California Car Accidents - Who Is Liable?

When an individual has been involved in a car accident, liability is an important issue to establish in California, as we are considered a “fault state”. A fault state puts the financial responsibility on the individuals involved. Determining which party is liable is essential because it will establish which party is responsible for covering damages,…
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California Car Accidents - Who Is Liable?

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When an individual has been involved in a car accident, liability is an important issue to establish in California, as we are considered a "fault state". A fault state puts the financial responsibility on the individuals involved. Determining which party is liable is essential because it will establish which party is responsible for covering damages, whether it be for an injury or property.

Immediately following a car accident, it is important to follow these steps.  As time begins to progress after your accident, a key date to mark in your calendar is the statute of limitations for your potential case. In the state of California, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim after a car accident is two years and three years for a property damage claim. Once the statute of limitations runs out, an individual is no longer able to pursue legal action in terms of remedying the damages or injuries incurred.

How is Liability Determined?

When it comes to determining fault in California, there are many different rules in place that make establishing liability incredibly complicated. The initial step in determining fault occurs when the police arrive to the scene of the accident. In most cases, but not all, the police will state an opinion in their report after gathering statements from individuals involved in the accident or any witnesses at the site.

Although it can be difficult to determine fault, if one of the individual’s involved was committing an act of negligence, then they will assume a portion if not all the liability. Some of these acts are, but are not limited to:

  • Drinking Under the Influence (DUI): Driving while under the influence of drugs or with an alcohol blood level of 0.08 or more.
  • Traffic Violations: Violating traffic laws such as failing to stop at a stop sign, running a red light, or even speeding.
  • Distracted Driving: This occurs when the driver is distracted by something such as a cellphone, a passenger, or even something outside of the vehicle they are operating.
  • Poor Road Conditions: If there are issues with the road conditions that potentially contributed to the accident, you may be entitled to file suit against the government.
  • Faulty or Poorly Upheld Vehicles: An accident that is the result of a defective vehicle part can occur on the manufacturing level which may then lead to a product liability claim, however a driver is at fault if they fail to adequately take care of their car, such as getting routine oil changes or brake pad replacements.

If any negligence is found by either one or both drivers, the officer will state such in the report. This police report will then be used by the insurance companies in order to determine which party will be responsible for covering the damage. Often times if both parties have been deemed negligent then the coverage will be determined on a percentage basis. Prior to getting involved in an accident, it is crucial that you understand what your car insurance covers.

If you were recently injured in an auto accident and believe you were not the party at fault, but your insurance company is trying to tell you otherwise, contact our experienced legal team today to learn what coverage is available to you. The attorneys at Ghozland Law Firm are available for a free, no obligation consultation about your potential case.

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Our employment & personal injury attorneys recognize that the individuals we work with are typically going through overwhelming and stressful times in their lives. When an individual hires us, we strive to provide the client with the strong legal representation and effective counsel they need to receive fair and just compensation. Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to helping our clients in their time of need. Our employment & personal injury team is comprised of well-respected lawyers who have been involved in several multi-million dollar settlements, earning us membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®. This further demonstrates our ability to take on complex accident cases.

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Wow. This past year was a rough year for me. I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle back in June and then was laid off in November. But Jasmine Jackson, Cory Hernandez and the rest of the team at the Ghozland Law Firm really turned that around for me. Within a day after...

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They have been super helpful and on top of my case. Everyone that I have dealt with at this law firm have taken the and been patient with answering all of my questions and concerns. I highly recommend this law firm.

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Very professional, excellent lawyers, thanks to them they were able to fix my car 🚗 and win my case, many thanks to Jazmín and Maira, very kind and patient. I highly recommend them. 😊

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They did good by me and my kids Got my car fixed and hooked my kids up!! Thanks jasmine.

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I was involved in an automobile accident 6 months ago, I didn’t know where to turn. A friend recommended me to Michael Ghozland, I don’t regret it. Michael got me the compensation I deserved, will definitely recommended him to all my family and friends.

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I would like to say what a Awesome Law Firm. I Highly recommend GLF to my family and friends and everyone else. I had a unique case and they worked very hard for me and came THRU. Again thank you for always answering my calls and questions. Special thanks to Mike Ghozland.

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I was hit by a car on freeway which involved four cars and seven injured people. After trying an attorney who didn't return any of my emails and phone calls, I was referred to Ghozland Law Firm by my co-worker. They were such a great team. Very professional and reliable...

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Michael, Jaime, and Jasmine are AMAZING!!! They are GREAT people. They go above and beyond! From the first call I felt that their main concern was to help me recover from my accident. They were very friendly, professional and caring throughout the entire process...

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I highly recommend the Ghozland law firm. He represented my family after a car accident where multiple injuries were sustained. He made a complex process simple and efficient. It was so nice to just concentrate on recovering and leaving all the rest up to Michael and his...

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A friend of mine referred me to Michael after I was in a car accident. It was a complicated case that involved several cars. I mostly communicated with Jasmine, who was so kind and helpful. We were immediately able to get medical care and time off from work. They even sent...

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Everyone knows when you are in a car accident your life is frazzled and you don't know who to trust or what to do in this situation. The first thing that impressed me with the Ghozland Law Firm is they sent one of their staff out to my house to help me. It took 3 years to...

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Very professional, Michael and Nathan helped me out when I was in a major accident, I needed physical therapy. No more than six months later I was in another accident that aggravated my prior injuries. Non the less the driver was uninsured. I turned to the Ghozland firm...

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With over 40 years of experience, we have handled many slip and fall cases. I can provide you with the caliber of legal services that is normally available only to large companies, due to my experience in large-scale litigation that has resulted in awards of millions of dollars on many occasions. In 2014, Michael Ghozland was named “Street Fighter of the Year” by Consumer Attorneys of California in 2014. Because of my outstanding trial record, winning your case will probably mean obtaining a private settlement, with no need to ever step into a courtroom. Insurance companies know my reputation, and most of them would rather settle than face me in a slip and fall lawsuit.