Car Accident Lawyer

A car crash injury can leave you with huge medical bills, vehicle repair costs, substantial loss of income, and property damage.

In most cases, after an accident, the victim is in no state of mind to negotiate with an insurance adjuster, converse with the authorities, collect evidence and estimate the true cost of the accident.

A car accident lawyer ensures the insurance company pays you a fair settlement. If you go to trial, your attorney gives you the best chance of receiving a favorable verdict.

Reach out to our firm. We invite you to leverage our extensive knowledge and experience in navigating auto accident litigation. Let us fight for your legal rights in court and pursue an auto accident settlement on your behalf.

Have Your Case Reviewed by California's Top Car Accident Injury Lawyers

While recovering from a devastating accident, estimating the damages incurred to yourself and your vehicle is difficult.

If insurance companies call you about a settlement, having an auto accident attorney evaluate the offer is a practical strategy. Our legal counsel helps you decide whether or not an offer is fair and accurately estimates the damages sustained by your accident.

Insurance companies tend to undervalue the financial damages of the victim, which is all the more reason to contact a car accident attorney right now! Our law firm has the best car accident attorneys in California.

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Our Car Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys Will:

  • Assess Your Losses and Estimate Future Costs of the Accident
  • Gather Necessary Evidence Supporting Your Claim
  • Build a Strong Personal Injury Case
  • Determine the Legal Liability of the Person Involved
  • Negotiate for the Best Possible Outcome from Settlement Offers
  • Help You Understand Your Civil Rights
  • Call Upon Medical Professionals to Discuss Better Treatment Options
  • Help You File a Lawsuit Against the at-Fault Driver/ Company
  • Faithful Legal Representation Court
  • Maximize Your Insurance Claim/ Court-Awarded Sum

Other Ways Our Car Accident Attorneys Can Help

Every car accident case is unique. To secure an acceptable, fair settlement, contact a car accident attorney for a free consultation of your case.

We're experienced in handling cases involving severe and minor accidents. Our legal services include the following.

Professional Legal Advice

After a minor car accident, you get many different opinions about who to sue and how much you can get from an insurance provider. It's common for insurers to low-ball claims, underpaying you for the damages sustained in the accident.

An experienced car accident attorney will review your case and discuss its merits. They'll evaluate the full extent of your losses and base their advice on these factors.

Assess Your Damages

The expense of damage to your vehicle isn't the only cost you'll incur after an accident. If it's a serve injury, you'll need immediate medical attention.

Apart from the vehicle repair charges and medical expenses, there are other damages you can claim by using an attorney. Your lawyer will include the costs of emotional distress, lost income, and pain and suffering. An experienced attorney will recognize the cost of these factors, adding them to your settlement value.

Strengthen the Points in Your Favors

While negotiating with insurance companies, a car accident lawyer outlines the factors involved with your case. The lawyer focuses on the accident's impact on your finances and overall quality of life.

If you took a break from work due to the collision, your attorney would include lost income in your claim. In the case of a car accident, your attorney receives a percentage of the settlement value to cover the expenses of handling your claim and lawsuit.

That means you don't have any upfront costs when hiring an attorney. It also incentivizes your attorney to maximize your claim value for a huge settlement.

Win Your Car Accident Injury Trial

We deal with thousands of car accident victims each year. In our experience, the sooner you appoint legal representation to your case, the better. Waiting to file a suit can cost you your claim.

To hire California's finest personal injury lawyers, sign up for an initial free consultation on our website. Our personal injury lawyer will reach out to you to discuss your case.

Common Types of Car Accidents That Result in Settlements

If you fell victim to an accident, you might be eligible for an insurance settlement. We represent victims of the following types of vehicle accidents.

Rear-End Accidents

A rear-end accident is when a car collides with a car in front of it, causing significant damage to the vehicle's chassis, tail lights, and suspension, as well as the driver and passengers.

Rear-end accidents occur due to the driver's inattention, distraction, panic stops, tailgating, reduced traction on wet/worn roads, or a combination of these factors. In many cases, the vehicle driver rear-ending another vehicle is at fault.

Sideswipe Collisions

When the side of one vehicle collides with the side of another, the incident is called a sideswipe collision. The impact causes the car to slide into the opposing lane, risking another accident. A sideswipe accident can result in severe injuries - not to mention thousands of dollars in repairs.

T-Bone Collisions

A T-bone accident occurs when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle, forming a T-shape at the point of impact. It's a common accident at intersections when one party disregards a red light or a stop sign. In a T-bone collision, a vehicle drives through an intersection while another vehicle is passing. It puts passengers of both cars at risk. Personal injuries commonly associated with T-bone collisions include broken bones, concussions, spinal cord injuries, and whiplash.

Rollover Accidents

Rollover car accident injuries happen when a vehicle is overturned due to a collision with another vehicle or object on the roadway. This particular accident can be as severe as a head-on collision and may result in the death of the driver and passengers of the overturned car.

