Car accidents can turn life upside down in seconds. In a city like Bakersfield, California, where roads like Highway 99 and Rosedale Highway see heavy traffic daily—accidents are common. After a crash, filing a claim may seem simple—but many people soon realize it’s anything but easy.
Car accident claims in Bakersfield often come with their local challenges. From dealing with unclear accident scenes to facing insurance companies that don’t want to pay, things can quickly get frustrating. This is where experienced car accident lawyers in Bakersfield step in. They know how to tackle each hurdle and help victims get the support they deserve.
Let’s take a closer look at four big challenges in these claims—and how lawyers handle them.
Closer look:
1. Determining Fault in Complicated Accidents
Sometimes, figuring out who caused the accident isn’t easy. If more than two vehicles are involved or the crash scene is confusing, it can be hard to tell who was at fault. Witnesses may give different stories. There might not be clear video or photo evidence.
In these cases, blame can get passed around, and insurance companies may try to avoid paying at all.
Lawyers solve this problem by digging deeper. They work with crash experts to recreate the scene. They look at police reports, talk to witnesses again, and even check traffic camera footage.
Since California follows “pure comparative fault” rules, lawyers also work to show that their client was only partly at fault or not at all—this helps protect how much money the client can recover.
2. Handling Insurance Company Tricks
Insurance companies are in business to make money. Sadly, that means they sometimes play tricks to avoid paying claims. They might try to offer a low amount, hoping you’ll accept quickly. Or they may say you were the one at fault—even if you weren’t.
Some people get so frustrated they give up on the claim.
Good lawyers know these tricks. They take over communication with the insurance company, so nothing gets said or done without care. They gather all the proof—like repair bills, doctor’s notes, and photos—to show what really happened.
And if the company still won’t offer a fair deal, they’re ready to go to court to fight back.
3. Proving Pain and Emotional Harm
It’s easy to show a broken arm or a car that’s been totaled. But what about pain, stress, or not being able to enjoy life like before? These types of harm—called “non-economic damages”—are harder to show. Insurance companies may say they aren’t worth much.
Lawyers know how to prove these losses in a way that’s clear and powerful. They may ask doctors, therapists, or family members to share how the injury changed someone’s life. They can help clients keep a journal or collect photos and videos that tell the story.
This way, a judge or insurance company sees the full picture, not just the medical bills.
4. Gaps in Medical Treatment
If someone doesn’t get treatment right away after a crash or skips follow-ups, the insurance company might say they weren’t really hurt. But in real life, some people wait because they’re scared of medical bills. Others may not feel pain until days later.
Lawyers help clients avoid these traps. They often connect people with doctors who can treat them now and get paid later after the case is done. They also help organize medical records to show the full timeline of the injury and treatment. That makes it harder for insurance companies to say the injury wasn’t real or serious.
The Final Verdict!
Car accident claims in Bakersfield come with real challenges. From proving fault to standing up to insurance companies, the road isn’t always smooth. But with the right legal help, these challenges don’t have to stop anyone from getting what they deserve.
