Southern California, like most heavily populated regions, is crowded with cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles. Drivers are often distracted, forget to yield the right of way, or are simply negligent. These oversights can cause devastating injuries to people on foot. Michael D. Waks is a pedestrian accident lawyer in Long Beach who takes pride in helping the injured and their families fight for the compensation they deserve.
Thousands of fatal pedestrian accidents are reported each year in the United States, and many more result in catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord damage and brain trauma. If you were hurt due to a driver’s negligence, you should not have to pay the medical costs, lost income, and other damages out of pocket.
The Law Office of Michael D. Waks provides knowledgeable and compassionate representation in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Call (888) 394-1174 for a free consultation.
How a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help
Michael Waks understands how overwhelming it is to be the victim of a pedestrian accident. He also knows how ruthless insurance companies can be when it comes to minimizing the amount of compensation paid out to claimants. While you are dealing with your medical recovery, the insurance company is searching for ways to limit your settlement. They might even try to blame you for the accident.
Michael D. Waks is an experienced Long Beach pedestrian accident attorney who knows how to deal with insurance company tactics. He will handle all dialogue with the insurer from day one and gather the evidence needed to avoid or mitigate disputes.
Michael can also help you avoid critical mistakes that lead to complications down the road. And if the opposing party refuses to settle, he has the litigation experience to take your case to trial. Call (888) 394-1174 to speak to an aggressive pedestrian lawyer who gets results.
When Might an Insurer Dispute a Pedestrian Injury Claim?
When you file a pedestrian injury claim, the insurance company has a strong incentive to reduce the value of the settlement or deny your claim outright. Although there are strict laws that require insurers to act in good faith, there are still many scenarios where an insurance company may dispute aspects of an accident case.
Let’s take a look at a few common reasons why an insurer may dispute your claim:
- You Provided a Recorded Statement: It’s not unusual for claims adjusters to ask questions that are engineered to get claimants to make comments that can be misrepresented or used out of context to dispute liability or damages. As such, you should let your pedestrian accident attorney in Long Beach handle all correspondence with the insurance company or opposing parties.
- You Delayed Seeking Medical Care: If you don’t take your healthcare seriously after an accident—either by ignoring your doctor’s orders or putting off the diagnosis—the insurance company may assert that you failed in your duty to mitigate damages. This could lead to a reduction in your financial award or the denial of your claim.
- You Made Mistakes: There are many missteps that could potentially compromise your claim. Examples include delaying medical treatment, discussing the accident on social media, or admitting fault.
- You Do Not Have Strong Evidence: Insurance companies will only pay out a settlement if they absolutely have to. As such, if you don’t have strong evidence to back up your claim, it’s likely the insurer will challenge your case.
- The Statute of Limitations Has Passed: In personal injury law there are state-specific statutes that impose strict deadlines on when (and when not) plaintiffs can file lawsuits for an accident. Once this deadline has passed, the insurance company is unlikely to offer you a fair settlement as you will be unable to file suit against them. Many lawyers will not accept cases unless they have enough time to conduct an in-depth investigation and prepare adequately for negotiations with the insurer—a process that can take several months depending on the nature of your case. As a result, it is in your best interests to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to initiate proceedings and avoid overshooting these deadlines.
- You Were Partially Liable: If you were partially to blame for the accident–for example, if you ran out in front of a car–your financial recovery might be reduced by your own percentage of fault. Fortunately, due to California’s pure comparative negligence standard, you may be entitled to damages even if you were more than 51 percent liable for the accident. It’s important to remember that just because the insurer asserts that you were partially liable does not mean this is true. Even if you were not on a crosswalk, you might still be able to obtain compensation for 100 percent of your damages, depending on the circumstances. A pedestrian accident lawyer can help you gather the evidence needed to counter disputes over comparative negligence.
Qualities That Set Our Injury Law Firm Apart from Other Practices
Michael D. Waks has more than 30 years of experience handling personal injury cases and a hard-earned reputation for providing tenacious and effective legal representation. There is a strong link between the passion he brings to each and every case and his track record of success.
Below is a list of some of the qualities that set Michael Waks apart from other pedestrian accident attorneys in Long Beach:
- Good Reputation with Local Insurers: A lawyer’s reputation isn’t just a selling point in TV advertisements or website banners. If an attorney is respected by insurance companies, it can be a valuable asset in your fight for a fair settlement. Not only is an insurance company less likely to dispute your claim if they know you have an attorney in your corner with litigation experience, but you can also have peace of mind that if your case does proceed to trial, your lawyer has the resources, proven legal strategies, and mindset to provide effective representation. Michael D. Waks is a seasoned trial attorney who has a reputation for tough litigation, earning him respect from many of the major insurance companies in Southern California.
- Glowing Reviews from Past Clients: Reviews written by former clients can give you valuable insight into the quality of representation a law firm offers. The Law Office of Michael D. Waks has earned many 5-star reviews on sites such as Google, Yelp, and others. Our aim is to exceed our clients’ expectations not just by helping them recover a financial award, but also taking steps to make the process as stress-free and straightforward as possible. You will have a direct line to Michael and he will strive to return phone calls and emails promptly. If you are unable to come to our office, we can meet you anywhere—whether it’s at home or in the hospital.
- Michael Takes the Time to Educate Our Clients: With your financial future at stake, it’s only natural for you to be curious about the legal strategies your pedestrian accident lawyer will use to help you fight for a successful outcome in your case. Michael D. Waks takes pride in educating clients on different proceedings, the relevant case law and statutes, and how he will approach their claims. This will not only give you peace of mind that your case is in good hands, but may also help reduce your stress levels by clearing up some of the uncertainty surrounding your case.
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Long Beach, CA for a Free Consultation
For more than three decades, pedestrian accident attorney Michael D. Waks has provided aggressive and compassionate representation to the injured and their loved ones. Michael has the skills, knowledge, and resources to take on even the largest insurers in Southern California, and he isn’t afraid to take your case to trial if necessary.
Contact the Law Offices of Michael D. Waks to arrange a free case evaluation. Unlike big-brand law firms, Michael will handle your case personally; he won’t pass it off to an associate attorney. Call us today at (888) 394-1174 to get started.