Getting sued can be a traumatizing thing in itself, especially when the other party is the one at fault. Only a handful of states have no-fault clauses when it comes to auto accidents, and unfortunately, California is not one of them. The road ahead will seem daunting and full of obstacles, and will leave you feeling helpless. The lawyers HHat Hodes Milman have a breadth of experience advising clients on these issues and are dedicated guiding you safely down the road ahead. Below are a few tips on what to do when you’ve been sued.
- Act as soon as possible. It is crucial to start building a defense as soon as you get served. There is a 30 day deadline to file a response, and not adhering to it can cause you to lose by default. You can do this by hiring a lawyer, and deciding what kind of response you need to file.
- Educate yourself by researching traffic laws. There are certain accidents, such as rear-end collisions, and left-turn accidents where the other driver is at fault 99% of the time. Gather all of the evidence you have from the car crash to hand over to your attorney. Gathering as much evidence as possible to support your claim is the most crucial step you should take. Photographs, doctor reports, testimony from eyewitnesses, reports from the insurance claims adjuster, and police reports are all great evidence to prove the other driver was at fault.
- Check your insurance policy benefits for car accident lawsuit coverage. Many insurance policies offer lawsuit coverage in the event that you get wrongfully sued, which includes hiring and paying a lawyer, along with other approved costs associated with the lawsuit, such as medical bills for personal injury. Although this is a great benefit, your insurance company will be more concerned with keeping costs down than protecting your reputation, so they may opt to settle out of court even though the accident wasn’t your fault. It is best to consider your options before you hire an attorney through your insurance. In some cases, your insurance may decide to deny you defense, in which case you are eligible to sue them for punitive damages.
If you are experiencing difficulty due to a faulty lawsuit brought on by a recent auto accident, the lawyers at Hodes Milman are there for you in your time of need. Contact us today online at verdictvictory.com or call (949) 640-8222 for a complimentary case evaluation.
