STOCKTON CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

The auto insurance company for the negligent driver has attorneys working for them, you deserve a legal team of your own.

We have recovered millions and millions of dollars for auto accident victims over the years. Because we’ve handled so many auto accident cases, we know exactly what you’re going through. Although it’s all new to you, we’ve done this so many times that we know the recipe for success.

When you’ve been in an auto accident, it turns your world upside down. Your car is wrecked, medical bills are piling up, and you may not even feel well enough to make it in to work. On top of that, there’s probably an insurance adjuster sending you letters and calling you multiple times a day.

We understand that being in an auto accident puts you in a tough spot, and it’s our goal to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.

We start by offering our clients free consultations. When you’re off work and drowning in bills, the last thing you need is an expensive legal bill. That’s one reason why we also have a “no fee unless we win” policy. We don’t get paid a cent until you do.

When you hire Schwinghamer Law to handle your auto accident case, the first thing we do is send a letter to the insurance company telling them that we represent you, and to stop calling you and sending you letters. We take the burden of dealing with the insurance company off your shoulders.

The next thing we do to help is make sure you have access to quality medical care. Whether you have great insurance or no insurance, we help you find world class doctors who are willing to help.

Then we do the most important part of our job: we fight to get you a fair cash settlement. In California, insurance companies are supposed to pay auto accident victims money for medical bills, lost wages, and reasonable compensation for their pain, suffering, and inconvenience.

Unfortunately, the auto insurance companies have no interest in paying you a “fair” or “reasonable” settlement – their job is to get rid of your case for as little money as possible.

At Schwinghamer Law, we fight to get you every last dollar that you are entitled to under the law.

When you don’t have an auto accident lawyer and you are negotiating with an insurance company, you have no leverage. The auto insurance companies are basically bullies. They make low-ball offers when they think you can’t fight back in court. By fighting and winning against these insurance companies for the last decade, Schwinghamer Law helps you get the full and fair settlement you deserve.

COMMON CAUSES OF CAR ACCIDENTS

WIth I-5, Highway 99, and Highway 4 all running through town, Stockton is no stranger to auto accidents. Here are some of the common causes of auto accidents in Stockton:

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Negligently maintained or unsafe vehicles
• Reckless driving
• Drowsy driving

COMPENSATION FOR CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS

Under California Law, a negligent motorist and his insurance company are responsible for all the harm that they cause. A Stockton auto accident lawyer at Schwinghamer Law can help you recover money for:

• Damage to your automobile
• Replacement for damaged possessions
• Medical bills
• Future medical treatment
• Permanent injury or disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death damages

HIT-AND-RUN AUTO ACCIDENTS IN STOCKTON

At Schwinghamer Law we have been helping victims of auto accident cases in Stockton for years. In our experience, Stockton unfortunately has more than its fair share of hit-and-run cases.

In California, fleeing the scene of an auto accident is a crime. If you are ever involved in a hit-and-run accident, the best thing to do is to note the license plate of the other car, and immediately call the police. The police will conduct a criminal investigation into the hit-and-run driver.

While California law requires every driver to carry automobile insurance, drivers who disrespect the law enough to flee an accident scene are often uninsured. Even if the hit-and-run driver is insured, you may never learn the correct insurance company if the driver flees the scene.

In these types of cases, it may still be possible to recover for your injuries. Your own insurance many contain coverage for “Uninsured” or “Underinsured” motorist collisions. In these situations your own insurance company can sometimes “step into the shoes” of the negligent party and pay for your claim. Making an Uninsured or Underinsured motorist claim will not raise your rates or anger your insurance company – if you have this coverage, it’s part of what you pay for every month.

If you or a loved one has been in a hit-and-run accident in the Stockton area, contact an auto accident lawyer at Schwinghamer Law for a free consultation and we can guide you through this process.

AUTO ACCIDENT CHECKLIST

If you are in an auto accident in Stockton, Sacramento, or the surrounding area, the following is a checklist to keep in mind:

1. Get to a place of safety. It is not uncommon for an auto accident to cause people exit their vehicles, only to lead to a second more serious accident. It is ideal if you and your vehicle can exit the main road, but sometimes it may be safer to remain in your vehicle than to exit. Be aware of your surroundings.
2. Call the police. When police come to an accident scene, they collect all the relevant information on an auto accident, including the names of the parties, insurance info, and they even usually make a determination of who was at fault. This information can be extremely helpful later on in your case.
3. Get medical attention. Auto accidents can be shocking and terrifying. They often come out of nowhere, and leave the people involved in a state of shock. The shock and stress of an accident causes a rush of adrenaline, so you may not even realise you are injured. Take a moment to take stock of yourself, move carefully, and get to a doctor to get checked out. Once your adrenaline wears off, you may be more injured than you realized.
4. Exchange information with other drivers. Make sure that everyone involved exchanges names, contact info, and insurance info.
5. Take photos. Take photos of the scene, the damage to the vehicles (both yours and the other party’s), and other pieces of physical evidence like location of broken glass or the presence of skid marks. If the negligent party disputes fault at a later time, these could become important pieces of evidence.

HAVING A SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED STOCKTON AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY MAKES A DIFFERENCE

When you file a claim against a negligent driver and their insurance, the insurance company immediately begins working to defeat your claim. Deny, Delay, and Defend are the Three D’s of the insurance strategy. The job of the insurance company is not to take care of you or your family, it is to protect their own insureds, and to protect their bottom line.

In order to minimize the amount they pay on a claim, the insurance company will often call you, sometimes to the point of harassment, seeking to get you to agree to a low settlement.

A skilled auto accident attorney will not let this happen to you. At Schwinghamer Law, we stand up to the insurance companies and their lawyers, and fight until you get the full compensation you deserve under the law.

Call Schwinghamer Law for your free consultation to get the ball rolling. Lead trial attorney Noah Schwinghamer will meet with you in person to discuss your case and how to get you what you need.