Driving is something many people take for granted. It’s easy to forget how dangerous it can be until something serious happens. When it does, you may suddenly find yourself searching for an Orange County car accident lawyer.

The Cifarelli Law Firm is here to help. Whether you are facing unaffordable medical bills, temporary or permanent disability, or even the loss of a loved one, our trusted attorneys will help you seek fair compensation. We have over 30 years of experience fighting for the rights of car accident victims in Orange County.

Call us at 949-409-6324 to schedule a free consultation at our office in Irvine, CA. 

Common Car Accident Causes

Nearly anything can cause a traffic accident, from a medical emergency to an animal in the road. However, some causes are more common than others. 

Human Error or Negligence

• Driving while drowsy
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions
• Disobeying traffic laws, such as running red lights or making unsafe lane changes
• Aggressive driving, including road rage and tailgating
• Driving while distracted, such as texting, eating, or looking at GPS directions
• Inexperience, such as when minors cause crashes

Weather and Road Conditions 

• Dense fog
• Rain or hail
• High winds
• Poor visibility at night
• Malfunctioning signals
• Negligent road design
• Potholes, missing lane markers, and other maintenance issues

Defective Equipment

• Faulty brakes
• Defective tires
• Design defects
• Malfunctioning software

Establishing Fault in a Car Accident

While any serious traffic crash can be tragic, not all lead to auto accident lawsuits. To seek compensation, you must prove that your injuries or property damages were someone else’s fault. 

The majority of car accident claims revolve around the concept of negligence. In other words, someone’s recklessness or carelessness caused your injury. It could be the drunk driver who crashed into your vehicle, the trucking company that hired an unqualified driver, or the governmental entity that failed to maintain the road.

Cases of Shared Fault

What if you were partly to blame for the collision? Thankfully, California follows a pure comparative fault standard for accident victims in personal injury claims. That means that even if you did something wrong, you can still seek compensation from the other party. However, the final amount you qualify for will decrease in proportion to your degree of fault. 

Accident liability is not always clear at first glance. If you have been seriously injured in a collision, contact The Cifarelli Law Firm today. Our Orange County car accident lawyers can help investigate your case, identify any negligent parties, and untangle complex liability issues.

California Auto Insurance Laws

Unlike some other states, California has a “fault” auto insurance system. That means whoever is responsible for causing the accident is also responsible for paying for the ensuing injuries and property damage.

To ensure drivers can pay for accidents they cause, the state requires minimum liability insurance coverage of $5,000 for property damage, $15,000 for injury or death to one person, or $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person. However, drivers may carry liability coverage above these limits.

If you are injured in a traffic accident, you typically have multiple options to seek compensation:

• A claim under your insurance policy
• A claim through the at-fault driver’s liability insurance
• A personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver
• A personal injury lawsuit against another party 

If you hire The Cifarelli Law Firm, we will handle these details for you. Our experienced Orange County car accident lawyers are deeply familiar with state insurance laws, local traffic rules, and legal liability criteria to help you maximize the value of your claim. 

Types of Car Accident Injury Compensation

As a car accident victim, you have the right to seek financial compensation for your losses. Your attorney will consider the following categories of damages to see which you qualify to pursue. 

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the financial consequences of your collision. You can prove them by presenting bills, receipts, invoices, and damage estimates relating to your accident.

Economic damages can include the following:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Loss of income and benefits (past and future)
• Therapy, rehabilitation, and personal care
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs

Non-Economic Damages

While non-economic damages are harder to quantify, they often represent the more challenging consequences of an accident. They can include the following: 

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Scarring, disfigurement, and impairment
• Reduced quality of life

Because non-economic damages are subjective, insurance companies often try to undervalue them. At The Cifarelli Law Firm, our attorneys have experience helping injured people calculate and prove mental, emotional, and other non-economic losses.

Do You Need a Car Accident Attorney?

If you have a minor fender-bender with no major damage, you may be able to handle your own insurance claim. However, know that the other party’s insurer will likely have a team of lawyers defending their interests. It’s safest to consult with an Orange County car accident lawyer to ensure you are protected.

Legal representation after a car accident is especially important in the following circumstances:

• You sustained a catastrophic injury such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury
• Someone died in the accident
• The other driver was uninsured
• The other party or their insurer is blaming you for the crash
• Your collision involved a rideshare vehicle, commercial truck, government vehicle, or multiple parties

What Will a Car Accident Lawyer Do for You?

At The Cifarelli Law Firm, our legal team is with you every step of the legal process — from communicating with insurers to representing you in court. Specifically, our Orange County car accident lawyers will do the following:

• Inform you of your rights: Insurance companies work hard to protect their interests, not yours. Your attorney will be on your side, advising you of your legal rights and discussing your options throughout the process.
• File legal paperwork: Insurance claims and lawsuits often have detailed requirements and strict deadlines. Our legal team will handle this for you.
• Investigate your case: Law firms can gather and analyze evidence that is often harder for clients to access. We can track down surveillance footage, interview witnesses, request digital evidence, and hire accident investigation professionals.
• Negotiate a fair settlement: Our car accident lawyers are familiar with insurance company settlement negotiation tactics and won’t be intimidated by them. We will fight to negotiate reasonable compensation for your claim.
• Represent you in court: The majority of personal injury claims settle outside of the courtroom. But if the other party refuses to offer a fair settlement, our experienced court litigation attorneys are ready to face them at trial.

Note that California has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Make sure to contact our office before the deadline runs out. Otherwise, you will likely forever lose your right to pursue compensation. The sooner you call us, the more time we will have to prepare your case.

Contact a Skilled Orange County Accident Attorney Today

If you’ve sustained an injury or property damage in an accident, call The Cifarelli Law Firm for assistance. We bring a team approach to our cases and treat our clients like family members. 

Call 949-409-6324 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a knowledgeable Orange County car accident lawyer today.