How a Bakersfield Car Accident Injury Law Firm Can Maximize Your Compensation

If you’ve been injured in a crash, you might look to your insurer for help with mounting medical bills, missed work, and the emotional toll of recovery. Insurance companies, however, are not on your side.

Fortunately, our Bakersfield car accident lawyers know how to fight back to secure the full injury compensation you deserve.

What Damages Can I Collect After a Car Accident?

In California, the person who causes a car accident is responsible for the resulting damages. If someone else was to blame for the crash, you are owed the full amount of your economic losses.

These may include:

• Medical bills such as past, current, and anticipated future medical expenses (hospital stays, surgeries, medications, therapy)
• Lost wages to reimburse you for income lost during recovery, including overtime and bonuses
• Lost earning capacity for your reduced ability to earn in the future if you can’t return to your previous employment
• Property damage funds to cover towing fees, repair or replace your vehicle, and pay rental car expenses

Even if you shared blame for the accident, you can still seek compensation as long as you weren’t more than 50% at fault. You could also be owed non-economic damages after a crash, including:

• Pain and suffering for physical discomfort or distress resulting from the collision
• Loss of enjoyment compensation for an inability to participate in hobbies, recreation, and everyday activities
• Emotional trauma from the psychological impacts, including anxiety, depression, or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Loss of consortium if you lost your spouse’s companionship and support

How Insurance Companies Undermine Car Accident Claims

All insurance companies have the same goal: to minimize payouts and protect their bottom line.

Here’s how insurers try to lowball victims:

Prompting Recorded Statements

Adjusters may ask you to provide a recorded statement shortly after an accident. They’ll use subtle questioning to get you to admit fault or downplay your injuries.

Delaying Investigation

Insurance companies might drag their feet collecting evidence, hoping you’ll grow frustrated and accept a quick, low offer.

Denying Medical Treatment as Unrelated

Insurers often claim that certain treatments (like physical therapy or chiropractic care) aren’t related to the accident.

Offering Early, Lowball Settlements

To close claims cheaply, insurers may present a swift settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries. Refusing unfair early offers until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) allows you to accurately calculate past and future costs.

Shifting Blame

Companies may argue you share fault—claiming you were speeding or distracted—to reduce the value of your claim under California’s comparative negligence rules.

What Our Bakersfield Car Accident Attorneys Can Do for You

At Chain | Cohn | Clark, we want to make the claims process as easy on our clients as possible. Our Bakersfield injury lawyers offer a free consultation so you can learn about your options, and a contingency fee agreement so you pay nothing upfront for representation.

Our legal services are tailored to each case but generally include:

Thorough Case Evaluation

• California personal injury compensation begins with an intensive examination of your case. From the outset, your attorney will:
  Review accident facts from the police report, scene photos, and any available video.
• Assess injuries using your medical records, diagnosis, and treatment plans to project future medical needs.
• Identify all liable parties, including at-fault drivers and potentially responsible entities such as employers or government agencies.

Comprehensive Evidence Gathering

Success in a car accident claim depends on building an ironclad case:

• Accident reconstruction experts recreate the collision dynamics to establish fault clearly.
• Medical experts detail the severity of your injuries and future prognosis.
• Economic experts calculate wage losses, lost earning capacity, and life-care costs.
• Digital forensics recovers cellphone records or vehicle black box data to prove distraction, speeding, or mechanical failures.

Demand Package Preparation

Before entering car accident settlement talks, your Bakersfield attorneys compile a demand package that includes:

• Detailed liability narrative, backed by expert analysis
• Comprehensive medical documentation and billing statements
• Wage loss records and future earning capacity projections
• Quantification of pain and suffering through life-impact statements

Aggressive Negotiation

Armed with compelling evidence, we negotiate firmly with the insurer on your behalf. We leverage:

• Clear demonstration of insurer liability exposure
• Precise calculations of economic and non-economic damages
• Willingness to proceed to litigation if necessary, which often leads insurers to increase offers

Litigation and Trial

If negotiations stall, our attorneys are prepared to file suit. When we fight for you at trial, we handle:

• All pre-trial filings and discovery, including depositions of the at-fault driver, witnesses, and expert witnesses
• Motions to compel evidence or exclude unfair insurer tactics
• Jury selection, opening statements, examinations, and closing arguments in court.

Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

Collisions are all too common on busy highways like State Route 99 and Interstate 5. If you have been hurt in a crash, don’t miss your best chance of maximizing your accident claim payout. Contact Chain | Cohn | Clark for a no-obligation, free case review today.