Auto Accident
Car Accidents Aren’t Always a Driver’s Fault
| March 13th, 2019
Although most auto accidents are caused by driver error, some have other causes. Auto accident victims may feel helpless and out of luck if they were injured in crashes that weren’t caused by other drivers, but anytime another person’s or party’s negligence plays a role in a crash, the responsible party should be held liable for the victims’ accident-related expenses.Who Else Can Be Held Responsible for Crashes?
At Berg Injury Lawyers, our California auto accident attorneys have pursued compensation claims on behalf of victims like you against a variety of parties, including:- State and local governments—Roadways are supposed to be safe and free from major defects that can potentially contribute to crashes. That means the governmental bodies that oversee roadways, whether they’re local streets or state highways, are supposed to fix issues like potholes and remove potentially dangerous debris in a timely fashion.
- Vehicle manufacturers—Auto manufacturers and the manufacturers of individual parts used in vehicles can also be held liable for crashes and injuries. When tires, brakes, airbags, seat belts, gas and brake pedals, or other components fail, drivers may lose control of their vehicles or suffer severe injuries during accidents.
Why Call Berg Injury Lawyers After Your Crash?
Negligence is negligence, whether it’s on the part of a single driver, a governmental body, or a billion-dollar automotive corporation. Our legal team isn’t afraid to stand up for the rights of Californians who were injured in auto accidents, regardless of who is liable for their crashes. When you choose Berg Injury Lawyers, you’ll get a legal team that will do everything in its power to maximize your chances of getting full compensation. You shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for medical bills and lost wages after a crash that wasn’t your fault. Let us help you get the money you deserve—call today for a free consultation.Post-Auto Accident Checklist
| March 11th, 2019
Steps to Take After an Auto Accident
| February 27th, 2019
The aftermath of a car accident can be scary, disorienting, and painful, and your main concern after a crash should be making sure you and your loved ones get the medical attention you need. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we’re here for you after an auto accident in California. We know how devastating car accidents can be, but we also know that there are steps you can take to start protecting your rights right away:- Document the crash scene if you’re able to do so—Taking pictures of your vehicle and its location on the road, getting contact information from the other driver(s) and witnesses, and writing down what happened are all steps that can create valuable evidence for your claim.
- Go to your doctor or a hospital—Even if you were evaluated by emergency responders at the crash scene, it’s still important to get a more thorough examination. A full check-up will reveal internal injuries, begin the recovery process, and create an official record of your accident-related injuries.
- Report the accident to your insurance provider—If you decide to file an auto accident claim, you’ll likely be pursuing damages from the other driver’s insurance company. But your own insurance company still requires notification of the crash—often within a day or two of it occurring.
- Call a California car accident lawyer—Personal injury claims are subject to short statutes of limitations in California. In addition, evidence can quickly disappear, and the other driver’s insurance company may begin building its defense against you. We’re ready to investigate the crash, calculate your current and future medical expenses, and help you get maximum compensation.
Let Us Fight for You
After a car accident, our California auto accident attorneys want to help you get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You don’t have to go it alone. Call Berg Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation, and get the experienced legal representation you deserve.Settlement Offer From the Insurance Company? Let a Lawyer Review It.
| December 24th, 2018
If you were recently hurt in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault, you may have received or will soon receive a settlement offer from the insurance company. And while the money it’s offering you may seem substantial, there’s a good chance the offer is for significantly less money than what you truly deserve. Insurance companies know that victims are often in shock after crashes and need compensation for their medical bills, especially if they’re too hurt to go to work. That’s why they take advantage of victims when they’re at their most desperate. Unfortunately, victims who accept settlement offers in the days or weeks after their crashes rarely get enough money to cover their long-term expenses, and they’re often unable to pursue additional compensation. At Berg Injury Lawyers, our California auto accident lawyers know that insurance companies rarely treat victims fairly, and their priority is to find ways to protect their profits—not pay fair settlements. If you accept the insurance company’s initial offer, you may lose out on a significant amount of money that could have covered your medical bills and lost wages for months or even years to come. Our legal team knows what fair settlements look like, and we know how to calculate your expenses to determine how much money you’re owed. If the insurance company’s offer isn’t fair, we’re ready to negotiate to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.Beware of These Common Insurance Company Traps After Your Auto Accident
| November 12th, 2018
Insurance companies spend big money every year on advertising campaigns that are designed to make people think that they’re on their side and that they freely give money to policyholders and victims when they need it. Unfortunately, the opposite is true in most cases. Insurance companies are in business to make big profits, and paying out settlements and claims isn’t part of that business model. If you or someone you love was recently hurt in an auto accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, filing a claim for compensation can help you get money for your medical bills and lost wages. But insurance companies rarely agree to pay victims what they deserve without a fight. In fact, insurance companies have teams of adjusters whose primary job is to find ways to reduce or deny payments. They accomplish that by using the following tricks and traps against innocent victims:- Offering an initial settlement—The physical shock of an auto accident can quickly be replaced with financial shock, especially when your injuries put you out of work for a long period of time. Insurance companies count on victims’ desperation by offering lowball settlements—and when victims accept, they forgo their chance to pursue additional compensation.
- Getting you to admit fault for the crash—Offering lowball settlements isn’t always enough, as many insurance companies seek to pay victims no compensation at all. They attempt to achieve that by getting victims to admit full or partial fault for crashes, even if it means twisting their words or quoting them out of context.
