El Centro Car Accident Attorney
While El Centro is a smaller community that attracts fewer tourists than its larger surrounding Southern California cities, it’s no stranger to car accidents. They happen here every day, causing minor, severe, and catastrophic injuries. If you need a car accident attorney in El Centro, look no further than the qualified attorneys at Ellis Helm, APC. We fight for the compensation you deserve.
El Centro Car Accident Damages
People injured in car accidents are entitled to receive financial compensation for their damages. Damages often include losses and inconveniences that can be economic or non-economic. Car accident damages usually include the following depending on the severity of the accident:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Humiliation
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Your El Centro car accident attorney can help you identify all the damages that apply to your case to ensure you get the maximum compensation for your claim.
California Wrongful Death Claims after Car Accidents
Sadly, some car accident victims suffer fatal injuries. If this happened to a family member or loved one, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim on their behalf under California law. Typically, if an accident victim could have filed a personal injury claim if they had lived, their next of kin or court-appointed personal representative can file a wrongful death claim seeking damages on their behalf. To determine who might be eligible in your family to file such a claim, it’s best to speak with a seasoned wrongful death attorney in El Centro. They can assess the situation and help you take the next steps. You or your deceased loved one’s estate may be eligible to receive compensation for the following:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical expenses incurred before your loved one’s death
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Lost future wages
- Loss of consortium
It’s crucial to note that even if the person who caused your loved one’s car accident and subsequent death is facing criminal charges, you still have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim against them. Your civil case will run separately from their criminal charges. Suppose they are found guilty on criminal charges, but you don’t pursue a wrongful death claim. In that case, you won’t receive the compensation you deserve. Even if they are found not guilty on criminal charges, they could still be liable for damages in a civil wrongful death case.
El Centro Car Accident Attorney FAQ
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in California?
If you were involved in a car accident, you should know that you only have a limited amount of time to pursue your legal options. California’s personal injury victims, including those involved in car accidents, have a statute of limitations of two years from the date of their accident. This means that if they intend to pursue legal action against the liable party, they must file a lawsuit within two years. If they fail to do so, they no longer have legal recourse to recover monetary compensation for their damages.
While two years might seem like a long time, keep in mind that your car accident attorney in El Centro will need time to prepare your case and follow the proper procedures before filing a car accident lawsuit should one become necessary. If you wait to contact an attorney until close to the two-year mark, they may not have enough time to help you. It’s in your best interest to contact an El Centro car accident attorney as soon as possible to maximize your compensation.
How Much is Your El Centro Car Accident Claim Worth?
When you meet with one of our skilled car accident attorneys in El Centro, we can estimate how much your car accident claim might be worth. The value of your claim depends highly on the types of damages you suffered, who is responsible for your accident, what types of insurance coverage are involved and the coverage limits, and how clear liability is in your accident. Multiple at-fault parties or injured parties can also impact the value of your claim.
What to See In El Centro
El Centro offers many natural exploring and sightseeing opportunities, including the eerie Crucifixion Thorn Natural Area, the Imperial Sand Dunes, the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, the fossils left in dry lake beds, and the mud pots bubbling along the road. While in the area, visitors may also want to do some bird watching, visit the Pioneers Museum, travel into the Yuha Desert to see the Native American geoglyphs, or take in some of El Centro’s historic buildings like Salvation Mountain’s old army post and the old post office.
Ellis Helm, APC helps El Centro car accident victims and their families seek the compensation they deserve after a car accident or after losing a loved one in a car accident. Our car accident attorneys in El Centro can assist you in financial recovery no matter how small or large your claim might be. The first step is to contact us for a complimentary case review. Contact us today at 951-289-0628 or online.
The Surrounding El Centro Area
Founded in 1906, El Centro is the county seat of Imperial County, California. It’s also the largest city in the county, with a population of over 44,000, and the largest city to lie completely below sea level. El Centro is located 113 miles from San Diego and not quite 20 miles from Mexicali, Mexico. This city has thriving retail, transportation, wholesale, and agricultural industries. Thousands of acres of farmland surround El Centro, transforming the desert into one of the most productive farming regions in the state, with over $1 billion in annual crop production. In fact, agriculture is the county’s most prominent industry, accounting for almost half of all employment.
Conveniently located in downtown El Centro near 4th Street, our law office is on Main St. We are just a short 12-minute walk from the County of Imperial Superior Court of California and a 15-minute walk from El Centro’s City Hall.
