Many people suffer severe injuries in car accidents, requiring emergency services and extensive treatment to heal. Even those with minimal physical harm need some medical attention to patch up wounds and prevent scarring. The Fremont personal injury lawyers of OnderLaw understand how traumatic a car crash can be, especially when it’s something the other driver should have been able to prevent.

Most car accidents happen when a driver or another negligent party makes an error that places others in danger. As long as everyone takes the necessary safety precautions and obeys traffic laws, collisions shouldn’t occur. Operating a motor vehicle requires attention and focus. Unfortunately, some motorists behave recklessly, blowing through stop signs, speeding, and quickly changing lanes without checking their blind spots.

The Fremont car accident attorneys of OnderLaw know the challenges of filing an insurance claim and pursuing an adequate settlement. Unrepresented claimants often get taken advantage of and end up with much less compensation than they deserve. You can depend on us to aggressively seek the money you’re owed and hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions.

Call OnderLaw for your free consultation today and learn more about how we can help you after a car accident causes your injuries.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer? Why Choose OnderLaw?

At OnderLaw, we have years of experience handling car accident cases for our clients. When you hire us, you will have a legal team by your side to guide you through the complicated procedure. Trying to take on an insurance claim alone can be disastrous. You probably don’t know what you’re doing and could make a mistake that results in a denied claim. You can depend on us to complete every step on your behalf and resolve any problems we encounter.

OnderLaw holds an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating a law firm can receive. We have also received awards and recognition from multiple legal organizations, including Super Lawyers, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. We take pride in our reputation and the quality representation we provide to accident victims throughout Fremont.

Types of Car Accidents

Accidents are sudden and unexpected. You’re driving along minding your own business when someone swerves into your lane or crashes into the back of your vehicle. Unfortunately, it’s a common scenario many people find themselves in. It’s nearly impossible to avoid an accident when you’re sharing the road with inattentive, careless, or intoxicated drivers.

The most common types of car accidents that happen are:

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

 

OnderLaw can investigate any of these kinds of accidents to determine who should be held liable for your injuries. You should not be financially responsible for your medical expenses, prescription medication, and other costs if the negligent driver were entirely at fault. They should be forced to provide the compensation you need to recover.

Causes of Car Accidents

A range of factors can contribute to a motor vehicle crash. You’re not only trying to avoid reckless drivers, but you’re also dealing with environmental factors as well. Focusing on what’s happening around you is necessary to slow or stop for traffic, miss a pothole, or yield to others at an intersection. Even if you take the appropriate precautions, you can’t prevent someone else from putting you in harm’s way.

Common causes of car accidents include:

  • Failure to yield – Every driver must yield the right of way when necessary. For example, people should allow other drivers approaching an intersection first to proceed before them. You could end up on a collision course with another vehicle if someone runs a red light or stop sign.
  • Driving under the influence – Around 28 people die in drunk driving accidents every day. In 2019, a total of 10,142 were killed in accidents involving drunk driving. The use of alcohol and drugs can interfere with a person’s faculties, preventing them from driving safely.
  • Speeding – Speeding doesn’t only refer to exceeding the speed limit. It can also include someone driving too fast in adverse weather or on dangerous roads. Motorists typically don’t have enough time to come to a complete stop and avoid a crash if they travel at high speeds.
  • Part defects – Motor vehicles need functioning parts and systems to operate as intended. Manufacturers are responsible for providing these parts to consumers. However, errors during the design, manufacturing, or marketing stages could place a dangerous product on the market, causing drivers to lose control of their cars.
  • Fatigued driving – Many people don’t understand the risk of operating a motor vehicle despite feeling tired. It’s just as dangerous as drunk driving and causes similar physical and mental impairments.
  • Tailgating – All moving vehicles require some distance to stop. A driver’s reaction time and the speed they’re traveling are factors in how long it takes to bring their car to a complete stop. Following someone else too closely doesn’t leave enough space and prevents the driver from being able to swerve or stop to avoid a crash.
  • Unsafe lane changes – A driver should always check their blind spots before merging into another lane. Suddenly entering the lane without warning could result in sideswiping a car.
  • Distracted driving – Some form of distraction contributed to 36,096 traffic-related fatalities in 2019. When someone focuses on a task other than driving, they cannot recognize potential hazards or respond promptly in an emergency.
  • Disobeying signs and signals – Some signs indicate a sharp turn, merging lane, or construction zone. Traffic signals direct people through intersections, roundabouts, and other places, so drivers may maneuver safely around others. Ignoring these or choosing not to follow them increases the risk of an accident.

