A Los Angeles resident sustained injuries when their vehicle was side-swiped by another driver on the 405 near the Nordhoff exit. They suffered from broken ribs and a shoulder separation. Unfortunately, the injuries from the side-swipe accident were severe enough that they needed to stay in the hospital for three days, wracking up a costly medical bill.
Why the Client Hired Sally Morin
On top of having to stay in the hospital for three days, the client was overwhelmed by what happened to them in the accident, as well as having to navigate the personal injury claims process. What they needed to focus on was their rest and recovery, but instead, they were having to handle tons of paperwork from their claim in addition to worrying about their medical bills and losing income from being unable to work.
As such, they knew they could not handle everything on their own and decided to hire the team at Sally Morin to help.
Best Thing Sally Morin Did for the Client
Sally Morin and her team negotiated the medical bills and liens down significantly so the client could walk away with more money. Overall, stepping in to assist the client helped alleviate their stress and allowed them to focus on their recovery. It also helped the family members who had initially been burdened by the situation when trying to handle the logistics of the case.
In the end, the client was able to prioritize urgent medical bills, avoid collections, and get their case settled and funds distributed in under six months. The experienced personal injury accident legal team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers got the client a settlement of $366,645, putting over $210,794 in the client’s pocket.
California Side-Swipe Accidents
Though side-swipe accidents on average only result in minor injuries, they can sometimes result in severe injuries that can alter a victim’s life. In California, there are around 190,000 accidents every year that cause fatalities and other severe injuries, and 2.7% of those are fatal side-swipe accidents.
What Causes Side-Swipe Accidents in California
A side-swipe accident occurs when the side of one vehicle swipes or drags along the side of another. This can occur when both vehicles are traveling in the same direction, when they are traveling in opposite directions, or when one car is in motion and the other is parked or sitting at a traffic light.
Though these kinds of accidents can be minor, they can also cause one or both drivers to lose control, which can result in a more severe crash. The damage and injuries sustained can also be much worse if the vehicles are traveling at higher speeds when they collide.
Some of the most common causes of side-swipe accidents in California include:
- Changing or merging lanes without yielding the right-of-way
- Changing or merging lanes when another vehicle is in a blind spot
- When a driver drifts into another lane due to distraction
- Drifting into another lane due to drunk driving or drug abuse
- Over or undercompensating when driving around a bend or a curve
- Bad weather causing a vehicle to slip on the pavement and drift into another lane
- A driver falling asleep at the wheel and drifting into another lane
Common Side-Swipe Accident Injuries
Again, side-swipe accidents can be both minor and severe, depending on how exactly they occur. Below are some of the common injuries that victims can sustain after this type of car accident:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bruising and lacerations
- Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding
We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus On Your Life
If you are involved in a side-swipe accident, it’s important that you file a personal injury claim as soon as possible. Though dealing with the aftermath of the accident and your injuries can be overwhelming as is, neglecting to file an injury claim could mean you will have to pay all of your medical bills out of pocket in addition to losing out on income while you recover.
However, with a personal injury claim, you could receive a large enough settlement to cover all of your accident-related expenses, in addition to walking away with extra money in your pocket. However, obtaining such a large settlement requires the help of an attorney, and one who has experience handling your type of case.
At Sally Morin Law, we see tons of cases like this every year because side-swipes are so common in California. As such, we know what it takes to fight for the rights of our clients and ensure they get the full and fair settlement they deserve. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in California, call us at 877-380-8852 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.