accident lawyer

With millions of cars on the road and some of the worst traffic in the country, it may only be a matter of time before you’re involved in a car accident in the city of angels. Hopefully, you can avoid this unpleasant experience, but if you do need to find a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles, this article is a great place to start.

We’ve compared hundreds of Los Angeles car accident lawyers and have found the very best. This article also tells you how to find the right car accident lawyer for you, whether it’s one of our picks or not.

Car Insurance and Accident Laws in Los Angeles, California
California is a “fault” state for car insurance. This means that when there’s an accident, the driver who caused the accident is liable for damages.This means that when someone is harmed in a car accident, they place a claim with the insurance company of the driver who is at fault, rather than with their own. They must prove the other driver was at fault.

Car Insurance Requirements in Los Angeles, California
In most states, drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance in order to be able to register and drive a car. California is no exception.

It’s important to keep in mind that these are the minimum requirements for each type of coverage. Having less coverage than this prevents you from being able to register your car in California and could lead to being cited for being underinsured. However, just because your insurance will only pay for $5,000 in property damage doesn’t mean you can’t be held responsible if you cause more than that amount of property damage.

When you consider that most cars on the road are worth at least $5,000, it isn’t hard to imagine needing more than the minimum coverage if you’re ever in an accident.

You should also know that these are the requirements that the state imposes and that, if you’re leasing or financing a car, your lender will almost certainly require much more coverage.

Other California Driving Laws
California has some driving laws that you may not see in other states, so if you’re visiting or living in the golden state you should be sure to review all the laws that may be new to you.

For example, California does not allow using your phone while driving at all if you’re under 18—this includes hands-free systems. If you’re over 18, you can only use hands-free systems on your phone and are prohibited from using your phone with your hands while behind the wheel.

California also requires the use of car seats more than most states. Some form of car seat is required in California for any child under four feet, nine inches tall and under eight years of age. Failure to use a car seat can result in a fine of $100 for a first offense, too.

How to Find a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
Car accident lawyers fall into the category of personal injury attorneys, and Los Angeles has a lot of them with billboards and bus ads everywhere. Because there are so many options to choose from, you should systematically approach how you interview and choose a car accident lawyer.

Here are five things to consider when choosing a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles:

Ask Friends for Referrals
Because there are so many accidents each year, there is little doubt that someone in your network of friends, family and coworkers has had an accident and needed an attorney. Ask around to get referrals and don’t hesitate to ask what they liked and disliked about the attorney.

Remember that there are a lot of lawyers to choose from, and you don’t have to take just anyone. You want the right fit for you in your time of need.

Get Car Accident Experts
Because car accident attorneys are generally personal injury attorneys, they may cover more than just car accidents. Feel free to ask about their niche and what they specialize in to make sure that they have the background and resources to address your case properly.

If the lawyer does handle other personal injury cases, ask them what percentage of their caseload is In car accidents. Though you might find a great car accident lawyer who does lots of other kinds of law, your odds are better if you find someone who handles nothing but the kind of case you’re dealing with.

Find out About Fees
Most car accident lawyers will not charge you an hourly fee to retain them. They work on contingency, which is beneficial for you in most cases. What you want to be careful about here is the amount they charge.

Los Angeles car accident lawyers generally charge between 33% and 40% of your settlement or judgment. Red flags should pop up with lawyers that charge more. Rarely will this yield higher settlements for you that are worth the extra fees.

It’s also a good idea to make sure you understand exactly how the payment will work. There can be a significant difference in what your settlement looks like if, for example, fees and costs come out of the attorney’s percentage or from the total amount before any split is calculated.

Research Their Prior Litigation Experience
Only about 5% of car accident cases go to trial. This is a small percentage, meaning that litigation experience is not always a significant consideration. However, if you were involved in a serious accident with significant injuries, you want a lawyer who can go the distance. In serious cases, you may be seeking lost wages with considerable pain and suffering damages. Not every car accident lawyer has the courtroom experience to handle big cases.

Set Clear Expectations For Communication
Many lawyers are good at selling their services but lack regular communication skills when in the middle of a case. Because a car accident case can go on for a while, especially if your injuries are lingering, you want to know what to expect by way of communication from your lawyer.

Ask how often they send updates and how. Some lawyers will communicate primarily via email. You may prefer someone who picks up the phone. Find a lawyer who communicates in the manner you prefer.

Why Do I Need a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles?
Hiring car accident lawyers, whether they’re Los Angeles-based or located elsewhere in California, may seem like an unnecessary expense after a car accident. The temptation to forego any legal representation is likely to be especially strong in situations where you feel the other party is clearly at fault. However, it is oftentimes a costly mistake to abstain from legal representation.

Gathering the evidence and documentation you need to prepare a claim that adequately compensates you can take a considerable amount of time and energy. In some cases, you may even need to use the court system to obtain evidence. Your attorney can often do this much quicker than you and can do so while you focus on other matters.

Los Angeles car accident lawyers are also better equipped than most individuals to know what compensation is possible in any car wreck claim. This knowledge and insight can help you resolve your claim more swiftly and for a fairer amount than if you attempted to do so yourself.

Without a lawyer helping you negotiate and evaluate settlement offers, you could unwittingly reject a reasonable offer and risk receiving less by needlessly going to trial. Or you could accept a settlement offer that does not adequately compensate you for all the ways you have been harmed.

Beyond these benefits of attorney representation, your attorney acts as your advocate and spokesperson for insurance companies, law enforcement officers, and other parties.

Without an attorney representing you, you would be responsible for fielding phone calls and inquiries from these people and having to formulate answers that do not jeopardize your legal rights. The more complex your accident and resulting injuries, the more you benefit from a Los Angeles car accident lawyer’s assistance.

