Injuries Reported After Car Accident in Tracy
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), injuries were reported after a car accident on eastbound Interstate 205 in Tracy, CA, on April 9, 2020. The crash occurred shortly after 3:00 p.m. on I-205 near the North MacArthur Drive onramp. A total of two vehicles were involved, a white truck and a black Ford Explorer SUV. A witness claimed that the Ford was reportedly speeding and weaving in and out of traffic before the collision. Few details, including the conditions of those injured, were immediately available due to ongoing investigation by CHP.
How Do You Get Compensated in a Car Accident?
A thorough independent investigation of a car accident is key to building a strong personal injury claim. As part of your case, an experienced Tracy personal injury attorney can gather evidence showing the severity of your injuries and how your life has been affected as a result of the car accident. This way, your accident lawyer can negotiate with insurance companies to obtain the fair compensation you need to cover economic and noneconomic damages, such as:
- Costs of past and future medical treatment that is deemed reasonable and necessary (e.g., emergency medical transportation, hospitalization, doctor appointments, physical therapy, chiropractic care, prescription medications, and medical devices)
- Hours missed at work to recover from accident-related injuries or receive medical treatment for them
- Loss of consortium for damage to a marital relationship caused by the crash
- Lost future earning capacity due to permanent disability caused by the collision
- Mental trauma caused as a result of the car wreck like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Pain and suffering for any physical pain and emotional distress resulting from the incident
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
How Do Car Insurance Companies Avoid Paying Claims?
Insurance companies, including your own, are not always on your side when it comes to providing fair compensation for a personal injury case. Every insurer has one thing in common, they want to pay as little as possible on all claims. This is their way of protecting their bottom line. Despite charging monthly premiums, insurance companies attempt to avoid paying out personal injury claims, regardless of when people are seriously injured and need compensation to cover their losses. Insurance claims adjusters often use defense tactics to reduce the value of a bodily injury claim or deny it altogether. These may include:
- Requesting a recorded statement to establish inconsistencies that may compromise the validity of the claim
- Asking for a signed release to retrieve confidential records like medical and employment history
- Disputing reasonable and necessary medical treatment and claiming that it is not a result of their insured’s negligence
- Making a settlement offer for a claim that is far below its actual and reasonable value
For more information on whether you can trust the insurance company to offer you a fair settlement, watch the video below.
How Can I Prove Fault in a Tracy Car Accident?
To recover compensation in a personal injury claim, a person who was injured in a car accident must prove four elements of negligence. This includes establishing that the other driver had a duty of care, the negligent driver failed to exercise reasonable care, the negligence of the at-fault party was the direct cause of the crash, and the wrongdoing resulted in injuries and losses. Negligence in the context of a motor vehicle accident generally refers to unreasonable and unsafe driving practices. Police reports, traffic citations, witness statements, accident reconstruction testimony, and photographs of the accident scene and property damage can all help establish fault in a traffic collision. In cases where the conduct of the at-fault party is particularly egregious, a jury or judge may award punitive damages. These are not paid by insurance companies and must be recovered directly from the negligent party. For more information on how fault is proven in a traffic collision, reach out to an experienced injury lawyer.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Tracy
I’m Ed Smith, a Tracy personal injury lawyer. A car accident has the potential to cause catastrophic injuries that may require long-term medical care and prevent people from working. Those injured in auto accidents should be aware that insurance companies use tactics to reduce their financial liability and maximize their bottom lines. Since the personal injury claims process is not always straightforward and challenging to handle on your own, it is best to seek the assistance of an experienced attorney. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Tracy car accident, please call me at (209) 227-1931 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
Before calling our law office for a free case evaluation, see what former clients and peers have to say about working with us by visiting the following sites:
The Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel are two groups I am proudly listed as California members to.
Our personal injury law firm has been seeking fair compensation for those injured in car accidents since 1982. To see how we have helped past clients with their cases, go to our Verdicts and Settlements page.
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