Ventura County Car Accident Attorney

Vehicle accidents often result in severe injuries and substantial property damage for residents and visitors to Ventura County. Unfortunately, victims in these cases often struggle to recover the compensation they are entitled to.

The Ventura County car accident attorney at The Law Office of J. Jeffrey Herman knows that car accidents happen with great frequency around the county and poor judgment or driver error are often the reasons why. Our goal is to help recover the compensation that you are entitled to after a crash occurs. We have the resources necessary to fully investigate these incidents, determine liability, and handle all negotiations with insurance carriers on your behalf.

How Often do Car Accidents Occur in Ventura County?

When we look at data available from the California Office of Traffic Safety, we can see that there were more than 268,000 total vehicle crash injuries reported across the state during the latest year of information that we have. Additionally, 3,606 individuals lost their lives as a result of traffic collisions during that same reporting year.

The reality is that Ventura County is a crowded place. Traffic here can become burdensome, and drivers regularly operate carelessly. Being adjacent to Los Angeles County, the roadways throughout Ventura County are often crowded with negligent drivers.

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death for people of all ages. California has by far more licensed drivers than any other state. About 9 people die every day in fatal crashes on California roads. About 40% of the crashes involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Over 70% occur in urban areas. Simi Valley is 9th in the nation for most car crashes with over 40% more accident-prone drivers than the national average.

5 Common Causes of Car Accidents

Most car crashes are the result of a choice made by the driver that does not prioritize safe driving.  Although there can be many factors that contribute to accidents, these are 5 of the most common reasons that accidents occur.

  1. Distracted driving – Distracted driving is operating a vehicle anytime your focus is not on driving. Distractions such as eating, adjusting controls, talking with passengers, and looking at your phone are just some of the ways your attention strays from the road. The use of a hand-held device while driving is illegal in California.
  2. Speed – Speed not only increases the likelihood of an accident it also tends to increase the severity. More speed equals less reaction time and greater opportunity for mistakes. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding is involved in about one-third of all vehicle-related fatalities.
  3. Alcohol impairment  Every 52 minutes someone in the US dies in a car accident involving alcohol.
  4. Failure to obey traffic laws – Traffic laws help drivers communicate and know what to expect from one another. Besides ignoring the speed limit, failing to stop, yield the right-of-way, use turn signals, or other illegal traffic short-cuts all contribute to accidents.
  5. Drowsy driving – About half of US adult drivers admit to getting behind the wheel while feeling drowsy. A drowsy driver is less attentive and has a slower reaction time. Drowsy drivers are 3 times more likely to get into car accidents.

Injuries that Can Result from Car Accidents

When you are involved in a car accident force is applied against your body which can cause both external and internal injuries. It is important to pay attention to anything that feels different after the accident even if there is no blood and report your symptoms to a medical professional. Injuries may not be fully apparent right away.

  • Whiplash – soft tissue injury in the neck caused when you are thrust forward on impact and then slammed back against the seat
  • Back Injuries – spinal fractures, herniated discs, and spinal cord injuries
  • Brain injuries – a ‘concussion’ is a common brain injury that can occur during a car accident though more serious brain injuries can develop
  • Broken bones – broken bones can occur from the force of impact, being crushed, or as a result of getting ejected from a vehicle
  • Internal injuries – internal bleeding and damage or rupture of organs may not be immediately realized and can be very serious

How to Recover for Injuries from a Car Accident in California?

If you have been injured in a car accident in California – as long as you weren’t 100% at fault – you may be able to recover money from the party or parties responsible for the crash. Even if you have some fault for the accident, you can still recover the percentage of your damages that were caused by someone else.

There may be various types of compensation available to car accident injury and property damage victims in Ventura County. This can include a range of economic and non-economic damages.

  • Economic damages: This refers to the types of compensation that are relatively calculable in the aftermath of a vehicle accident in Ventura County, including the following:
    • Coverage of all medical bills associated with the accident
    • Lost wages if a victim cannot work while they recover
    • General household out-of-pocket expenses
    • Property damage expenses
    • Rental vehicle costs
  • Non-economic damages: This refers to the types of compensation that are more immeasurable after a vehicle accident occurs. There are no direct bills or receipts that can be added up to properly calculate these losses, but car accident victims should certainly be able to recover payment for their:
    • Pain and suffering damages
    • Emotional distress damages
    • Loss of quality of life damages
    • Loss of consortium for a spouse

After a car accident, you will be contacted not only by your own insurance company but the companies of others involved in the accident. It can quickly become overwhelming to try and deal with your injuries while insurance companies pressure you to settle your claim.

Time Limit for Filing Ventura County Car Accident Claims

It is crucial to understand that individuals have a limited amount of time to file claims in these cases. First, all vehicle accidents need to be reported to insurance carriers relatively soon after the collision occurs. All insurance carriers have fairly strict reporting deadlines for these cases, often within a day or two after the crash occurs. Failing to file a claim with the insurance carrier promptly could result in the claim being delayed or denied altogether.

Additionally, the California personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date an injury occurs. If a Ventura County crash victim fails to file a lawsuit within this two-year time frame, they will not be able to recover any compensation for their losses.

Call a Ventura County Car Accident Lawyer Today

At The Law Office of J. Jeffrey Herman, our Ventura County car accident lawyer can step in and get everyone to back off so you can catch your breath and focus on your recovery. We will investigate, document, and prove your claim so that you are compensated fully for all of your damages. To put over 30 years of integrity and personal injury experience to work for you click here for a free consultation or call our office at 805-983-2344.

The Law Offices of J. Jeffrey Herman has a focus on personal injury cases in other parts of California.

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