How an Attorney Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim
The right lawyer can be key in getting the best outcome for your car accident claim.
Updated by David Goguen, J.D. · University of San Francisco School of Law
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you might be wondering exactly how an attorney can help you. In this article we’ll cover what a car accident lawyer brings to the table, including:

organization and analysis of key evidence and records
a network of investigators and experts who can help strengthen your case, and
negotiation skills that will get the best outcome for your car accident claim.

What Will My Car Accident Lawyer Do?
While much depends on the specifics and the complexity of your car accident case, in general a lawyer can:

communicate with the other driver’s insurer
obtain the necessary evidence with respect to fault for the accident
organize your medical records and bills
communicate with your health care providers to obtain missing records
work with your doctors to make sure they provide the medical information you need so that you can prove damages in your claim
organize and present the evidence in order to prove liability and damages
negotiate with lien holders on your claim (such as health, disability, or workers’ compensation insurers) to potentially reduce the amount of those liens, and
negotiate a satisfactory settlement with the insurance adjuster or defense attorney.
Let’s look at a couple of these things in-depth.

Your Lawyer Will Communicate With the Other Driver’s Insurer
In any personal injury case, your lawyer will open up a line of communication with the insurance adjuster for the other driver (or other parties) involved. The adjuster has the pocketbook, and so it’s critical for a plaintiff’s lawyer to have good communications and a good relationship with the adjuster.

Your Attorney Will Gather the Right Evidence of Car Accident Fault
A good lawyer can help obtain all the evidence you’ll need to prove liability in a car accident claim. Although you may have already taken photographs of the accident scene, your lawyer will probably go back to the scene him/herself to see what it looks like. While a picture may be worth a thousand words, actually seeing the scene can be worth a thousand pictures.

The lawyer will make sure to get all of the accident or police reports in the case and will often speak with the investigating police officers and witnesses. A good lawyer will leave no stone unturned when it comes to getting their hands on evidence of car accident liability. Learn more about proving fault for a car accident.

Establishing Your Car Accident Losses (“Damages”)
This is where a good lawyer can be essential to your case, especially when you’ve suffered significant car accident injuries, and you need to document the nature and extent of your compensable losses (“damages” in the language of the law).

Obtaining Car Accident Medical Records
It’s critical to obtain all documentation related to your injuries, but it isn’t always easy to get your hands on those records and bills from health care providers. Although the records are technically yours, and you have an absolute right to them, sending medical records to patients and lawyers just isn’t a health care provider’s first priority.

Small doctors’ offices may not have the staffing or the time to respond to medical record requests on a timely basis. Large hospitals may have specific procedures that must be followed in order to respond to medical record requests. If you don’t follow their procedures (which they often don’t publicize very well), they simply won’t respond to your request.

Then, when the health care provider does respond to the request, the records may be incomplete. Any lawyer’s secretary or paralegal will tell you that they often have to request the same records more than once, and they may have to follow up numerous times with the provider’s office.

Making Sure Your Car Accident Medical Record Picture Is Complete
It may turn out that the doctor did not use the “magic words” as to critical issues like causation, prognosis, and disability in their notes. In order to successfully prosecute most types of personal injury claims, you must be able to prove, through medical evidence:

exactly what your injury, disability, or physical limitation is, and
that it was caused by the defendant’s negligence.
Doctors often don’t mention causation and the extent of a patient’s injury or disability in their medical records. If this happens in your case, your lawyer will write the doctor and ask for a special letter in which the doctor gives their opinion that:

the accident caused your injury or disability and
as a result of the accident, you’ll be limited or disabled for a specific period of time.
Negotiating With Lien Holders
If you received benefits from a health, disability, or workers’ compensation insurer, that insurer will have a lien on your claim. A lien means that the lien holder gets paid before you do, out of any settlement or judgment you receive.

A good lawyer will work to get the lien holder to reduce its lien. This is important work. Every dollar less that the lien holder takes is one more dollar that goes into your pocket. Learn more about health care provider liens on personal injury settlements.

Negotiating With Insurers/Defendants
Car accident settlement negotiation is a very specific skill. Some might even call it an art. A personal injury lawyer is always going to be far better at settling a car accident case than a layperson would be. A good lawyer knows how much the case is worth and knows how to work the case and conduct the negotiations in order to arrive at the best outcome for the client.

How to Find the Best Car Accident Attorney
When you’re looking for a car accident lawyer’s help, it’s often best to start by asking friends, family, and colleagues whether they can recommend a particular legal professional. Conducting an online search is also a good way to start. Here are a few factors to consider:

the attorney’s experience (with personal injury cases in general, and with car accident injury cases in particular)
the attorney’s ratings from reliable online resources
other information about the attorney you can find online (including membership in organizations, awards/honors, and publications), and
the proximity of the lawyer’s office to you, plus any other practical considerations.
How Do Car Accident Lawyers Get Paid?
When you hire a car accident lawyer to handle your injury case, they’ll represent you under what’s called a “contingency fee” agreement. This means that a car accident lawyer only gets paid for their legal services if you get a settlement or a court decision in your favor. The lawyer’s fee is an agreed-upon percentage of whatever you end up getting. Learn more about a lawyer’s contingency fee in car accident cases.

Deciding to Hire a Car Accident Attorney
Whether the attorney represents you is your decision as much as it is the attorney’s. You need to find an attorney you feel comfortable with, and who you can trust. You also want to ensure your attorney will effectively and capably represent your legal interests.

