Roseville Car Accident Attorney

Millions of Dollars Recovered for Injury Victims Since 1999

If you have recently suffered injuries as a result of a car accident in Roseville, it is crucial that you carefully analyze the steps you need to take immediately afterward. While medical attention is the most obvious, protecting your rights with legal guidance from a qualified car accident attorney is also essential.

At the Law Offices of Larry S. Buckley, we can assist you through this especially confusing and sometimes very difficult claims process. Our Roseville car accident lawyers can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering—whether you were involved in a minor fender bender or a catastrophic crash.

Call Law Offices of Larry S. Buckley today at (530) 413-0245 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our car accident attorney in Roseville!

Why Hire Our Roseville Car Accident Firm?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, choosing the proper legal representation is crucial to ensuring that your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve. At our Roseville car accident firm, we offer a combination of experience, dedication, and personalized service that sets us apart. Here’s why we’re the right choice for you:

• 24/7 Availability: Accidents can happen anytime, so our team is available around the clock to provide the support and guidance you need. No matter when you need us, we’re here to help.
• Decades of Legal Experience: With years of experience handling car accident cases, our attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to navigate personal injury law's complexities. We are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients.
• Millions of Dollars Recovered: Our firm has successfully recovered millions for accident victims, helping them secure compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. Your recovery is our priority; we work tirelessly to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
• Bilingual Services in English & Spanish: Communication is key in any legal process, so we offer services in both English and Spanish. We ensure every client fully understands their case and feels supported throughout the legal process.

At our Roseville car accident firm, your case matters. Let our experienced team fight for your rights.

On This Page:

• Car Accident Statistics
• Different Types of Car Accidents
• Common Causes of Car Accidents
• Understanding Local Laws & Regulations
• Improving Road Safety in Roseville
• How a Roseville Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
• Why Hire a Lawyer
• Getting Started
• Frequently Asked Question

Car Accident Statistics from the National Safety Council

Using some of the most recent crash statistics available, a National Safety Council (NSC) report has estimated that the total number of motor vehicle deaths in 2019 dropped 2% from 2018. While this is good news, it is essential to understand the whole picture, which is still harrowing. In 2019 alone, about 39,000 people died in car accidents, and nearly 4.5 million more were seriously injured. Until safe, responsible driving becomes the norm for all drivers, a steep decline in annual crashes cannot be expected.

While California has some of the best safety regulations in the country, there's still more room to improve. Despite driving illegally while texting, surveys show that nearly 40% of drivers check their email or text messages while driving. Even hands-free conversations, which are currently legal, are shown to be dangerous—so there’s no shortage of dangers out on the road.

To combat these troubling statistics, California has implemented several statewide programs to reduce incidents, such as increased penalty enforcement and public safety campaigns focused on the dangers of distracted driving. These efforts are continually updated to adapt to emerging driving habits and technologies.

Different Types of Car Accidents

A car accident, or a motor vehicle collision, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree or utility pole. Car accidents can result in injury, death, and property damage, and they are a significant cause of preventable injury and mortality worldwide.

Our law firm is capable of representing you after all sorts of car accidents, including:

• Rear-end accidents: One of the most common car accidents is the rear-end accident, which can be deceptively dangerous. Rear-end collisions often seem relatively minor at first, but severe injuries can become noticeable later on, as is familiar with whiplash.
• T-bones: When a vehicle crashes into the side of another, it is called a T-bone collision because both cars form the shape of a T. People in the vehicle that was struck are at a high risk of severe injury because there is a much smaller crumple zone on the side of a vehicle than the front or back.
• Sideswipe Accidents: These occur when the sides of two vehicles collide while traveling in the same direction, often due to one vehicle making an unsafe lane change or drifting out of its lane.
• Head-on collisions: Many fatal car accidents are caused by head-on collisions. The forces of both vehicles are additive when they collide head-on. For example, two cars driving at 30 miles per hour will affect each driver as if they hit a solid wall at 60 miles per hour.
• Multi-vehicle crashes: Determining liability in a multi-vehicle crash can be extremely frustrating, mainly when you should be focusing on your health. Leave the details and the liability investigations to our Roseville car accident attorney instead.
• Hit-and-run accidents: In these incidents, a driver involved in an accident flees the scene without providing contact information. This behavior is often driven by fear of legal consequences or lacking insurance.
• Rollovers: This type occurs when a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof, often due to sharp turns at high speeds or tripping over obstacles on the road. Rollovers, such as SUVs, are more common in vehicles with a high center of gravity.
• Parking lot accidents: These low-speed collisions happen in parking lots and typically involve vehicles backing out of parking spaces or maneuvering in tight spaces. Distracted driving and poor visibility contribute to these accidents.
• Pedestrian and cyclist accidents: A vehicle collides with a pedestrian or cyclist, often at intersections or in areas with heavy foot or bike traffic. They can result from failure to yield, distracted driving, or speeding in pedestrian-dense areas.

