Redlands Car Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Redlands, California or elsewhere in San Bernardino County, the attorney at Hanson & Mouri can help. We are committed to representing car accident survivors and families during insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits. We accept clients with broken bones, whiplash, back injuries, brain injuries and other serious injuries after auto accidents in Redlands. Contact us today for a free consultation about your case.

Experienced Redlands Car Accident Lawyer

• We have been helping clients throughout California with car accident cases since 1999.
• We obtain top results through aggressive legal negotiations with insurance companies.
• We will listen to you. As our client, you will be our top priority 100% of the time.
• We are communicative. Our lawyer do their best to return calls no later than the next day.
• We never charge a dime upfront for any of our legal services in Redlands, California.

Do You Need to Hire an Attorney?

It is up to you whether or not to hire a Jurupa Valley car accident attorney. The civil justice system in California does not require legal representation. Handling things alone, however, could put you at risk of an insurance company taking advantage of you. Insurers know when they can get away with offering lowball settlements and denying valid claims. They will not do this when a client has hired an attorney. If you choose to hire a lawyer, you will have skilled professional handling tasks such as gathering evidence, talking to an insurance claims adjuster and negotiating a fair settlement for you. You can concentrate on healing while your lawyer does the rest.

How Much Does a Redlands Car Accident Lawyer Cost? 

The cost of your lawyer will depend on which one you choose. At Hanson & Mouri, we believe in keeping legal fees affordable for all injured car accident victims. All of our Redlands car accident attorney work on a contingency fee basis. Our fee system works by taking our payments out of the settlement or verdict won on the client’s behalf. We never bill clients directly. This ensures every car accident victim has the ability to afford a high-quality lawyer. If we do not win your car accident case in Redlands, you will not pay us anything, guaranteed. 

What Are California’s Car Accident Laws? 

As the victim of a car accident in Moreno Valley, you have to go through a lot of red tape to obtain a fair financial recovery. The insurance process may seem simple, but insurance companies will not be on your side. Insurance bad faith can make it more difficult to recover the amount you need to move forward. Understanding your state’s car accident laws can help you during the claims process.

• Fault car insurance state. In California, the party at fault for causing the vehicle collision will be financially responsible for all damages. You will file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer, not your own.
• Comparative negligence law. If you partially contributed to your accident, you could still recover a percentage of compensation. Your recovery will reflect the amount of the other party’s fault.
• Statute of limitations on filing a claim. In general, you have no more than two years from the date of your car crash to file an injury lawsuit in the State of California.

The Perris car accident lawyer at Hanson & Mouri can help you navigate all of California’s car accident laws. We can answer your questions and help you work through the rules that are relevant to your case. We will do everything in our power to maximize your financial recovery after a serious car accident in Redlands.

Common Car Accident Injuries 

Here are some of the most common types of injuries seen following car accidents: 

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from mild to severe. However, even a minor TBI or concussion can have long-term consequences. In extreme cases, victims can suffer permanent cognitive or physical impairment.

Whiplash

A sudden jolt to the body can occur in an accident at any speed. When the body is jolted, muscles in the neck become strained trying to protect your brain and spine, causing what is known as whiplash. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from car accidents and can take significant time to heal. 

Scarring and Disfigurement 

Severe lacerations or burns can occur—for example, from the impact of the crash, broken glass or plastic parts, or a vehicle fire. A laceration can sound minor but can cause long-term damage and result in significant scarring.

Knee Injuries

The knees typically strike the steering wheel, an airbag, or the front dashboard in a crash, and if they suffer serious damage, they can require surgery. 

Bone Fractures

Broken arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis breaks are all common in even minor car accidents. They may take weeks to heal, and activities are typically restricted. 

Internal Bleeding

Damage to internal organs can be life-threatening if not treated immediately after a crash. 

Back Injuries

Car accident victims suffer back injuries of all kinds, such as herniated or bulging discs, fractures, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and others. These injuries often result in lifelong complications and chronic pain.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The trauma from car accidents can lead to severe mental and emotional conditions.  

