three years to start a personal injury lawsuit. The timeframe may be reduced in certain situations, however. For instance, in situations where minors are involved the statute of limitations is suspended until the child is emancipated by getting married or reaching age 18, which is usually two years after the incident. There are other exceptions, and a knowledgeable attorney can provide advice on the particulars.

Representation

We have years of experience advising and representing public entities and utilities in matters involving motor vehicle litigation. Our clients include local, county, state and federal entities regulating fixed public utilities such as electric, gas and water/sewer services. We represent transportation companies like limousines and taxicabs in the Public Utilities Commission on issues involving rates, service and fees.

We can assist you in determining the parties accountable for a motor vehicle accident and assist you in pursuing compensation. Our firm also helps victims of car accidents and tractor-trailer accidents, including wrongful deaths.

Our practice in commercial motor vehicles provides advice to manufacturers national leasing companies, and national logistics firms on the liability of their products and automobile accidents claims. We manage pre-suit assessment, manage discovery in a proactive manner and apply trial-ready skills for the best possible outcome for our clients whether that is through a an informal decision or a favorable final verdict. Our team of lawyers advises franchised motor vehicles as well as truck dealers on issues that concern factory-dealer relationships and represents them at New Motor Vehicle Board protests regarding dealership terminations and audits of incentive and warranty programs and relocations.