We are proactive in handling all of our client’s needs, and our attorneys will address your worries and ensure that every one of your questions is answered. We will do everything we can to ensure you know you are not going through this alone.

Overview of Car-Related Accidents in Orange County

The following data reflects the frequency of motor vehicle accidents in Orange County between January 2021 and December 2021. The statistics were provided by the University of California, Berkeley’s Transportation Injury Mapping System.

Orange County Motor Vehicle Accidents

Between January 2021 and December 2021, there were 11,951 motor vehicle accidents in Orange County. According to the Transportation Injury Mapping System, rear-end collisions accounted for 33% of all vehicle collisions. There were 3,559 broadside collisions, which made up 29% of all accidents.

Other forms of collisions, such as wrong-way, rollover, sideswipe, pedestrian, and striking a fixed object comprised 36% of the total.

After being injured in a car accident, you might need clarification as to whether or not you have a legitimate claim. Our California car accident lawyers are prepared to answer any questions you might have about what is considered negligent and what constitutes an injury.

If you were badly injured or lost a family member in an automobile accident, the last thing you need to focus on is battling with an insurance company about fair financial compensation. We know how tempting it can be to accept their initial offer and just be done with it. Unfortunately, their offer is often much lower than what you will need or are entitled to.

A skilled Costa Mesa car accident lawyer from Beckerman Anderson can help you recover the financial damages you are entitled to. Regardless of what kind of car accident you were involved in, you can count on our firm to look out for your best interests and take care of your legal needs, so you can concentrate on getting better.

Our law firm handles all motor vehicle accidents, including those involving: cars, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, rideshare, autonomous vehicles, scooters, commercial vehicles, and common carriers (bus, train).

Due to the severity and frequency of car accidents, our Costa Mesa car accident attorneys have successfully represented hundreds of clients. Car accidents often inflict severe and life-changing injuries on their victims. We have seen first-hand how these injuries affect people and how we can effectively help them fight for fair compensation awards. We have helped clients who have endured various kinds of personal injuries in car accidents, including:

• Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
• Injuries to the spinal cord
• Neck injuries/back injuries
• Permanent handicaps
• Disfigurement/scarring
• Fractured bones/broken bones
• Serious lacerations
• Soft-tissue damage
• Severe burns
• Mental injuries

In personal injury law, the claimant must establish that the defendant was negligent. When a person is said to have been negligent, it means they fell short of the prevailing standard of care, an obligation to exercise the same degree of care that a sensible person would have shown under the same or similar circumstances. With a car accident claim, the standard of care usually refers to the responsibility placed on drivers to follow traffic laws, drive safely, and avoid accidents. A breach of the standard of care is negligence.

To prove these elements, you need evidence. This evidence could be a police crash report, pictures, dash cam video, witness statements, testimony from expert witnesses, accident reconstruction, vehicle data, medical records, a commercial driver’s safety records, and much more. A lawyer will be able to help you gather all available evidence and prove the defendant’s negligence in your car accident case.

Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents are all too common. When this happens, you likely are unable to identify the other driver or obtain their insurance information. If this happens, your ability to get compensation for your injuries and vehicle damages may be limited to your own auto insurance coverage. For example, if you have collision coverage, your insurance will cover the cost of repair/replacement and may be willing to waive your deductible. For injuries, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance will cover your injury damages up to your policy limits. Insurance coverage questions can be complicated. It’s best to let an experienced attorney help you navigate this process and get the compensation you are entitled to.

After being injured in a car accident, there are some actions that you can take at that moment to ensure that both you and your rights are protected.

• Find a safe place near the scene to pull your car off the roadway. You should never ever leave the scene of a car accident without exchanging information with the other drivers.
• Asses yourself and your passengers for any injuries. Then find out if anyone in the other vehicle was injured.
• Call 911 and report the accident promptly. Inform the dispatch operator if anyone is injured and request an ambulance.
• Trade insurance information and contact details with any other drivers.
• Never admit fault for the accident. This includes apologizing.
• Take photos of the other vehicles’ make, model, license plate, and color.
• Seek prompt medical care for any injuries. It is a good idea to be evaluated by a doctor regardless of how you feel after an accident, as some injuries are not immediately obvious.
• Notify your auto insurance carrier of the accident as soon as you are able to do so.
• If anyone was hurt or property damage exceeding $750 occurred, you have ten days to notify the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Reach out to a car accident attorney before you agree to any settlement offered by the insurance company.

Exercise extreme caution when talking to an adjuster or any insurance company representative. They do not have your best interests at heart. Before you sign anything, speak to a personal injury lawyer from Beckerman Anderson to understand your options for financial compensation.