Trouble Getting Your Car Repaired After An Accident?
People work hard for their cars. Whether its a part-time job while still in school to get that first used car or the luxury car you’ve worked so hard for in your adult life, cars are special. Getting cars repaired or paid for can be the difference between staying in good standing at your school or job and thus, it is important to deal with the insurance companies efficiently and correctly.
Picking a Reputable Shop
In California, you have the right to select your shop of choice and you DO NOT have to use one suggested by the insurance company. The first thing that will usually happen is that the insurance company of the person who hit you will send out a person to investigate the damage. that person will then come up with an estimate (usually minimal and incomplete) and will give you a copy of that estimate to take to a shop of your choice and sometimes they will give you a check for the amount of the estimate. With that said, it is important to find the right place that will do the work right and seek out verifiable damages. When you take your car to the shop, they will then do a full inspection (put the car up on a lift) and find damage to the vehicle missed by the initial inspection. From that point on, the shop will deal directly with the insurance company so that the insurance company can verify the additional damage and approve the costs of fixing it. You do not want a body shop in Tijuana handling this.
How Will You Get Around While Your Car is in the Shop?
While your vehicle is in the shop, you have the right to a rental paid for by the insurance of the person that hit you. Most insurance companies will not pay for insuring the rental vehicle, so you should review your own insurance to see if a rental vehicle is covered to prevent you spending money unnecessarily. Don’t forget that you’re entitled to a vehicle of the same quality. What if you have a second vehicle that you can use? You are entitled to the loss of use of your vehicle while it is in the shop. This is generally arrived at by figuring out what the daily rental value of your car is. For example, if you drive a 2015 Nissan Altima, the rental value might be $30 per day. If your car is in the shop for 10 days, you would be able to assert a claim for $300.
The ins and outs of when the vehicle is declared a total loss will be dealt with in a future post.
If you need help or have questions with regard to your damaged vehicle, the attorneys at Ray Padilla Law, APC will be happy to discuss your potential case with you for free. Call (619) 431-1187.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. If you require legal assistance, we highly recommend you speak to a qualified attorney. By reading this post, you agree this information is for informational use only and agree to hold Ray Padilla Law, APC harmless for any losses or damages as a result of this information.
Concussion or Loss of Consciousness From a Car Accident
A blow to the head can result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These injuries can happen in many different ways, but many people sustain TBIs during a car crash. It is not uncommon for people in a car accident to hit their heads on the steering wheel, window or dashboard. The troubling thing is that some people are misinformed and believe that all concussions cause a loss of consciousness, and thus, if they didn’t lose consciousness they assume they’re fine.
Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Concussions and loss of consciuosness can lead to nausea, dizziness, blurry vision, confusion, head aches both severe and mild, behavioral changes, and forgetfulness following the injury. What is especially concerning is that some of these symptoms may not arise until several days, weeks and sometimes even months after the car crash. As you can imagine, this can become problematic when attempting to show that the car accident was the cause of the injuries and symptoms that a person is now suffering from. However, most important is the need for treatment as the symptoms previously mentioned, if left untreated and sometimes even with treatment, can have hugely detrimental effects on the person’s relationships, career, mental health and life in general.
Early Detection is Important
In recent years, new techniques and advances in technology have allowed these injuries to not only be recognized but detected early on. The most severe the brain injury the more easily it is detectable; however, most brain injuries come in the form of mild traumatic brain injuries “MTBI.” As such, it is important to have a proper medical evaluation done to rule out such an injury. After a car accident, people are happy to be alive and soaring with adrenaline so it is not always clear to them whether they may have suffered a concussion or loss of consciousness. Thus, if you or someone you know is experiencing similar symptoms following a car accident be sure to seek help.
Every symptom is worth treatment and merits relief from it. The attorneys at Ray Padilla Law, APC will be happy to discuss your potential case with you for free. Call (619) 431-1187.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. If you require legal assistance, we highly recommend you speak to a qualified attorney. By reading this post, you agree this information is for informational use only and agree to hold Ray Padilla Law, APC harmless for any losses or damages as a result of this information.
How to Stay Safe During Summer Road Trips
Every summer, millions and millions of families across California and the United States hit the road on family road trips. If you will be doing the same, keep safety on your mind.
California law states that each child must be properly restrained in a child safety seat, booster seat or other restraint system in the back seat, until the child is 9 years old or at least 4 feet 9 inches in height. Exceptions are:
- When there is no rear seat.
- The rear seats are side-facing jump seats.
- The child passenger restraint system cannot be installed properly in the rear seat.
- All rear seats are already occupied by children under the age of 12 years.
- Medical reasons require that the child not ride in the rear seat. The court may require satisfactory proof of the child’s medical condition.
Additionally, the law states that a child may not ride in the front seat of a mother vehicle with an active passenger air bag if the child in: under one year of age, weighs less than 20 pounds, or is riding rear -facing in a child passenger restraint system.
Finally, nothing works better than setting the right example. If you wear your seat belt, so will your children. The California Highway Patrol website offers much more information on how to stay safe on the roadways.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. If you require legal assistance, we highly recommend you speak to a qualified attorney. By reading this post, you agree this information is for informational use only and agree to hold Ray Padilla Law, APC harmless for any losses or damages as a result of this information.