A few questions to consider:

Does this attorney have experience handling car accident cases like yours?
How much trial experience does this attorney have? Most car accident cases settle. But in order to obtain the best outcome possible, your attorney must have the ability to take your case to trial and win.
Who will actually handle the case? Some attorneys may give the impression that they’ll handle every aspect of your case, but many have associates handle most of the day-to-day tasks, with your attorney stepping in only when there’s a trial or during settlement negotiations.
What is the attorney’s legal fee and who pays for litigation costs? As mentioned above, most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, but you’ll want details on how and when case costs deducted.
If you decide to hire an attorney, you’ll need to sign a fee agreement, representation agreement, or some other document formally establishing the attorney as your legal representative. You’ll likely also need to sign other documents, such as medical releases, which will allow your attorney to access your treatment records on your behalf.

Turlock car accidents are too frequent, and crashes here often lead to injuries and legal claims. Collisions may cause severe injuries that can hospitalize people for months and require additional years of recovery, among other costs and complications.

Fortunately, in many cases, car accident victims are entitled to compensation for their economic and non-economic damages under California law. Seeking financial recovery is never easy, especially when you are already dealing with serious physical injuries and effects on your life. You need the right legal help.

If you are in a car accident in the area, you should contact Silva Injury Law promptly to speak with a car crash lawyer in Turlock.

We take all of our cases on contingency, which means that you will never have to pay for legal representation unless we win your case. Contact us today to find out whether you have a claim. Reach out to a Turlock car accident lawyer today.

Jump to a Topic
Why Choose Silva Injury Law For Your Car Accident Case
Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Turlock, CA
Types of Car Accident Claims
Common Car Accident Injuries
What To Do After a Car Accident Injury
Liability For Crashes And Injuries
Losses From A Turlock Car Accident
How Our Turlock Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Contact Our Turlock Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Our Turlock Office Address
Why Choose Silva Injury Law For Your Car Accident Case
An excellent example of the type of service that Silva Injury Law provides for its clients is probably the story of our client Martin Rose, who was involved in an accident with another pickup truck while driving a pickup truck.

Our firm submitted an initial demand to the insurance company whose counter-offer was not acceptable, which led to us filing suit before mediation led to a settlement of $110,000 that was 45 percent more than the insurance company’s initial settlement offer.

Attorney Michael Joe Silva was born and raised in the Central Valley, and his Portuguese immigrant parents from the Azores Islands of Portugal means he is fluent in Portuguese.

Michale has a wife and three daughters and has been named one of the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, a SuperLawyers Rising Star, and one of the Best Lawyers Ones To Watch.

Attorney Cassidy Jensen moved to California from Idaho to attend Chapman University and graduated Magna Cum Laude before attending BYU Law School in Provo, Utah. She practiced family law at McCormick Barstow before joining Silva Injury Law and is now certified as a sexual trauma responder who fights for survivors of abuse and violence.

Attorney Tanner Combs was also born and raised in the Central Valley, and his grandfather hitchhiked from Ohio at age 15 to settle here. He is also fluent in Portuguese and worked as a church missionary in Brazil for two years.

Read: Who are the Best Car Accident Lawyers in Turlock?

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Turlock, CA
Most people try to drive carefully, follow traffic laws, and make active efforts to help avoid possible accidents. Some drivers, however, disregard the dangers of their driving and end up jeopardizing the safety of others.

One of the most common forms of driver negligence in California is people who are driving under the influence (DUI) of either drugs or alcohol.

State law prohibits people from operating motor vehicles under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, so many people can be arrested for criminal offenses before being involved in accidents.

Distracted driving remains another common accident risk nowadays. The increasing number of people constantly checking their cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices has only increased the number of ways people can be distracted.

Speeding is another common cause of car accidents, and many drivers in California tend to drive above posted speed limits. Tailgating or failing to provide an adequate following distance can be another common cause of traffic accidents.

After your car accident, a car accident attorney can gather information from the accident, give you legal advice, negotiate with insurance companies, and help you pursue compensation for your losses, so you can heal from it and get back to your normal routine.

Car accidents can be traumatic for the victims. From lacerations and bruises to traumatic brain injuries and broken bones, victims may suffer a range of serious injuries, some of which may require several weeks and thousands of dollars in medical and rehabilitative treatments. Harder still is the loss of a loved one in a car accident.

After a crash, recovery should be a priority. However, when you are well enough, you may also want to consider seeking support from a car accident lawyer. On top of the physical and emotional burden from the car accident, you may encounter financial hardship as you deal with medical bills, vehicle repair or replacement costs, and lost wages.

From speed limits to distracted driving laws, state and federally enforced measures promote safety and prevent collisions. Nonetheless, crashes are a common problem throughout the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), projections show that 19,515 people died in car accidents last year.

When someone disobeys local or federal traffic laws or drives recklessly or irresponsibly, they should face the consequences for their actions. This can include traffic tickets, license suspension, fees, and even jail time, depending on the offense and harm caused. They may also be responsible for compensating the victims.

If the liable party is insured and their insurance company covers the incident’s losses, then it may pay the victim for losses such as medical bills and property damage. However, if they are underinsured, uninsured, or their insurance providers’ payout is insufficient, a victim may wish to file a personal injury lawsuit.

How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Car accident lawyers can be a valuable resource in any of the above circumstances, as pursuing financial awards for your losses can be a complicated endeavor.

First, the victim must prove who caused the accident and establish the sequence of events and circumstances that contributed to the crash. They will also need to gather evidence to support their claims, which may include eyewitness accounts, police reports, medical reports, and receipts for repairs.

The plaintiff may also need to communicate with insurance companies and the other party or its legal representative. While some personal injury suits resolve with a settlement, it is sometimes necessary to take a claim to civil court.