In Roseville, specific areas are prone to certain types of accidents. For instance, heavy-traffic intersections are particularly vulnerable to T-bone and rear-end collisions. Our familiarity with local roads and accident-prone zones allows us to approach each claim with a unique understanding, offering more tailored legal advice and strategies.

By law, drivers are required to stop at the scene of a car accident, assist anyone injured, and exchange contact and insurance information with the other parties involved. Failure to do so can result in criminal charges.

California law requires drivers to report car accidents to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days if the accident involves injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Obtaining a fair and maximized compensation amount for you after a bad car accident depends on proving liability. To make this point confidently, we need to know more about what caused your car accident. Using our extensive legal knowledge, investigative abilities, and connections with crash reconstruction and medical experts, we can often quickly and accurately find the exact cause of a client’s car accident, which is used to argue liability effectively.

A few of the more common causes of car accidents are:

• Intoxication or impairment: Drunk drivers or those who are impaired by medications, narcotics, or other substances pose an extreme risk to other drivers on the road. Each day in America, dozens of people lose their lives in drunk driving accidents that could have been prevented with better driver responsibility.
• Texting and driving: Distracted driving habits are also severely hazardous, especially with the popularity of the smartphone. By some estimates, at least 25% of all car accidents involve at least one distracted driver, usually by texting.
• Speeding: When someone surpasses the posted speed limit, they endanger themselves and others. Speed limits are carefully calculated by considering expected traffic, road, and weather conditions, so driving faster than them is illegal and inherently dangerous.
• Exhaustion: Fatigue can cause sleep deprivation symptoms in drivers that are strikingly similar to those caused by intoxication, such as worsened reaction times, poor motor control, and blurred vision.
• Reckless Driving: Behaviors like aggressive tailgating, weaving through traffic, running red lights, and making unsafe lane changes can lead to collisions.
• Tailgating: Following another vehicle too closely reduces reaction time and increases the risk of rear-end collisions, significantly when the lead vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
• Failure to Yield Right of Way: Failure to yield the right of way at intersections, pedestrian crossings, or when merging onto highways can result in collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.
• Failure to Obey Traffic Laws: Ignoring traffic signals, stop signs, yield signs, and other traffic laws increases the risk of accidents and endangers other road users.
• Mechanical Failures: Malfunctions in-vehicle components such as brakes, tires, steering systems, or lights can lead to loss of control and accidents if not properly maintained or addressed promptly.
• Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, ice, fog, or high winds can reduce visibility and traction, making it challenging to control a vehicle and increasing the likelihood of accidents.
• Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, uneven surfaces, debris, and inadequate signage contribute to accidents by causing loss of control, tire blowouts, or collisions with stationary objects.

While these are common causes, each accident has its unique factors. A comprehensive investigation by skilled attorneys and accident reconstruction professionals is crucial to understanding all possible contributing factors. This understanding of underlying causes allows us to build a robust claim effectively.

California follows a fault-based system for car accidents, meaning the at-fault driver is responsible for covering the damages resulting from the accident. The at-fault driver's insurance typically pays for the other party's medical expenses, vehicle repairs, and other losses.

California also applies a comparative fault rule, meaning the compensation for damages may be reduced if the injured party is found partially at fault for the accident. However, the injured party can still recover damages if they are not primarily responsible for the accident.

Generally, injured parties have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit and three years to file a property damage lawsuit.

Understanding Local Laws & Regulations

In Roseville, California, understanding the local laws and regulations surrounding car accidents is crucial to fully comprehending your rights and obligations. California operates under a pure comparative negligence rule, meaning that even if you are partially at fault for your accident, you can still recover damages proportional to your level of fault. This can be a crucial aspect of many car accident claims as it allows victims to receive fair compensation even if they bear some responsibility.

The state also mandates that any car accident resulting in injury, death, or damage exceeding $1,000 must be reported to the California DMV within 10 days. Failing to report can lead to penalties, including fines and the suspension of your driver's license. Awareness of these requirements is vital for maintaining your driving privileges and ensuring that procedural oversights do not jeopardize future legal claims.

Minor accidents, often referred to as fender-benders, might not seem significant. However, understanding the legal requirement to stop, exchange information, and report the accident if certain thresholds are exceeded is vital to avoid complications. Roseville drivers must be particularly mindful of such regulations due to the city's bustling traffic conditions. A knowledgeable car accident attorney can significantly aid in navigating these local legal landscapes.

Improving Road Safety in Roseville

Improving road safety in Roseville is a community effort that involves local government, law enforcement, and the residents themselves. Statistics have shown that certain areas and intersections in Roseville are more prone to accidents. Addressing these high-risk zones is crucial in reducing collisions and improving road safety.

The City of Roseville regularly evaluates traffic patterns and implements better traffic light synchronizations, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and stricter law enforcement to deter negligent behaviors. These local interventions are part of an ongoing, comprehensive strategy to ensure roads are as safe as possible for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Additionally, community awareness programs are pivotal to educating local drivers on the importance of safe and responsible driving practices. These initiatives often highlight the common causes of accidents specific to the area, such as distracted driving and speeding in school zones. By fostering a culture of safety and awareness, Roseville can create a safer driving environment for everyone.

