Lawyer specializing in traffic accidents, medical malpractice, and personal injury law (323) 856-1143 [This is an English translation using Google AI.]
Lawyer specializing in traffic accidents, medical malpractice, and personal injury law (323) 856-1143 [This is an English translation using Google AI.]
Major Traffic Accident
If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident, you should immediately contact a car accident attorney to discuss your case.
You are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, expenses, and the physical pain and suffering you have suffered.
And only a skilled and proactive attorney will help you get the maximum compensation for the losses you have suffered as a result of your accident.
1
Free on-site consultation
Richard Joo Attorney Free Consultation + On-site Consultation
2
Case Analysis
Identify the pros and cons of the case, Advice on values and prospects
3
Case request
Refer your case to Richard Joo
4
Insurance Understanding
Understanding the insurance information of the client and the other party
5
Open a claim with your insurance company
• Work on automobile repair and rental car issues
• Notify the other driver’s negligence to the other driver’s insurance company
• Obtain and review police reports
• Witness interviews
• Investigation of the accident scene
• Accident analysis by an automobile accident expert (if necessary)
6
Client's hospital treatment completed
Medical opinion, medical records,
Obtain expert reports and prepare for negotiations
7
Negotiation
Negotiating with insurance companies for the best settlement amount
8
agreement
• Generally speaking, until an agreement is reached Approximately 6 to 12 months from the date of the incident It takes time.
• Client agreement or low compensation, etc. If an agreement cannot be reached for any reason File a lawsuit
Before filing a lawsuit, the attorney will analyze and explain to the client all the possible scenarios in case the case goes to trial, and will also explain in detail all the things the client may be curious about, and then the client will decide whether or not to file a lawsuit.
If you file a lawsuit, the trial date will be set approximately 12 to 18 months from the date the lawsuit is filed.
Please note that a settlement is possible at any time, even during the trial after filing a lawsuit.
* The above process is an example for a general case. For each case, we will analyze and proceed with the most appropriate procedure to achieve the maximum effect.
It is advisable to choose the highest level of car insurance that you can afford financially.
By purchasing the minimum auto insurance, you can save money right away, but if you have to pay damages that exceed your insurance coverage,
You may find yourself in a situation where you may be held personally liable.
Therefore, when signing up for car insurance, you should carefully review and choose the premium and its benefits.
In particular, UM insurance and medical expense payment insurance for accidents with drivers with insufficient insurance are very useful insurances, so we recommend that you sign up.
When driving at an intersection/making a left turn
Driving at an intersection requires special care and yielding to all vehicles driving in either direction.
Especially when driving at an intersection when the light is yellow, make sure to stop without endangering the cars behind you.
Speeding through a yellow light is the most common cause of accidents at intersections, so be especially careful.
When making a left turn, wait until the intersection is clear of cars and then make the turn quickly but calmly.
When making a right turn
Right-turning drivers tend to drive while looking at oncoming traffic on their left, and thus fail to see pedestrians entering the crosswalk on their right.
This is how many accidents between pedestrians and cars occur.
Therefore, before making a right turn, you should be aware of pedestrians or bicycles entering the crosswalk on your right.
Maintain a safe distance between vehicles
Most rear-end accidents occur when a car is tailgating too close to the car in front of it. To avoid this, follow the “3-second rule.”
When the car in front of you passes a certain place, such as a traffic light, count “one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three.”
This usually takes about 3 seconds. If you pass the spot before you finish counting to three, you are following too closely.
If the injury is severe enough to require emergency medical treatment, you should call an ambulance immediately.
Even if your injury is not serious, go to an emergency room or see your doctor as soon as possible.
Injuries sustained in car accidents often do not present symptoms immediately after the accident, even if they are serious.
Especially if you have suffered psychological trauma.
Additionally, if you delay seeking treatment for your injury, the insurance company may begin to question the severity of your injury and the cause of your injury.
Therefore, you should seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
If there are any injuries or your vehicle sustains significant damage, contact the police.
Reporting an accident to the police documents the facts of the accident and also helps determine who was at fault later.
When you are involved in a car accident, you are required by law to exchange contact information (e.g., driver's license, license plate number, car make and model, etc.) and insurance information with the other party.
Be sure to take photos of any damaged areas in your vehicle.
If you believe the other party is at fault, seek out any witnesses who may testify and get their names and phone numbers.
