Auto Accidents

Los Angeles Auto Accidents Attorney

There are nearly 6.5 million vehicles registered in Los Angeles, and while most of us make it safely to our destinations day after day, every year tens of thousands of people are injured in LA car accidents. Sadly, hundreds of people in Los Angeles and over a thousand in southern California lose their lives annually in fatal car accidents which tragically could have been prevented had a negligent driver simply chosen to pay more attention and drive with greater care. Pennell Law, APC seeks justice for people injured or worse in southern California car accidents. See below for important facts about auto accidents in California, and contact our office for a no-cost, confidential consultation if you or a loved one were injured in a traffic accident.

Liability insurance may help pay for damages

When another driver is at fault in causing the accident, that driver’s liability insurance coverage should pay your claim for damages. All drivers in the state of California are required to carry liability insurance or proof of financial responsibility in the event of an accident. Unfortunately, the minimum amount required by law is only $15,000 for personal injury and $5,000 for property damage. If more than one person is injured in the accident, then a minimum insurance policy may only pay for a total of $30,000 in personal injury damages, no matter how many people were hurt. Sadly, these minimum amounts are quickly exhausted and do not begin to compensate a person who was severely injured and has incurred serious medical expenses, missed time from work or become disabled, and had to endure pain and suffering for months after the collision, or even permanently.

Your own policy may come into play

Even though California law requires all drivers to carry insurance, and the minimum amounts required are relatively low, car insurance in California is still expensive. For various reasons, many drivers – as many as 17% in southern California – choose to drive without insurance. What happens when you are hit by a driver who is uninsured? If you were carrying liability insurance at the time, you likely have Uninsured Motorist coverage as well. This part of your own policy will cover you when you are hit by an uninsured motorist. A similar type of coverage – Underinsured Motorist coverage – can help if the driver was uninsured but only carried the minimum required amount of coverage. If your coverage is greater and your costs exceed the other driver’s coverage, your UIM policy can help make up the difference.

Whether dealing with your insurance company or the other guy’s, Jonathan Pennell can help

Like any business, insurance companies want to maximize their profits. Since paying claims are a loss to the company, they work hard to pay as little as possible on a claim, or avoid paying a claim altogether whenever they can. That is why they send out claims adjusters to tell you how much your damages are, or tell you why they are not responsible to pay your claim. Insurance companies may be quick to offer you a low settlement amount, hoping that you haven’t contacted an attorney to find out what your claim is really worth, and that you will accept their offer without a fight. But insurance company initial offers are notoriously low and rarely reflect what your claim is really worth. You owe it to yourself and your family to contact Pennell Law, APC for a free consultation. We can look at the facts and let you know what we think your claim is worth. We can also negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and if we cannot achieve a satisfactory settlement, we are well-prepared to take your case to court and let a jury decide how much you are owed. With over a decade of experience litigating car accident claims in Los Angeles and southern California, Jonathan Pennell knows what your claim is worth and how to get it.

Call Pennell Law, APC after a Los Angeles Car Accident

If you have been seriously injured in an auto accident in Los Angeles or southern California, call Pennell Law, APC at 310-933-5370 for a free consultation regarding your potential claim.