San Diego Car Accident Attorney – Serving All of the San Diego Area
Each year, thousands of people are injured in automobile accidents. These accidents can cause serious spinal cord, brain, and other types of serious personal injuries.
San Diego automobile accident lawyer Susan Handel is renowned for her aggressive and compassionate representation on behalf of victims of serious personal injuries resulting from automobile accidents and other types of accidents such as motorcycle accidents. Through her careful preparation and strong advocacy skills, Susan Handel has helped countless individuals obtain superior compensation for their injuries and losses. Moreover, as part of her personal commitment to each of her clients, she makes herself readily available to answer questions and discuss the progress of each client’s case. Susan Handel has the experience, resources and knowledge to handle large, complex and difficult cases, while at the same time maintaining the compassion and understanding the significant impact that automobile accidents have on her clients and their families. Susan Handel is widely regarded as an expert personal injury attorney with a record of very successful results for her clients who have been injured in automobile accidents, truck accidents and more.
Why You Need San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Susan Handel
Client Testimonial
Daniel was involved in a major accident caused by a drunk driver who fled the scene of the accident. Daniel suffered serious wrist, back and neck injuries. Daniel was referred to auto accident lawyer Susan Handel who assisted him with proper medical referrals and obtained a large settlement for him. He believes Susan is the very best and is a person of her word, which means everything.
You need a California auto accident lawyer immediately after an accident in order to avoid making mistakes which may affect your ability to receive superior compensation for the injuries you sustained in your accident. There is no charge for an initial consultation with Susan Handel, so you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by speaking with her immediately after your accident.
One of the worst mistakes that accident victims make is thinking they are guaranteed to receive fair compensation from insurance companies and responsible parties without the assistance of an attorney. Unfortunately, the insurance companies, even your own, are in the business to make money-they are not there to assist you. Trying to “go it alone” can lead to a very unfair relationship between you and the insurance company. Keep in mind that the insurance companies have armies of adjusters, defense lawyers, and claims representatives whose number one goal is to pay you as little as possible and even nothing when you present your personal injury claim. Susan Handel’s goal is completely the opposite. She will see to it that you receive excellent medical care at no up-front cost to you and that you obtain superior recovery for your injuries.
Claims adjusters will be acting immediately to find ways to reduce the value of your claim. They will ask to take a recorded statement from you to get your description of the accident. Later they will turn that around and use it against you if they can.
It is common practice for an insurance company to contact you immediately after an accident and make a premature, low ball settlement offer to you. This is completely unfair and improper. You will not know the true value of your case until all of your medical treatment is completed because until then, the amount of your damages cannot be established. The insurance companies know this. However, they are in danger of losing massive amounts of money as a result of these accidents, and will work vigorously to protect their financial interests with complete disregard for your injuries and the consequences you will suffer from your accident.
Insurance companies can be manipulative and difficult to work with. Susan Handel is not intimidated by an insurance company, the insurance company’s attorneys, or the insurance company claims adjusters. Susan Handel will work tirelessly to represent your rights until you receive the superior compensation to which you are entitled. Your case is important and Susan Handel knows how crucial the outcome can be to your future health and well-being.
Susan Handel has extensive experience and meticulous investigating talents. She is aided by qualified engineers, accident reconstructionists, medical experts, vocational rehabilitation experts, and a team who will gather and analyze all of the relevant evidence in large damage cases involving catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
Common Causes of San Diego Car Accidents
Fatigue
Cell phone use
Distractions created by other passengers
Watching the scenery
Adjusting music
Reading notes and other materials.
Attempting to retrieve items
Eating or grooming in the car
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Unsafe, excessively high speed
Defective products or mechanical failure such as blow outs or brake failure, axle failure
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in San Diego?
It is extremely important that you follow some basic rules beginning at the scene of the automobile accident, so you do not jeopardize your health and your right to compensation.
Stay at the scene of the automobile accident and wait for a police officer to come and make a full report of your accident. The existence of a police report will strengthen your case.
Seek medical attention immediately. Obtaining a complete examination from a doctor as soon as possible will serve two purposes. First, the doctor can often detect injuries that you may not have noticed until several days after the accident and will be more easily treated if caught early; and second, a doctor’s examination will automatically create a complete medical record of any injuries you sustain during this accident and this will strengthen your case.
Get complete information from everyone at the scene of the automobile accident. Obtain the name, address, telephone number, driver’s license number, and insurance information of all of the drivers involved in the automobile accident, as well as the names of any emergency personnel and the contact information of any witnesses.
Do not admit guilt or sign any statements without talking to a lawyer first. Be cooperative with the police, other drivers and emergency personnel at the scene of the car accident, but don’t say anything that can later be used as evidence to prove that you were responsible for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Take photographs of your injuries and damage to your vehicle. These photographs work best as evidence when they are taken at the scene of the automobile accident, but they can also be taken after the fact if you are severely injured and need immediate hospitalization.
Keep complete records of medical expenses and other costs related to your accident which can be used as evidence to help you verify these damages.
Contact your insurance company and report the accident so they can begin processing your claim. Make sure you give this information to your insurance company with an attorney’s assistance at the time you give the statement in order not to prejudice your claim. Your own insurance company is in the business to make money, they are not there to assist you no matter how nice they may seem. They are looking for ways not to pay you the compensation you deserve – don’t be one of their victims!
Should I Trust San Diego Automobile Insurance Companies?
Absolutely not! Automobile Insurance companies are in the business to make money, they are not there to assist you. In order to avoid paying for the full extent and treatment of your personal injuries, insurance companies often try to settle quickly after an automobile accident, before the full extent of your injuries are apparent. The insurance companies are very sophisticated in how they go about setting up a claim, but their number one goal is to pay you as little as possible, and even nothing, if they can get away with that! If you try to go up against a large insurance company without knowing the system, you are not going to be treated fairly and you will not obtain the superior compensation you deserve. Don’t be one of their victims.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
If a negligent vehicle operator causes an injury but is not insured, he or she may be required to pay for the damages resulting from the accident they caused. However, if that person is covered by automobile liability insurance, his or her insurance company will be responsible for paying the damages that the injured person proves are caused by the accident based on available insurance. However, California automobile insurance companies fight injury cases vigorously because they want to avoid paying money to you. Unless the injured person can prove that the other driver was negligent, that negligence actually caused the accident, and that their injuries were caused by the accident, an insurance company will never pay. Even when liability for the accident is completely clear, automobile insurance companies very often dispute the amount of damages an injured person must prove – not only the amount of damages, but the extent of the damages as well.
California automobile insurance companies have extensive resources and will vigorously defend their financial interests in order to avoid paying fair compensation to accident victims. Often, these companies will offer a quick settlement in the hopes that the injured party will accept and forfeit their rights to further damages. Though it may seem like an appealing option if you have financial burdens as a result of your accident, such offers are often far less than what you are entitled to. By seeking counsel and representation from experienced auto accident attorney Susan Handel, she will protect your interests regarding your accident, and make certain that no insurance company takes advantage of you at any time.
Experienced automobile accident lawyer Susan Handel will not only put together the facts with which to prove negligence, but she will gather all the applicable information including insurance coverage, medical records, wage losses and assemble the damage evidence in a manner which will persuade the insurance company to pay the maximum reasonable compensation for your injuries suffered. If an out of court settlement is not possible, then a jury trial will result. If you would like to arrange a free, confidential consultation with Susan Handel about your automobile accident claim, please call our office now. Susan Handel also provides in person, free, confidential consultations at your home or in the hospital for your convenience. You deserve the very best, so call Susan Handel now.
Recovering Compensation in a Car Accident
Automobile accidents can be sudden, tragic, life-changing events. Susan Handel understands that no monetary compensation can make up for the loss of one’s health or worse, the loss of a loved one. She also understands that victims of automobile accidents often face staggering medical costs, extensive property damage, and other financial and emotional hardships. Susan Handel will help you recover the superior compensation you deserve, including payment for past and future medical care, past and future lost wages, loss of support, pain and suffering, property damage, funeral expenses, and any other damages associated with your accident.
