Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers

Most Common Types of Car Vehicle Accidents

Not all car accidents are the same. The kind of car accident that occured will also determine the type of damage and injuries an accident victim may sustain.

The following are some of the most common types of vehicular accidents:

• Rear-end collisions – According to the Insurance Information Institute (iii), nearly 2,500 fatal accidents were caused by rear-end accidents. This type of collision occurs when the front bumper of one car collides with the rear of another.
• T-bone collisions – This type of collision occurs when a speeding car collides with the side of another vehicle. Depending on which side the impact occurs, the driver or the passenger is most susceptible to severe injuries.
• Sideswipes – A sideswipe accident occurs when two cars traveling in parallel to one another collide with each other from the side. This commonly occurs when a vehicle tries to overtake another vehicle but fails to correctly do so.
• Chain reaction accidents – These types of car accidents happen when vehicles are either traveling too closely to one another, or when road conditions are poor. A single-vehicle collision can cause other vehicles to be involved in the accident.
• Head-on collisions – A head-on collision is the result of two cars traveling in the opposite direction. This type of accident can result in catastrophic injuries for both parties involved.
• Rollover accidents – These accidents happen when one or more vehicles in an accident end up on their side or upside down. They can be categorized as tripped rollovers and untripped rollovers. Tripped rollovers occur when a car hits something that causes it to flip over. Untripped rollovers are less common and usually happen when a car goes off-road at high speeds and flips over.

Common Reasons for Auto Accidents

Car accidents can be caused by numerous things, such as driver error or negligence. Being aware of the reasons car accidents occur can help prevent them in the future.

Speeding

Driving too fast gives drivers very little time to react to dangerous situations. Speeding is one of the top causes of car accidents. In fact, speeding was responsible for 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2020, totaling over 10,000 auto accidents.

Distracted Driving

Drivers who are distracted by activities like texting, eating, or talking on the phone are more likely to cause car accidents. Even if we think we’re good at multitasking, it’s not worth the risk to do any of these things while behind the wheel.

Bad Weather

Weather is a significant contributor to accidents on the road. The weather may affect traction and reduce visibility, causing drivers to lose control of their visibility.

Drunk Driving

Around 32 people died each day from drunk driving accidents in 2020. Drunk drivers may develop an impaired vision and slow reflexes, making it more difficult for them to avoid crashing into another vehicle.

Fatigue

A car accident is more likely to happen if the driver is tired. It may be difficult for the driver to see potential hazards on the road in these conditions.

Poor Road Conditions

Another common cause of road accidents is improperly maintained roads. This can include problems like potholes, uneven surfaces, sinkholes, and cracks in the road.

Running a Red Light or Stop Sign

Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign can lead to car accidents that cause serious bodily injury or death. Drivers must be cautious and obey traffic signals to avoid these types of accidents.

Manufacturing Defects

If a car’s brakes or steering fail and cause an accident, the car’s manufacturer may be the party responsible. If you were injured in an accident caused by a defective car part, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the car manufacturer.

What Kind of Compensation Can You Recover in your Auto Accident Claim?

When calculating the value of a car accident claim, many different factors must be considered, as each car accident is unique. This makes it difficult to determine how much the claim for damages is actually worth.

The damages that may be awarded to you fall under the categories of economic damages and non-economic damages. As the injured party, you may be eligible for the following financial damages:

• Medical bills
• Future medical care
• Property damage
• Financial losses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Other financial costs
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of companionship
• Emotional distress

Sometimes, injury victims choose to handle their insurance claims on their own. Although this is a fair option, it is advised to have a knowledgeable Sacramento car accident lawyer by your side for the claims process.

Insurance companies are not on your side. Insurance adjusters will try every trick in the book to lower the value of your claim in order to avoid offering you a fair settlement amount.

Contact our experienced car accident lawyers immediately to ensure that you recover the maximum compensation possible for your claim.

How to Reduce The Risk of a Car Accident

Prevention is the best way to avoid the chances of getting into a motor vehicle collision. Following traffic safety recommendations and being aware of your surroundings will help reduce car accidents on busy city streets.

Some key driving practices that can help prevent car accidents are:

• Keeping your distance: Make sure to leave enough space between yourself and the cars in front or behind you. This is to avoid the possibility of an auto collision.
• Pulling into traffic slowly: Pay attention to other drivers on the road, especially when changing lanes or merging. Be aware of blind spots and obey all traffic signs and signals.
• Conduct regular maintenance checks on your car: Maintaining your vehicle regularly, can help prevent car accidents. Some of the most important maintenance procedures are oil changes, checkups and ensuring your tires are properly inflated.
• Keeping your hands on the steering wheel: About 3,000 American lives were lost in fatal road accidents due to distracted drivers. Activities such as changing radio stations, eating, or taking your hands off the wheel to do something else may cause a major car accident and result in severe physical injuries.
• Being alert for children: Children often dart out into the street from between parked cars. If you’re driving through a neighborhood, be on the lookout for kids playing on the road and drive slowly.

Negligence Laws in California

All drivers have the responsibility or the “duty of care” to ensure the safety of all motorists. In the United States, car accident cases are usually handled based on state laws. This means that each state has its own way of dealing with negligence.

The main negligence law categories are:

• Contributory negligence: In states with contributory negligence laws, if one of the parties involved was also partially at fault, they will not be able to seek a settlement for the damages incurred. Only five states in the country still have contributory negligence laws, these states being Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
• Comparative negligence: This doctrine states that the responsible parties share a percentage of the blame for the accident. In the event that another driver caused the accident, but you were found to be somewhat responsible for the accident as well, you may still be able to file a claim for compensation, but only a certain percentage of this may be awarded to you. California is a comparative negligence state.

Injured in a Car Accident? Our Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers are Here For You

The emotional trauma auto accident victims experience after an accident can be long-lasting. Accident injuries can greatly affect a victim’s enjoyment of life. As the injured party, you have the right to seek compensation for injuries you sustained due to the accident.

It is in your best interest to hire an experienced Sacramento car accident lawyer to help guide you through the legal process of your compensation claim. You must hold the at-fault party liable for your injuries and damages.

If you or a loved one have sustained injuries in a car accident due to the reckless actions of a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Do not hesitate to contact our knowledgeable car accident attorneys. Our auto accident lawyers will fight tooth and nail to ensure you receive the fair compensation you deserve.

At Farahi Law Firm, we are dedicated to winning. This is why we offer our clients a No Fee Guarantee. Our excellent staff of personal injury lawyers, doctors, and case managers are here for you 24/7.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t have to pay us a single cent unless we win your case. Contact our Sacramento car accident lawyers at (916) 471-4797 for a free case consultation.