Ontario Car Accident Lawyer

Just because car accidents are a common occurrence does not mean they do not have serious consequences for those involved. At Montgomery Steele Law, we understand you need someone by your side if another person caused your crash. Let us investigate your car accident so we can secure the compensation you need for what happened.

From your medical bills and lost income to pain and suffering, you deserve assistance. When you or a loved one need an Ontario car accident attorney, we are ready to help. For legal advice and a free case evaluation, call us at (909) 310-8510.

Let Montgomery Steele Law Get To Work Today

When you need a firm to handle your personal injury claims, do not settle for someone who is only in it for a quick settlement. At Montgomery Steele Law, we put the client’s needs first.

• We are dedicated to your case, and we will not settle for compensation that is less than what you truly deserve. Our track record speaks for itself.
• Our law firm works hard to build trust with each client by taking the time to focus on their priorities and needs.
• At Montgomery Steele Law, we take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay a dime for our legal services until we recover the compensation you deserve. No payments unless we win.

Why Do You Need An Attorney?

Automobile accidents are not always straightforward. Even when it seems like the other side is completely at fault, you can count on their insurance company to push back on making a fair settlement offer. Your Ontario auto accident lawyer will get to work by:

• Obtaining all evidence from the scene, including accident reports, photos, video surveillance, and eyewitness statements.
• Gathering your medical records and work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to calculate your losses.
• Proving that you have lost income due to your serious injury.
• Negotiating with the insurance companies to obtain the best settlement that covers all of your crash-related expenses.

Car Accident Injuries Can Be Devastating

Even though most car accident injuries are relatively minor, please understand that even minor injuries can lead to major medical expenses. Here in California, it is not uncommon for our auto accident attorneys to handle the following injuries in the aftermath of a crash:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Bone fractures
• Loss of or damage to a bodily organ
• Dismemberment or amputation
• Significant disfigurement
• Catastrophic injuries that inhibit a person’s daily activities

Each of these injuries requires medical care, and the expenses can reach into the tens of hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were more than 273,000 people injured and 3,602 people killed in car accidents during the latest reporting year. Many of these were caused by gross driver negligence. If your loved one was killed in a car accident, an Ontario wrongful death attorney at our firm can help you seek justice and restitution.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Ontario

There are various ways in which motor vehicle accidents in Ontario are caused, with many of them involving careless or negligent driver actions. This can include:

• Distracted driving. With the increase in popularity of handheld electronic devices, distracted driving has become more of a problem on the roadways. Some of the most dangerous driving behaviors include text messaging, watching videos on a phone, and talking on the phone without the use of a hands-free system.
• Failing to follow traffic laws. When drivers fail to follow traffic laws, serious accidents occur. This includes failing to stop at stop signs and stoplights, failing to yield the right-of-way, ignoring crosswalks, and more.
• Driving while impaired. During the latest reporting year in California, there were over 26,000 alcohol-related traffic injuries, and impaired drivers were responsible for 31% of all traffic fatalities that year.
• Speeding. The OTS states that there were nearly 90,000 traffic crash injuries as a result of speed-related incidents.
• Following too closely. Drivers who follow the vehicles in front of them too closely, or “tailgate”, are much more likely to cause rear-end collisions.

How is Liability Established in a Car Accident Case?

Establishing liability in the aftermath of a car accident can be incredibly difficult. You can take several steps in order to establish liability, and you should consider consulting with an Ontario personal injury lawyer soon after an accident occurs.

• The police report. When the police report to an accident scene, they conduct a preliminary investigation and often determine who they believe to be responsible for the incident. Their report will be used by the insurance carriers, and it can be used in a potential accident injury lawsuit.
• Videos and photos. Any photographs taken at the scene of the accident, as well as any video surveillance available from nearby homes or businesses, could help establish liability for the accident.
• Eyewitness statements. Drivers and bystanders who may have seen the accident can provide eyewitness statements on your behalf to insurance carriers or a potential jury in a lawsuit.

It is vital to have proof that the other driver was negligent. There is a good chance that the at-fault driver and their insurance company will try to place some of the blame for the incident on you in order to lower the amount of money they have to payout settlement. We can help you handle insurance claims.

