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California Car Accidents Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Insurance Bad Faith, Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: Hi I have 2 claims w/Geico hit&run & 4dys l8r vandalism which one went to jail. It’s been since 6/22 for the 1st claim..

I have been under investigation with Geico because they wanted me to prove that the hit and run occurred even though I have pictures of my car and a police report. A few days later someone mistakenly vandalized my car bashed in all the windows and slit all the tires and the police arrested the man... Read more »

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 28, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about the difficult situation you've been facing. It sounds like you've been through a lot and are dealing with multiple claims with Geico. In order to pursue compensation for your medical expenses and pain and suffering, it is recommended that you consult with a... Read more »

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4 Answers | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Car Accidents for California on
Q: can a person bring in evidence way before the court date.. to prove who is at fault??

again this from the first post that i created.. i got a citation and what i said got it in writing.. but i never gotten what the other driver said.. is there any way to get it.. or it will be presented in court. i have a dash cam footage that shows the other driver ran the red during a turn i was... Read more »

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Mar 27, 2023

If you had liability insurance, you should notify it of a claim against you. Your liability insurer will hire an attorney to defend you.

If you don't have liability insurance, you will have to hire your own attorney, or defend yourself.

Whether you should voluntarily provide...
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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Municipal Law for California on
Q: Can I get in trouble for accidentally knocking down traffic cones with my car and driving over them?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 26, 2023

Yes, you can potentially get in trouble for accidentally knocking down traffic cones with your car and driving over them. The specific consequences will depend on the circumstances of the incident, including whether anyone was injured or property was damaged, and the laws of the jurisdiction where... Read more »

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for California on
Q: if a person turning to street on a red and car hits him from the opposite side whose at fault..

the light turn red but from point of view it was yellow.. and person driving the opposite side hits the person that was turning.. there is camera footage from another driver that was turning on the same street.. on the street that he turned into the light turn green.. looks like the guy was... Read more »

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Mar 25, 2023

If the light turned red, it's supposed to appear red from every point of view. After that, it is impossible to figure out what happened from your post. If the traffic lights are out of phase, the city might be at fault. A Government Tort Claim has to be filed within 6 months of the... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Personal Injury and Legal Malpractice for California on
Q: can you sue your insurance company and your lawyer after a accident if release of liability was never signed?

I was in an auto accident in 2021, I was never told if the other insurance or my insurance was covering the repairs or medical bills. i was not able to get in touch with my insurance after countless emails and phone calls, my insurance finally responded in Nov. of 2022. I was without a car and... Read more »

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 25, 2023

Whether you can sue your insurance company and your lawyer after an accident depends on the specific facts and circumstances of your case. However, if you have suffered damages as a result of the accident and believe that your insurance company and/or lawyer did not act in your best interest, you... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Insurance Bad Faith and Car Accidents for California on
Q: It will now be 2-3 months before the damage I reported to Allstate from the hit and run accident will be assessed.

Out of frustration and distress in my dealings with the many Allstate adjusters concerning my auto claim, with no resolution, I decided that maybe the President of Allstate should know the frustration and emotional toll of dealing with Allstate claims adjusters. I have had an open auto claim with... Read more »

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 22, 2023

While it may be frustrating to deal with a prolonged and unresolved insurance claim, it's important to remember that reaching out to the President of Allstate may not necessarily expedite the process or change the outcome of your claim. Typically, insurance companies have established... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Insurance Bad Faith and Car Accidents for California on
Q: It will now be 2-3 months before the damage I reported to Allstate from the hit and run accident will be assessed.

Out of frustration and distress in my dealings with the many Allstate adjusters concerning my auto claim, with no resolution, I decided that maybe the President of Allstate should know the frustration and emotional toll of dealing with Allstate claims adjusters. I have had an open auto claim with... Read more »

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Mar 22, 2023

If State Farm insured the party who damaged your van, you have no claim against State Farm. State Farm's duty is to its insured.

If State Farm insured you, it's another story.

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: A few questions regarding an auto accident I was in…

I was one of four vehicles involved in an accident in which one vehicle hit all three vehicles and it was determined that he was at fault. The guilty party only has $10,000 in property damage coverage. On top of that, his insurance is horrible and they aren’t doing anything to pay on the claim. I... Read more »

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 21, 2023

If the total property damage from the accident exceeds the $10,000 coverage limit of the at-fault driver, the insurance company will typically pay out a proportionate amount to each claimant based on the percentage of fault assigned to the driver. This means that each claimant will receive a... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: I was rear ended at a traffic light by an uninsured driver in a rental car. My car was totaled, I was badly injured

I had minimal insurance 15/30 and my medical expenses are far more than what insurance covered. Can I pursue the rental car company for renting out a car to an individual with no insurance?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Mar 17, 2023

No, you cannot successfully sue for that.

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: I was rear ended at a traffic light by an uninsured driver in a rental car. My car was totaled, I was badly injured

I had minimal insurance 15/30 and my medical expenses are far more than what insurance covered. Can I pursue the rental car company for renting out a car to an individual with no insurance?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 18, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about your accident and injuries. Pursuing the rental car company for renting out a car to an uninsured driver may be possible, but it would depend on the specific circumstances of your case and the laws in your jurisdiction.