 

If you sustained injuries in a car crash due to any of these causes or something else, do not hesitate to contact OnderLaw. We could help you seek compensation for the harm caused by another person.

Common Injuries Suffered in Car Accidents

Injuries are likely in car accidents, even fender benders. The body can’t withstand the sudden stopping forces and can be jolted backward and forward. Even if you only suffer some cuts from broken glass, you might need stitches to heal. Any treatment you receive costs money. If you can’t afford these bills, you could end up in significant debt.

A range of injuries can result from a car crash, from minor to life-threatening. The most common include:

  • Whiplash
  • Concussion or traumatic brain injury
  • Psychological damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Broken bones
  • Permanent scars
  • Spinal cord and back injuries
  • Pulled or strained muscle
  • Torn tissue, ligaments, or tendons

 

Catastrophic accidents can cause loss of limb, paralysis, and death. Disabilities often arise from permanent physical harm. Many victims end up paying for a wheelchair or renovations to make their homes more accessible. Others need to rely on friends, family, or a home health nurse to assist them with daily tasks. It can be a lifelong burden for these accident victims to endure.

Who Is Responsible?

Since multiple people could be at fault for a car crash, it’s challenging to investigate and determine who to hold liable for incurred costs. California is a fault car accident state, meaning the negligent driver becomes financially responsible for the injured person’s losses. If another motorist caused your injuries, you could pursue compensation from them.

However, other individuals and entities could be liable, depending on the circumstances of the crash. They include:

  • Manufacturer or distributor of a defective vehicle or its parts
  • Construction company or worker
  • Government agency or employee
  • Pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist

 

Sometimes, it isn’t just one party that causes an accident. The actions of multiple people could contribute. For example, the government could be to blame for failing to fix a pothole, but another driver could also be at fault for speeding over it and losing control of their car.

Compensation for a Car Accident Claim

Car insurance must cover every vehicle parked or operated on roadways in California. Drivers are supposed to buy and maintain liability insurance with minimum limits of:

  • Injury or death to one person – $15,000
  • Injury or death to multiple people – $30,000
  • Property damage – $5,000

 

Under the state’s fault law, you could file a claim with the other driver’s liability insurance carrier. The compensation you receive can cover the losses you suffered, such as:

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

 

If the insurance company offers a low settlement or denies your claim altogether, you have other options. You could file a lawsuit to compensate for your total losses. You might also be able to seek exemplary damages. These damages aren’t a form of compensation. Instead, an award of this type is intended as a punishment against the at-fault party. However, you must show clear and convincing evidence of the defendant’s malice, fraud, or oppression to receive this financial award.

Fremont and California Accident Statistics

There were 3,606 deaths from car accidents in California in 2019. Single-car accidents accounted for 56 percent of those fatalities, while 44 percent were from multi-vehicle crashes.

Although the city of Fremont has prioritized traffic safety, devastating accidents continue to happen. Eight fatal traffic-related crashes occurred that same year in Fremont, causing eight fatalities.

Contact Us

OnderLaw takes cases on contingency, so you don’t have to worry about paying upfront fees or costs. We also offer a free initial consultation to hear about the accident and advise whether we can help. You will be our priority and receive the personalized attention you need to get through your case.

If you suffered injuries in a car accident, call OnderLaw to speak with one of our Fremont car accident attorneys today.