Chula Vista Car Accident Attorney

Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve in San Diego County

After a car accident in Chula Vista, making phone calls and gathering information is probably the last thing you want to do. You are frazzled. You might be in a little bit of shock. Your adrenaline is pumping. However, it is very important to try to get the basic information you need to help your car accident claim down the line.

An experienced car accident lawyer can support you receive all of the evidence that you will need to prove liability in car accident claims. At The Sexton Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers believe that innocent victims should not have financial debt related to car accident injuries. That’s why our dedicated car accident attorney in Chula Vista works tirelessly to prove all the damages you have suffered, and requests total compensation in your car accident claim.

It’s important to get a car accident attorney in Chula Vista on your side before you talk to an insurance company. Call us at (619) 202-8976 to schedule your free consultation.

Liability Laws After a Car Accident in California

After a car accident occurs, California adheres to an “at-fault” rule to determine who is liable. Liability is important in all personal injury claims as it determines who is legally responsible for paying out any damages. In car accident claims, damages are usually paid out by the negligent party’s insurance. An at-fault system is directly opposite a no-fault liability system which some states follow.

In an at-fault system the injured party files a car accident claim against the negligent party who is then held liable, in a no-fault system both the injured and negligent party files a claim and is compensated with their own insurance coverage regardless of who is at fault. This insurance coverage is called personal injury protection (PIP) and is typically mandatory in no-fault states. Generally, at-fault states allow more opportunities for injury victims to both file a car accident claim and pursue a wider array of damages for their injuries.

While this law is straightforward in situations where only one driver is responsible for causing a car accident, many auto accidents in Chula Vista, are caused by more than one driver in one way or another. For example, the less negligent party may have been driving a little bit above the speed limit or they may have failed to put on a turn signal.

In these car accident cases, an injured driver can still recover compensation through California’s “pure comparative negligence” law. This law says that an injured party can still file a personal injury claim against the negligent party however, whatever percentage of responsibility they are determined to be responsible for will be deducted from the overall compensation awarded to them. For example, if you are found to be 10% at fault for the car accident, the total compensation awarded to you will also be reduced by 10%.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Chula Vista

At The Sexton Law Firm, our car accident attorneys guide people who have been hurt on Southern California freeways and roads through the steps to take after an auto accident. Here are some things our accident lawyers recommend you do as soon as possible after a car accident.

1. Call 911 and Notify the Dispatcher That There is a Personal Injury.

Seek medical attention, either through the emergency room or through your local doctor. This is very important because the diagnosis of severe personal injuries can be delayed if initially you do not have any symptoms. Then, it can present later. If the injuries are not life-threatening, you need a report taken and a record of what happened. Protect yourself and insist a police officer makes a report. Then, order the police report and verify that it is correct. This police report will be vital to your Chula Vista car accident attorneys in handling your auto accident claim.

2. Make Sure You Are Not in Any Further Danger at the Car Accident Scene.

You want to try to move your vehicle, if it is safe to do so, out of traffic. Do not stand in the roadway in California. You want to stand on the embankment or as close to the center divider or the shoulder as you can, so you are not hit by any other vehicles or put yourself in harm’s way.

3. Get the Names, Addresses, and Phone Numbers of All the Witnesses.

Do this as soon as possible and keep them in a safe place. Follow up on your witnesses, store their information, and keep it current.

4. Take Photographs of Vehicles and Car Accident Injuries.

Take photographs at the scene of the car accident. If you wait a day later or more, the debris will be cleaned up, skid marks will fade, and the vehicles will no longer be in the same resting position. The person who caused the car accident may have their vehicle fixed the very next day. You may need these photos to prove how the auto accident happened, or to prove how severe the car accident was.

Take pictures that actually show the damage. If you have any bleeding, bruising, or injuries that are visible, take pictures of those injuries as well. Injuries can be fixed and resolved, and if you do not take a picture, the insurance company will not believe you. This will allow your car accident lawyers in Chula Vista, California, to have indisputable photographic evidence of the car accident.

Contact The Sexton Law Firm as Soon as Possible for a Free Consultation!

Don't suffer because of someone else's negligence! Recovering proper compensation is often the first major step in getting your life back to normal. Our Chula Vista car accident attorneys understand this which is why they always fight for the maximum amount of compensation available. After a personal injury, turn to a legal team you can trust. The Sexton Law Firm offers free initial consultations so you have nothing to lose by contacting our law firm today.

It’s important to get a car accident attorney in Chula Vista on your side before you talk to an insurance company. Call us at (619) 202-8976 to schedule your free consultation.