3 Steps to Take After an Auto Accident
| September 24th, 2018
Car crashes are ranked as one of the most traumatic experiences that a person can endure. Unfortunately, almost everyone will be involved in at least one or two car accidents in their lives—including drivers who always follow traffic laws. At Berg Injury Lawyers, our California car accident attorneys are here to help anyone who was hurt in a crash that was caused by someone else’s negligence. But we can only help victims after they contact us. That’s why we believe it’s important for drivers throughout the Golden State to know what steps to take after crashes to best protect their health and their rights to compensation. The three essential steps that all crash victims should take include:- Calling 911—Getting in touch with emergency responders immediately after a crash accomplishes two things: it makes it easier for you and other victims to get medical treatment, and it creates an official police record of the crash.
- Getting medical attention—Whether you travel to the hospital right away via ambulance or you visit a doctor soon after the accident, getting treated by medical professionals helps address any injuries right away and creates a medical record of your injuries and their severity.
- Contacting a lawyer—The police have created a report of the crash and your injuries have been treated. Now it’s time to get legal representation on your side. The insurance company is already building its case against you, but a lawyer may be able to help you level the playing the field.
2 Reasons to Call a Lawyer Right Away After an Auto Accident
| July 23rd, 2018
If you were recently hurt in a car crash, you’re probably under a lot of stress and trying to juggle several different things at once, including getting medical treatment and planning when you can return to work. But one of the most important things you can do after an accident that wasn’t your fault is contact an experienced California car accident lawyer—and the sooner you do it, the better. While personal injury claims in California are still valid up to two years after the date of the accidents, you should never wait that long to get a law firm on your side. In fact, you should consider calling a lawyer within days—if not hours—of the crash to maximize your chances of getting compensation. Here’s why:- Evidence can quickly disappear. To get the money you deserve, you or your lawyer must prove to the insurance company that you weren’t at fault for the crash. Evidence, including crash scene debris, traffic camera footage, or witness statements, can help support your case. But the longer you wait to call a lawyer, the more difficult it will be to obtain that evidence.
- The insurance company will have more time to build a case against you. Insurance companies don’t want to pay out big settlements, even to innocent victims. That’s why they have teams of adjusters who work hard to reduce or deny claims. The longer you wait to get a lawyer, the more of a head start you give the insurance company.
Summer Road Trip Safety Tips
| June 4th, 2018
The unofficial start of summer is here, and the official beginning is only a few weeks away. For many families, that means it’s time to prepare for the annual summer vacation—and that often involves a road trip. California is a great place for road trips, as there are countless sights to see and things to experience both in the state and in nearby areas. But it’s important to remember that road trips pose new and unique risks for drivers, especially when they’re not used to driving long distances with multiple passengers on board. At Berg Injury Lawyers, our California auto accident lawyers know that one of the the best ways to prevent serious accidents is to be aware of their most common causes and the most effective safe driving tips and techniques. You can reduce your family’s risks this summer by following these suggestions:- Stop if you feel sleepy, drowsy, or fatigued. Driving while drowsy is a serious problem that is linked to serious accidents. Drivers on road trips often feel the need to push themselves to drive for long stretches of time, but doing so can be dangerous. If you feel tired, pull over and rest or switch drivers.
- Reduce or eliminate distractions as much as possible. Road trips can be far more distracting than ordinary trips, especially when children are passengers in your vehicle. You can reduce the potential for distractions by keeping kids occupied with games, activities, and devices.
Avoid These Common Post-Auto Accident Mistakes
| May 14th, 2018
At Berg Injury Lawyers, our California car accident attorneys are always ready to begin building injury claims on behalf of victims like you. And while we strive to take over every aspect of claims so that our clients can focus on their recoveries and spending time with their families, we also know that the things victims do in the minutes, hours, and days after their crashes can affect their chances of getting compensation. Avoiding a few common mistakes after your crash can make a big difference in the strength of your claim. Those mistakes include:- Admitting fault for the crash—Whether you’re speaking to a police officer at the accident scene, the other driver, an insurance adjuster, or even posting on social media, admitting fault for your crash at any time can jeopardize your ability to pursue compensation. Even if evidence later proves you weren’t at fault, you still may be unable to get the money you deserve.
- Waiting too long to see a doctor—Ideally, you should see a doctor or go to the hospital right away after an auto accident. In addition to receiving medical attention to treat your injuries and rule out serious complications, your visit will also create a medical record that can serve as valuable evidence for your claim.
How Can a Lawyer Help After an Auto Accident?
| March 5th, 2018
No one should have to deal with the aftermath of an auto accident alone. It’s important to reach out for help in a variety of ways. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible after your accident can help you get the treatment you need, while speaking with friends and family members about what happened and what you’re dealing with can help you better handle the accident’s aftermath psychologically and emotionally. In addition to protecting your physical and mental health, it’s also important to protect your legal rights. Auto accidents can be expensive, especially when they cause victims to suffer injuries that keep them out of work for long periods of time. However, getting full compensation can be difficult—and some victims don’t get any compensation for accidents that weren’t their fault, leaving them to pay for expensive medical bills out of their own pockets. A California auto accident attorney at Berg Injury Lawyers wants to change that. For more than 30 years, we’ve helped injured victims like you by:- Proving fault for the accident – Successful auto accident claims begin with proof that the victim didn’t cause the crash. We can investigate the crash scene and collect evidence from a variety of sources to leave no doubt about who caused your crash.
- Negotiating to get you the money you deserve – Insurance companies are often reluctant to pay victims full compensation. Instead, they frequently offer “lowball” settlements. If we handle your case, we’ll calculate how much you’re owed, and we’ll fight to get you maximum compensation.
