If you suffered injuries in a car accident in Bakersfield, you might be entitled to compensation from the negligent or careless driver. The Bakersfield personal injury attorneys of OnderLaw could represent you in your case and help hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions.

Car crashes can cause massive destruction, severe injuries, and fatalities. Many injuries require emergency medical care and ongoing treatment to heal. Some result in permanent disability. You could end up with out-of-pocket expenses and face crushing debt if you can’t afford your medical treatment, prescription drugs, and other costs. The negligent driver or another party should be the one to pay for your losses if they caused the accident.

The Bakersfield car accident attorneys of OnderLaw know the uphill battle you face and want to help. Handling a case like this can be overwhelming, stressful, and confusing. There are strict deadlines, state laws, and legal procedures you must follow that you might not know about or understand. We can relieve your burden and complete every step of the process on your behalf so you can focus on getting your life back on track. You will not be alone during this devastating time in your life.

For a free consultation to learn more about the services we offer or discuss your legal options, call OnderLaw today.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer? Why Choose OnderLaw?

One of the biggest mistakes you could make after an accident is to pursue a claim or lawsuit without hiring a lawyer to help. Car accidents can cause debilitating injuries, economic burdens, and psychological trauma. Additionally, you might not be able to work or perform the routine tasks you could before sustaining an injury.

With everything you’re already dealing with, you shouldn’t also face the responsibility of seeking compensation from the negligent driver. It’s a time-consuming and tedious process. You have to figure out if the other driver has car insurance, determine the available coverage, file a claim, obtain evidence, and negotiate a settlement. If you encounter obstacles along the way, you might not know how to overcome them.

At OnderLaw, our Bakersfield car accident attorneys understand just how overwhelming this can be. Instead of carrying all that weight on your shoulders, you should relieve your burden by allowing us to handle your case. Your only job should be to focus on healing your injuries. We have the resources to track down witnesses, request copies of your medical records, and gather all the evidence we need to show who was at fault for the crash.

Types of Car Accidents

Car accidents fall under various categories. The most common types of car accidents include:

  • Wrong-way crashes
  • T-bone accidents
  • Hit and run accidents
  • Head-on collisions
  • Single-vehicle accidents
  • Rollover accidents
  • Rear-end collisions
  • Multi-vehicle crashes

At OnderLaw, our Bakersfield car accident attorneys have worked on cases like these and many others. We can use our knowledge and experience to prove who’s to blame for your injuries and hold them liable for their wrongdoing. You deserve justice for the pain and trauma you endured.

Causes of Car Accidents

A range of scenarios can result in a car crash. Whenever you get in your vehicle, you could encounter poor road conditions, reckless drivers, adverse weather, and other dangerous situations. Even if you take certain precautions, there’s no way to predict what another driver will do or prevent being involved in every kind of accident.

The most common causes of car accidents are:

  • Failure to yield the right of way
  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving
  • Defective vehicle or parts
  • Reckless driving
  • Failure to check blind spots
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Tailgating
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Poor road conditions
  • Driver fatigue

This list doesn’t include all of the possible reasons for a car crash. If your accident resulted from another factor that arose due to someone else’s actions, OnderLaw could review the facts and determine whether you have a case.

Common Injuries Suffered in Car Accidents

You can sustain an injury in a car crash regardless of the severity of the accident. Even minor collisions can lead to scrapes and bruises or whiplash. Severe accidents can result in debilitating physical harm and even mental implications that last a lifetime.

The most common injuries associated with car accidents include:

  • Burns
  • Whiplash
  • Concussion or traumatic brain injury
  • Psychological damage
  • Chronic pain
  • Internal bleeding
  • Broken bones
  • Disability
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Pulled or sprained muscle
  • Torn ligaments and tendons
  • Disfigurement or permanent scarring
  • Nerve damage

Many of these injuries require emergency room visits, hospital admissions, surgery, and prolonged treatment with various doctors. Unfortunately, most people can’t afford unplanned medical bills, especially accident victims whose injuries are so debilitating that they can’t return to work and earn an income. If you’re faced with financial hardships, you worry about how you’re going to afford all of these costs. Even worse, you wonder if you’ll ever be able to recover and resume your normal life.

At OnderLaw, our Bakersfield car accident attorneys know what’s at stake. We will find a strategy that could meet your needs and reach the positive results you want. You will have a dedicated legal team in your corner from start to finish of the process.

Who Is Responsible?

Determining who is at fault for an accident can be challenging. There are various factors at play, and if multiple people were involved in the crash, there needs to be a thorough investigation. Sometimes, it isn’t only one person’s actions that contributed to the accident. There are situations where two different drivers are to blame. Even the victim could play a role in the collision but still be entitled to compensation from the more at-fault party. It depends on the circumstances.

Examples of individuals and entities that could be responsible for a car crash are:

  • Another driver – Often, the other driver is the one to blame and the person you could seek compensation from if you choose to pursue a case. There would need to be evidence of their negligence, such as speeding, texting at the wheel, or disobeying traffic signs, for your claim to be successful.
  • Manufacturer – The manufacturer of a vehicle or car part could be at fault if some type of malfunction led to the crash, such as faulty brakes or steering.
  • Governmental agency – Various municipalities are responsible for maintaining roadways. If one fails to repair a dangerous pothole or replace a missing traffic sign, they could be liable for an accident.
  • Construction company – Construction workers must follow specific standards when performing work on the road. If they don’t place warning cones or if they leave debris lying around, serious injuries could occur during a collision.

OnderLaw can review all the evidence and determine who should be held liable for your injuries and losses. We could file an insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf and seek the compensation you’re owed. Our goal is for you to walk away from this traumatic ordeal with the money you need to cover your expenses, so you’re not left with bills to pay yourself for an accident that wasn’t your fault.

Compensation for a Car Accident Claim

California follows a traditional fault system when it comes to car accidents. That means the at-fault driver becomes financially responsible for the injured party’s losses. Instead of the compensation coming out of the driver’s pocket, it could come from their car insurance company.

Every motorist in the state must buy and maintain liability coverage with minimum limits of $15,000 for bodily injury and $5,000 for property damage. When you file a claim, you could pursue compensation to cover various losses, such as:

  • Property damage
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Physical impairment or disfigurement
  • Emotional distress

Under some circumstances, it might be necessary to file a lawsuit. You must file by the deadline set out in California’s two-year statute of limitations if you want to hold the at-fault party accountable for the crash. You could seek compensation for the losses you suffered and possibly pursue exemplary damages. Instead of compensating you for your losses, an award of exemplary damages punishes the defendant for their wrongdoing. You must show the jury that they acted with malice, oppression, or fraud if you want to recover this financial award.

California and Bakersfield Accident Statistics

In 2019, there were 3,316 fatal car accidents in California and 3,606 deaths. Of those fatalities, 33% were the occupants of passenger cars, and 19% were SUV and pickup truck occupants.

The same year in Bakersfield, there were 37 fatal traffic-related crashes, resulting in 39 deaths.

Contact Us

The Bakersfield car accident attorneys of OnderLaw have been fighting for accident victims since 2002. You should not be the one to suffer the consequences of someone else’s poor decisions. If another driver was entirely at fault for the crash, they should be liable for your total losses.

OnderLaw never wants to add to the economic burden our clients face while seeking compensation after an accident. You might already struggle with medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other expenses. We take cases on contingency, so you’re not responsible for upfront fees or costs. You won’t be expected to pay for our services unless we recover compensation for you from the negligent party.

If you suffered injuries in a car accident, call us right now. One of our Bakersfield car accident attorneys can discuss your case during a free consultation and provide the guidance you need to seek the justice you deserve.