California motor vehicle accident lawyer Mickey Fine has over two decades of experience in helping victims of motor vehicle accidents and their families get the compensation they deserve. With a reputation as an aggressive but fair attorney, Mickey Fine will fight for your rights and make sure insurance companies pay what they owe.
Every year there are tens of thousands of motor vehicle accidents on the highways and streets of California. This is a populous state with lots of drivers. This includes distracted drivers, drivers operating unsafe vehicles, exhausted truck drivers, and more.
While there are many scenarios in which a motor vehicle accident can occur, they result in thousands of people receiving serious, even catastrophic, injuries. Some of these accident victims succumb to their injuries, leaving behind grieving families and friends.
What is a Motor Vehicle Accident?
At the Law Offices of Mickey Fine, we have years of experience representing people who have suffered injuries in auto accidents. People can experience many different injuries and suffer severe trauma when they are involved in a motor vehicle accident. We represent clients in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents.
Every year in California, thousands of car accidents cause serious and life-threatening injuries to their victims. Unfortunately, many of these injuries lead to permanent disabilities and death. In fact, car accidents cause over 3,000 deaths in California each year.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Bakersfield, CA, it is necessary that you contact Bakersfield car accident lawyer Mickey Fine. Mickey has over two decades of experience helping car accident victims just like you pursue their rightful compensation for their injuries.
Believe it or not, the I-5 and I-99 highways in California are amongst the most dangerous roads in America when it comes to motor vehicle accidents. This is especially scary to think about when we imagine how many large tractor-trailer trucks are on these highways each day. When an accident occurs involving a large truck, serious damage and injuries can occur for those involved.
Due to the large number of trucks on the road every day in Bakersfield, CA, thousands of people are at risk of being in a truck accident each day. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a trucking accident, contact Mickey Fine right away so he can discuss providing legal representation for you and your family. Mickey will work aggressively to obtain the compensation you are rightfully entitled to.
Believe it or not, most accidents that involve motorcycles in Bakersfield are not due to the fault of the biker but rather another motor vehicle on the road. Many vehicles that cause motorcycle accidents do not see the biker when making a normal driving maneuver and end up clipping the motorcyclist.
If you or someone close to you has been involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered serious injuries or death, it’s important that you contact Mickey Fine as soon as you can so he can discuss providing you with legal representation. Mickey Fine understands that bikers are not always treated fairly in their accident claims, and he will ensure that this does not happen to you. Mickey will make sure that he provides you with an aggressive and steadfast presence who will fight for you every step of the way.
Causes of Auto Accidents in Bakersfield
Bakersfield car accidents most often occur due to negligent drivers who put the lives of others at risk through their disregard for other drivers. By filing a personal injury claim with the help of an experienced car accident attorney, at-fault drivers can be held accountable for damages to injured victims. Liability is commonly assigned in auto accident cases due to the following:
Distracted Driving
Operating a moving vehicle while engaged in other activities constitutes one of the greatest risks of becoming involved in an auto accident. Distracted driving behavior can include texting, talking on the phone, eating, or other activities that take your attention away from the vehicle.
Driving Under the Influence
Drunk driving accidents cause untold injuries and fatalities every year in California. A drunk driver with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit is likely to be found liable in the event of a serious car accident.
Reckless Driving
Behaviors such as speeding, racing, or displaying aggression or road rage while behind the wheel can all contribute to the likelihood of a car wreck or other vehicle accident.
Determining the cause of an accident and identifying liable parties is a crucial component of personal injury law. Your settlement will likely be pursued through the at-fault driver’s insurance. Bakersfield car accident attorney Mickey Fine will investigate your case thoroughly to determine what caused your accident and work to make sure that you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries.
Common Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Many of the injuries that are sustained in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents will lead to victims having to endure medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation. Even with these treatments, some victims of motor vehicle accidents may never fully recover from their injuries. A car wreck victim who sustains life-long injuries may never return to work, lead a quality life, and need full-time care to get through daily life.
Victims of motor vehicle accidents in Bakersfield deserve full compensation for the injuries they suffer from. Bakersfield motor vehicle accident lawyer Mickey Fine is experienced in his field and will do all that he can to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve for injuries that include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are very common in motor vehicle accidents. They occur when a blunt force impacts the head and can leave a victim with severe damage to the brain. Injuries to the brain include skull fractures, concussions, brain hemorrhages, and more. All of these injuries can leave a victim with symptoms that impact their lives in the short term but also for the rest of their life. Victims can also lose their memory, lose consciousness, and experience severe headaches.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Broken bones are the second most common injury suffered in motor vehicle accidents in the United States. The force in which your body is jostled around in a motor vehicle accident is often entirely too much for your bones to handle. Often, broken bones will need extensive recovery periods and, sometimes, if serious enough, surgery.
Back and Spinal Injuries
Back and spinal injuries are often the result of a serious motor vehicle accident. Victims of serious motor vehicle accidents can suffer whiplash, sever their spinal cord, crush their vertebrae, and rupture discs in their back. Victims can often be left paralyzed and have to undergo multiple major surgeries. Even with surgery and rehab, many people will never fully recover from their back injuries.
Burns and Gashes Injuries
Accidents can cause shards of metal and glass to spray in various directions at very high speeds. Shrapnel flying through the air at high speeds can easily cut a human’s skin to the bone. Burns can also happen in auto accidents. Burns from auto accidents often come from fires, seatbelts, and airbags. When serious enough, burns and cuts require extensive medical treatment. They can leave their victims with unsightly permanent scars and deformities.