Types of Car Accidents

The types of car accidents that most commonly occur in Redlands are: 

• Rear-End Collisions: One of the leading types of crashes and frequently cause whiplash. 
• Failure to Yield Accidents: Drivers often fail to yield the right of way or misjudge the distance of another vehicle and turn in front of oncoming traffic. 
• Head-on Collisions: These types of collisions are among the most devastating.
• Intersection Accidents: Over 50 percent of the combined total of fatal and injury crashes occur at or near intersections.
• T-Bone/Side-Impact: When the front end of one vehicle hits the side of another car. Most occur at intersections and are most often the result of someone running a red light or stop sign.
• No-Contact Collisions: One driver’s actions cause another motorist to crash—for example, a driver abruptly changes lanes causing another vehicle to swerve, and they hit a pole, even though the two cars never made contact.
• Multi-Car Crashes: A chain reaction of accidents when oncoming drivers do not see or cannot brake in time to avoid a collision. 

The extent of injuries and damage caused in these accidents can range in severity, typically based on whether seat belts were worn, the impact location, the drivers’ or passengers’ positions, the speed of the vehicles, and whether airbags deployed. 

Types of Compensation Available After a Car Accident

Car accident victims are entitled to recover the following types of compensation from the party responsible for their injuries:

Economic Damages

These are financial losses where you must prove how much money you’ve lost. Some examples include:

• Medical bills: emergency visits, hospital stays, physical therapy, outpatient procedures, prescription medications, ongoing care, etc.
• Property repair or replacement
• Lost wages from missed work
• Diminished earning capacity (if you are no longer able to work at the same level as before the accident)

Non-Economic Damages

Compensation for losses that do not have a monetary value, which makes them more challenging to prove their value since they are subjective losses. For instance:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life 
• Loss of opportunity
• Loss of consortium
• Physical impairment (e.g., disability, loss of a limb)
• Disfigurement 
• Unjust hardship

Punitive Damages

This type of compensation is rarely awarded and is only recovered in cases involving an at-fault party who acted egregiously or with intent. They are intended to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior by others. 

What To Do After a Car Accident in Redlands

The steps taken immediately after an accident can significantly impact your ability to file a claim for compensation. Any mistakes made can be detrimental since insurance companies often look for any excuse to deny a claim or reduce payment. To ensure your rights are protected, keep the following tips in mind:

Stay Calm and at the Scene

Try to remain calm, and if it is unsafe to get out of your vehicle, stay inside until law enforcement arrives. Even if the damage seems minor, never leave the scene of an accident. 

Call 911

If you or someone else is injured, or if you think there’s a possibility of injuries, call 911. 

Notify the Police 

If the collision does not warrant a 911 call, still notify the police. The report law enforcement creates at the scene will be critical when filing an insurance claim. Never admit fault, even if you think you caused the crash. 

Gather Information

Take photos of the accident and include all vehicles and objects damaged due to the crash, visible injuries, and a picture of the entire scene. Write down the names, contact information, and insurance information for all drivers involved, as well as any witnesses to the accident. When you can, write down your version of how the accident happened before your memory begins to fade. 

Call Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible, whether you are to blame for the accident or not. A representative will go over your options and give instructions on how to file a claim. 

Seek Medical Treatment

See a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms of serious injuries can appear in the hours or days after a crash. In addition, save any medical records, bills, and receipts for any accident-related expenses. 

Speak to a Redlands Car Accident Attorney

Contact an experienced car accident lawyer to discuss your options for obtaining compensation. They will have the resources to gather valuable evidence for your claim, including speaking to witnesses, securing available surveillance footage of the collision, getting copies of the police report, medical records, consulting expert witnesses, and more. An attorney will also help you determine who is liable and ensure they are held accountable for your losses.

Contact Our Redlands, CA Car Accident Attorney Today

The aftermath of a bad car accident can be confusing, stressful and overwhelming. Luckily, you do not have to deal with your claim alone. Hanson & Mouri can help you protect your rights and recover fair compensation. Start by scheduling a free consultation at our local law office. Our Riverside Car Accident Attorney can visit you if you are unable to come to us. Call (951) 688-0006 24/7 or contact us online today.