Serious Injuries Reported After Pittsburg DUI Crash
The Pittsburg Police Department (Pittsburg PD) reported serious injuries after a DUI crash on the night of Wednesday, October 21, 2020. The car accident occurred at the intersection of California Avenue and Railroad Avenue at 11:00 p.m. According to Pittsburg PD, all parties involved in the traffic collision suffered injuries requiring the assistance of medical personnel. Fire crews helped in extricating one of the parties from a car by cutting off the driver’s door. All parties were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Two of the individuals were treated for minor injuries and released. The other party, identified as the driver of the second car, was last reported to be in the hospital due to critical injuries and is receiving treatment in the ICU.
A preliminary investigation by the Pittsburg PD Fatal Accident Response Team and Traffic Division revealed that one motorist showed signs of alcohol intoxication. After being treated for minor injuries, that party was later arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility. Further details on the incident were not immediately available.
Importance of Seeking Medical Treatment After Suffering Injuries in a Pittsburg DUI Crash
One of the issues our injury lawyers commonly see when people are hurt in car accidents is not seeking medical attention right away, even though they have been injured. Those involved in motor vehicle collisions often wait it out in hopes of their injuries and pain going away. While this may be a normal reaction, it may be brought up in an argument from the insurance claims adjuster as an attempt to dispute the value of a personal injury case and deny that the claimant is as badly injured as they say they are. Since California law requires evidence that the injuries are directly associated with the traffic collision, it is essential to have injuries evaluated and diagnosed by a medical professional to prove that they were caused by the other driver’s negligent actions.
What is Involved in a Personal Injury Case?
Under California law, a claimant has a limited amount of time to bring a personal injury lawsuit if the insurance company does not agree on a fair settlement. Evidence critical for proving the case and negligence on the part of the at-fault party may be lost or destroyed over time. If a lawsuit is not brought within the two-year statute of limitations, the case may be dismissed by the court, and the claimant may lose the right to recovery of the following damages:
- Costs of past and future medical treatment in connection to injuries sustained in the traffic collision
- Lost wages for missing work to recover after a vehicular crash and attend medical appointments
- Reduced lifetime earnings caused by permanent injury or disability suffered in the car accident
- Loss of consortium for the deprivation of benefits an uninjured spouse has faced due to their spouse being injured in the accident
- Pain and suffering for the impact of trauma a motor vehicle crash has had on a personal injury claimant
- Punitive damages when the at-fault party acted egregiously, like choosing to operate a motor vehicle at excessive speeds or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
More details on the personal injury claims process are included in the video below.
Should I Talk to the Insurance Company After a Car Accident?
Insurance claims adjusters are trained to dispute any fact or circumstance of a personal injury case. They use defense tactics such as offering a quick settlement or requesting recorded statements from those hurt in car accidents. The latter situation will involve claims adjusters asking questions that are argumentative or leading in nature, which may result in inaccurate statements that may be used against the claimant in the future. This is their way of reducing the value of a personal injury claim or denying its validity altogether. Retaining an experienced Pittsburg personal injury lawyer is essential in serious car accident cases to ensure something like this does not happen to you.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Pittsburg
I’m Ed Smith, a Pittsburg personal injury lawyer. When you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident caused by drunk driving, you need an experienced injury attorney to advocate on your behalf and protect your best interests. To get started today and receive free, friendly case advice, call our law firm at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400.
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We are proud to be listed as members of the California chapter of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Photo Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/emergency-emergency-services-1137137/
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