Can I Sue For A Car Accident If I Wasn’t Hurt?
Sue For A Car Accident
Simply put yes. You can sue after a car accident in California even if you weren’t hurt. California is notorious for traffic jam and bad traffic. Therefor it is no surprise that there are more car accidents in California than any other state.
If you’ve been involved in an automobile accident, you may need to seek out an experienced car accident lawyer even if you haven’t been physically injured. There are several things that a lawsuit can be based around when it comes to a vehicular accident, not just bodily injury.
Property Damage Claims
You may be entitled to a property damage claim following an automotive accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. You typically file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, which will pay for your losses.
Cost of Repairs – If the vehicle that you were driving at the time of the accident requires repairs, then you may seek reimbursement for the repair amount.
Cost of Replacement – If the car is deemed a total loss, meaning that the cost of repair exceeds the value of the car, you can seek the replacement cost of the automobile at its estimated worth.
Additionally, if there is damage beyond the vehicle itself, compensation can be pursued for any property in the automobile damaged in the accident. The value of the property in the car needs to be well documented in order to seek compensation for it.
Most automobile accidents that result in only property damage, will be resolved through an insurance claim. Therefore, a lawsuit may not be necessary. However according to Insurance Research Council nearly one in seven motorists does not have auto insurance in California. If your accident was caused by an uninsured motorist, then a lawsuit may be your only option.
Lost Wages
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it’s very likely that you have missed work due to a lack of a vehicle. Lost income needs to be properly documented when building your case. Confirmed employer verification is an important piece of evidence for the claims process. Your employer must make note of the dates and the hours missed. A pay stub may be required to provide evidence of your salary or hourly income.
Travel Costs
It is nearly impossible to get around with a vehicle and more than likely will need to rent a vehicle or use ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. If that is the case, you can be reimbursed for the costs of these services. Again, when building your case, the costs and fees need to be properly documented in order to seek the compensation due to you for them.
Pain and Suffering
Even if you were not physical harmed or injured in the accident, victims of automobile accidents can still seek compensation for pain and suffering. Although pain is more so related to physical injuries, suffering can be a bit more expansive when it comes to the two terms.
Suffering can be associated with any sort of grief related to mental or emotional pain, like the following:
- Fear or Anxiety
- Sleeplessness
- Inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Pain and suffering need to be documented in an official format and will require the expertise of an experienced personal injury lawyer to be truly considered for consideration.
Should I Hire a Lawyer if I’m Not Injured in an Accident?
Yes. To pursue a vehicle accident case that achieves reimbursement, an experienced car accident lawyer is almost always necessary. Even if you aren’t injured, a personal injury lawyer can help guide you in making sure that you can recover the compensation that you deserve following an accident.
Call us to schedule a free consultation. Remember that we work on a contingency basis. This means that we don’t charge any up front fees and only collect when we win your case.
