How The Wyatt Law Corp Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You

With over 40 years of experience helping clients injured in accidents and on the job, the father and sons legal team of the Wyatt Law Corporation are experts at recovering compensation for people who have been injured in an accident in Northern California.

How The Wyatt Law Corp Can Help You

With over 40 years of experience helping clients injured in accidents and on the job, the father and sons legal team of the Wyatt Law Corporation are experts at recovering compensation for people who have been injured in an accident in Northern California.

Stockton Car Accident Attorney

Like it or not, in recent years, Stockton has grown to become one of the largest cities in California. The influx of families and businesses to the area has made Stockton a profitable and popular place to live.

In fact, in 2017 the California Department of Finance estimated that the city had a population of around 320,554, a number that is only expected to grow in the coming years. Unfortunately, the area’s growth has also increased the number of cars that are on the road, which in turn has led to an increase in car accidents. Tragically, some of these accidents are fatal or result in permanently disabling injuries. The most recent available data indicates that in 2014, 36 people in Stockton were involved in fatal accidents and 16 lost their lives.

Thousands more are involved in car crashes every year, leaving many victims to suffer through treatment, while also dealing with mounting medical debt. Fortunately, those who are injured in car crashes through not fault of their own can collect damages from the negligent or reckless person who caused their accident to compensate them for the cost of medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Filing a claim, however, can prove difficult, especially for those who do not have legal representation and so are not aware of important deadlines and procedural requirements. To ensure that your own claim is filed on time and that you have the best chance of recovering compensation for your medical bills and other losses, please contact one of our dedicated Stockton car accident attorneys today for advice.

What Types of Damages can I Recover for My Stockton Area Car Accident?

San Joaquin County and the State of California implements a fault system when it comes to car accidents. This means that victims can recover compensation, whether by submitting an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s insurer, or by filing a claim with the court, if they can prove that the other driver was at fault for their accident.

It is also important to note that victims in a Stockton car accident who contributed in some way to their accident are not automatically barred from recovering damages. This is because California is a pure comparative negligence state, which means that if a case goes to trial, the court will calculate damages based on each party’s percentage of fault and then reduce each person’s liability accordingly. For instance, if a driver suffered $10,000 in damages and is found to be responsible for 10% of the accident, he or she would not be prohibited from collecting compensation, but would instead have the amount of damages reduced by his or her level of fault, resulting in an award of $9,000.

Stockton car accident attorneys categorize damages in two ways: economic damages and non-economic damages. The former include costs related to property damage, medical bills, lost income, and out-of-pocket expenses, while non-economic damages cover costs that are more difficult to quantify, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement.

If you were injured in a Stockton car accident, be sure to pay attention to the 2 Year Statute of Limitatons.

However, even accident victims who were in no way at fault for their accident will not be able to recover these types of damages if they fail to file a claim against the at-fault party before the statute of limitations expires.

In Stockton and throughout California, all personal injury lawsuits, including those based on car accidents, must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. There are, however, a few exceptions to this rule. For instance, if a claimant was not injured, but only suffered property damage, then he or she has three years to file a claim. The statute of limitations is also drastically shortened if the other party involved in the accident is part of a government agency. For instance, if a person was hit by a police cruiser, he or she would have to file a claim against the city within six months in order to have a chance at recovering damages. Finally, drivers who do not have insurance are prohibited from recovering non-economic damages, although damages for lost wages and property damage are still available if they can prove that another party was at fault for the accident.

These are not the only limitations faced by car accident victims, making it especially important for those who have been injured in a car crash to retain an experienced car accident attorney who can ensure that their claim is not rejected for a failure to comply with court rules or legal deadlines.

Should I See a Doctor After a Car Accident in Stockton?

Many car accident injuries do not begin manifesting until days or weeks after the accident. For instance, it is not uncommon for car accident victims who have been rear ended to suffer from whiplash. However, the increase in adrenaline that accompanies stressful moments like car crashes can mask symptoms for hours or days after the accident. For this reason, car crash victims are encouraged to seek medical attention after a collision, even if they are not suffering from a medical emergency, as physicians may be able to discover evidence of an injury before it becomes aggravated. Furthermore, this allows for the creation of a medical record, making it easier for accident victims to prove that an injury was related to the crash. Accident victims who wait to go to the doctor often face an uphill battle when it comes to linking an injury to an earlier car crash.

Fortunately, Stockton has a number of medical facilities that were established to serve the needs of the growing population, so car accident victims have a variety of options when it comes to seeking medical aid. Aside from urgent care centers, private doctor’s offices, and clinics, accident victims also have access to Dameron Hospital, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and San Joaquin General Hospital, all of which can ensure that a patient receives proper treatment.

Call The Wyatt Law Corporation Car Accident Attorneys Today for Help with Your Case

If you were injured in a car accident in Stockton, please contact one of the dedicated Stockton car accident attorneys today at Wyatt Law Corp Car Accident Attorneys to begin working on your claim. Keep in mind that there are no upfront charges for hiring our firm.