Injuries from an auto accident can have lasting consequences on your life causing you to miss work and suffer long term physical and mental limitations. Therefore, if you suffer an injury in an auto accident in San Jose, California because of another driver’s negligence, you should contact an auto accident San Jose attorney as soon as possible to protect your legal rights. Negligence is a common cause of action in an auto accident and is defined as the failure to use reasonable care. Reasonable care is the care that the average driver would use in the same situation. For example, a driver using reasonable care will stop at a red light or stop sign. Depending on the extent of your injuries you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for your medical care expenses, loss of wages and general pain and suffering damages. However, do not delay in contacting an auto accident San Jose attorney following the auto accident to discuss your case.

An auto accident San Jose attorney will inform you that you are eligible to receive reimbursement for any medical expenses that were a direct result of the accident if the accident was due to the other driver’s negligence. For example, depending on the extent of your injuries, you may have been taken to the hospital by an ambulance, or helicopter. In addition, you will receive reimbursement for any treatment that you received while at the hospital. If your injuries require physical therapy, your auto accident San Jose attorney will try to arrange for damages to be paid to compensate you for your long term care as well.

In addition, you may be unable to return to work immediately following an accident. If the accident causes you to miss work, you will be eligible to receive loss of wage damages to compensate you for the difference in wages you experience because of the accident. However, your auto accident San Jose attorney will inform you that you will have to provide evidence that the accident was a direct cause of your inability to work. For example, you will have to show your injuries sustained in the accident, resulted in your inability to return to work.

If your injuries were severe, an auto accident San Jose attorney will inform you that you may be eligible to receive compensation for any pain and suffering you experience following the accident. Pain and suffering can be a direct result of injuries you sustained in the accident, or can include new limitations on your daily activities due to the accident resulting in emotional distress or depression. However, your auto accident San Jose attorney may warn you that damages for pain and suffering can be difficult to prove. For example, you may need to testify at your trial regarding your pain. In determining the amount of pain and suffering damages you are eligible to receive, the court will consider a number of factors including the consistency of your symptoms. Your auto accident San Jose attorney will also ask the court to consider any future pain and suffering damages you are likely to experience because of the accident.

The time to file a lawsuit against the other driver following an accident is limited. Therefore, if you suffer an injury in an auto accident, do not delay in contacting an auto accident San Jose attorney. If you need help finding an auto accident San Jose attorney, contact the Santa Clara County Bar Association’s website http://www.sccba.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=16 for information about the Lawyer Referral Service Program. In addition, you can visit the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara’s website http://www.scscourt.org/court_divisions/civil/civil_home.shtml for instructions regarding how to file a civil lawsuit.