Best Car Accident Lawyers in Thousand Oaks

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Thousand Oaks, California?

  The Ventura County Sheriff's Department, which is in a contract with Thousand Oaks for law enforcement solutions, can be reached at (805) 494-8200.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Thousand Oaks, California?

  Police reports can be obtained by visiting the East County Patrol Station Records at 2101 East Olsen Road. It is advised to call (805) 494-8208 first to make sure that the report is available.

• What is accident forgiveness, and is it illegal in Thousand Oaks?

  Accident forgiveness is illegal in the state. Accident forgiveness, when applied, means that insurers will not raise a policyholder's rates after causing an accident which goes against Proposition 103, which was approved way back in 1988. This states that policyholders are charged upfront under policies that cannot be justified. With Proposition 103 in place, excessive rates such as these are not approved. Big insurance carriers like Allstate and Liberty Mutual learned this the hard way when they were fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for offering this in their policies in California.

• Will your Med Pay rate go up if you use it after a car accident in Thousand Oaks?

  Your Medical Payments Coverage won't go up if it gets established that you were not the party at fault. This is good because this policy can cover a lot of expenses, such as EMT and ambulance bills, doctor and hospital bills, X-rays and MRIs, medical equipment like crutches, and some funeral expenses. If, however, you were at fault for the Thousand Oaks accident, then it's completely up to your insurance provider whether or not they will raise your rate.

• Should you agree immediately to a settlement after a car accident in Thousand Oaks?

  One disadvantage of accepting a settlement immediately is that you could be agreeing to an amount way lower than what you are entitled to receive. Insurance companies in Thousand Oaks may not properly factor in the injuries you sustained, their overall impact on the quality of your life, medications and therapies, and vehicle repairs. In addition, you may not be able to pursue the at-fault party if you experience later physical and mental trauma. On the other hand, an advantage of agreeing to an out-of-court settlement immediately is the quick compensation.

• How long is the statute of limitations for car accidents in Thousand Oaks?

  Claimants in Thousand Oaks who wish to be compensated for car accident injuries have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Missing this time frame means your case will likely be dismissed by the court, and you will be unable to pursue the at-fault party for their liability.

• Who will provide coverage for a passenger in a car accident involving ridesharing companies, like Uber and Lyft, in Thousand Oaks?

  Once the driver has accepted the ride request and has onboarded the passenger into their vehicle, the ridesharing companies will have automatically set a liability limit of an average of $1 million in the event that an accident should happen. However, like all cases of accidents in Thousand Oaks, the many factors and circumstances that led to the accident will all be considered to determine the at-fault and, therefore, liable party.