Car Accident Lawyer in Oxnard, CA

With a population of just over 208,000, Oxnard is the largest city in Ventura County. It’s also a major agricultural center. That means large trucks and agricultural vehicles often share the road with cars. To add to the mix, tens of thousands of visitors visit Oxnard’s beautiful beaches and nearby attractions, especially in the warmer months.

Whether you live in, are visiting or just passing through Oxnard, the last thing you want is to be involved in a collision. But it does happen. Suffering a serious injury or losing a loved one is understandably devastating. The Dominguez Firm knows this and is ready to help. Call the Oxnard car accident attorneys at 800-818-1818 for a free consultation today. 

Below you’ll find answers to some of the most frequent questions we receive regarding Oxnard car accidents and how you can obtain justice.

What Are the Most Common Reasons For Car Accidents in Oxnard?

Findings from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) show that alcohol-impaired driving was the leading cause of accidents in Oxnard in 2019. Even worse, the city had the sad distinction of being ranked first among similarly-sized California cities for this disturbing statistic. Oxnard also ranked second for hit and run accidents as well as accidents caused by speeding.

In addition, Oxnard drivers face some unique challenges compared to other parts of the state. Because of its large agricultural and distribution presence, trucks and other large, slow-moving vehicles are far more common in Oxnard compared to similarly-sized cities. If a car crashes with these types of vehicles, injuries suffered by those in the passenger vehicle can be devastating.

What Are Some of the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

Obviously, each Oxnard car accident has its own set of circumstances, but certain injuries are more common in traffic collisions. This can be due to the point of impact, the speed the drivers were traveling at and whether they were wearing seatbelts. Other factors that lead to injuries include whether the airbags deployed—or not, how fast the drivers were going and if anyone was impaired by drugs or alcohol. 

Some of the most common car accident injuries include:

• Whiplash
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Internal bleeding
• Broken bones
• Amputation
• Cuts and lacerations

Drivers and most passengers are seated and facing forward when a car accident happens. In this scenario, many Oxnard car accident victims suffer impact injuries if any part of their bodies hit the interior of their vehicles. In more serious accidents, victims can suffer penetrating injuries. This happens when there is broken glass or other objects flying through the passenger cabin.

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. It’s caused by a victim’s head being violently jerked forward and backward while restrained by a seatbelt. It’s also the type of injury that can take a few days and even a week to manifest itself. Insurance companies are known to downplay whiplash as a minor injury, but it isn’t. In a high-impact car accident, it can lead to chronic headaches and neck pain which can last for months or even years.

Can Children Sue for Car Accident Injuries?

Minors, that is, children under the age of 18 can’t file lawsuits. But that doesn’t they don’t have rights. You can seek justice if your child was injured in an Oxnard car accident. Because they are underage, a parent or legal guardian must file a claim on their behalf. 

Another difference in personal injury lawsuits involving children is that the statute of limitations is different. Minors have up to two years after their 18^th birthday to file a claim. But just like personal injury lawsuits involving adults, if you are the parent of a child injured in an Oxnard car accident, don’t wait to file a lawsuit against those responsible for your child’s accident injuries. The sooner you contact us, the better.

What’s a Good Settlement Offer For My Oxnard Car Accident Injuries?

There are a few factors that will determine how much you are entitled to for your Oxnard car accident injuries. The legal term for this compensation is damages. They are broken down into economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are determined by adding up all of the bills directly stemming from your accident injuries. Non-economic damages put a price on the emotional toll your injuries caused you and your family. 

Your total compensation can be determined by: 

• Whether you share a percentage of blame for your accident – California is a comparative negligence state. That means you can sue for your injuries even if you share a portion of the blame for your accident. So even if a court determines that you are over 50% responsible for your accident injuries, you can still collect compensation. That percentage will be subtracted from your final settlement or verdict amount.
• The severity of your injuries – Did you spend time in the hospital? Are any of your injuries permanent? Can you return to work? These are just some of the questions that must be answered to determine your damages. Generally speaking, the more serious the injuries, the more medical attention you’ll need and the higher your medical expenses.
• Punitive damages – Punitive damages aren’t common, but they may be awarded if the defendant’s actions were found to be particularly reckless or aggressive. This is done more to punish and make an example of the defendant rather than award the victim. The goal is to discourage others from acting in a similar manner in the future.

When it comes to this question, no personal injury attorney or law firm can give you an exact amount. Then can, however, compare the facts of your Oxnard car accident to similar cases they’ve handled in the past to get a good estimate. The aim of course is always to get you the maximum legal compensation possible.

I’m an Undocumented Immigrant. Can I Still Sue for My Accident Injuries?

Yes, because here in California, undocumented immigrants and their families have had the right to sue for injuries or deaths in accidents since 2017. They can do so safely and without fear of repercussions. 

