Oakland Car Accident Lawyer
Motor vehicle accidents routinely occur when a driver fails to pay proper attention or violates traffic regulations. If a negligent driver caused you to sustain injuries in a motor vehicle crash, you may be able to seek compensation by consulting with our Oakland car accident lawyers.
Drivers can be liable for speeding, operating their motor vehicle recklessly, or driving while impaired. Our personal injury attorneys can investigate the circumstances that led to your accident and determine whether you have a viable claim for damages.
Negligence in Car Wrecks
Negligence consists of any action or inaction that exhibits a careless or reckless disregard for the safety of others. All motorists owe a duty of care to drive in a reasonably safe manner in order to protect others on the road. When an individual violates this duty, they may be found negligent.
When someone commits a traffic violation, the court can consider this to weigh in favor of finding that he/she breached his/her duty of care. If breach is established, this can result in finding the person to be at fault. For example, if a motorist was speeding or ran a red light at the time of a crash, they may be liable for any damages resulting from the accident. Our car wreck attorneys in Oakland can help gather evidence to prove negligence on behalf of drivers and other parties.
Aside from committing violations, drivers can be negligent in other ways. Some common causes of car accidents based on driver negligence may include:
- Distracted driving
- Cellphone usage
- Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Inexperienced motorists
- Driving too fast for weather or traffic conditions
Comparative Fault
Some motor vehicle collisions may involve situations in which the claimant is partially at fault. However, state law still allows these individuals to seek damages for their injuries from other negligent parties. In these situations, the court may reduce a claimant’s total amount of damages by his/her percentage of fault. For example, if a claimant is 40 percent at fault for the accident, they may be able to recover a maximum of 60 percent of his/her total amount of damages.
Injuries and Recoverable Damages
Injuries and Recoverable DamagesIndividuals often suffer severe injuries in car wrecks. Both drivers and passengers can sustain serious and permanently debilitating injuries, including spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and head trauma. The extent of damages available in motor vehicle accident cases depends on various factors, including the severity and permanency of the injuries.
Potential damages may include compensation for medical, surgical, and rehabilitation expenses, as well as loss of income when the resulting injuries prohibit the injured party from returning to work. Property damage to vehicles, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma may be other damages that a claimant may be able to seek. Our Oakland lawyers may be able to assess a claimant’s car accident case and determine the damages to which the claimant may be entitled.
Consult Our Oakland Car Accident Attorneys
Meeting with our Oakland car accident lawyers soon after your crash occurs is often crucial. In addition to helping you pursue the compensation you may need, our attorneys can become your legal advocate and by helping to guide you through this daunting process. To learn how a legal representative at Mary Alexander & Associates can help you, call today.
