Orange County Auto Accident Attorney

Motor vehicle accidents continue to be a leading cause of injury and death in the United States.  We see or hear about serious auto accidents in California every day, especially in the congested streets and freeways of southern California.  Chances are that if you regularly drive a car, you may eventually be involved in an accident. If you are involved in an auto accident, you need to contact a competent, experienced attorney to assist you. You need a personal injury attorney that has the credentials and the financial resources to handle the significant costs associated with providing the best representation to hire the best experts to win your case – and at no cost to you. We utilize many innovative techniques to present your case.  See our accident scenario videos from Orange County Auto Accident Attorney for a prime example.

The Law Firm of Rivers J. Morrell III handles accident cases regularly and investigates every possible contributing cause of an accident to ensure that you will receive full compensation for your injuries. Evaluating all of the facts involved in the cause of a motor vehicle accident requires skill and experience. Our Firm will take over the investigation of your case. You will be personally be represented by Rivers J. Morrell III, not an inexperienced level attorney many of the major law firms use.  We’ll handle your case and walk you though the entire process so that you can focus on recovery from upper accident and injuries.

California Automobile Accidents and Accessing Liability

California automobile accidents are generally decided using the law of negligence. Our Firm will promptly investigate a crash, determine fault, and seek to recover all legal damages. A person who negligently operates a vehicle may be required to pay any damages caused by their negligence, either to person or property. Generally, people who operate automobiles must exercise “reasonable care under the circumstances.” Failure to use reasonable care is the basis in most lawsuits for damages caused by an automobile accident.

Courts look to a number of factors in determining whether a driver was negligent or not. Some examples include, but are not limited to, driving and automobile too fast or too slow, reckless driving, failing to drive on the right side of the road, intentional reckless conduct, not signaling when turning, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not obeying traffic signs or signals, and not adapting their driving to weather or traffic conditions.

Auto Accidents and Product Liability

In some cases, accidents are fall under the law of product liability, where an automobile manufacturer or supplier of a component may be responsible for injuries caused by a defect in the automobile or component of the automobile, as the recent cases involving Toyota.  If a manufacturer of a product creates a defective product — either in developing, designing or labeling the product — the manufacturer is liable for any injures the product causes, regardless of whether or not the manufacturer was negligent. This also applies to to mechanical failure resulting from improperly repairing a vehicle when the failure causes an accident. The auto repair shop and/or the individual who improperly repaired the automobile may be liable for injuries sustained.

California Roadways

Poorly designed and maintained roads or malfunctioning traffic control signals can contribute to the cause of an auto accident. Poor road design, poorly maintained road infrastructure, such as faded passing lane striping or road obstructions are investigated by our firm. We’ll investigate problems with the roadway that limits the drivers’ vision, such as poorly placed utility poles, trees obstructing views, and other factors that contributed to the accident.

Drunk driving and Auto Accidents

Driving under the influence continues to result in serious automobile accidents. In this case, not only is the driver responsible, but other parties are included in the investigation, such as the restaurant or bar, social host. They may be found liable for damages if the court determines an obvious neglect of the intoxicated guest who leaves their premises intoxicated, therefore contributing to the accident.

Automobile Insurance

Always carry automobile insurance and make sure you have a provision for uninsured/underinsured motorist in your policy. California statistics report that close to 25% of all motor vehicles operated in the state do not have insurance.  You can learn more about Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage here. Liability insurance will cover your damages as well as your passengers. It will also cover any damages to the other party if the accident was your fault. However, if the accident was not your fault and the other party does not have enough insurance to cover your damages (underinsured), or worse has no coverage at all (uninsured), your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will pick up the costs with limitations. See our article titled “Are you confused about Uninsured Motorist Insurance vs. Underinsured Motorist Insurance in California?”

If you have been involved in an automobile accident in California, you may be able to file a claim against the negligent driver to recover all of your damages including property damage, medical costs, personal suffering, future losses and, in some cases, punitive damages. Never proceed with a negligence claim without first obtaining legal advice. An attorney experienced in the practice of personal injury law knows the court system, can cut through insurance company red tape, and will make sure you are justly compensated for all current and future damages.  here.

What to do in the event of an Auto Accident

First, always seek qualified medical attention if you are injured in any way.  Go to the emergency room or see your doctor as soon as possible and be sure to document all of your injuries. An injury that appears to be minor at the time of accident may result in severe physical problems in the future. It’s also important to contact an experienced auto accident attorney and get help with your case. Gather as much evidence and information as possible. Here are a few more things you need to keep in mind as soon as the accident happens to help us with your case.

Get Contact Information Of Everyone Involved

Get contact information of everyone involved who can be a potential witness. The drivers involved in the auto accident shouldn’t leave the scene until they file a report with police, sheriff or highway patrol.

Video and/or Photograph everything around you

It is extremely important in any auto related accident scenario that you gather information. Always carry a camera or video camera in your car in case you are in an accident. Most cell phones have cameras and some take video. Photograph and/or video everything around you following the accident. Video and take photographs of the damage to all the vehicles, witnesses, and the environmental condition; regardless of how bad the accident was, and even more so if it’s particularly bad with a lot of damage. Capture anything that may have contributed to the situation.  everything, including the automobiles and debris will be cleared from the road to allow traffic to continue. That means that the scene cannot be preserved for further analysis later.

Get Witness Statements

Witness statements are crucial in an auto accident case. There are typically a wide variety of variables that led up to what actually happened. And it’s not always easy to determine the cause. Furthermore, individual perception often plays a role in how each person sees the accident. And even if the other driver realized from the get-go that it was their fault, their mind may change over time. Witness statements will help to clear up any confusion and altered perceptions.

Don’t be judgmental by admitting  guilt or blaming the other

Don’t provoke the other person(s) involved with the accident by accusing them of fault and no matter how guilt you feel you may be, don’t admit guilt. Don’t sign any statements regarding the accident.  An auto accident is a shocking experience, you may or may not feel that the accident was your fault. Let the insurance companies and attorneys determine who was at fault and who is liable.

Contact You Insurance company and an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney Immediately

Be sure to contact a qualified auto accident attorney immediately to correspond with the insurance company and ensure all precautions have been taken. The longer you wait the more you leave to chance to losing important information that may be instrumental to your case.Also, it prevents any issues with filing, as there may be a window to filing a claim. It’s best to have an attorney in mind prior to an accident. Keep their contact information in your cell phone and wallet, where it’s easily accessible following an accident. An experienced accident attorney can help you navigate through all the details of a car accident and recognize the fault or negligence of another driver, even if it is not so obvious to you. Our firm examines the reports and all available information related to the accident and gathers all the necessary information for your case.

For more information regarding California auto accidents, bike accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other legal matters related to personal injury; you can contact me at The Law Firm of Rivers J. Morrell III or 949-305-1400. Having much experience in these legal cases, representing both insurance companies and plaintiffs, I welcome your questions.