Salinas Car Accident Lawyers

Table of Contents

• Benefits of Choosing Silva Injury Law
• What Causes Car Accidents in Salinas?
• We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases in Salinas
• Helping Clients with Serious Car Accident Injuries

Benefits of Choosing Silva Injury Law

One of the success stories that our firm likes to share with people is the case of our client Martin Rose. A distracted pickup truck driver rear-ended him on California State Route 99 (CA 99 or SR 99). The insurance company handling his case initially claimed that the accident was little more than a bump that caused no damage to his truck. As a result, it did not want to cover the costs of his injuries, which included requiring surgery for a torn rotator cuff.

Silva Injury Law submitted its initial demand letter to the insurance company, prompting a counteroffer of $69,878. We then filed a lawsuit on Mr. Rose’s behalf and began engaging in mediation before achieving a settlement of $110,000, which exceeded the original offer by 45 percent.

Attorney Michael Joe Silva has spent his entire life in the Central Valley and is fluent in Portuguese thanks to his Portuguese immigrant parents from the Azores Islands of Portugal. He is married with three daughters and has been named one of the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, a SuperLawyers Rising Star, and one of the Best Lawyers Ones To Watch.

Attorney Cassidy Jensen attended Chapman University and graduated Magna Cum Laude before attending BYU Law School in Provo, Utah. She has experience with family law from her time at McCormick Barstow before she joined Silva Injury Law and became certified as a sexual trauma responder who fights for survivors of abuse and violence.

Attorney Tanner Combs is another lifelong Central Valley resident fluent in Portuguese. He worked as a church missionary in Brazil for two years.

What Causes Car Accidents in Salinas?

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reports that Salinas had 515 fatal and injury accidents in one recent year, including 24 motorcycle accidents, 52 pedestrian accidents, and 23 bicycle accidents.

Salinas, California, is a bustling city with a population of over 150,000 people. With this many people on the roads, it’s no surprise that car accidents are a common occurrence. While car accidents happen for various reasons, some are more common than others.

Drunk or Drugged Driving

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a factor in many California traffic accidents, as many people drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A person who causes a collision while they are impaired not only risks being liable for damages, but they also typically have to deal with criminal charges for breaking the law. Importantly, the criminal part of a DUI case is entirely separate from any injury claim you have, so be sure to contact an attorney even if the police arrest the other driver.

Distracted Driving

Another common cause of car accidents in Salinas is distracted driving because people are now more connected than ever to their smartphones, tablets, or other mobile devices. Other distractions may include talking to passengers in the vehicle, looking at the scenery, eating or drinking, or attending to children in the car.

Speeding

Speeding is also a widespread cause of car accidents in California. People who drive faster than the posted speed limit often only see other vehicles once it is too late to avoid a collision.

Reckless Driving

California Vehicle Code § 23103(a) establishes that a person commits a reckless driving offense when they drive a motor vehicle on a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Reckless driving is another criminal offense that can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in county jail.

We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases in Salinas

Every car accident is different, so each person will have a unique case of why they deserve financial compensation for their losses. Silva Injury Law will take the time to understand your case’s details and know how we will fight for you.

We regularly handle car accident cases involving:

• Speeding accidents
• Distracted driving accidents
• Drugged driving or drunk driving accidents
• Drowsy driving/driver fatigue accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Head-On Collisions
• Side-impact collisions
• Sideswipe accidents
• Single-vehicle accidents
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• Rollover accidents
• Blind spot accidents
• Low-speed accidents
• Merging accidents
• T-bone accidents
• Reckless driving accidents
• Intersection accidents
• Interstate accidents
• Construction accidents
• Angle collisions

Helping Clients with Serious Car Accident Injuries

The nature of injuries people suffer in motor vehicle accidents can always vary. Still, everyone in a car accident should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Our car accident lawyers in Salinas regularly work with victims who suffered:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Amputations
• Fractures or broken bones
• Concussions
• Crush injuries
• Closed head injuries
• Back injuries
• Knee injuries
• Leg injuries
• Neck injuries
• Arm injuries
• Internal injuries
• Skull fractures
• Permanent nerve injuries
• Severe burn injuries
• Wrongful death

Focus on your physical recovery and medical treatment when you have serious injuries. The last thing you need is financial or legal stress. Silva Injury Law is here to handle every step of your car accident claim and seek compensation for you.

Insurance Coverage in California

All drivers in California must maintain the minimum amount of automobile insurance coverage. Under state law, these minimums are $15,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 in property damage liability. Unlike no-fault states, where people must file claims with their insurance companies, California is a fault-based state, so people file their claims with the insurers for the at-fault parties.

Secure legal representation before you file any car accident claim. The insurance company will always seek to settle cases for as little as possible and may even try to deny your claim entirely.

They may minimize their settlement offer by:

• Taking their time processing a claim
• Offering low initial settlement offers
• Arguing that the policy doesn’t cover the claim or that the claim is not valid
• Disputing the extent or cause of damages
• Conducting extensive investigations to find reasons to deny or reduce claims
• Pressuring claimants to accept a settlement quickly
• Requiring excessive documentation and paperwork
• Refusing to negotiate or communicate in good faith
• Blaming the claimant for the accident or injuries

When you get a Salinas car accident attorney to handle your case, they can investigate your accident independently. The investigation will be necessary because a lawyer can secure important evidence proving that another driver caused a collision. They can begin pursuing compensation in your case.

Our team will also extensively evaluate your losses to determine what your claim is worth. Our evaluation will consider your non-economic damages like pain and suffering and damages you may experience in the future.

Many people believe they can negotiate settlements for their accident cases. These people leave a lot of money on the table that they need to pay for their recoveries. Studies routinely show that people with lawyers get larger settlements than people who represent themselves.

While a lawyer can send a demand letter for damages, settlement negotiations are usually the next step in these cases and may last for several months or even years. If settlement negotiations prove unproductive, an attorney may file a lawsuit to recover compensation on your behalf. Insurance companies typically want to avoid going to court because trials are costly and time-consuming. That said, a case may have to go to trial when settlements prove impossible.

There are several additional benefits to retaining legal counsel in these cases, especially as it concerns your medical care. A lawyer can always ensure you are receiving the best possible care for your injuries, and they can also negotiate medical liens that will allow you to pay all of your medical bills out of your settlement or jury award.

Seeking Compensation for Your Injury-Related Losses

If you have suffered injuries in a car accident in Salinas that resulted from someone else’s negligence, you can seek compensation for your damages. The value of your claim can depend on the seriousness of your injuries, occupation, age, and prognosis.

You can recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Property damage
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering

Any settlement you accept needs to account for your future losses, so never accept the first offer that comes your way without consulting an attorney.

Do You Really Need a Salinas Car Accident Attorney?

After a car accident, you may wonder whether you need to retain a lawyer to represent you. You may be concerned that you cannot afford a lawyer or believe you can handle your case independently.

Regarding the first issue, everyone can afford a car accident lawyer after an accident. At Silva Injury Law, we take all of our cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we only charge legal fees if we win your case. In addition, our consultations are completely free, which means you can retain a car accident attorney to represent you without spending any money. In addition, any legal fees we collect will be a predetermined percentage of your settlement or award.

Victims need lawyers after car accidents. Car insurance companies handle claims every single day and know what to do and say to get victims to accept low settlement offers. When you are unrepresented, they may trick you into saying something they can use to justify lowering your offer or even denying your claim entirely.

Some of the things that a lawyer can do for you include:

• Analyzing your claims and identifying any potentially liable parties
• Evaluating your losses and determining what your claim is worth
• Filing your claim with the insurance company, along with a demand letter setting out your losses
• Trying to negotiate a settlement agreement with the insurance company
• If the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, filing a lawsuit and taking your case to court

Consult Our Car Accident Law Firm in Salinas Today

Salinas Car Accident Attorney, Michael Silva

If you suffered injuries or your loved one was killed in a car accident in the greater Salinas area of California, you should secure legal representation for yourself without delay. Silva Injury Law can immediately take the lead in your case, so you will not have to worry about anything while we work tirelessly to help you recover all the damages you need and deserve.

Our firm will work closely with you throughout your case and will make sure to keep you updated on everything that is happening. Call (831) 204-7152 or contact our Salinas car accident lawyers online right now for your free consultation. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer.

Testimonial

“I cannot say enough good things about Silva Injury Law. Everyone starting with the front desk were very professional, honest and hardworking. Michael and his team worked diligently to make sure everything went as quickly and as smooth as possible. Silva Injury Law genuinely care about their clients and I would highly recommend them.”

Silva Injury Law – Salinas Office

30 E San Joaquin St,

Salinas, CA 93901,