Santa Ana Car Accidents

After a serious car accident, you may get a call from an insurance adjustor. It is common for insurers to try to make contact with an accident victim to obtain an admission of fault or to offer a low-ball settlement. It is important not to speak with an insurance adjustor or another representative of an at-fault driver before consulting your own attorney. Unlike an attorney whom you retain, an at-fault driver's insurer and attorney owe you no duties of loyalty or care. At Sharifi Firm, our Santa Ana car accident attorneys understand the challenges faced by victims, including the uncertainty over whether they will be able to pay their medical costs and the anxiety over taking time off from work when faced with medical bills. We know that the impact of serious injuries may affect every aspect of an accident victim's life, and we work hard to pursue all of the economic and noneconomic damages that may be available.

In most cases, you will need to establish another driver's negligence to recover damages after a car accident. This means that you will need to establish that the at-fault driver owed you a duty of reasonable care, breached this duty, and thereby caused your injuries.

However, California also follows the doctrine of comparative negligence. A defendant who raises this argument is entitled to have the jury evaluate the facts and the law and assign a percentage of responsibility to each party. The plaintiff's damages will be reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if the plaintiff was speeding, but the defendant blew through a red light, T-boning the plaintiff, the jury might assign some responsibility to each of them.

Car accident cases involving multiple at-fault parties may be complicated. It may be necessary to retain an accident reconstruction expert to determine each party’s degree of fault and provide testimony on the subject. In California, defendants may be held jointly and severally liable for economic damages, such as medical costs, lost income, services, and vocational rehabilitation. A defendant who is only 10% responsible for the accident may be held 100% responsible for the plaintiff’s economic losses.

However, each defendant is only severally liable for noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, and disfigurement. In other words, if only a defendant who is 10% responsible is insured, while the other defendants are uninsured, a plaintiff may only be able to recover 10% of their noneconomic damages. It is important to consult a knowledgeable car accident attorney who can craft a strategy designed to maximize the potential damages.

Santa Ana is the second-most populated city in Orange County. The city is home to many recreational parks and is close to Disneyland. At Sharifi Firm, APC, our experienced Santa Ana car accident lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation for injuries suffered in a crash. Our firm has experience negotiating with insurers and can take your case to trial if necessary. Contact us online or call (866) 422-7222 for a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision lawyer.