Your immigration status can’t be used against you at any point during your case or after it ends. Nor can you be threatened with deportation. If defense attorneys try and bring up your legal status, our lawyers will quickly put an end to it. And your compensation will be calculated according to the expenses and lost wages you’ve incurred here in the U.S., not your country of origin.

How Much Time Do I Have to Sue for My Car Accident Injuries?

You have two years from the date of your accident to sue the driver(s) responsible for your Oxnard car accident injuries or the death of a loved one. If your crash involved a government vehicle, such as a police car, you only have six months to file a claim.

You may have between six months and two years to file a claim, but you should never wait long to do so. On the contrary, contact the personal injury lawyers at The Dominguez Firm immediately after your accident. Waiting, for whatever reason, is always a bad idea. This is doubly true if you suffered serious injuries.

There are several reasons why you shouldn’t wait to file your case:

• Allowing our in-house investigators to get to the scene of the accident right away lets us gather vital evidence which strengthens your claim. If you wait, this evidence can be lost forever which can significantly damage your case.
• Our attorneys can start working on your claim right away. Personal injury cases can take time, the sooner you start the process, the better.
• If you wait, you can easily lose contact with any witnesses to your accident. People move and change their contact information all the time. They may also forget important details if too much time as passed. The advantage of having a strong witness can disappear if you wait months or years to contact them.
• Defense attorneys for the insurance company will question the seriousness of your accident and injuries if you wait too long. If you wait too long, they may even try to show your injuries were caused by something else, not your Oxnard car accident.

And if you’re putting off calling us because you want to try and settle directly with the insurance company, you shouldn’t. Adjusters are trained to try and pay out the least amount possible for each claim. Instead, call The Dominguez Firm for a free consultation today to see how we can help.

Will My Oxnard Car Accident Case Go to Trial?

Most personal injury cases in Oxnard and throughout California don’t go to trial. However, it could happen. If the insurance company won’t make a fair settlement offer for your injuries, The Dominguez Firm is not afraid to go before a judge and jury. Many personal injury law firms don’t have the resources to go to trial, which puts their clients at a great disadvantage. 

We have our own trial lawyers who can fight for your rights through to the end if needed. As always, our main goal to is provide outstanding legal representation coupled with stellar customer service.

How Long Will My Oxnard Car Accident Case Take?

No two car accident cases are the same, so it’s impossible to say exactly how long a case will take. What your lawyer can do is consider the circumstances of your case to give you a general idea of the possible timeframe.

Here are some of the key factors when calculating how long a case will take:

• The severity of your injuries. The more serious your injuries, the longer your Oxnard Car Accident Claim can take. First, you need to reach MMI, or Maximum Medical Improvement. This legal term means the victim has fully recovered from their accident injuries or their condition has stabilized as much as it can. In the case of the latter, the victim is not expected to fully recover from their injuries. A skilled personal injury lawyer will wait until the client has reached MMI before seeking any compensation for their injuries. This gives them a clearer picture of how much to ask for. Keep in mind, however, that reaching MMI can take weeks or months. If the victim has a catastrophic injury, it can even take a year longer.
• The number of vehicles, entities or people involved. If your Oxnard car accident involves more than two vehicles and/or other parties, your case will take longer simply due to the number of defendants involved. The same holds true if there are multiple witnesses. It can take time to schedule and interview each person. 
• If there are questions regarding liability. If there are doubts regarding who was at fault for the accident, the process can take longer. Do note that in California, you can sue for your accident injuries even if you share some of the blame for your accident.
• The insurance company’s response. Insurance companies are known to make lowball offers or drag out a claim. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced attorney by your side to counteract these tactics.

As noted in the section above, the litigation attorneys at The Dominguez Firm will go to trial if the insurance company won’t make a just settlement offer. This will also extend your case’s timeframe. 

Call the Oxnard Car Accident Lawyers at The Dominguez Firm

The Dominguez Firm is a full-service law firm with over 30 years of experience handling Oxnard car accidents and wrongful death claims. We have helped others receive the compensation they were entitled to and will fight for your rights also. 

We also know this is a difficult time for you and your family. No one expects to get into an accident. When they do, the bills and lost income can be financially devastating. We are well aware of this, which is why we work on a contingency basis. That means you don’t have to deal with any upfront fees, hidden costs, or out-of-pocket expenses whatsoever. Instead, we only get paid if we can recover damages for you. And in the unlikely event, we can’t obtain any compensation for you, you owe us nothing. In other words, if there is no recovery, there is no fee.

Wherever your accident happened, be it in Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, or elsewhere in the county, let us help you. We can travel to your home or hospital at a moment’s notice. Call the personal injury attorneys at The Dominguez Firm today at 800-818-1818 for a FREE consultation now.