Common Types of Auto Accident Collisions

There are various types of collisions that can cause serious injuries to drivers and passengers. Some of the most common collisions that our Ontario car accident lawyers deal with include:

• Rear-end collisions. These incidents occur when one car collides with the vehicle in front of it, and are often caused by inattention, distracted driving, and tailgating. In most cases, the driver that strikes the rear-end of another vehicle will be considered at fault.
• T-bone crashes. These incidents are often called side-impact collisions. They commonly happen at intersections and can lead to serious vehicle occupant injuries.
• Rollover crashes. When a vehicle flips over and lands on its roof or side, this is considered a rollover. SUVs are more likely to be involved in rollover collisions due to their higher center of gravity.
• Head-on collisions. These collisions occur when the front ends of two vehicles collide with one another. These incidents often happen at high speeds and lead to serious injuries or fatalities.

Our personal injury attorneys also handle motorcycle accidents and truck accidents.

How Much Does a Lawyer Charge?

At Montgomery Steele, our Ontario car accident lawyers understand that collision victims are often placed into precarious financial situations. When an accident victim is unable to work, and when they have ongoing medical costs due to the incident, the last thing they want to think about is paying for an attorney. That is why Montgomery Steele takes Ontario car accident cases on a contingency fee basis.

This fee arrangement means that our clients face no upfront or out-of-pocket costs for their case. Clients will not pay any legal fees until after we have successfully obtained the compensation they deserve.

What is the Timeline for a Car Accident Case?

When your attorney has decided to take your Ontario car accident case they will provide you with a general framework about the time frame for this entire process. To be clear, there is no set amount of time that it takes for a car accident case to proceed. Car accident claims that are resolved through insurance settlements will typically take much less time than cases that enter into the court system.

• If you have been injured in an accident, you will need to seek medical treatment. Your recovery is paramount in these cases, and so is documenting all the injuries and associated medical procedures. It is unlikely that your car accident case will be completed until you have reached maximum medical improvement.
• Negotiations between insurance carriers can take some time, and any offer or counter offer will need to be considered.
• If the insurance carrier or at-fault party fails to offer a fair settlement, it will be necessary to file a lawsuit, which can extend the time frame for a case.
• Most cases do not go to trial, but those that do often require a year or more to prepare and make it through the court docket before they are heard by a jury.

Most car accident victims wonder how quickly they will receive their settlement after they have agreed to a fair amount with the other parties involved. Any negotiated settlement will be paid fairly soon after the agreement has been made. If the case goes to trial and a jury rules in favor of the plaintiff, compensation may be paid relatively quickly, so long as the defendant does not appeal the decision. If there is an appeal, this can significantly delay payment and extend the total time frame of the case.

How Long You Have to File a Claim

Every state set time limits for how long car accident victims have to file lawsuits in civil court against the alleged negligent party. In California, the personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date the accident occurs. If a car accident victim fails to file a lawsuit within this two-year timeframe, they will lose the ability to recover any compensation they are entitled to.

It is important to note that in auto collisions involving wrongful death cases, a different statute of limitations will apply. In these cases, family members must file a California wrongful death claim within two years from the date of the person’s death. In some cases, the date a person passes away is different from the date that the actual auto collision occurred.

We Are Ready To Help Secure Compensation

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car crash that was caused by another driver, you should seek legal representation today. At Montgomery Steele Law, our car accident attorneys in Upland and Ontario are ready to get you and your family members through this entire process. Let our law firm deal with investigating the incident, the insurance companies, and negotiations. Our legal team’s goal is to secure:

• Coverage of your crash-related medical costs
• Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work (loss of job)
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Possible punitive damages against the negligent driver
• Property damages

If you need Ontario car accident attorneys, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling our Southern California law offices at (909) 310-8510. Learn your legal rights today. For more information about safe driving, check out the road safety guide on the website for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

We serve clients all over the Inland Empire and surrounding areas, including Upland, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Chino, Redlands, Fontana, Rialto, Colton, and Rancho Cucamonga.

“I am so thankful I contacted Montgomery Steele Law after I got into my car accident. Without them I wouldn’t have recovered the money I deserved from the injuries I sustained because of my car accident. Thank you JT and Mike!” – Peter P.