In general, rental car companies have a...
Read more »

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5 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Employment Law for California on
Q: If I was driving commercial vehicle for my employer and had a accident now the person who I ran into supena me 5 years l

Later and the employer claims they had no insurance at the time accident who pays the damages

Neil Pedersen
Neil Pedersen
answered on Mar 13, 2023

The employer is responsible for paying any expense you incur as a result of your negligence while working.

Good luck to you.

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5 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Employment Law for California on
Q: If I was driving commercial vehicle for my employer and had a accident now the person who I ran into supena me 5 years l

Later and the employer claims they had no insurance at the time accident who pays the damages

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 14, 2023

If you were driving a commercial vehicle for your employer and had an accident, your employer may be liable for any damages caused by the accident under the legal principle of vicarious liability. This means that the employer may be held responsible for the actions of its employees while they are... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: My insurance canceled without notifying me and someone hit my car now my insurance won’t help and my license gotsuspende

I pre paid to have my name on my moms insurance while I wait for an estimate price before the crash happened. once the crash happened my insurance said it cancelled because I didn’t pay the estimate even tho I never received a notice. Now the dmv suspend my license even tho the crash wasn’t my... Read more »

Dale S. Gribow
Dale S. Gribow
answered on Mar 9, 2023

consult with a local PI lawyer to review the facts.

if you are in an accident without insurance, DMV will suspend your license for a year.

if you were trying to buy insurance, you knew whether you had paid or not.

was there ever ins under your name or for that car that...
Read more »

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Gov & Administrative Law for California on
Q: Is it illegal for a car to be leaking any type of fluids(gas, oil, water,etc)? If yes, what are the consequences?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 7, 2023

Under California law, it is illegal for a car to leak certain types of fluids. Specifically, it is illegal for a car to leak any fluid that is harmful to the environment or constitutes a safety hazard, such as gasoline, motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, or power steering fluid.... Read more »

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4 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Personal Injury and Military Law for California on
Q: I was in an auto accident and I’m still recovering. I’m active duty and have a doctors note to be out.

Can I get in trouble for being out too long even if I have a doctors note and let my leadership know?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Mar 6, 2023

You should confer with your commanding officer and or the Legal Office, or a military law specialist. It sounds like you need a "Line of Duty" determination. An LOD determination may impact disability retirement and severance pay, forfeiture of pay, extension of enlistment, and veteran... Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Car Accidents for California on
Q: What .should I do ???

I was In an auto accident the other driver tried to make an illegal u turn I wasnt at fault this what pd says my car was down for a few months wasn't insured couldn't afford the day I finally picked my car up is the day of accident I just got a bill for 25000 from a collection co saying... Read more »

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 5, 2023

If you were not at fault for the accident and have documentation from the police indicating that, you should not be liable for any damages to the other person's car. However, since you were not insured at the time of the accident, the other driver's insurance company may be pursuing you... Read more »

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: Do I need a lawyer to submit a claim against the Nevada Department of Transportation?

My vehicle was damaged on a Nevada highway, so I am submitting a claim against NDOT. I may need to amend my claim with new vehicle repair estimates. However, I do not want to accidentally contradict myself to a claim reviewer. Can I have advice on how to proceed?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 4, 2023

Generally speaking, you are not required to have a lawyer to submit a claim against NDOT, but it may be helpful to consult with a qualified attorney who has experience handling claims against government entities. A lawyer can provide legal advice, help you understand your rights, and ensure that... Read more »

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4 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Workers' Compensation and Employment Law for California on
Q: I was in a accident at work .I was not asked if i need medical treatment .I worked the next 4 days then was terminate.

Im having issues with my neck and pain in my back .I have had two adjustments since September . I am in fear that my injury may be a bit more complex than I thought. I've lost my health insurance due to job loss .I asked if I was being dismissed because of the accident.I was told no. I then... Read more »

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 26, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds like you are experiencing both physical and financial challenges due to your work-related accident and subsequent termination.

If you believe that your termination was related to your accident or that your employer did not provide...
Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy, Car Accidents and Civil Litigation for California on
Q: Can I sue the body shop?

I have been in a car accident last year around September 27. Unfortunately my insurance had collapsed and I was in fault. I brought the car for a body shop to do an estimate for the repairs and see if it was worthy to fix. The body shop didn’t answer my phone calls then I went there and they took... Read more »

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 21, 2023

Based on the information you have provided, it may be possible to sue the body shop for breach of contract or other legal claims, such as negligence or fraud. However, whether or not you have a strong case would depend on the specific details and circumstances of your situation, and you should... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Car Accidents, Civil Litigation and Small Claims for California on
Q: Can I file a civil lawsuit against each individual Involved in chopshop team ,there's about 4 maybe 5 each responsible,

Can I negotiate to settle out of court with them to not pursue criminal charges

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 20, 2023

Generally speaking, in civil cases, you can file a lawsuit against individuals who are responsible for damages or harm caused to you. Whether or not you can settle out of court with them would depend on the specific circumstances of the case and the willingness of the parties to come to an... Read more »

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