A car accident lawyer can assist you with:

Conducting an investigation, reviewing police reports and medical records, and gathering eyewitness testimonies
Demonstrating the circumstances surrounding the crash, as well as the sequence of events leading up to it
Proving who was at fault
Building a case based on the details of the incident
Establishing a strategy to seek compensation on your behalf
Communicating with insurance companies, lawyers, and other involved parties on your behalf
Representing you in negotiations or a court of law, if necessary
Keeping you updated throughout the process and address any concerns or questions you have
Some cases may be more difficult to investigate than others, like accidents involving rideshare companies, commercial trucks, public transportation, and sanitation vehicles.

In any of these circumstances, there may be more than one liable party or the liable party may be a corporation or city or state government. A car accident lawyer can help ensure you abide by the relevant procedures when it comes to dealing with these kinds of parties.

Statute of Limitations
Every state has statutes of limitations that set deadlines for plaintiffs to file lawsuits against another party, as the Legal Information Institute (LII) defines it. The statute of limitations varies depending on your location and the party against whom you are bringing a claim. For example, the statute of limitations to bring a suit against another civilian may be two or three years, whereas you may have only six months to bring a suit against a local government. The statute of limitations is not the same as the timeframe within which you should file an insurance claim. You should always file a claim or at least notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Some providers specify you must notify them within a “reasonable time” for your claim to be valid. Again, these times may vary across states.

Losses Associated with Car Accidents
Car crashes can result in a variety of losses. This can range from a totaled vehicle to debilitating physical injuries, as well as emotional pain and suffering, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress. A car accident lawyer can help you identify all of the losses you have suffered and what type of compensation you may be eligible to pursue.

You may receive compensation for the following after your car accident:

Cost to repair or replace property
Cost of current or reasonably anticipated medical bills
Lost wages for the time you missed because of your injuries
Reduced earning capacity if your injuries were so serious you are unable to return to your previous position
Emotional pain and anguish
Loss of consortium
Funeral and burial costs (if a loved one died as a result of their injuries)
Contact Us Today
If you or a family member has suffered as a result of another party’s reckless or negligent driving, a car accident lawyer may be able to help. Seeking financial awards for your injuries, pain and suffering, and other losses may help you avoid further hardship and move on with your life faster. To learn more about what a car accident lawyer can do for you, contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC today. Speak with a staff member in a free consultation by calling (844) 730-0233

Largely due to dangerous driving behaviors, car accidents are an unfortunate fact of life in the 21st Century. They can cause serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment and time away from work. If you have been hurt in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact the law firm Hanson & Mouri in Riverside County, CA today for a free consultation. Our motorcycle, truck, and Riverside car accident lawyer is here to help you navigate through the difficult times, deal with insurance companies, and to help you pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries.

Why Hire Our Riverside Car Accident Lawyer?
We have secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients.
Our car accident lawyer can offer a unique and valuable insider perspective, having once worked as an insurance defense attorney.
We are always prepared to take our cases to trial, if that’s what is necessary to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Common Riverside Car Accident-Related Questions
First Steps to Take After a Riverside Car Accident
What Compensation is Available in a Riverside Car Accident Settlement?
How Much Does a Riverside Car Accident Attorney Charge?
How is Evidence Collected to Prove Your Case?
Do You Need To Go To Court if You File a Car Accident Claim?
What Should You Say to Your Insurance Provider?
When Can You Expect a Settlement Check?
Contact Us for Riverside Car Accident Legal Representation You Can Trust
First Steps to Take After a Riverside Car Accident
The aftermath of a car accident can be a stressful ordeal, so it is vital to know the right steps to take. Here’s what to do:

Stop everything and don’t panic. Check if anyone is injured, and if possible move to safety or stay in your vehicle.
Call 911. One of the parties involved should call 911, so that emergency responders can attend to anyone who is injured, and the police can fill out an accident report. This report plays a critical role in proving liability.
Gather information. Hopefully, the other driver stopped at the scene. Ask for their name, phone number, car registration details, insurance information, and drivers license number. In return, you should give them your details. If there are any witnesses, ask them for their contact information as well. They may have a great bearing on how your insurance provider will treat your claim.
Don’t admit fault. Choose your words carefully when you’re interacting with the other driver. Saying something as simple as “sorry” could imply an acknowledgment of being at fault, and could possibly be used against you in an insurance claim.
Take pictures and/or Video. Photographic evidence of the damage, your injuries, and of the scene can be very useful. Along with witness accounts, pictures and video can help you when fault is being disputed.
Call your insurance provider. After collecting all the required information, you can notify and make a claim with your insurance provider.
Speak to a car accident lawyer. Call an experienced Riverside car accident attorney as soon as possible. They will immediately begin investigating the crash and will prevent you from making mistakes that could damage your claim.
Riverside Car Accident Attorney What Compensation is Available in a Car Accident Settlement?
When you are hurt in a car accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, or intentional disregard for safety, then it should not be on your shoulders to handle the resulting financial consequences. The following types of compensation are available in a car accident settlement:

Medical bills
Future medical bills
Property damage to your vehicle
Current and future lost wages due to your recovery
Lost earning capacity
Pain and suffering – physical pain from your injuries and emotional suffering
Disability or disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of companionship for the effect of your injury on your relationship with your spouse
However, even if an insurance company has agreed to cover your claim, they do not intend to pay beyond the policyholder’s limits. Your attorney will review all claims, policies, and settlement offers prior to accepting compensation, to ensure it is enough to fully cover your losses.

When an insurance company refuses to settle for the policy limit where the damages clearly exceed it, you have the option of filing a personal injury lawsuit against them or the at-fault driver personally. Fortunately, California does not place limits on the amount of compensation you can claim in a car accident lawsuit.

On the other hand, if more than one party is responsible, then you may be able to collect compensation under the multiple insurance policies.