Head-On Collisions

This brutal accident often results in traumatic brain injury or death. Head-on accidents happen when two cars crash into each other from opposing directions.

Even at moderate speeds, injuries suffered from head-on collisions can be fatal. A settlement for a head-on collision in California can exceed $1 million. Whiplash injuries from a minor car accident will settle for $10,000 to $1 million+, depending on the extent of property damage and harm to the victim(s).

Hit and Run Accidents

When a driver flees the scene, it's called a 'hit-and-run' accident. It can involve any car accident where the negligent driver leaves the scene without providing their license number and contact information to the other party/parties.

How to Maximize the Insurance Settlement

Contact a cart accident lawyer immediately after your accident. When dealing with the shock of the event, you may forget to obtain critical information from the other party. An attorney can assist you with managing the scene and collecting evidence, such as photos of the vehicles and the accident scene.
An insurance company may review the following to assess the settlement potential of your case.

The degree of fault admitted by the insured party
Police report, witness statement, and photographic evidence
Traffic violations cited by both parties
An estimation of your property damage
A personal injury attorney negotiates with other insurance companies on behalf of the victim. They'll communicate with the insurer and ensure you get the settlement you deserve.

Tips and Tricks to Maximize Your Recovery

From our experience, car accident victims should do these basic strategies to increase their settlement.

Keep Detailed Records of the Accident

The accident victim should keep all the collision records, from police reports to witness statements, photographic evidence, and medical records. If your personal injury case isn't resolved by mediation, these items may be helpful when the jurors review your case.

Keep accurate records, including car repair bills, hospital receipts, and anything pertaining to the accident.

Know When to Hire a Car Accident Attorney

If you want the best settlement figure, you need an attorney to navigate the complexities of your case. Your attorney negotiates with the insurer on your behalf, attaining the best settlement value. Moreover, if the accident victim requires medical treatment, an attorney may be able to secure compensation for long-term medical care.

Get Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage

An estimated 1 in 8 drivers in the United States doesn't have car insurance, according to a 2021 report by the Insurance Research Council. When you're injured by a driver who doesn't have insurance coverage, it burdens you financially with hefty medical bills and insurance deductibles.

If you don't want to take that chance, buy uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage to pay for medical bills for yourself and your passengers after an accident.

Uninsured motorist coverage can cover many expenses relating to your accident. The state of California does not mandate uninsured motorist coverage but requires insurance carriers to offer it to you. California's minimum uninsured motorist coverage is 15/30, as approved by state law.

What If More Than One Person Is at Fault?

Multiple parties can share the liability if more than one person is responsible for the accident. It often results in a larger settlement due to the extent of the accident.

However, a settlement is still possible if you are found to be partially to blame for an accident. In multi-vehicle accidents, your lawyer determines the drivers' level of responsibility for causing the accident.

If the fault is shared, you may receive a multi-million-dollar settlement from a jury verdict, depending on the extent of your injuries.

Factors That Impact the Settlement Amount for a Car Accident

We want to ensure our clients get the best compensation for their auto accidents and related injuries. If a person is responsible for your accident, you can file a lawsuit against them.

It's important to note all car accidents are not simple sideswiped, rear-end, and fender bender cases. An accident can also occur from highway hazards, unsafe roads, defective parts, and the absence of road stops.

Those who suffer from less-common accidents often fail to identify the wrongdoer and don't proceed with legal action. It's why you should hire a car accident lawyer and allow them to review your case.

Car accident attorneys calculate economic damages relating to your accident, calculating the liability of each party involved in the incident. The estimation may take the following things into account:

The Number of Liable parties
The Severity of the Injury
Length of Treatment
The Cost of Pain and Suffering
*Caps of Policy Limits

You can help your case by providing these things to your car accident attorney:

Secure Photographic Evidence of the Car Accident Scene
The other driver's license number
Roadway risks that you believe have contributed to the accident
Tire marks and the overall layout of the scene
Visible bruises and injuries
Other records relevant to the accident

Documents That You Need Before Filing a Claim:

  • The name of the at-fault driver involved in the accident
  • Driver's License and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
  • The address and contact number of the driver
  • Their insurance company name and insurance information

Should You Accept a Settlement Offer from Insurance Companies?

If you decide to navigate the claim yourself, the first step is submitting an insurance claim with the negligent driver or their company. First, they consider your letter of demand along with the evidence. After that, the insurance adjuster may downplay your losses, minimizing everything from hospital bills to repair costs. Insurance companies often make an initial low-ball offer.

You can submit another offer, which may result in the insurance company proposing a counteroffer settlement. Therefore, if you accept the first offer, you may risk losing additional potential settlement amounts you may have otherwise received.

