A Cerritos Car Accident Lawyer Says: Carefully Itemize All Damages

A skilled Cerritos accident injury attorney will advise you to be concise and detailed about the damages and losses you sustained in a car crash. Fail to do so and you may not be fully compensated by an insurance company. Before we go into this topic, a quick overview of car accidents in Cerritos, California may reveal just how often such losses occur.

Car Accidents in Cerritos Are Disturbingly High

The California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) revealed that in 2006, five people died and 434 people were injured in Cerritos car crashes. Seventeen pedestrians were injured. One bicyclist died and five were injured. Motorcycle accidents killed two and injured 18. DUI collisions resulted in three deaths and 21 injuries. In 2007, five car accidents resulted in five fatalities. In 2008, three car crashes ended in as many fatalities.

A Car Accident Lawyer Can Assist You With a List of Accident Claims

Highly experienced Cerritos car accident lawyers will tell their clients to make a comprehensive list of each item that qualifies for reimbursement with their insurance company. "This should be part of the letter of damages send to the insurance adjuster," says John Bisnar. "Unfortunately, many car crash victims try to settle their property damage claims without first consulting a car collision lawyer. Most car crash lawyers advise against doing this. That's because car accident victims are typically overwhelmed by their accident and fail to consider anything but the loss of their vehicle. Many times, they won't list expensive navigation systems, CD and DVD players, custom wheels and other pricey aftermarket accessories."

If the damaged car was an expensive Porsche, Mercedes or other high-end vehicle that had to be repaired, these vehicles will suffer considerably in resale value. Keep in mind that insurance companies are driven to cut costs and offer you only minimal reimbursements for your damages. As soon as you sign a release of property damage claims, you can't claim any more items you may have forgotten to list. It's the same with the depreciation of your repaired vehicle. If it's not on the list of damages, it's your loss.

The Smart Move Is to Consult a Car Accident Lawyer

A savvy Cerritos car crash lawyer knows how to get the most out of insurance companies. He or she can make sure you are fairly compensated for your losses. Some of the best lawyers offer no charge, no pressure consultations. And these lawyers work on a contingency basis (you pay fees only if they win or settle your case).

To learn more, read "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Personal Injury Claim" by California personal injury attorney John Bisnar. The book ($14.99 value) is free to accident victims--just go to www.BestAttorneyBooks.com to get a copy sent to you, or you can buy one at www.Amazon.com. Be sure to check out other Los Angeles County car accident lawyers who practice with BISNAR | CHASE.

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.