How Much Does a Riverside Car Accident Attorney Charge?
A reputable Riverside car accident attorney typically does not charge up-front fees or retainers to take your case. They instead work on a contingency fee basis.

This means that their legal fees (typically one-third of the verdict or settlement) are not collected until your case is resolved. There are no charges for out-of-pocket expenses until you receive your settlement. If you don’t win, you don’t have to pay.

How is Evidence Collected to Prove Your Case?
Holding a negligent driver responsible involves collecting as much evidence as possible by you, or both you and your attorney. Immediately after the accident, there is evidence that you can begin collecting at the scene if you’re physically able to. As previously discussed, photographs and video are powerful tools in proving how the accident occurred in a concrete way, and will link your injuries to the crash. You can even record witness statements and contact information. If you are seriously injured and cannot take pictures or video, ask someone else to do it for you.

Other examples of evidence you will need to obtain after the accident include:

The police report;
Clothing you were wearing at the time of the accident;
Medical records and bills;
Pay stubs and tax returns to establish the amount of your lost wages; Vehicle damage receipts;
A copy of your insurance policy; and,
Evidence of premium payments.
Now, you may be feeling very overwhelmed at the thought of collecting all of this information. The good news is, an experienced car accident attorney can help you. They will perform an independent investigation on your behalf and explore all potential forms of evidence that will support your case, including:

Sending out trained accident scene investigators;
Taking accident scene pictures and pictures of intersections that you may have missed;
Completing an accident reconstruction, if necessary;
Collecting and reviewing all medical records;
Requesting a copy of the police report and reviewing it;
Finding out if any businesses or individuals have surveillance video of the accident;
Reviewing traffic camera recordings if available;
Subpoenaing cell phone records, if appropriate;
Collecting black box data, which some passenger vehicles are equipped with. They can provide valuable information from right before the accident, such as the vehicle’s speed, braking, and steering;
If necessary, coaching you in how to describe your car accident; and,
Subpoenaing witnesses, if necessary.
A car accident lawyer will not only help you preserve critical evidence that could be destroyed quickly, but will help you avoid making inadvertent mistakes that can hurt your case.

Do You Need To Go To Court if You File a Claim?
Most car accident claims in California settle before going to court, but not all do. Your claim may end up going to court if you, and the insurance company cannot agree to a fair settlement on your claim, or if there is a dispute on who was at fault. No two car accidents are the same, so only an attorney can tell you if it will be necessary to try your case or not. Since most car accident lawyers take cases on a contingency fee basis, you fortunately will not have to risk any money out-of-pocket if your claim does proceed to trial.

What Should You Say to Your Insurance Provider?
Even if you did not cause the car accident, you will still likely need to report the collision to your insurance provider. Failing to do so may result in the cancellation of your policy or the loss of other legal rights. Be honest when you report the accident, but keep in mind that adjusters are always looking for ways to avoid having to pay out on a claim. Only answer the questions they ask and refrain from giving any unnecessary information, such as comments on fault, or on how you are feeling. Your attorney can deal with any follow-up discussions regarding liability and your injuries.

riverside car accident attorney hanson & mouri

When Can You Expect a Settlement Check?
It can take as little as 1-2 weeks for you to receive a settlement check after you have signed the insurance company’s release of liability form. But unfortunately, there is no definite answer as to how long it will take for an agreement to be made and for your case to be resolved.

In California, insurance companies have 40 days to either offer a settlement or deny your claim once they receive proof. After that, the adjuster can still take their time to investigate and respond to inquiries. Whether you accept the claim offer, reject it, or appeal a denial, can also impact the waiting period. If your claim ends up in court, a car accident trial typically only takes 1-2 days once it has begun. However, the entire process generally takes at least one year. Since there are phases of litigation that can delay your trial date, such as:

Serving the complaint. Which can take a few weeks or up to several months if the defendant is difficult to track down.
Waiting for an answer. The defendant has about a month to file an answer to the complaint.
Discovery. Both parties exchange the information they have regarding the accident, which may become evidence. This phase can take several months or sometimes over a year to complete.
Appeals process. The outcome of a trial can be appealed by either party, possibly adding years before a final judgment is made.
It’s important to note that car accident lawsuits can still settle at any point. Oftentimes it will occur when one party presents evidence that can swing the outcome of the case.

 

At Golden State Lawyers, we focus on getting results for our clients. We understand the effects that a serious car crash can have on your family, and we work with you to hold those responsible fully accountable. Our attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience working with incident victims, and we have received recognition from the National Trial Lawyers and other prominent legal organizations for our outstanding professionalism and client service.

Our Injury and Death Attorneys in San Jose, California understand what justice is about. While we cannot undo what happened in your auto collision, we can fight for full and fair compensation for you and your loved ones. Your case deserves an attorney with the track record and experience to secure full compensation for your losses.

We combine compassion for our clients with committed representation against our opponents. When working with clients, respect and understanding for your individual needs combine with tailored representation to fit those needs. We are tireless and tenacious when dealing with the person or entity responsible for your injuries.

You want an attorney who is not afraid to fight for you against stiff competition. Over decades of practice, we have established a reputation as assertive advocates who will not rest until our clients get the justice and damages they deserve.

Our Car Accident Settlements And Verdicts
Every client we represent is important to us, no matter how much is at stake. We recognize that your car crash case is very important, whether the dollar value is large or more modest.

Here are just a few examples of settlements and verdicts we have obtained for clients in car crash cases:

$6,000,000 for an automobile collision with brain injuries
$2,400,000 for a collision with multiple injuries
$1,300,000 for a head-on collision that resulted in the death of the driver
$830,000 for a car collision with leg injuries
While we have many seven-figure verdicts and awards for our clients, each one of our cases has its own unique story. Though we routinely handle large cases, we dedicate ourselves to giving all of our clients the personal attention they deserve – no matter the size of their claim. We recognize that your situation deserves attention and dedicated representation to achieve the best result possible.