If you want to make the most out of your settlement, you're on the right track. You want to obtain a settlement amount that covers your treatment, unearned wages, car repair costs, and more. But insurance companies don't make it easy.

Start with a More Realistic Amount in Your Letter of Demand Instead of Your Bottom Line Sum

Negotiating for the best possible settlement is similar to buying a home. The seller wants to start with a greater price, while the buyer wants to lower it. Over the course of the negotiation, the parties are likely to meet somewhere in the middle. Therefore, do not start with an unnecessarily low or high amount or offer to an insurance adjuster.

How Much Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in California?

Average car accident cases in California settle for between $14,000 to $28,000 with minor physical injuries. If additional treatment is required, compensation can range from $20,000 to $40,000 up into the millions depending on the injuries' severity. Indeed, when a person is involved in a severe auto accident that leads to long-term physical and cognitive damage, they will be eligible for a much higher payout.

You can hire a car accident lawyer to explore your options and discuss the merits of your case. Your attorney gives you a clear idea about what settlement amount you may be entitled to receive.

A settlement for car accidents will depend on the following factors:

  • Physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments
  • Medical expenses incurred during their stay in the hospital
  • Current and future treatment expenses
  • Damage to your car and personal belongings
  • The time needed for full recovery
  • Lost earning potential
  • Emotional impact

Rehabilitative therapy

  • Loss of consortium and enjoyment
  • Disability, disfigurement, and scarring
  • Permanent disability

In some cases, the victim may receive compensation for punitive damages. Also known as exemplary damages, these are not meant to compensate the survivor. Instead, they punish the negligent party who crashed/hit your car (such as in the case of distracted driving).

Types of Personal Injuries in a Car Accident

A car accident is one of the leading causes of personal injury lawsuits across the U.S. While manufacturers continue to develop life-saving features in their vehicles, injuries due to accidents, collisions, distractions, and drunkenness remain a risk to American drivers. The most talked-about auto injuries include:

Spinal Injuries

Spinal injuries often occur when an impact causes the driver/passenger to throw their head backward, forward, and side. Especially when the velocity is high enough, a spinal injury can lead to skeletal trauma, disc herniation, permanent disability, and long-term pain.

Broken Bones

A broken bone can arise from sideswiping, single crash accidents, and other motor vehicle collisions. In a minor car accident, the resulting breaks, spurs, and sprains may heal readily, but the victim may endure pain and suffering for a prolonged time. Some accidents, however, will require an extended period to recover from their injuries fully.

Brain Trauma

Car accidents in the USA cause nearly 20% of traumatic brain injuries. Some signs of these injuries are loss of consciousness, internal bleeding, cognitive impairment, memory loss, brain death, and swelling of the brain. A traumatic brain injury can permanently impair the cognitive ability of the victim and require extensive rehabilitation.

Facial Injuries

You can get scrapes, cuts, and bruises from a minor car accident. More severe cases of facial injuries are deep cuts, punctures in the skin, soft tissue trauma, and disfigurement. Victims of debilitating facial injuries may require reconstructive surgery to restore their appearance and bodily functions.

Factors that Influence the Settlement Decision after a Car Accident

  • Your medical expenses
  • Lost wages due to accident and recovery
  • An estimate of future medical treatment
  • Compensation for pain and suffering
  • Punitive damages regarding the case circumstances
  • Existing medical conditions before the accident
  • Deciding fully or partially at-fault parties

What If the Insurance Company Doesn't Offer a Fair Settlement?

An insurer can decline your demands and offer a lump-sum payout that barely covers the damages. If you got into a minor car accident, you might lose thousands of dollars in the insurance claim.

Since every car accident case is different and the insurance adjuster may have no intention to pay more than their first offer, you may want to speak with a car accident lawyer.

Typically, the wrongdoer's own insurance provider covers your losses. Sometimes, the driver may not have enough insurance or lack insurance altogether. You may share the blame for the accident. However, that does not necessarily mean you are not entitled to a settlement.

The negotiating skill of your car accident attorney may increase the settlement figure. An experienced personal injury attorney will chase your case until you receive the justice you deserve from the insurer.

Many car accident cases settle out of court, with the insurance adjuster issuing payment before trial. However, in rare circumstances, the case must proceed to trial.

Statute of Limitations on Car Accidents in California:

The statute of limitations on car accidents is two years in California. You can sue the other driver and make a claim for an insurance settlement during this period.

Were you a minor when you sustained a car accident injury? You have until you turn 18 years old to file a car accident lawsuit, depending on the merits of your case.

Consult the Top Auto Accident Lawyers in California

An experienced car accident lawyer will consider your present and future medical expenses, unearned wages, repair costs, and non-economic damages so you can get appropriate compensation.

Do you want to recover car repair bills and any costly damage to your car? We'll help you get the settlement you deserve for your property damage, pain, and suffering. Contact us for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer.