California Auto and Car Accident Lawyers | Sacramento Injury Attorneys | Demas & Rosenthal

 

Sacramento Auto Accident Attorneys

In many automobile accidents it is relatively easy to determine which driver was at fault, but in others there may be other circumstances that led to the crash. Sacramento auto accident attorneys can work with drivers involved in an accident in Northern California to help determine the circumstances surrounding a car accident and help fix appropriate blame. While the criminal aspects of fault in an accident are typically handled by traffic court, the attorney can step in and help a driver blamed by police investigators if the accident was caused by other forces.

For example, if a vehicle that is still under factory warranty has a problem with its brakes which contributed to the accident, this may take some of the onus from the driver. Your Sacramento automobile accident attorneys may push to have the blame placed on or at least shared by the vehicle manufacturer under laws governing product liability. A product that turns out to be defective, such as the car's brakes, can be reasonably expected to work through the car's warranty period.  The owner of the vehicle should not be blamed if the manufacturer installed faulty parts in the car.

Road conditions may also come into play when an accident is investigated. For instance, a municipality that allows loose gravel to build up at an intersection may be responsible if a car attempts to stop and the tires slide on the gravel, sending the car skidding into the intersection into the path of another vehicle. On the surface, it may appear that the driver failed to yield the right of way of the other vehicle, but a major contributing factor was the loose stones on the road. Sacramento auto accident attorneys will look for ways the cause of the accident may be shared by other factors and not only driver error.

Reckless and irresponsible behavior may also be part of the blame in wrecks, and Sacramento automobile accident attorneys may be able to seek punitive damages.  Punitive damages are considered when the behavior led to an accident and is used to deter the offending driver, as well as others, from repeating the behavior that could lead to additional accidents.

One of the worst things a driver can do immediately following an auto accident is to admit fault for causing the accident. Even when they have been cited by investigators and law enforcement, a driver should never readily admit fault. It is a common problem in which some driver immediately feel guilty about the accident, especially if it caused serious injuries to others, and while on the surface they may appear to be completely at fault, experienced Sacramento auto accident attorneys can review the accident and help determine if the appropriate amount of fault is being placed on the right driver or other circumstances. Even if a driver feels that he or she is responsible, there may be other factors of which he or she is not aware. An experienced accident attorney can look for subtle details and factor them into the accident case.

Our Sacramento auto accident attorneys recommend that, as soon after an auto accident as possible, individuals should contact an experienced lawyer to help them understand how the accident occurred as well as to help establish fault. Remember, violating a traffic law is handled in traffic court while recovering damages from an accident is a civil matter with different rules.