Thousand Oaks Car Accident Lawyers

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for a California Car Accident?

In California, the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim is two years for personal injury and three years for property damage. If a government entity is involved, you must file a claim within six months.

Q: What if more than one person is responsible for causing the accident?

California's comparative negligence rule allows victims to recover compensation even if they share some fault for the accident. The total compensation will be reduced by their percentage of fault.

Q: Is California an At-Fault State?

Yes, California is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for causing the accident is liable for the damages. State law mandates that drivers carry liability insurance to cover such damages.

Q: What Are Full Coverage Limits in California?

Full coverage in California typically includes more than the state-required minimum liability insurance. It often includes comprehensive and collision coverage, which protect your vehicle in various scenarios.

Q: Can I File A Car Accident Claim After Insurance Pays?

Once you accept a settlement from an insurance company, it can be difficult to pursue further compensation. It's crucial to consult with an attorney before accepting any settlement to ensure you're fully compensated.

Q: What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Common causes include rear-end collisions, side impacts, speeding, and distracted driving, such as texting. Other factors might include vehicle defects like tire or brake failures.

Q: What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

After an accident, call the police, take photos, gather witness statements, seek medical attention, and consult with an attorney before signing anything from insurers.

Westlake Injury Law Ensures You Are Covered Following a Severe Injury

Car accidents can cause an overwhelming burden to those who were injured. The stress alone can be too much to handle, from handling car repairs, arranging rentals, coordinating inspections, recovering from injury, and fighting with insurance companies to receive fair coverage. You need an experienced car accident lawyer who will fight to ensure you are fairly compensated. Our team has been helping clients for over a decade. We have the experience necessary to hold insurance companies responsible for what they owe. Call Westlake Injury Law today to learn more about your case. Call (805) 338-6880 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a California Car Accident?

In every state, there is a limit known as the "statute of limitations" that refers to the amount of time an individual has to file a car accident claim after they have been injured. The statute of limitations for a California car accident claim is two years.

If you've been injured in an auto accident, you may find it necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit in addition to a claim with your insurer. It may not be obvious that you need to file a lawsuit, so it's important that you discuss your case with a car accident attorney as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline for additional compensation. The state of California has different statutes of limitation for lawsuits involving car accidents:

Personal injury lawsuits - 2 years
Property damage lawsuits - 3 years
Claims involving government agencies - 6 months

If you fail to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations has expired, your case may never be allowed in court. Our car accident attorneys in Thousand Oaks are ready to hear your case anywhere in Ventura County or Los Angeles County.

What if more than one person is responsible for causing the accident?

California has a rule for that too: the “comparative negligence” rule. The comparative negligence rule means that if the plaintiff is partially responsible for the accident, they are still eligible to recover compensation for their injuries. However, the total compensation awarded to them will be reduced by the amount of their determined fault. For example, if you are found by the court to be 10% at fault for the accident that caused your injuries, the compensation awarded to you will be reduced by 10%. Unlike some states, California allows injury victims to pursue compensation no matter how much fault they bear for the accident. This makes the state a pure comparative negligence state. Contact our firm today for a free consultation to learn more about how California’s car accident laws might affect your case.

Is California an At-Fault State?

There are different laws in every state regarding which parties are liable for compensation in an accident. The state of California holds to a "tort" system, which is otherwise known as an "at-fault" state. This means that there must be someone who is at fault for any accident and whose insurance company must be held responsible for any compensation. According to California Code § 16056 (a), every driver in California is required to carry liability insurance no less than the following:

$15,000 for injury or death to one individual
$5,000 for property damage
$30,000 for injury or death to two or more individuals

What Are Full Coverage Limits in California?

Full coverage is a broad term that can mean several different things. In general, it refers to any insurance coverage that exceeds the mandatory minimums required by state law. In California, full coverage insurance can include comprehensive insurance, which covers your vehicle in the event that it is damaged in something other than an accident. Comprehensive insurance is helpful in the event that a natural disaster, wildfire, or flood damages your vehicle. Drivers may also opt to get collision insurance which covers your vehicle if you are in an accident, such as a single-car accident or collision with an object. While comprehensive and collision coverage is not mandated by state law, many lenders will require you to purchase it if you finance your vehicle.

Can I File A Car Accident Claim After Insurance Pays?

Usually once you accept a settlement from an insurance company, it is difficult to recover more compensation. Many car accident insurance settlements specifically state that the amount agreed upon will be the only money the company will pay out. This is why it is so important to speak with an auto accident attorney about your case before signing a settlement. However, if you have already signed an agreement with an insurance company, you may still have options. Speak to an attorney at our firm about the specifics of your case to get started.

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Some of the most common car accidents include rear-end accidents, side impact collisions, and speeding accidents. Westlake Injury Law has experience with these types of injury claims as well as the following less common types of car accidents in California:

Distracted driving, including texting while driving
Drunk Driving
Driver was speeding
Driver over-corrected
Issues or defects with a car’s tires or other parts

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

At Westlake Injury Law, we are committed to helping clients reduce their burden and help them get through the complicated maze of receiving financial compensation. In many cases, injuries will not even appear until weeks after a settlement check has been issued and signed, and once that happens, there is nothing you can do. It is important to follow the proper steps to take after a car accident:

Call the police
Take pictures
Obtain witness statements about the fault of the other driver
Treat your injuries and have a doctor document them
Do not sign a check issued by your/their insurer without consulting with an attorney first

Injured in a Car Accident in Thousand Oaks or Ventura County?

