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

Northern California Auto Accident Lawyers, Car Accident Attorneys In Sacramento

Awarded the 2005 Advocate of the Year

John Demas has been recognized by the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association as the 2005 Advocate of the Year. The award was given "in recognition of his extraordinary trial results and his intrepid work in advocating the rights of consumers." Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association is the voice of and for Sacramento Trial Attorneys.

It can be a tricky proposition to know when you should contact an attorney following an accident.  After all, you might think that your insurance alone can handle it, especially if you have good liability coverage.  If you've been in an accident in California, whether you are potentially at fault or not, getting in touch with Sacramento motor vehicle accident lawyers can be crucial. 

For example, if you're ever involved in a car accident where a serious injury or death occurred, you'll want to contact an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer as soon as possible. In general, for any accident involving another vehicle or a pedestrian, it's best to contact your lawyer; you'll definitely want to retain a lawyer if the other party does. If you're in a minor fender-bender, it may not be necessary, but if your insurer seems to question your version of events or uses an attorney itself, you'll definitely need legal representation from experienced Sacramento motor vehicle accident lawyers.

Similarly, if there's a question of fault in the accident, contacting a lawyer is very important. Oftentimes in an accident situation there are multiple causes of an accident, so even if you think that it's definitely your fault or the other party's fault, it may not be as clear-cut as you think. Your Sacramento motor vehicle lawyers will advise you to never admit fault, even if you think you caused the accident; there may be additional factors of which you are not aware. If the accident occurred in a special area such as a construction zone or school zone, it's also a good idea to contact an attorney. If you feel that the official police report on the accident does not accurately reflect events, that's another time when contacting a good attorney is essential.

 If you have no insurance, or your liability coverage is low, or your insurance company “lost” your premium payment, it's especially crucial to contact a lawyer first. There may be a short window of opportunity to do this, since most insurance companies require claims to be filed within a specific period.

If you're not sure how to handle insurance claims and negotiations, this can also be a good reason to contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer. An experienced lawyer can help you with your insurance claims and check to be sure that your insurer is doing what they should do.  Furthermore, your lawyer can give you specific advise about the insurance claim process. Your Sacramento motor vehicle accident lawyer will remind you to maintain copies of all paperwork associated with the accident; help you document the damage with photographic and written evidence; ensure that you fully understand your policy; obtain vehicle damage or replacement estimates if the insurer's appraisal seems too low; evaluate settlement offers; and generally represent you when it comes to dealing with your insurance company.