Organ Damage and Internal Bleeding
Internal organs can be damaged in any motor vehicle accident. They can be punctured by broken bones and ruptured by blunt force. These injuries require immediate medical attention as they can be life-threatening. Internal bleeding and punctured organs can leave their victims with life-long symptoms and death.
Compensation for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Bakersfield
As residents of California, we all know traffic in this state can be treacherous. Because of this, highways and roads across the state’s major cities are often jammed with cars, trucks, and motorcycles. With so many vehicles, accidents occur on a daily basis. Knowing this, it is important to inform drivers of the motor vehicle accident compensation laws in California.
“At Fault” and “Pure Comparative Negligence”
Like many states in the US, California indeed has an “at fault’ system for drivers who seek compensation. However, they must show that an opposing driver was at fault in the accident if the claim is to be successful. If your case goes beyond an insurance claim to legal proceedings, your case will be litigated under “pure comparative negligence.” If your case goes to trial, a jury will calculate your percentage of fault in your motor vehicle accident, and your compensation will be decided accordingly.
Damages in a Motor Vehicle Accident in California
Motor vehicle accidents often have damages that are separated into two categories that include economic and non-economic. Economic damages will cover the costs to repair or replace your car, past and future medical bills, loss of income, and any other out-of-pocket expenses. On the other hand, non-economic damages will cover your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and any disabilities or disfigurement you have to deal with.
Limits on Damages for Motor Vehicle Accidents in California
California is different than many other states because there is generally no cap on damages in a motor vehicle accident case. There are a few details that can limit or bar you from compensation in a motor vehicle accident.
In California, you have exactly two years from the date of your motor vehicle accident to file a legal case for personal injury and three years for damaged property. If a government party is involved, you have a much shorter time frame which is six months from the date of your motor vehicle accident.
Proposition 213 comes into play when a motor vehicle accident involves someone with no insurance. This states that no matter who is at fault in an accident, the driver with no insurance cannot recover non-economic damages. The uninsured driver may still recover economic damages if fault can be proven.
Experienced Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love suffered an auto accident or other vehicle crash, you deserve the help that a personal injury law firm can provide to you. Our law firm is experienced in handling all kinds of truck, motorcycle, and car accident cases and can help you navigate the legal process while not incurring further burdens on you while you recover from your physical injuries. Our lawyers are prepared to:
Investigate your case thoroughly
Gather evidence, including an official accident report, police report, and medical records, to support your claim
Tally your damages and adequately represent their value
Negotiate toward a fair settlement
If necessary, represent you in a court of law
Keep you informed of every development in your case
Mickey Fine and his team of skilled car accident lawyers will work to provide you with the best possible chance at a financial recovery after your accident and give you the personalized support you need throughout the lifecycle of your claim.
Speak With An Experienced Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Motor vehicle accidents can occur anytime when you are least expecting them. The resulting injuries you or a family member suffers can result in lifelong disability, such as a whiplash injury, traumatic brain injury, or a spinal cord injury. When this happens, you can be saddled with bills that keep piling up.
At the Law Offices of Mickey Fine, we understand you may be financially strapped as you attempt to recover physically and emotionally. As soon as we take your motor vehicle accident claim, we will take care of the legal side so you can focus on healing with the knowledge that Mr. Fine is your advocate in court. We will work as hard as we know how to get you the results you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured and need a California motor vehicle accident attorney in the Bakersfield area, please contact the Law Offices of Mickey Fine for a consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Vehicle Accidents
How do I file a motor vehicle accident claim in Bakersfield, CA
To file a motor vehicle accident claim in Bakersfield, you must contact an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney like Mickey Fine. Mickey Fine brings experience and knowledge of motor vehicle accidents to the table and will work extremely hard to ensure that you are compensated fairly for your damages. Don’t go about this alone and get unfairly compensated by insurance settlements. Contact Mickey Fine right away so he can handle your case the right way. He will work to prove that the party who caused your injuries acted negligently, and because of this, you were severely injured.
Who will pay my compensation in a Bakersfield motor vehicle accident claim?
In most motor vehicle accident cases, the at-fault party’s insurance company will be responsible for paying your damages. The process of receiving compensation can be confusing and long, that is why you need the assistance of an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer like Mickey Fine on your side. No one ever expects to be in a motor vehicle accident, but when the time comes, it is important to know where to turn.
How much compensation am I entitled to in a motor vehicle accident claim?
There are a lot of different factors which can influence the amount of compensation you receive in a motor vehicle accident claim. The best way to find out how much compensation you are entitled to in a motor vehicle accident claim is with the help of Mickey Fine. No matter what you are told throughout the process, only Mickey Fine can help you determine what your case is worth.
How long will my motor vehicle accident case take to complete?
The length in which a motor vehicle accident case takes to complete is never certain. Some motor vehicle accident cases are resolved relatively quickly, and others take quite some time. It is important that you try and remain patient throughout the process and allow Mickey Fine to turn over every rock so he can get you the compensation that you need. No accident is the same as another, so the length of a motor vehicle accident claim varies case to case.
Should I accept an insurance settlement for my motor vehicle accident?
We advise that you never accept an insurance settlement until you have first spoken about your options with Mickey Fine. Insurance companies will often make quick offers to try and get you to accept and not pursue further legal action. Mickey Fine doesn’t think this is fair. Mickey believes that you deserve the most out of your motor vehicle accident claim and will work to get you the most compensation possible.
