According to stats, over 60% of personal injury trials in San Diego deal with injuries from car accidents. The city witnessed around 23,562 severe car accidents in the year 2015 alone. Car accidents in San Diego fall within the periphery of the California DMV.
The applicable code states that a person involved in a car accident must submit a written report of a car accident to the police department within 24 hours if the accident caused severe injuries or fatalities. If you suffered damages on account of a car accident in San Diego, you might contact a car accident lawyer San Diego at the earliest.
Reporting Your Accident
The law relating to car accidents in San Diego is detailed in the California Vehicle Code Sections 20000 to 20018. As per the code, any person involved in a car accident should report such an accident to the DMV within ten days from the accident date.
The person is also expected to submit the accident report in Form SR1 to the department. The form will ask for details about the accident, such as the location of the accident, cause of the accident, and consequences of the accident. A person without adequate legal knowledge may find the task challenging. Visit Site for further guidance in this regard.
Filing for Damages
A professional San Diego lawyer, who deals in personal injury law, will help you make proper submissions and reports to the department. A copy of the reports will also have to be submitted to the insurance company. It is also essential to report the accident on time.
The California Statute of Limitations is applicable in the case of San Diego car accidents. As per the statute, any person seeking to file a lawsuit against the “at-fault” driver for personal injury damages must file such a lawsuit within two years from the accident date. If the lawsuit is for seeking property damages (damage to the vehicle), the victim should file for damages within three years from the date of the accident.
Dealing with the Insurance Company
California is a “comparative negligence state.” This means the jury will assess the percentage of responsibility of each party involved in the accident for determining eligible compensation. An expert car accident lawyer in San Diego can help you assess and understand complicated aspects like your percentage of “fault” in the accident and the maximum damages you are eligible for.
The lawyer can also help you submit necessary forms and reports to the insurance companies involved in the compensation settlement process. You may be eligible for special compensatory damages besides general compensatory damages. If the accident caused someone’s death, the family of such a person might be eligible for compensation.
The amount of compensation you are eligible for would depend on the severity of the injury you sustained or the severity of damage inflicted on your vehicle. An experienced lawyer can help you approach and negotiate with the jury and the insurance company to ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your injury or loss.
Choose a Reputed Lawyer
San Diego is the 40th most traffic-congested city in the US. Car ownership reports related to San Diego suggest that an average household has two cars. While car accidents may be a common occurrence in busy cities like San Diego, it’s essential to work with a knowledgeable and reputed car accident lawyer if you are involved in one.