San Jose Auto Accident Statistics
Fatal car collisions in San Jose have recently increased. Over two recent years, the number of people who died in San Jose car crash grew from 46 to 60. The trend over the last decade has been an increasing (nearly doubled) number of fatal crashes. In one year, there were a total of 3,685 people who died or suffered injuries in San Jose. There were just over 2,000 motor vehicle incidents that caused injuries.

The Mercury News recently published a study of the most dangerous intersections in San Jose. By far, the most dangerous intersection was McLaughlin Avenue and Story Road, with 45 people injured over five years. After that, Almaden Expressway and Blossom Hill Road, and Capitol Expressway and Ocala Avenue, came in the second and third spots.

In terms of the number of crashes, Alum Rock is the most dangerous area in the city, followed by South San Jose.

San Jose highways are not any safer than city streets. Many fatal collisions take place on:

Highway 101
Highway 87
Lawrence Expressway
Highway 880
The most frequent cause of San Jose car crash is speeding. It causes 20 to 25 percent of car crashes each year. In addition, an increase in rideshare cars also increased the number of car crashes.

Types Of Car Accidents Our San Jose Lawyers Handle
Our San Jose car collision lawyers handle a wide range of cases, and each type of accident presents unique challenges and requires a tailored approach to secure the best possible outcome for the victim. Some of the common types of car incidents we help clients with here at Golden State Lawyers, APC, include:

Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of car incidents, often resulting from distracted driving, tailgating, or sudden stops. These collisions can lead to a variety of injuries, including whiplash, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Determining fault in a rear-end collision can be challenging, as it often depends on a variety of factors, such as the speed of the vehicles involved and the road conditions at the time of the accident.

A skilled car crash attorney can assist in evaluating the incident, establishing liability, and engaging with insurance companies to obtain compensation for the injured party. By gathering evidence, questioning witnesses, and analyzing the accident scene, an attorney can help build a strong case on your behalf and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Head-On Crashes
Head-on crashes, also referred to as frontal collisions, are one of the most serious types of car collision. These car crashes often occur at high speeds and can result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the force of the impact. Potential causes of head-on collisions include distracted driving, impaired driving, exceeding the speed limit, and inadequate road conditions.

In the aftermath of a head-on crash, a skilled car crash attorney can help to collect evidence, engage in negotiations with insurance companies, and file a personal injury claim on your behalf. By working with an experienced lawyer, you can ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the maximum compensation possible for your injuries and losses.

Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian incident occur when a vehicle collides with a pedestrian, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. These incidents can be particularly challenging for the victims, as they often face unique legal hurdles in establishing liability and securing compensation for their injuries. In a city like San Jose, where car accidents are all too common, it is crucial for pedestrians to have the support of an experienced car accident attorney.

San Jose car crash attorneys can offer legal assistance to pedestrians affected by car accidents, including establishing liability, negotiating with insurance companies, and obtaining maximum compensation. By working with a skilled attorney, pedestrians can ensure that their rights are protected and that they receive the compensation they need to recover from their injuries and move forward with their lives.

What Are The Common Causes Of Car Crashes In San Jose?
No two motor vehicle collisions are the same. Many different factors may play a role in building your case. However, one of the most crucial aspects of the car crash claims process is determining what caused your collision in the first place. Pinpointing the cause of the crash helps prove how the other driver was at fault.

So how do you determine what caused your crash? An investigation will help you figure out what caused the crash and who was to blame for it. If someone called the police, officers will investigate, but your lawyer often must put together the pieces.

Sometimes, the cause of a collision isn’t obvious at first. For instance, you might be 100 percent sure that the other driver caused the crash because they ran a red light and barreled into you. However, what if the reason they crashed into you was that their brakes went out?

There are many different reasons for a car crash, and investigation is the only way to determine the true cause. You must know the “what” before you can file a claim against the “who.”

Some of the most common causes of car crashes include the following:

Texting and Driving –Technology plays a big role in our everyday lives, so it is no surprise that many motorists find themselves the victim of a texting and driving collision. If you believe the other driver was on their phone at the time of the crash, then let your car incident lawyer know. We can request a copy of the other driver’s phone records to help prove the negligence involved.
Driving Under the Influence –There is never any reason for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of any drugs. If a drunk driver caused your car crash, then you have the right to seek compensation.
Speeding –Speed limits exist for a reason. These restrictions keep the roads safe, and they help prevent car crashes. If the other driver was speeding, you can hold them liable.
Faulty Auto Parts –Manufacturing companies create the vehicles we drive and the parts that make our vehicles work. Consumers trust that the vehicle and its parts will function as they should. However, sometimes vehicles or parts don’t work properly, and you can suffer injuries.
Drowsy Driving –Just like drunk driving, drowsy driving can be extremely dangerous for everyone on the road. When a person drives when they are too tired, they’re asking for an incident. When a fatigued driver caused your crash, you can pursue them for damages by filing an injury claim.
Poor Road Conditions –Sometimes, you and the other involved driver aren’t to blame for the crash at all. Roadway issues cause many San Jose crashes. Some common road problems are potholes, faded or improper lane markings, confusing signs or no signs at all, inadequate guardrails, and too-steep shoulder embankments.
Other common examples of driver negligence that may cause a car crash include:

Running a red light
Failing to yield the right-of-way
Not following traffic signs
Your San Jose car collision attorney will obtain a copy of the police report after the wreck to help determine the incident cause. These police reports are crucial for proving how the other driver was at fault.

