Have you been hurt in a car accident in Chula Vista, CA? If someone else’s negligence contributed to your crash, you may be entitled to compensation. Mission Personal Injury Lawyers has represented car accident victims in seeking fair compensation for 25 years.
Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Chula Vista car accident lawyer who can help.
We work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
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How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Chula Vista
Even seemingly straightforward car accident injury claims can be a nightmare to settle. You may be left with financial uncertainty, a painful recovery, and an inability to work for months after your crash. Meanwhile, the insurance company will fight your claim in any way they can, including downplaying your injuries’ severity and blaming you.
Our award-winning Chula Vista personal injury lawyers will give you the legal representation you need to fight back against the insurance company. We have been named the Best of the Bar by the San Diego Business Journal and have a 10.0 Superb AVVO rating based on our track record of success.
When you choose Mission Personal Injury Lawyers to represent you, we will:
- Offer insightful legal advice and guidance
- Conduct an independent investigation into your accident to determine liability and causation
- Work with top experts to prove negligence and determine an accurate value of your damages
- Negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company
- Take your case to court and fight for maximum damages if needed
Call our Chula Vista, California law office today to schedule your free consultation. We have recovered tens of millions in settlements and jury awards, and we will put this experience to work for you.
How Common Are Car Accidents in Chula Vista, CA?
Nationwide, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death. In 2018 alone, there were 36,560 people were killed in traffic crashes, the leading cause of death for Americans between ages 1 and 54. That gives the United States a fatality rate of 1.13 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.
California had the highest number of fatal crashes in 2018, beating Texas and Florida. However, its fatality rate is slightly lower than the U.S. average. Even so, 3,563 people were killed in California traffic accidents in 2018.
Of course, most car accidents aren’t fatal but instead lead to injuries that may be mild or life-changing. In 2017, the California Highway Patrol reported 193,564 injury crashes in the state. Over 277,000 people were hurt in traffic accidents in a single year.
San Diego County had over 21,500 accidents in 2016 alone. Car accidents are becoming more deadly in the region due to poor road conditions, increased traffic congestion, and an increase in dangerous driving behavior, like distracted driving.
What Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
Many factors determine the value of your Chula Vista car accident case. The only way to estimate your claim’s value is through a consultation and investigation of your crash, injuries, and damages. However, it may help to understand some of the factors that determine the value of your case.
Non-economic damages like pain and suffering and disfigurement usually account for most of a claim’s value when serious injuries are involved.
These damages are highly personal and dependent on the details of your case, including:
- Circumstances of the crash
- Whether you contributed to your accident
- The type and severity of your injuries
- The type of medical care you received
- Whether you were impaired, disfigured, or disabled
- How your injuries affect your quality of life, independence, and health
Contact Mission Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free case review. We will help you understand what your case may be worth.
What Kind of Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims?
When someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing caused your accident, you are entitled to seek compensation for the damages you suffered.
Car accident victims in Chula Vista, CA may be entitled to many types of damages, such as:
- Medical bills, current and future, including surgery, doctor’s visits, ER visits, medication, medical devices, physical therapy, and more
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Lost wages while recovering from your accident
- Lost or reduced future earnings and benefits of employment if unable to return to work
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members of someone killed in a car accident
You are entitled to economic damages, which are damages to compensate you for your financial losses. You may pursue non-economic damages, too. These damages can include compensation for the pain you suffered, depression or PTSD after your accident, and an inability to perform daily tasks, hobbies, or contribute to child-rearing.
In some cases, a jury may also award punitive damages. These are designed to punish someone for particularly shocking behavior, such as drunk driving.
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers will help you pursue full compensation for the damages you have suffered.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Car Accident in California?
Absolutely. Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, accident victims can recover compensation even if they are up to 99% at fault for the crash. This rule is used to divide financial responsibility after an accident involving shared liability.
If any fault is assigned to you for the accident, your damages will be reduced according to your share of fault. For example, if you suffer $100,000 in damages but are assigned 20% of the blame, your damages are reduced by 20% to $80,000.
Insurance companies often use this rule to attempt to escape or limit liability for an accident. Our Chula Vista car accident lawyers will help you fight back against attempts to shift fault and escape responsibility.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Car Accident Injuries
Most car accidents result in mild to moderate injuries, and victims are able to fully recover. However, many accidents result in serious, life-changing injuries that can come with disfigurement, disability, or long-term psychological and emotional harm.
