Located in Los Angeles County, Torrance is a busy city. If you were hurt in a car accident here, you need to be proactive with your claim. For the uninitiated, California has a fault-based system for such situations. If the other driver rammed into your vehicle or was driving under the influence, you may have a case of negligence against them. Filing injury claims can be overwhelming, and you need concrete evidence to hold negligent parties accountable for their action. Here are some quick details that may help with your case.
California’s two-year deadline
When it comes to car accidents or injury lawsuits in California, the statute of limitations sets a deadline of two years. If you wish to sue the at-fault driver in court, you must do so within that time. Please note that these time limits are only for civil lawsuits. You will usually need to try to recover money through the other party’s insurer, and that could take considerable time.
Insurance companies don’t care
The claims adjuster may sound like someone you know, but the sweet talk is only for their benefit. You need to be cautious as to how you negotiate the settlement. The first step is to evaluate your damages, and if the other driver is underinsured, you may need to take the legal route. Nevertheless, don’t let the adjuster fool you into accepting their offer unless your lawyer says otherwise.
Circumstances may vary
If you are partly accountable for the accident, the settlement would be noticeably lower. California follows the “pure” comparative fault norm, which allows you to file a lawsuit regardless of your share of fault (unless you are entirely liable for the accident). However, the amount awarded to you will be adjusted according to the percentage of blame. These calculations are often hard to understand, which is precisely why you need an attorney.
A good lawyer is your best bet
Injury lawyers work on car accident claims in Torrance without a retainer fee. The lawyer takes the risk of fighting for the client without an upfront price, and in exchange, they get a part of the final settlement. Even if you don’t have the money to afford an attorney, you should still consider the idea of the contingency arrangement. Without a legal team, you are up against the insurance company and the other party, which could be an uphill battle.
Let your lawyer determine the best way to pursue your claim.
USA Today 