What Are Common Car Crash Injuries In San Jose?
Sadly, it is all too common for San Jose car collision to cause drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians serious, sometimes permanent injuries. How serious your injury is will determine how much compensation you ultimately stand to receive. That’s because serious injuries can change your life forever, financially and emotionally.

For example, if you suffer injuries in a crash and receive an ankle sprain, this injury might not be very serious, speaking in relative terms. You might have medical bills, a few days missed from work, and trauma, but you may go back to work in no time. This injury is certainly compensable, but you likely won’t need a lot of compensation.

However, if you are in a crash and you receive a paralyzing spinal injury, for example, your claim will be more complex. You should receive compensation for all the ways this serious injury will change your life, including future losses. You will need full compensation to provide financially for a future that now includes a spinal injury.

Some injuries that may result from a San Jose collision include:

Traumatic brain injuries
Whiplash
Broken bones
Disfiguring facial injuries
Back injuries
Internal bleeding and organ damage
Always see a doctor as soon as you can following your incident—even if you feel fine initially. The adrenaline and shock can mask even serious injuries, like brain trauma. Additionally, some injuries may take time to develop.

To help you get the most compensation possible, we will likely advise you to get a copy of any medical records from the incident. This may include medical bills, a medical analysis from your doctor, and proof of any medications that doctors prescribed because of the incident.

What Types Of Damages Can I Recover For My Car Collision Injuries?
The damages you can recover in a car crash claim typically fall into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. The specific types and amounts of damages you can recover depend on the circumstances of the crash, the extent of your injuries, and California’s laws regarding compensation. Here are some common damages you may be able to recover:

Medical expenses: This includes all medical costs related to the incident, such as hospitalization, doctor visits, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and any future medical bills required for ongoing treatment or therapy.
Property Damage: The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other property damaged in the incident.

If you were injured during a traumatic car accident, contact a top-rated California car accident lawyer at (866) 622-6491 urgently. Our team of award-winning auto accident attorneys is here to ensure your car accident personal injury claim is handled effectively.

It all starts with a free consultation. We’ll go over the details of your accident, determine the viability of your case, get you seen by an experienced doctor, and provide you with valuable advice regarding the next steps you should take — all at no cost to you.

Support from our experienced car accident attorneys ensures you get the highest settlement possible by avoiding common pitfalls — like not getting seen by a doctor and failing to communicate all of the important details about your car accident to your insurance company representing you or the other party involved in the crash. Our California personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means our representation is available to you with zero upfront fees.

Most of the cases we take on settle out of court, giving our clients a much faster resolution to their case. This eliminates the stress that can be caused by a drawn-out court battle. This allows our clients to focus on getting back to their normal lives.

We’re able to achieve such efficient results because of our hands-on approach and attention to detail. Each case is personal to us. We take pride in going above and beyond to handle all of your family’s needs during this difficult time.

If you were injured during a traumatic car accident, contact a top-rated California car accident lawyer at (866) 622-6491 urgently. Our team of award-winning auto accident attorneys is here to ensure your car accident personal injury claim is handled effectively.

It all starts with a free consultation. We’ll go over the details of your accident, determine the viability of your case, get you seen by an experienced doctor, and provide you with valuable advice regarding the next steps you should take — all at no cost to you.

Support from our experienced car accident attorneys ensures you get the highest settlement possible by avoiding common pitfalls — like not getting seen by a doctor and failing to communicate all of the important details about your car accident to your insurance company representing you or the other party involved in the crash. Our California personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means our representation is available to you with zero upfront fees.

Most of the cases we take on settle out of court, giving our clients a much faster resolution to their case. This eliminates the stress that can be caused by a drawn-out court battle. This allows our clients to focus on getting back to their normal lives.

We’re able to achieve such efficient results because of our hands-on approach and attention to detail. Each case is personal to us. We take pride in going above and beyond to handle all of your family’s needs during this difficult time.

Car Accident Lawyers – Being injured in an accident that someone else’s careless, negligent, or reckless actions caused may mean you are eligible for a personal injury claim. A settlement award can compensate you for medical bills and other expenses and the impact your injuries have had on your life.

Car accident claims require experienced legal representation to achieve the best results. An auto accident attorney can help you recover compensation to help you recover from your injuries and meet your goals.

An experienced auto accident lawyer at the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can explain this process to you. Call us today.

Auto Accident Injury Lawyers Who Actually Litigate
Insurance Companies Evaluate Claims Based on Risk. We Make Them Defend the Claim.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, P.A., has a rich history of success litigating car accident claims. Further, our core competency is litigation. Stan Gipe is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. This is a designation from the Florida Bar that affirms he is an expert in the field of civil litigation. Matthew Dolman has served as lead counsel in over 1000 lawsuits. Combined, Stan and Matt have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for Floridians injured in a car accident.

In the past five years, our law firm has resolved twenty-seven (27) individual cases for one million dollars or more ($1,000,000.00) wherein clients sustained serious injuries. Insurance is a risk mitigation business. The insurance carrier must evaluate the risk they face and a law firm that simply settles every last time for the best offer available poses no risk to a big corporate Goliath.

It goes beyond our desire to recover a fair settlement within the insurance coverage available. Rather, we want to obtain maximum compensation for our clients in every last case. Insurance carriers evaluate our firm on how we handle our entire body of cases. We never want to set the precedent of settling easily.

