Highway Accidents

Southern California is well known for its highways, which millions of people travel each day. With so many motorists driving on the roads in and around Chula Vista and San Diego, it is not surprising that many people are involved in highway accidents. While such accidents are common, they are usually preventable and only happen because of careless driving. If you suffered injuries in a highway accident, you might be able to recover damages for your losses, and it is in your best interest to talk to a lawyer. The seasoned Chula Vista car accident lawyers of the Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth can assess the circumstances surrounding your collision and gather any evidence that will help you pursue a favorable result. We regularly represent people hurt in car accidents in lawsuits in Chula Vista, San Diego, and cities throughout Southern California.

Various factors can cause highway accidents, but some are more common than others. For example, people who are texting, looking at their phones, or otherwise distracted often cause collisions. Similarly, people under the influence of drugs or alcohol frequently lack the capacity to drive safely or react in a timely manner to obstacles on the highway. Young, inexperienced drivers and older drivers cause many accidents as well, as do people who fail to abide by the provisions of the California Vehicle Code. In addition to reckless driving, highway crashes can be caused by inclement weather, poor road conditions, and defective vehicles or components. In many cases, highway accidents occur due to multiple factors.

Regardless of the exact scenario that led to a collision, a plaintiff in a car accident lawsuit must establish liability to recover damages. A plaintiff will attempt to prove liability via a negligence claim in most instances. In California, negligence is made up of four components, and a plaintiff must prove each component to establish fault. The first component, duty, can either arise out of a statute or may be the obligation to act with reasonable care under the circumstances. The second component is a violation of the duty owed. The third and fourth elements, damages and causation, are linked together. Specifically, the plaintiff must prove they suffered quantifiable losses and that the defendant’s breach of the duty owed proximately caused the losses. The defendant’s behavior does not have to be the only cause of the crash, but it must be a significant factor in bringing it about.

Defendants in car accident cases rarely admit liability. Further, in many cases, they will attempt to shift blame to the plaintiff to avoid paying compensation. In other words, they will argue that the plaintiff caused the accident and therefore should not be awarded damages. Under California law, though, a plaintiff’s fault will only reduce the compensation they recover; it will not prevent them from recovering altogether. In other words, if the judge or jury grants the plaintiff $100,000 in damages but the plaintiff is determined to be 40% at fault, their damages award will be reduced to $60,000.

Generally, plaintiffs that present winning cases are granted damages for their financial losses, like the cost of medical care, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses, and non-economic harm, like pain, suffering, and mental anguish.

Highway accidents frequently cause substantial physical, emotional, and financial losses and people that cause such collisions should be held legally responsible. If you were injured in a crash on a highway, it is wise to confer with a lawyer to assess your possible claims. At the Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth, our skilled Chula Vista attorneys take pride in helping parties injured by the negligence of others seek justice for their losses, and if you hire us, we will aggressively advocate on your behalf. We have offices in Chula Vista and San Diego, and we frequently represent people hurt in car crashes in cases in San Diego County and throughout Southern California. You can contact us at (619) 691-8942 or via our online form to set up a confidential and free meeting.