How Can a Car Accident Attorney in Roseville Help You?

An auto accident attorney will, first and foremost, help you receive the maximum compensation that you rightfully deserve. But that's not the only reason to hire an attorney. A car accident lawyer can serve as a great support system for you and will provide you with the legal guidance and support you need during this difficult time. Your lawyer will help ensure that your rights are protected and will fiercely represent you on your behalf.

Here are some ways that a car accident attorney can help:

• Provide you with legal counsel: Your attorney will have answers to all of your questions and will be there to help guide you through each step of the process, ensuring that your rights are protected.
• Support you emotionally: A car accident attorney will have worked with many other individuals in a similar situation as you and can offer you the emotional support and reassurance you may need during this difficult time.
• Handle paperwork: Your lawyer will handle all the hefty paperwork involved with your car accident claim. He or she will also ensure that everything gets to where it's supposed to at the right time.
• Save time and money: Your car accident attorney can help save you a ton of time and prevent you from making costly mistakes that may prolong the process.
• Effectively negotiate: Negotiating with insurance companies can be challenging and tricky. Your car accident attorney will have the experience and skills to effectively negotiate on your behalf.
• Represent you: Your lawyer will be able to advise you as to whether it's in your best interests to take your claim to court. If your claim does get taken to court, your lawyer will provide you with fierce representation on your behalf and will work tirelessly to help you receive a favorable settlement and the full compensation that you deserve.

In addition to these services, having a local Roseville attorney means you benefit from someone who understands the regional legal terrain and has connections with local courts and judges. This familiarity can sometimes accelerate your proceedings and ensure a smoother process overall.

Did you recently get in a car accident? Don't wait - let our car accident attorneys in Roseville help you receive the full compensation you deserve. Although we have helped many individuals struggling with the repercussions of a car accident, we understand that each situation is unique and treat each claim in that way. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about what we can do to help you after a car accident.

Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

Do you need a car accident attorney to help with your claim? No, you can handle your claim alone if you want. But this is akin to deciding to climb a mountain by yourself with no training and no mountaineer as a guide, which is a bad idea.

The truth in most cases is that liability laws are tricky, and insurance companies are bullies. If you don’t know the law inside and out and aren’t prepared for what an insurer will say in defense of its policyholder, you could easily be at a disadvantage as your claim progresses. On the other hand, hiring a car accident attorney will prepare you immediately for the worst your claim can encounter because your attorney’s experiences and insights effectively become your own when they act on your behalf.

Why should you hire a car accident attorney? Because it makes everything far less stressful for you.

Get Started on Your Claim Today

At the Law Offices of Larry S. Buckley, our Roseville car accident lawyers can tell you more about what to expect as you go through the litigation process. If you have sustained an injury, such as fractures, broken bones, lacerations, internal bleeding, organ damage, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or whiplash, it’s important enough compensation to pay for your medical bills.

Starting your claim process early is critical. The longer you wait, the more challenging it becomes to gather eyewitness testimonies, preserve crucial evidence, and document the extent of your injuries accurately. Prompt action allows you to build a stronger, more comprehensive claim. With our dedicated approach and comprehensive understanding of California's legal landscape, we are prepared to assist you at every stage of your claim process.

To learn more, call (916) 318-3988 or contact us online for a FREE consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything unless we win!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Roseville?

After a car accident in Roseville, the most important step is ensuring all parties' safety. If there are injuries, call emergency services immediately. Once safety is established, you should document the scene by taking photographs of the vehicles, any skid marks, and road conditions. Collect the contact information of all parties involved, including witnesses, as this information can be invaluable when filing a claim. Do not admit fault or discuss your accident details extensively at the scene. Report the accident to the police and obtain a copy of the police report for your records. Finally, contact your insurance company to notify them of the accident and consult with a local car accident attorney to understand your rights and next steps clearly.

How Does Comparative Fault Impact My Claim?

California's comparative fault laws mean you can recover compensation for damages even if you are partially at fault for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% responsible for your accident, the total damages awarded to you would be reduced by 20%. This rule ensures you can still receive compensation but also considers your role in the incident. Understanding comparative fault is crucial when pursuing a claim, as it can significantly influence the outcome of your litigation. Legal guidance can help you assess fault accurately and effectively advocate for maximal recoveries.

What Damages Are Recoverable in a Car Accident Claim?

Recoverable damages in a car accident claim typically include medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Medical expenses cover current and future costs related to injury management, while property damage entails repairs or replacement of your vehicle and other personal property. Lost wages compensate for the income you lost due to the accident, and pain and suffering cater to the physical and emotional distress experienced as a result of the accident. Depending on the circumstances, you may also recover punitive damages intended to punish particularly reckless behavior. Accurately identifying and valuing your damages is crucial, and a proficient attorney can guide you to obtain fair compensation.