In appropriate cases, out of court settlements will be obtained for our clients, but if it is in your best interest to take your case to trial, Susan Handel has the resources, knowledge, and experience, to do so.
San Diego Car Insurance Coverage Information
Protecting yourself from the consequences of an automobile accident often begins with the purchase of your own appropriate California automobile insurance coverage. This can be a difficult task because there are so many different types of insurance coverage available and frequently the coverage will not be well explained to you by your own insurance company. Here is a brief description of the different types of coverage you may obtain through your own insurance company.
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance covers you for injuries you cause to others if you are the at fault party in your accident. In California, liability coverage is mandatory in the minimum sum of $15,000.00 per injured person and $30,000.00 per accident. Although this is the minimum required under California law, individuals benefit in carrying higher limits. Carrying higher limits will protect your assets in the event a large claim is made against you and it makes you eligible for higher uninsured and underinsured motorists’ coverage, as well as umbrella and excess policies of both liability and uninsured motorist coverage.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage is an elective type of insurance. Collision coverage covers damage to your car. Carry enough coverage to cover the value of your own car. A leasing company will almost always require this coverage if you are financing your vehicle. A rental company will always require this coverage if you are renting a vehicle. If you don’t carry this kind of coverage you will have to purchase this kind of coverage from the rental company before they allow you to rent one of their vehicles. Remember, even if you have an old vehicle, if you have a collision with another driver who is uninsured you will have no available insurance to cover your car damage if you don’t have collision coverage. Additionally, if you are involved in a solo car accident that is your fault, there will be no coverage to pay for your car damage if you don’t have collision coverage.
Medical Coverage
Medical coverage is an elective type of insurance. Medical coverage is used to pay for medical bills which you incur as a result of being injured in an automobile accident, regardless of fault. Medical coverage extends to all passengers that might be in your vehicle at the time of the accident. Different insurance companies have different rules as to when you must make a claim for medical coverage benefits to pay for your medical bills. Medical coverage can be used in place of, or in addition to, your health insurance.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage is an automobile insurance policy option which covers the policyholder, authorized drivers, and his/her passengers for bodily injury and property damage incurred in an accident caused by a driver who has no liability insurance.
A large number of motorists in California do not carry liability insurance coverage. That’s why its highly recommended that uninsured motorist insurance is purchased by drivers in order to protect themselves and their loved ones financially in case they are involved in a collision caused by an uninsured motorist. Uninsured motorist coverage is well worth the expense since more than 40% of the drivers on the road do not carry liability insurance.
Underinsured motorist coverage
Underinsured motorist coverage is an automobile insurance policy option which covers the policyholder, authorized drivers, and his/her passengers for bodily injury and property damage incurred in an accident caused by a driver who has insufficient California automobile insurance coverage to cover the total damages. Underinsured motorist coverage typically covers the difference between your underinsured coverage limit and the other driver’s liability coverage limit.
Underinsured motorist auto insurance can take the form of bodily injury coverage, property damage coverage, or both. Since the majority of drivers on the road carry inadequate limits of liability insurance, it is in your best interests to have the highest limits of underinsured motorist coverage which your insurance company offers.
Susan Handel will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the various insurance coverages discussed above. Susan Handel is considered an expert in this area of the law.
Susan Handel: Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one are involved in a serious accident, it can be medically, emotionally, and financially overwhelming. The Law Offices of Susan Handel will help your family and you cope with all of those difficulties.
You need a California auto accident lawyer like Susan Handel. She has the experience, resources and knowledge to handle large, complex and difficult cases, while at the same time maintaining the compassion and understanding the significant impact that automobile accidents have on her clients and their families.
Susan Handel is widely regarded as an expert personal injury attorney and auto accident lawyer with a record of very successful results for her clients who have been seriously injured or have lost loved ones in automobile accidents.
Your initial consultation with auto accident lawyer, Susan Handel, is both free and confidential. You deserve the very best, so call Susan Handel now and she will be happy to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have regarding your accident. Susan Handel also provides in-person, free, confidential home and hospital visits for your convenience.