Of course, being a good driver is not always going to keep you safe. All it takes for vehicular accidents to happen is one person driving down the 101 like it’s a race track. People make mistakes, but even the smallest errors on the road can be devastating. Just one glance at your phone, even just for a moment, can cause a crash that you’ll regret forever. Your fault or not, suffering a personal injury in a crash can leave you in debilitating pain for a long time.

If you are ever involved or injured in a car accident in the local area, be sure to look into Ventura car accident law firms as soon as possible to find representation that can help you get the compensation you deserve. At Murphy & Murphy Law Offices, we think our decades of experience in auto accident cases and personal injury law will eventually lead you to us. Our legal counsel team also provides victims with a free consultation, so you can figure out the best way to move forward.

What Steps to Take After a Car Crash in Ventura

Right before the crash, you might see it coming and think, “Oh no.” Perhaps it happens in a flash, and you never even see it coming. The sound of the collision is something you’ve maybe only ever heard on TV, but now it’s happening to you, and it’s absolutely terrifying. Your drive to work is now something else altogether, and someone else’s reckless or distracted driving has left you in pain. As the dust settles, you begin to check yourself. Are you hurt? Can you move? You access your surrounding area and see the car. Then you begin to worry about what you should do now.

Your instinct might be to rush out and apologize or even get angry at whoever hit you. Maybe you’ve already fished out your phone and started dialing 911. What you should not do is take off and leave the scene for any reason — especially if you or the other driver has been seriously hurt. After making sure you are at a safe distance from any hazards — including oncoming traffic or potential vehicle fires — getting medical professionals on the scene should be your top priority. If the other driver is hurt and cannot get themselves to a safe area, help them as best as you can so long as they haven’t suffered a catastrophic injury. You could potentially injure a person further if you try moving them in this situation. It is best to wait for emergency response teams to perform this task safely and professionally.

You can then make the call to 911 if you haven’t already and wait for the Ventura police department, fire department, or ambulance to arrive. If you are trapped in your car or are too severely injured to call 911, ask someone nearby to make the call on your behalf. It is important to have a bystander assist you during these first moments if you cannot do so yourself. If you can’t help yourself due to debilitating injuries, ask a bystander to take photographic evidence of the scene as well. This can include pictures and videos of the cars, the road, any skid marks, and even videos of the entire scene. These should be as detailed as possible. Evidence like this can be critical later and ensure you get maximum compensation for your injuries.

If you do enlist the help of a bystander, be sure to get their name and information since it might be helpful to you later on. You should also get the contact information of any witnesses nearby. Even if you’ve only suffered minor soft tissue injuries, you need to have evidence supporting your claim when seeking compensation. When the police arrive, they will ask for your name, license plate number, registration, and insurance information. If you are not badly hurt, gather this information and have it ready for when they show up.

Most Common Injuries in a Car Accident

In some instances, you may be able to drive home after an accident. You’ll be pumped up with adrenaline and probably feel perfectly fine. It’s very common after an auto accident, however, for people to feel the severity of their injuries once they come back down to earth. Then again, there are some instances where you won’t even be able to get out of your car. And when vehicles are involved in pedestrian accidents, you can fully expect the victim to need medical attention. While people frequently have to be rushed to Community Memorial Hospital after crashes, there are only about six fatal accidents in the area yearly. With an accident on the 101 seemingly every day, though, negligent drivers still cause a lot of pain for others.

In fact, some physical damage can lead to a lifetime of medical bills. The most commonly seen types of injuries after car accidents include head injuries, spinal/ neck injuries, and broken/fractured bones. These can range from a minor hairline fracture to a traumatic brain injury. Some people can heal from their accident in a month, but others may have long-term pain. Head and neck injuries tend to be the most severe and can complicate a personal injury case. That’s because you’ll often need to consider future medical costs when calculating a fair settlement offer.

Concussions are also common and can take a very long time to recover from fully. Fortunately, our law firm also sees many lucky folks walk away with nothing but minor scrapes and bruises. Sadly, what may seem minor may be anything but. Whiplash and concussions are very common — sometimes going unnoticed entirely at first — but they can lead to deteriorating health as time passes. Getting the right medical treatment and continuing treatment is essential for your health, but doing so also serves as evidence your legal team can use to prove the severity of your injuries. If you’re unable to continue with your normal life after an accident — whether it’s missing work or being unable to jog — speak to a Ventura personal injury attorney to figure out your options.

Can Personal Injury Law Protect Me if I’m at Fault for My Accident?

Let’s clear up one thing right away: auto accident victims should never say they’re at fault for their injuries. There are a few reasons behind this. First off, the insurance company is going to try to get you to admit this when they speak with you. If they can get you to slip up and admit fault — even if your words are slightly out of context — it can greatly reduce any compensation you receive from personal injury claims. Insurance adjusters are trained to get these types of admissions from accident victims, so in reality, you shouldn’t even be talking to an insurer prior to speaking with a law firm.

Additionally, a driver’s negligence doesn’t necessarily bar them from successful personal injury claims in California. That’s because we live in a comparative negligence state. This means that anyone who suffers a loss in an accident — whether it be damaged personal property or the wrongful death of a loved one — can receive compensation even if they were partially at fault. Rather than receiving the whole court award, though, monetary damages would be reduced by the percentage of the victim who was at fault.

Imagine for a moment that someone is speeding down the highway and comes to an intersection. At the intersection, one of the drunk drivers leaving a nearby bar runs a stop sign. It’s possible that the speeding driver could’ve avoided the other motor vehicle had they not been driving above the speed limit. A judge might think this puts 10% of the fault on the accident victim. This means if injury lawyers are able to argue that $800,000 in damages is appropriate, their client will still receive $720,000 to cover lost wages, pain and suffering, future medical expenses, and other losses.

So even if you think you might be partially at fault for your injuries, don’t hesitate to contact a law firm before speaking to anyone. It could literally mean the difference between fair compensation and lasting financial difficulties.

Contacting a Car Accident Lawyer in Ventura, CA

Like most personal injury cases in California, you have a two-year statute of limitations to file a claim for losses following auto accidents. However, it is best not to wait out those two years — especially if you’re unsure whether you have a case. Getting in contact with a car accident lawyer in Ventura should be done as soon as possible after you have begun your road to recovery. Even if you file well before the statute of limitations expires, every minute that passes creates a more difficult task for your auto accident attorneys. That’s because evidence tends to “disappear” — whether in the form of witnesses who move away or images getting lost — as time passes.

At Murphy & Murphy Law Offices, we do not charge a penny to talk with you about your case. Our personal injury attorneys also work on a contingency fee basis, so that means you won’t even pay anything for their services unless you win. The simple fact is that you shouldn’t have to pay just to figure out if you have a valid personal injury claim, and if car accident lawyers cannot secure compensation for you, you shouldn’t have to pay them either. If you suffered catastrophic injuries or other losses in a vehicle collision, Craig Murphy is a car accident lawyer in Ventura who’s ready to stand by your side.

Contact us today by calling (805) 330-3393 for your free case review. You shouldn’t have to figure out your rights on your own, and we’ll make sure you don’t have to.