San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Providing Legal Services for Victims of Traffic Collisions
How do I choose a San Diego Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been the victim of a car accident and are seeking legal representation, it is important to find a lawyer you can work with. You should start by researching the lawyer or law firm to read their online reviews and see their website. This initial search gives you an idea of a lawyer’s professionalism and how their past or current clients rate their services.
Once you have narrowed down your list, you should reach out to the lawyer to schedule an initial contact. Before taking you on as a client, any suitable lawyer will want to review your case and see if you would be a good fit at their firm. Some lawyers, including those at Hanecak Law Inc., offer FREE case evaluations to walk you through your case and determine if they can help.
If you need legal representation for a car accident, don’t be afraid to schedule a free case evaluation with us to learn more about our firm before hiring us.
What does a car accident lawyer in San Diego Charge
At Hanecak Law Inc., clients never pay us directly for our services. Like most car accident attorneys, we at Hanecak Law Inc. work on “contingency fee” basis. Simply put, we do not get compensated unless you do.
More broadly, contingency fee agreements work by fixing a percentage of the total outcome at the outset. When you are successful and recover for your car accident, the contingency occurs, and that percentage is paid out of the settlement to your attorney. This means your lawyer isn’t paid until there is a settlement or jury verdict in your favor.
The contingency fees charged will vary from office to office and will typically depend on when the case settles, goes to trial, or makes it to the appeals process. When working on a contingency fee basis, If your lawyer isn’t able to get you a settlement or win your case at trial, they won’t be paid for legal services.
By operating off a contingency fee basis, the lawyers at Hanecak Law Inc. will not invoice you for phone calls, messages, or any other nickel-and-dime charge that other firms may include. When you hire a lawyer from Hanecak Law Inc., we will join your, work as a team, and we win as a team. As a boutique law firm, we care about each of our clients, and will do all we can to ensure you are compensated for the car accident.
Proving Fault in a San Diego Car Accident
One of the first things that we do as your lawyer is investigate and prove what party was at fault for the accident. The person who is determined to be responsible for the accident is often referred to as the “at-fault driver” or “negligent party.”
Through our investigation, we try to determine, and more importantly prove, who was the cause of the car accident. If it is found that you were not the cause of the accident or the at fault party, you may have a claim for damages. However, if the investigating reveals that you were the sole cause of the accident, then you’re likely not entitled to compensation because you caused an accident.
Even if you are partially to blame for a car accident, you may still be entitled to compensation for the portion of the accident you are not at fault for. If you have been in a car accident and liability is being determined, give us a call at (858) 812-2096 to speak with an attorney about your case.
To prove fault or liability in a car accident, lawyers must prove the following elements of negligence:
- Duty: The other party owed a duty to you on the road. For example, the duty to follow traffic laws, the duty to drive reasonably for the conditions, and the duty to exercise all due caution are frequently present.
- Breach: The other party breached their duty. An example of a breach of the duty occurs when one is speeding, breaching their duty to obey all traffic laws. Another example occurs when someone is driving too fast for the weather conditions and wrecks their car.
- Causation: The other party’s breach of traffic laws or unsafe driving was the cause of the accident.
- Damages: The at fault party’s breach of their duty resulted in physical or mental injury.
All of these elements are necessary to prove a claim of negligence; if one of those bullet points isn’t met, then you will not be able to prove liability.
The first thing we do is look at the police report taken from statements and the scene of the accident. We will also contact investigators and review images of the vehicles involved. In some cases, we hire “accident reconstructionists.” They put together a video model of how the accident occurred to prove the liability of the other party. When there is a dispute about the cause of the accident, the insurance company may contest liability. The first step would be proving that before negotiating damages. An example would be he said/she said red vs. green light. In rear-end collisions, insurance companies will usually accept fault. When this happens, the next step is negotiating damages to the injured party.
What Will a Car Accident Settlement Cover?
After liability is assessed, your case is then evaluated on several different factors. This includes the extent of your injuries, medical bills (past and future), lost wages (past and future), and your pain and suffering. Many people don’t “want to sue for a million dollars.” And that’s not why we’re here. We want to get you compensated for what someone else’s negligence caused. This means that we will negotiate with the insurance company to get you compensation for:
- Medical bills. The treatment you’ve already received and possible future medical care.
- Lost wages. Missed time from work and future earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering. Physical and mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of daily activities, stress, anxiety, depression.
The value of your car accident case is based on a thorough review of all the above and other factors.
Meet With Car Accident Lawyer Daniel J. Hanecak at No Cost
Our work is on a contingency basis. This means that we only get paid if we’re able to get you a settlement or jury verdict. There is no out of pocket cost to talk to or meet with us in person or video. Additionally, we have access to top medical professionals throughout the San Diego area. This is true even if you don’t have insurance. Your medical bills can be placed on a “3rd party lien” until the end of your case and then paid from your settlement. Don’t let the worry of cost prevent you from receiving the medical care and representation you need!
