LOS ANGELES, CA, November 06, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Automobile accidents are an everyday occurrence in the California. Although many of these accidents are minor, many others result in serious injury or death. Car accidents can change lives in an instant and devastate victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, or if a loved one has been killed, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. At Lederer & Nojima LLP, our experienced personal injury attorneys will protect your rights and fight for the compensation that you deserve.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents can be caused by many different factors. A few of the most common causes include the following:
Driver negligence: most motor vehicle accidents are caused by some kind of negligence by a driver. This could include speeding, not paying attention, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, failure to exercise due care, or other actions that violate California's motor vehicle code.
Adverse weather conditions: although driving during bad weather is hazardous, few accidents are unavoidable. Most collisions that occur in bad weather are due to the negligence of a driver who fails to operate his or her vehicle safely under the conditions.
Defective motor vehicles or defective parts: many accidents occur due to a defect in the automobile or one of its parts. For example, defects in design or manufacturing processes could cause failure in such systems as brakes, tires, steering, seatbelts, door latches, etc., or cause increased susceptibility to rollover or explosions. In such cases a product liability action may be filed against the manufacturer, distributor or retailer.
Bad roads: defective road conditions caused by bad design or lack of maintenance can cause automobile accidents. For example, bad road design might include blind corners, inadequate pavement markings, or inadequate notice of impending conditions. Lack of maintenance could include the failure to fix pot holes.
Who is Liable in an Automobile Accident?
In most motor vehicle accidents, another party can be held legally liable for your damages. The most common defendants in an automobile accident case include:
A negligent driver: another driver is usually found liable because he or she was operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner. In this circumstance the driver, the owner, and the insurer of the automobile can be named as responsible parties.
The manufacturer of the automobile or one of its components: if the accident was caused by a defective part or by defective design, the manufacture and the retailer of the automobile can be held responsible for any damages that occur as a result of the defect.
A state or municipal government: governmental agencies have the responsibility to design and maintain safe public roadways. If the accident was caused by a defective road or from lack of proper maintenance, the government can be sued for damages.
What Damages are Recoverable?
There are several types of damages that can be recovered in a personal injury law suit that results from an automobile accident. Some of these include:
* medical expenses
* future medical expenses
* costs for rehabilitation and physical therapy
* loss of wages
* lost earning capacity
* pain and suffering
* loss of consortium (claimed by the victim's spouse for loss of romantic / sexual relationship)
* damages to your motor vehicle
* funeral and burial expenses in cases of wrongful death
* other damages
In California, damages are measured using a theory called "pure comparative negligence." This means that if an injured party is partially at fault for causing an accident, the amount of damages that person can recover is reduced by his or her percentage of fault.
California Automobile Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one had been injured, or you have lost a loved one in a fatal automobile accident, contact Lederer & Nojima LLP immediately. Under California law, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries and damages you have suffered. We understand the difficult challenges and financial strains that your family faces, and our experienced Los Angeles car accident attorneys will pursue every avenue of recovery against those responsible.
Website: http://www.injurylawnews.us/
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