Carlsbad Car Accident Lawyer

Have you been in a car accident near Carlsbad, California?

Experienced Carlsbad car accident attorney Randy Walton lives in North County and has worked with Carlsbad residents injured in accidents for more than a 20 years. He understands that most individuals who contact his law firm seeking legal assistance are not exactly sure what is involved in car accident insurance claims or lawsuits, and how best to approach an insurance claim after an accident. Most have questions about the process, timing, payment, and other basic issues. In order to answer some of those early questions, our Carlsbad car accident lawyers have provided some information about those and similar questions. We encourage all potential clients to learn more about their options by talking to our legal professional in person in a free private consultation. We can be reached by telephone at 866-607-1325 or 760-571-5500 and you can leave an online message at any time.

What exactly is a car accident personal injury lawsuit?

When you are involved in a car accident that was caused in part by the negligent actions of another, then you may be able to recover for your losses. A personal injury attorney will be able to explain the options available in your situation, tell you whether you even need a lawyer, whether the case can likely be settled before litigation, or whether a lawsuit will be necessary. A lawsuit is never automatically filed (unless the statute of limitations is about to run), and in most situations the attorney will work to provide you will compensation for you losses without having to go through the process of filing a lawsuit.

Typically, a lawyer enters into negotiations with the other parties involved in the case (usually their insurance carriers) after learning about the details of the accident. In most cases, those negotiations lead to a settlement where the negligent side agrees to provide compensation for the damage caused by the accident. This does not always happen, however. In limited situations a fair agreement cannot be reached. In those cases, our car accident attorney can help Carlsbad residents take the steps to file a lawsuit and bring the action all the way to a trial if necessary.

What is the state Statute of Limitations for car accidents?

California law places a specific time limit on when a lawsuit must be filed after an area accident. After that time limit passes, the claimant can no longer bring a claim or a case for their injuries. That means that promptly meeting with a Carlsbad car accident attorney is important to ensure that all legal options will remain on the table. For example, if you are involved in a car accident in California then it is usually required that a lawsuit be filed within two years after the event. If a public entity is involved in the accident, such as an accident with a school or city bus, then you may have as little as six months to begin the legal process to recover for your losses.

What damages can I recover for this accident and how long will it take to recover?

All those involved in a car accident caused by another can usually recover for two types of losses: economic and non-economic. As the name would suggest, economic damages are more common and involve losses that can easily be identified with a specific dollar amount. Property damage to the vehicle and medical expenses – past and future - for injuries from the accident are common forms of economic damage. In addition, if you are forced to miss work because of the collision then your Carlsbad car accident attorney may also be able to recover for lost wages.

Non-economic damages are often those losses that cannot be automatically identified as a specific amount of money. For example, a client may be able to recover for pain and suffering, inconvenience, loss of companionship, emotional distress, and similar losses. These are all considered non-economic damages and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The amount of money that you may be able to recover is harder to predict and depends on values that a court has historically used in similar cases.

It also impossible to predict with certainty how long it will take for a case to be completely resolved. It often depends on how negotiations progress. Generally, a case will be concluded much quicker if it ends in a settlement. If a lawsuit is filed and taken to trial, it may take a year or more for a final resolution.

About Us

Based in North County, Walton Law Firm has helped many residents in our area who have been injured through no fault of their own in a car accident. He has 25 years of experience working through all types of motor vehicle accidents of varying levels of severity. Our office understands that entire families are often affected as a result of these accidents. Serving people throughout North County, our Carlsbad car accident attorney devotes close personal attention to each and every case. See actual client testimonials by clicking here.