Los Angeles Automobile Accident Cases and Legal Assistance
Despite rising fuel and car prices, automobile has remained a popular means of transportation for many people. However, with the continued rise in the number of people who drive cars, the number of automobile accident cases has likewise soared.
In Los Angeles alone, the city Department of Transportation has reported nearly 50, 000 automobile collisions every year; a staggering high number in relation to the state record of nearly 5,000 deaths and 300,000 injuries, which is approximately ten percent of the nationwide record. Federal data showed that an average rate of 115 persons die every day from automobile accidents. In fact automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of thirty-four.
Although most accidents are preventable, an auto accident may be caused by several factors:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Over-speeding
- Distracted driving
- Poor road signs or traffic conditions
- Vehicle defects
- External factors such as extreme weather conditions
Automobile accidents are likely to result in serious injuries that include the following:
- Head and brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Joint, bone and muscle injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
Generally, victims of automobile accidents can file a claim for compensation for the injuries or property damage they incur as a result of the accident. Automobile accident claims are categorized into two kinds:
- Economic damages – These include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages or income, lost benefits, and repair of damaged property
- Non-economic damages include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, among others
Generally, the party at-fault in auto accident cases will be held liable for the injuries they caused on the victims. This means the offending party will have to compensate the victims for the harm and injury
To establish fault in an auto accident case, the victim must show that the offending party is negligent. Under the law of negligence, the careless party will be held liable for the resulting harm.
To show negligence, the following elements must be present:
- That the person owed a duty of care to the victim under the circumstances
- That the offending party breached that legal duty
- The offender caused the accident
- That the accident resulted in harm or injury to the victim
In proving a negligence case such as an auto accident, the victim must show evidence to support his claim. There are two types of evidence that the victim may present: direct and circumstantial.
Direct evidence includes proof derived from the personal knowledge of a witness or images in a photograph or video while circumstantial evidence often needs a fact-finder to draw inference on the evidence produced.
To seek legal assistance in an auto accident case, the victim may consult with a knowledgeable auto accident attorney to help him file a claim for his injuries.
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