Securing witnesses can be an important step in holding others accountable after an accident.
It is best not to apologize to the other person on the spot or admit that you were at fault.
Because it may be that you were not at fault, or only partially at fault.
It should end with simply exchanging information, and yelling and fighting with the other driver is especially prohibited.
Some injuries will diminish or disappear over time. Also, insurance companies only want to recognize the severity of visible injuries.
That's why it's so important to keep evidence of it through photos and videos.
If your symptoms are not improving, keep a pain diary to record your symptoms and the activities you are unable to do because of the pain.
Never talk to an insurance company representative about a car accident without first contacting an attorney.
Insurance companies put their own interests first.
Therefore, it is recommended that you speak with your attorney, as the information you provide to the insurance company may negatively impact your case.
If you caused an accident and the property damage exceeds $750 or there were injuries, you must file a Traffic Accident Report (Form SR-1) with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days, regardless of whether you caused the accident or not.
Failure to do so may result in your license being suspended. Please note that your attorney may file a traffic accident report.
Statistics show that approximately one in three drivers in California is uninsured or underinsured.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is a useful insurance policy that compensates you if you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
UM insurance covers you and all members of your family who live with you. You do not have to be a driver or passenger to receive this benefit.
It applies to anyone who injures you, whether you are a pedestrian, a bicyclist, a motorcyclist, or a passerby, as long as the person is uninsured or has less than adequate insurance coverage.
In general, when signing up for UM insurance, it is advisable to choose the maximum amount you can afford.
Hit-and-run accidents are crimes (either misdemeanors or felonies, if injuries are sustained).
If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, try to get as much information about the other vehicle as possible (make and model of the vehicle, license plate number, etc.).
Insurance companies will ask for identification of the hit-and-run vehicle or evidence from the collision with another vehicle, such as paint from another vehicle that may have gotten on your car.
Take lots of photos to show evidence of the accident.
Call the police immediately and file a hit-and-run accident report. If this is not possible, file a report at the nearest police station to where the accident occurred the next day.
(within 24 hours of the accident)
Your uninsured/underinsured motorist UM insurance will cover damages you suffer from hit-and-run accidents.
If you do not have this insurance, you may be able to receive assistance through the California Crime Victims Compensation Program.
Q.
A while ago, I was involved in an accident where I was driving straight through an intersection when a car turned left and I was hit by that car.
The driver's insurance company is now claiming that I am half at fault.
As far as I know, most accidents at intersections are concluded as the fault of the left-turning vehicle. I wonder
if the other party is making unreasonable claims, and
if it is really possible that part of the fault for the accident lies with me as the other party claims.
A.
According to traffic laws, a yellow light is a warning that the light is about to turn red.
At this time, it is not illegal for a vehicle to drive straight.
That is, as long as the front of the vehicle passes the limit line or the first line of the crosswalk when the light is yellow,
the vehicle is not violating any traffic law.
And left-turning vehicles must yield the “right of way” to all oncoming traffic until it is “reasonably safe.”
However, this does not mean that all left-turning vehicles are 100% responsible for accidents.
For example, if a vehicle coming from the opposite direction speeds into an intersection exceeding the speed limit, that vehicle will be partially responsible for the accident.
Also, if a vehicle coming from the opposite direction drives through the intersection when the light is red,
the responsibility for the accident lies with the vehicle going straight above.
An important point to keep in mind when driving through an intersection is that it is not illegal to go straight on a yellow light, and it is also not illegal to make a left turn on a red light, as long as the vehicle entered the intersection when the light was green or yellow.
As such, traffic laws at intersections are not simple,
which is why the probability of an accident occurring is high, but on the other hand, determining responsibility when an accident occurs at an intersection is a complicated and difficult problem.
Determining liability requires analysis of eyewitness accounts and police reports,
as well as estimating the speed of both vehicles based on damage to the vehicles, skid marks and the location of the collision.
In conclusion, driving at an intersection requires special care and yielding to all vehicles driving in either direction.
Especially when driving at an intersection with a yellow light, you should definitely stop without endangering the cars behind you, and
when making a left turn, wait until there are no cars in the intersection and then make the turn quickly but calmly.
Q.
Many people choose the minimum amount of auto insurance when signing up for auto insurance in order to save on premiums right away. In this case, if an accident occurs that requires compensation for damages exceeding the insurance coverage limit , you may be faced with the very difficult situation
of having to take personal responsibility .
