To Substantiate Losses, Keep Receipts, Advises One San Bernardino Personal Injury Lawyer

A brief sit down with a knowledgeable San Bernardino accident injury lawyer can be very helpful if you ever get into a car accident in San Bernardino, California. He or she can advise you of the economic damages you may recover if you are injured or suffer property damage in a car collision. If you drive a car, bike or motorcycle in San Bernardino, you may one day need to consult a car accident lawyer, since accidents seem to happen more often in this city.

Car Accidents in San Bernardino Are Alarmingly Frequent

Just looking at 2006, for example, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) noted that 32 people lost their lives and 1,177 were injured in San Bernardino car crashes. Seven pedestrians were killed and 75 were injured in car collisions. One bicyclist was killed and 28 were injured in car accidents. And motorcycle accidents killed one and injured 60. Drunk drivers caused 11 fatalities and 136 injuries. In 2007, 33 car collisions ended in 37 deaths.

Car Accidents Often Cause a Long List of Damages

Should you suffer the misfortune of a car accident, skilled San Bernardino car accident lawyers list the most common types of economic damages: medical, pharmaceutical and therapeutic expenses; loss of employment and fringe benefits; loss of earning capacity; lost wages; costs of household services; the expense of household modifications needed to accommodate special needs arising from the accident; funeral expenses; estate administration costs; and property damage. Also included would be the loss of your car as well as its "loss of use" while it's being repaired after the accident.

One Thing to Remember if Your Car is "Totaled"

One caveat should your car be "totaled": Don't just take the insurance adjuster's estimate of its value. The Kelly Blue Book is not the ultimate reference in establishing your car's true replacement value. You should consult auto sales magazines, newspapers and online classified ads. Figure in your car's year, make, model, mileage, optional equipment and overall condition. Remember, insurance companies should consider your car's actual replacement cost. Lastly, try to pay all out-of-pocket expenses with checks or credit cards to accurately substantiate every item. If you use cash, keep all receipts.

Seek Out Car Accident Lawyers Who Offer No Charge, No Pressure Consultations

Increasingly, some of the best San Bernardino car crash lawyers have begun to offer no charge, no pressure, consultations to guide car accident victims through the process of dealing with insurance companies.

For more tips and advice, read "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Personal Injury Claim" by California personal injury attorney John Bisnar. The book 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. Please see other BISNAR | CHASE California car accident lawyers.

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.