Attorneys at Sette Law are immersed in the complexities and nuances of Sacramento car accidents. Our lawyers know that people outside the legal profession are unaware of many details regarding accident law until they, or someone they love, experiences an accident and a resulting personal injury. Our attorneys say that having basic information about car accident law is useful for any driver in Sacramento.

Accident injury lawyers report that a 2012 CHP report documented 2,995 deaths in car accidents in California and 226,544 persons injured. Sacramento accident attorneys also point out that people involved in accidents not only suffer physical injuries but also can endure significant economic harm. And, personal injury lawyers say innocent victims as well as the driver who bears responsibility can face costly or painful repercussions as the result of a Sacramento accident.

Personal injury attorneys can help accident victims receive fair compensation for a variety of losses such as damage to vehicles, costs of medical treatment, legal representation and loss of income. Sacramento car accident lawyers also represent family members whose loved one has died in a car accident. In such wrongful death cases, lawyers can seek compensation for emotional damage, loss of support, love, companionship and financial support. In Sacramento wrongful death actions, attorneys will have to prove the defendant was negligent and that this negligence caused the accident. Injury lawyers know that the concept of Negligence is not always easy to establish.

This is also true in personal injury actions. Attorneys seek to show that a driver accused of causing the accident didn’t show “reasonable care” and that behavior led to the Sacramento car accident. Lawyers know that the concept of “reasonable care” is vague and often debated. The plaintiff’s injury attorney often faces strong argument from the defendant’s accident lawyer. If the debate ends in stalemate, the matter could end up in a jury trial.  

And, that’s not the only challenge faced by the plaintiff in a Sacramento personal injury lawsuit. Attorneys also must show that injuries suffered were directly caused by the car accident. Lawyers for the defendant might argue that an injury was pre-existing, or that it only happened because the plaintiff didn’t seek immediate medical care after the Sacramento accident. Attorneys for the defense pull out all stops to show that injuries were unrelated to the car accident.

Personal injury attorneys who succeed in proving the direct relationship between the accident and injury and prevail in court, can collect damages from the defendant’s insurance carrier. Our Sacramento Personal injury lawyers know that California law requires that drivers have at least minimum liability insurance covering themselves and drivers of their vehicles. Our Sacramento car accident lawyers say this is a $15,000 injury/death policy and $5000 for property damage resulting from a car accident. Attorneys point out that this minimum coverage applies to both California and out-of-state drivers. Interestingly, personal injury lawyers add that the insurance requirement applies to drivers with invalid driver licenses and people with no license at all! Drivers who cannot provide proof of insurance will have their licenses suspended for 12 months if they are involved in a Sacramento car accident.

Attorneys say that insurance companies also have legal responsibilities to drivers they insure. Sacramento personal injury lawyers are aware of these legal requirements, but most consumers do not know that their insurance companies have specific obligations that protect consumers. Sorting through the details of insurance law requires experienced personal injury attorneys who help car accident victims whose insurance carriers may not be fulfilling their legal obligations.