Automobile Accidents

If you've just been injured in a car wreck, you are not alone. Millions of automobile accidents occur in the U.S. each year. In 2007, drivers reported more than 6 million automobile accidents to police; 2.5 million people were injured and more than 41,000 people killed, including 3,974 fatalities in the state of California.

As a victim of a car or truck accident, you may be suffering from injuries that will mean long-lasting or permanent pain and disabilities. You may have a pile of unpaid medical bills, and you may have lost your only source of income because you’re unable to work. When your injuries were caused by the careless driving of another motorist, you deserve compensation, and Arnold Law Firm is here to help.

In our 30 years of practice, the mission of Arnold Law Firm has remained constant -- to ensure that California accident victims are fully and fairly compensated for their losses. If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident, call the Sacramento legal team at Arnold Law Firm at (916) 924-3100 or click here for a free case review.

Despite advances in automobile safety and engineering, car accidents on U.S. roads and highways take a devastating toll on motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. An average of 112 people died each day in 2007 in motor vehicle crashes - or one every 13 minutes. All too often, a disregard of traffic laws and careless driving are present in those accidents. Consider these national statistics from 2007:

• Speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes. In fact, 13,040 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.
• About 39 percent of the 15-to 20-year-old male drivers who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.
• There were 12,998 alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities, and 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Forty percent of the drivers who were legally impaired in those fatal crashes were also speeding.

California courts determine fault in auto accident cases based on the law of negligence. Factors that point to negligent or careless driving include:

• Driving too fast or too slow.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Failing to signal while turning.
• Disregarding weather or traffic conditions.
• Disobeying traffic signs or signals.
• Failing to drive on the right side of the road.

Reckless conduct - driving with a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others - can also determine liability for an automobile accident in California, as well as product liability, in which a manufacturer sells a defective product that fails and causes an accident. Other examples include mechanics who fail to properly repair a vehicle that causes an accident, or government authorities who fail to adequately maintain roads or fail to provide adequate signs, road markings or lighting. In the case of an intoxicated driver, the bar or host who served the driver can also be held liable.

Evaluating every possible cause or contributing factor of an auto accident takes skill and experience. At Arnold Law Firm, we are experienced in demonstrating fault in California auto accident lawsuits. We focus on evaluating the evidence, collecting witness statements and preparing your claim for settlement or trial. Our goal is to help you recover from your injuries, and we will even help you find and pay for the right medical specialists to speed your recovery.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligence or carelessness of another driver, call the Sacramento legal team at Arnold Law Firm at (916) 924-3100 or click here to submit a simple case form. Your consultation is free, and if we agree to fight for your legal rights, you will pay a fee only if we win.