The one thing an insurance company hates the most is spending money. These are giant for-profit corporations that must answer to shareholders. When an insurance carrier acts unreasonably, our car accident attorneys make them spend money defending the claim. We have no qualms about filing a lawsuit and forcing the insurance company to hire and retain lawyers along with expert witnesses to defend a serious injury claim. All insurance carriers keep detailed notes on the lawyers and law firms they encounter. In turn. we believe they take claims filed by our law firm very seriously and this generates better settlement offers on your typical car accident case. This holds true for injuries caused by a minor car accident, let alone your average motor vehicle accident with moderate property damage.





Do I Need an Auto Accident Attorney?
Some general truths apply to all motor vehicle accidents. No matter the wreck’s details, every car accident victim is vulnerable to insurance company tactics when a competent attorney does not represent them. Insurance carriers like State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, and many others are all mega-corporations that got that way by effectively keeping costs low and profits high. They offer as little as possible in car accident settlement negotiations by employing skilled claims adjusters and attorneys who can poke holes in what may otherwise appear to be a clear-cut insurance claim.

Insurance companies are aware of which attorneys and law firms are known to go to trial instead of settling quickly and not getting full compensation. To properly protect yourself against the insurance companies’ deep pockets and experienced lawyers, it is essential that you hire a car accident lawyer that is experienced in car accident cases.





Assigning fault after an accident has happened is not always easy. For example, National Transportation Safety Board officials ruled that the Tesla lithium-ion traction battery was partially responsible for a fiery crash that killed two teenage boys. The crash occurred when the 18-year-old driver of the Tesla lost control of the vehicle while driving at 116 miles per hour. The crash resulted in the death of the driver and his teenage front-seat passenger. Both boys were days away from graduating from high school at the time of the accident.

The NTSB ruled that the high speed that the boy was driving at was the primary cause of the crash—but that the battery contributed to the severity of the crash, as it caught on fire due to damage.

While this is an extreme case, it illustrates that you can’t assume you are not eligible to recover compensation after an accident injuring you or a loved one. Instead, call the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA. Let us listen to you, investigate, and see how we can protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve.

Types of Auto Accidents
Different types of car accidents each pose a risk of injury or even death, depending on the circumstances. These include; how fast the vehicles were going, whether the occupants were wearing seat belts, whether the collision involved a truck accident, pedestrian accident, or a motorcycle accident, and the size difference between the cars and objects involved in the collision. Some of the more common types of accidents include:

Head-on collisions: While head-on collisions account for a very small number of accidents across the nation, they are over-represented in the number of fatalities resulting from those accidents. The danger of head-on collisions lies in the speed at which each vehicle is traveling. The forward motion of the vehicles when they collide increases the energy of the impact.

Rear-end accidents: Rear-end accidents are commonly caused when the following vehicle is traveling too close to the lead vehicle and is unable to stop safely when the lead vehicle suddenly stops or slows. While rear-end accidents are often considered minor, there are around 1.7 million rear-end collisions in the U.S. each year, accounting for around 1,700 deaths and half a million injuries.





T-bone collisions: This accident most commonly happens at intersections when one vehicle fails to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle. T-bone collisions tend to be particularly dangerous for occupants sitting on the side of the struck vehicle due to a lack of protection on the sides of its structure.

Sideswipe accidents: Sideswipe accidents occur when a vehicle fails to maintain its own lane, drifting or swerving into another traffic lane, or when one driver attempts to change lanes without ensuring that the lane he or she is merging into is clear.

Chain reaction crashes: Often, a two-vehicle crash occurs, and the impact of the collision causes one of the vehicles to crash into a third vehicle. Many vehicles may be involved in an accident on interstates, commonly known as a pileup.

Single-vehicle accidents: A study revealed that—while most drivers worry about being killed in an accident with another vehicle—the most common type of car accident, which results in more than half of all traffic-related fatalities, is the single-vehicle crash.

Causes of Auto Accidents
There are also many reasons why car accidents happen, mostly related to human error. Here are some of the top causes of collision:

Speeding: In one recent year, speeding killed more than 9,000 people nationwide, making it one of the most deadly causes of car accidents. Speeding involves not only exceeding the posted speed limit, but also driving too fast for the conditions of the roadway. Speeding is dangerous as it reduces the time a driver has to perceive a danger on the roadway, increases the distance that the vehicle requires to come to a safe stop, and reduces the effectiveness of the vehicle’s protective features, such as seat belts, airbags, and the steel frame.

Distracted driving: Distracted driving poses a major hazard to others on the roadway. There are three types of distractions:

Manual distractions cause the driver to take their hands from the wheel.
Visual distractions draw the driver’s eyes from the road.
Cognitive distractions take the driver’s attention away from the task of driving.
Texting is of particular concern, as it results in all three types of distractions. Other common causes of driver distraction include other types of cell phone use, such as email or social media; eating or drinking; adjusting the vehicle or stereo controls; visiting with other occupants in the vehicle; or external distractions, such as billboards, people in other cars, or rubbernecking past other accidents.

Alcohol impairment: Drunk driving results in more than 10,000 deaths a year. In the U.S., a person dies in an alcohol-related crash every 48 minutes, and the cost to society of alcohol-related accidents is around $44 billion a year. Alcohol impairment produces deficits in many skills a person needs for the safe operation of a motor vehicle, including the ability to track moving targets, steer and brake effectively, respond appropriately to emergency driving situations, and concentrate.

Fatigued driving: Drowsy driving presents many of the same impacts on a person’s skills needed for driving. While any driver is at risk of drowsy driving, long-haul truck drivers, shift workers, and those who suffer from sleep apnea are especially prone to the hazards of driving while fatigued. The effect of this condition is often extreme drowsiness, even if the person gets a healthy amount of rest.

Confusion/getting lost: Drivers who are lost or who have missed their turn tend to make more errors, such as changing lanes without ensuring that the lane they’re changing to is clear or turning the wrong way onto a one-way road.