Thousands of Californians are injured in car accidents each year. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Van Nuys, you are not alone. Van Nuys intersections consistently rank among the most dangerous in LA county. The intersection at Sepulveda Boulevard and Sherman Way had more collisions than any other Los Angeles intersection in 2019 and was ranked second in 2020. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Van Nuys, the car accident lawyers at MAJK Law can help.

Our compassionate attorneys understand what it’s like to battle legal and insurance issues at a time when you need to focus on your physical and emotional recovery. You may be concerned about the financial impacts of missing work and mounting medical bills. It can be tempting to take whatever compensation the insurance company offers, so that you can start to move on.

But the insurance company’s initial offer is often substantially less than you deserve, and an experienced Van Nuys car accident lawyer can fight for full compensation.

Our knowledgeable attorneys work with in-house insurance advisors to offer unique expertise when negotiating with insurance companies and calculating settlements. We’ll work hard to understand your situation and fight tirelessly for you every step of the way, so that you can focus on your recovery.

How MAJK Law Can Help

Our injury attorneys have extensive experience representing car crash victims in Van Nuys and throughout Los Angeles County. If you’ve been injured in Van Nuys, our skilled team of lawyers and insurance experts will thoroughly investigate your case, determine fault, communicate with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf, and represent you in settlement negotiations or court.

Insurance companies are interested in saving money and settling your claim quickly, and they are often successful when victims come to the table without legal representation. Our dedicated legal team will ensure that your interests are represented and fight hard to obtain the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.

Car Accident Injuries

Car accident injuries vary in immediate severity, as well as in the long-term care they require. Some injuries are particularly common to motor vehicle accidents, including:

• Whiplash;
• Back and neck injuries;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI);
• Broken bones;
• Burns; and
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The symptoms of an injury may occur immediately, as in the case of broken bones, or may develop over time. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident, it is critical to seek a comprehensive medical evaluation immediately, whether or not you are currently experiencing symptoms.

Filing a Car Accident Claim in Van Nuys

It is critical to contact an auto accident lawyer as soon as possible following the accident. After a car accident in California, the state’s statute of limitations allows two years to file an injury claim, and three years to file a claim for property damage.

To recover damages by filing an auto accident lawsuit, you must show that the negligence of another party contributed to the accident. Even if you are partially at fault, an experienced Van Nuys car accident lawyer can help pursue the compensation you are owed for damages caused by the negligence of another party.

California insurance company tactics to be aware of

If you have been injured in an auto accident, it is imperative that you avoid talking to the other driver’s insurance company until you’ve had a chance to speak with your lawyer. It is the insurance adjuster’s job to pay as little as possible to claimants. As such, they employ various tactics to get injury victims to accept the lowest possible settlement.

Some of these tactics include:

• Contacting the victim immediately following the accident;
• Asking the victim for a recorded statement; and
• Asking the victim to sign a release form, permitting the insurance company to review the victim’s medical history.

Insurance adjusters do these things as a means of gathering ammunition against the victim if there is a resulting injury claim. If you are contacted by an insurance adjuster after an auto accident, simply explain that you are not speaking or signing anything until you’ve talked to your attorney.

What to do after a car crash

If you have been involved in a car accident in Van Nuys, you are not alone.

Accidents in Van Nuys often involve head-on collisions, sideswipe accidents, rear-end crashes, broadside collisions, and auto/pedestrian accidents, with broadside and auto/pedestrian accidents being among the most deadly.

• In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, the first thing you should do is check for injuries, your own, and anyone else’s.
• If someone is hurt, call 911 immediately. People’s safety and health should take top priority following a crash.
• While you are at the scene of the accident, it is recommended to call the police, even if no immediate injuries are apparent.
• In addition to ensuring everyone’s safety, this will result in the creation of an official police report, which can provide important evidence if you end up filing a claim, or offer protection if the other driver makes an unfair claim against you.
• Be sure to exchange contact information with the other driver(s) and take pictures of the accident.
• Let your insurer know about the crash in a timely manner. Your auto insurance company may penalize you for failure to notify them of the accident within a few days.
• Please note: do not discuss any details of the crash with the insurance company until you’ve consulted with a Van Nuys auto accident lawyer.
• If anyone was injured or the vehicle damage was above $1,000, you must also report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days, as directed by California Vehicle Code 16000. Failure to do so may result in your license being suspended.

Given the complexity of California car accident rules and regulations, it is in your best interest to contact a car accident attorney immediately following a crash.

A knowledgeable Van Nuys car accident lawyer will advise you based on your specific situation and ensure that you fully understand your rights and options before moving forward.

What not to do after a car crash

While it is important to take the above steps after a car accident, it is also critical to avoid taking certain actions, to not jeopardize a potential injury claim.

Specifically, we advise against arguing with others involved in the collision, admitting fault (even saying “I’m sorry” could be misconstrued as an admission of guilt), making promises with regard to payments, and telling the other driver that you sustained no injuries in the crash.

Many injuries, such as internal bleeding and soft-tissue damage, do not produce immediate symptoms, so you may not realize that you’ve been injured. It is not advisable to state that you were uninjured at the scene of the accident, this could give the driver’s insurance company a reason to deny your injury claim down the road.

Compensation for Van Nuys Car Accident Victims

The type and amount of compensation you can receive after a car accident depend on many factors, including the cause of the accident, the severity of injury and property damage, and the quality of your legal representation. Common types of damages you can recover include:

• Current and future medical expenses;
• Lost income;
• Vehicle repair costs;
• Emotional pain and suffering;
• Alternate transportation costs;
• Disability; and
• Wrongful death.

The calculation of economic damages, such as medical bills and the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle, are typically straightforward. However, other damages can be more complicated and harder to prove. An experienced Van Nuys accident lawyer can help you quantify the true impact of the car accident—including not just immediate bills, but your future ability to work, and the physical and emotional pain and suffering you’ve endured—and fight for the maximum possible settlement.

Contact a Van Nuys, California Car Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Van Nuys, do not attempt to negotiate with insurance companies and other parties on your own. We have over 45 years of experience fighting for car accident victims in Van Nuys and throughout Los Angeles. Let our skilled team of attorneys calculate the damages and fight for the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on getting back to your life. Contact MAJK Law today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.