At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we will fight for full compensation for all of the injuries you suffered, such as:
- Amputation
- Back injuries
- Brain injuries
- Burns
- Catastrophic injuries
- Eye injuries
- Fractures
- Neck injuries like whiplash
- Nerve damage
- Organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Our Chula Vista car accident lawyers will work with experts to determine your injuries’ extent and impact, and we will fight for the full compensation you deserve.
What Causes Most Car Accidents in Chula Vista, California?
Whether it is a motorcycle accident, truck accident, or car crash, any type of traffic accident may have multiple contributing factors. Road conditions, weather, and even the time of day can contribute to a crash. However, most Chula Vista car accidents are caused by someone’s negligence or simple human error.
The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Study (NMVCCS) was a major study into the causes of accidents and how they can be avoided. This study found that 94% of all car accidents are caused by human error. Vehicle issues (such as faulty brakes) and environmental factors played a role in just 2% of crashes.
The following are forms of negligence responsible for the vast majority of accidents in Chula Vista and the rest of the nation.
Drunk Driving
Driving under the influence is a leading factor in car crashes, particularly fatal accidents. In 2016, 29% of the 3,600 motor vehicle deaths in California involved a drunk driver. San Diego ranks first in California for DUIs, despite education campaigns and checkpoints throughout the county.
Distracted Driving
In 2018 alone, the NHTSA estimated that distracted driving killed 2,841 people in the U.S. and caused over 400,000 injuries. The National Safety Council reports that an astounding 25% of car crashes are related to some type of cellphone use, such as texting while driving.
Speeding
Speeding, along with cellphone use and drunk driving, is one of the top three factors in car accidents. In 2018, speeding was a factor in 26% of car accident fatalities. Speeding doesn’t just increase the risk of a crash; it also increases the rate of serious injuries and deaths. Speeding and drunk driving are often related. The share of speeding-related crashes decreases with the driver’s age, peaking among drivers 15 to 34.
Running Stop Signs & Red Lights
Nearly 40% of car crashes happen at intersections in Chula Vista and other cities. These accidents are often related to running a stop sign or red light. Drivers may run red lights due to inattention, fatigue, speeding, drunk driving, or aggressive driving.
Reckless or Aggressive Driving
Aggressive and reckless driving behavior put all motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists at risk. Excessive or inattentive lane changes, driving too fast for road conditions, and improper passing are all examples of reckless driving.
Fatigued Driving
Driving while fatigued is considered as dangerous as drunk driving. The National Safety Council estimates 328,000 drowsy driving accidents occur every year in the U.S., which causes approximately 109,000 injuries and 6,400 deaths. About 20% of people admit to falling asleep at the wheel in the last year. As with alcohol, driving while drowsy reduces reaction time and affects decision-making and alertness. Being awake for 18 hours is comparable to a blood alcohol content of 0.05%. This increases to 0.08% (the legal limit) after 20 hours of being awake.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Car Accident in California?
Your Chula Vista car accident attorney at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers will conduct a careful investigation into your accident to determine how it happened. We will work with experts to gather evidence that proves negligence.
Evidence may include:
- Surveillance and dash cam footage
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony based on crash scene photos and conditions
- Damage to all vehicles
- Police reports, citations, or arrest of the other driver
- Subpoena of the other driver’s cellphone records if cellphone use was suspected
- Maintenance and driver logs, black box recorder, and trucking company records if your accident involved a truck
We will work tirelessly to gather and analyze evidence in your case to make causation and liability as clear as possible.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in California?
The California statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years from the date of your accident. Your case must be filed before this time limit expires, or you will lose your legal right to recover money for your injuries.
It’s important to contact experienced personal injury attorneys in Chula Vista as soon as possible. Two years may sound like plenty of time, but delays can allow crucial evidence to be lost. This can damage the strength and value of your claim.
Contact a Chula Vista Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
When you have been left seriously injured after a car accident in Chula Vista, you deserve a compassionate legal advocate who will help you pursue the fair compensation you need. While the insurance company won’t be on your side, Mission Personal Injury Lawyers will be in your corner fighting for your rights.
Contact our law firm today to schedule a free case review with a Chula Vista car accident lawyer. We will help you explore your legal options and begin building your case.