Being involved in an accident is often a traumatic experience. If your injuries are severe, it might even be life-altering. If you were injured in an accident that was caused by a negligent and distracted driver, you have a right to pursue compensation and to hold the driver liable for your injuries. At Westlake Injury Law in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village, our legal team is dedicated to helping clients navigate the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit and easing their burdens.

Car accidents can cause an overwhelming burden to those who were injured. The stress alone can be too much to handle, from handling car repairs, arranging rentals, coordinating inspections, recovering from injury, and fighting with insurance companies to receive fair coverage. You need an experienced car accident lawyer who will fight to ensure you are fairly compensated. Our team has been helping clients for over a decade. We have the experience necessary to hold insurance companies responsible for what they owe. Call Westlake Injury Law today to learn more about your case. Call (805) 338-6880 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a California Car Accident?

In every state, there is a limit known as the "statute of limitations" that refers to the amount of time an individual has to file a car accident claim after they have been injured. The statute of limitations for a California car accident claim is two years.

If you've been injured in an auto accident, you may find it necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit in addition to a claim with your insurer. It may not be obvious that you need to file a lawsuit, so it's important that you discuss your case with a car accident attorney as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline for additional compensation. The state of California has different statutes of limitation for lawsuits involving car accidents:

Personal injury lawsuits - 2 years
Property damage lawsuits - 3 years
Claims involving government agencies - 6 months

If you fail to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations has expired, your case may never be allowed in court. Our car accident attorneys in Thousand Oaks are ready to hear your case anywhere in Ventura County or Los Angeles County.

What if more than one person is responsible for causing the accident?

California has a rule for that too: the “comparative negligence” rule. The comparative negligence rule means that if the plaintiff is partially responsible for the accident, they are still eligible to recover compensation for their injuries. However, the total compensation awarded to them will be reduced by the amount of their determined fault. For example, if you are found by the court to be 10% at fault for the accident that caused your injuries, the compensation awarded to you will be reduced by 10%. Unlike some states, California allows injury victims to pursue compensation no matter how much fault they bear for the accident. This makes the state a pure comparative negligence state. Contact our firm today for a free consultation to learn more about how California’s car accident laws might affect your case.

Is California an At-Fault State?

There are different laws in every state regarding which parties are liable for compensation in an accident. The state of California holds to a "tort" system, which is otherwise known as an "at-fault" state. This means that there must be someone who is at fault for any accident and whose insurance company must be held responsible for any compensation. According to California Code § 16056 (a), every driver in California is required to carry liability insurance no less than the following:

$15,000 for injury or death to one individual
$5,000 for property damage
$30,000 for injury or death to two or more individuals

What Are Full Coverage Limits in California?

Full coverage is a broad term that can mean several different things. In general, it refers to any insurance coverage that exceeds the mandatory minimums required by state law. In California, full coverage insurance can include comprehensive insurance, which covers your vehicle in the event that it is damaged in something other than an accident. Comprehensive insurance is helpful in the event that a natural disaster, wildfire, or flood damages your vehicle. Drivers may also opt to get collision insurance which covers your vehicle if you are in an accident, such as a single-car accident or collision with an object. While comprehensive and collision coverage is not mandated by state law, many lenders will require you to purchase it if you finance your vehicle.

Can I File A Car Accident Claim After Insurance Pays?

Usually once you accept a settlement from an insurance company, it is difficult to recover more compensation. Many car accident insurance settlements specifically state that the amount agreed upon will be the only money the company will pay out. This is why it is so important to speak with an auto accident attorney about your case before signing a settlement. However, if you have already signed an agreement with an insurance company, you may still have options. Speak to an attorney at our firm about the specifics of your case to get started.

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Some of the most common car accidents include rear-end accidents, side impact collisions, and speeding accidents. Westlake Injury Law has experience with these types of injury claims as well as the following less common types of car accidents in California:

Distracted driving, including texting while driving
Drunk Driving
Driver was speeding
Driver over-corrected
Issues or defects with a car’s tires or other parts

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

At Westlake Injury Law, we are committed to helping clients reduce their burden and help them get through the complicated maze of receiving financial compensation. In many cases, injuries will not even appear until weeks after a settlement check has been issued and signed, and once that happens, there is nothing you can do. It is important to follow the proper steps to take after a car accident:

Call the police
Take pictures
Obtain witness statements about the fault of the other driver
Treat your injuries and have a doctor document them
Do not sign a check issued by your/their insurer without consulting with an attorney first

Injured in a Car Accident in Thousand Oaks or Ventura County?

Being involved in an accident is often a traumatic experience. If your injuries are severe, it might even be life-altering. If you were injured in an accident that was caused by a negligent and distracted driver, you have a right to pursue compensation and to hold the driver liable for your injuries. At Westlake Injury Law in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village, our legal team is dedicated to helping clients navigate the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit and easing their burdens.

Call (805) 338-6880 now and learn more about the legal strategies you have available.

"He is one of the hardest working attorneys I know and he always fights for his clients."

Adam P.

"I highly recommend Russ as he knows the laws and helped us through a real tragedy."

George O.

"Russ was very professional and kept us informed through out the process."

Jen B.

"If you need representation you will love Russ' expertise."

Tom L.

"Russ and his staff made every step of the way a precise, simple and easy procedure in our case."

Jill L.

"My family was recently represented by Russ Ercolani and we couldn't be happier with the results."

Paul R.

Timing is Everything.

Do not delay in addressing your legal concerns. If your situation has gotten out of hand, contact a Ventura County lawyer at the Westlake Injury Law to learn more about how we may be able to help you.

Call Our Legal Team Contact Us Online

4165 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd,
Suite 350,
Westlake Village, CA 91362

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(805)-338-6880

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute a client relationship.