Especially for drivers who own assets such as homes and property, purchasing as much auto insurance as you can afford
is a wise choice to protect your assets.
A.
Many people choose the minimum amount of auto insurance when signing up for auto insurance in order to save on premiums right away. In this case, if an accident occurs that requires compensation for damages exceeding the insurance coverage limit, you may be faced with the very
difficult situation of having to take personal responsibility.
Especially for drivers who own assets such as homes and property, purchasing as much auto insurance as you can afford
is a wise choice to protect your assets.
<Major types of coverage in car insurance>
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage | Bodily Injury Liability Coverage (BI) Covers you for bodily injury or death to another person for which you are responsible. It also provides legal protection if the other party files a lawsuit against you in an accident.
Especially in legal proceedings for damages exceeding the insurance limit,
it is advisable to select sufficient insurance to cover the judgment against you without damage to your personal assets.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage | Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM)
UM coverage is essential because there are so many uninsured or underinsured drivers in California.
If one of these drivers causes a major injury to you, your UM coverage will pay for your medical expenses, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering,
up to the amount you signed up for.
In particular, since UM insurance has relatively low premiums compared to the benefits it provides,
we recommend signing up for a UM coverage limit of at least $100,000.
Collision coverage | Collision coverage (Coll) Pays for repairs to your vehicle, even if you are at fault in the accident.
However, before choosing this insurance, you should make sure that your car is worth the premium you are paying.
For example, if your car is expected to be worth $10,000 in repairs and you only own a car with a cash value of $3,000,
your insurance company will pay you the cash value of your car, not the cost of repairs.
Comprehensive coverage | Comprehensive coverage (Comp) Covers your vehicle for damage caused by non-collision events. For example, it covers damage to your vehicle in the event of theft, or damage to your vehicle by flood, fire, or animals.
Medical Payments Coverage | Medical Payments coverage (MP) Pays up to a limit for medical expenses for you and your passengers injured in an accident, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
Property Damage Liability Coverage | Property Damage Liability Coverage (PD) Covers you if your vehicle damages someone else's property. It also provides you with a legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against you.
Car Rental Coverage | Car Rental coverage Covers car rentals if your vehicle is being repaired due to an accident. Without rental coverage, you would have to pay for the rental yourself while your vehicle is being repaired.
Q.
A few months ago, my sister was in a car accident caused by another driver's fault, which resulted in severe spinal cord damage and multiple surgeries.
The hospital is giving me a pessimistic prognosis, saying I will most likely never be able to walk again.
I heard before that a person who was seriously injured in a rear-end collision with a beverage company vehicle received $3 million.
Can my brother receive the same amount?
A.
Basically, there are two components to an agreement:
First , compensation for
economic damages (medical expenses and loss of income),
which can be determined through medical bills, tax returns, and other reports.
The second is
compensation for pain and suffering.
Some of the factors that insurance companies consider in the amount of pain and suffering are the victim's gender, age, injuries, type of injury, and the permanence of the injury.
To estimate how much compensation your sibling may receive, you should first check the at-fault driver's auto insurance coverage.
Since your brother's injuries were so serious, it shouldn't be difficult to receive the maximum amount of insurance money, but
the important thing is the amount of the at-fault driver's car insurance limit.
If the accident was caused by the other party's negligence and the driver's auto insurance coverage is insufficient, you
can file a lawsuit against the driver individually.
Also, if your sibling has UM insurance, you may be able to receive additional compensation through it.
In the case of the three million dollar compensation case you mentioned, the other party's vehicle was a vehicle of a famous beverage company, and
the maximum limit of the auto insurance of this large company is incomparably large compared to the insurance limit of individual drivers,
so this compensation amount was possible.
In conclusion, if the at-fault party is a large company vehicle or personally owns a lot of property, you
may be able to receive appropriate compensation for major injuries.
RYC Law, P.C.
3435 Wilshire Blvd,
Ste 2510, Los Angeles,
CA 90010
Phone : (323) 856-1143
Fax : (323) 421-9329
Email: rchu@rchulaw.com
© RYC Law, P.C. All rights reserved.
RYC Law, P.C.
3435 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 2510
Los Angeles, CA 90010
© RYC Law, P.C. All rights reserved.
Phone : (323) 856-1143
Fax : (323) 421-9329
Email: rchu@rchulaw.com
