LA County Auto Accident Attorney
While some auto crashes may be considered minor, the effects may not be. Potential injuries may not present themselves right away, leading a person to believe they are fine when they are not. Even if you feel like you were not hurt, sometimes it takes a few days for your body to feel the full extent of the accident—time which can potentially be critical to your chances of successfully seeking damages from the party responsible for the crash.
If you were involved in a car accident, it may be important for you to contact a professional injury attorney as soon as possible. A car accident lawyer serving the Los Angeles region can help you deal with expensive medical costs as a result of your incident. If someone else was responsible for your accident, they can be held liable and may have to compensate you for your expenses.
💡 Key Takeaways
- You don’t pay anything upfront:
Car accident attorneys typically work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless your case results in a settlement or verdict. - California’s statute of limitations is unforgiving:
Most car accident injury claims must be filed within two years, and waiting too long can permanently bar your right to compensation. - Talking to the insurance company alone can hurt your claim:
Recorded statements and early settlement offers are often designed to minimize what you’re owed before you understand the full extent of your injuries. - Most car accident cases settle before trial:
A skilled attorney negotiates from a position of strength, and going to court is often unnecessary to secure fair compensation. - A free consultation costs you nothing but can protect everything:
Speaking with a Los Angeles car accident attorney early helps preserve evidence, meet deadlines, and avoid costly mistakes with insurers.
California Auto Accident Statistics
The following statistics are sobering in that they highlight the severity of car accidents within California and the rest of the United States:
- Each year there are over 5 million crashes in the United States
- Traffic accidents injure over 2 million individuals each year
- California traffic accidents injure over 200,000 drivers every year
Unfortunately, insurance companies are in business to maximize their shareholder’s value, not the amount of compensation a plaintiff wishes to recover after a serious injury. They are not focused on identifying all of one’s potential injuries and damages, which is why it is important to consult with a Claremont and Pasadena auto accident lawyer.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Claremont
Compared to the rest of California, Claremont is a particularly dangerous place when it comes to deadly car crashes. In 2014, Claremont saw nearly double the number of fatal accidents and more than twice the number of fatalities per 100,000 residents as the rest of the state, as well as nearly three and a half times the number of fatal accidents involving people under the influence of alcohol. Some of the most common causes of these accidents besides alcohol or drug intoxication include:
- Negligent or careless driving
- Aggressive driving
- Texting while driving
- Distracted driving
Getting into a car accident can cause serious, long-term injuries. Anyone who is injured in a car accident and believes it was due to someone else’s negligence may want to contact a Claremont and Pasadena car accident lawyer today, as an experienced attorney can help guide them through their legal options.
How to Prove Liability for a Car Crash in California
In order to receive compensation, the injured party in a California car accident case must prove that the defendant acted negligently. Under California state civil law, negligence consists of four basic requirements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
Duty of Care and Breach of Duty
When a driver gets behind the wheel of a car, they assume a duty of care towards everyone around them to avoid foreseeable risks of injury. This element is typically fairly easy to establish in a personal injury case. The injured party must also prove that the defendant acted carelessly or broke some sort of law while driving and, in doing so, failed to fulfill their duty of care. This is often a question of fact that the injured party can help prove by calling on witnesses who saw the accident.
Causation and Damages
To meet this element, the injured party must prove that the driver’s negligence directly caused the car accident that injured them. Two types of causation—actual and proximate—must be proven. Finally, the injured party must show that they suffered damages as a direct result of the car accident. Damages can include physical, emotional, and economic injuries, such as medical wages, pain, and suffering, and lost income. Individuals can get in touch with a Claremont and Pasadena car accident lawyer today for help with proving any of these elements.
Legal Rights After a Collision
Most auto accident claims are based on the negligence of the driver that caused the accident. The job of a skilled California car accident lawyer is to prove a plaintiff’s case. This requires demonstrating all the elements of the driver’s negligence. A dedicated California car accident lawyer must understand every aspect of an individual’s accident: how it occurred, why it occurred, the parties at fault, the extent of their injuries, and one’s recovery options. This knowledge allows a weathered car accident lawyer serving the Los Angeles region to determine a plaintiff’s best option.
Wrongful Death Cases
In a fatal car accident where the individual killed was a family member, spouse, or other loved one, certain surviving parties have a right to seek justice through the assistance of a California car accident lawyer. Spouses, relatives, and dependents of the decedent have a right to sue. Even if the individual who caused the accident is charged with a criminal penalty, they have a right to sue in civil court and be compensated for their loss.
Pursuing Compensation for Losses
In fatal car accidents, there are damages that the estate can recover and damages that surviving family members can recover. Losses typically attributed to the estate include funeral expenses, hospital and medical bills for the deceased individual’s final illness or injury, and lost income. This includes the potential income the deceased party would reasonably have been expected to earn in the future, had he or she survived. Losses typically attributed to the surviving family members can include the value of household services, loss of anticipated financial support, and loss of love, community, attention, affection, moral support, and guidance.
Potential Recoverable Damages
In auto accidents, the legal system generally classifies damages into two categories: property and personal. Damages to one’s property include costs related to the vehicle, towing, vehicle storage, appraisals, property damaged by the accident, repairs, as well as damage to personal belongings and replacement costs. Damages classified as personal could include one’s loss of wages, hospital costs, ambulance services, emergency room supplies, physical aids and appliances, physical therapy, medical staff, transportation, pain and suffering, and permanent disability.
What to Do After an Out-of-State Car Accident
With so many drivers and vehicles out on the roads in California, it is hardly unheard of to get into an accident. However, Californians also like to travel, and sometimes that travel takes them and their vehicles out of state, where accidents can and do still happen. So what should a California driver do when they get into an accident out of state?
The Role of Insurance
When it comes to insurance, the matter will proceed in a very similar way as it would if the accident had happened in California. Most states are tort or fault states, meaning that the insurance company of the at-fault driver will pay for any damages. This applies to both the driver that is insured and any other parties or vehicles that were damaged.
Before fault can be fully determined by the insurance company, the company will send an adjuster to determine the extent of injuries and damages. Many insurance companies have adjusters throughout the entire country, but some do not, so the amount of time this process takes could vary wildly. If that is the case, those involved in the accident may have to remain in the state where the accident occurred, even if they are unhurt or their car is not damaged enough to prevent them from going home.
Filing a Claim
Furthermore, if the California driver was injured and wants to file a personal injury claim for compensation, the case will need to be heard in the state the accident happened in. This can be challenging not just because of the distance the plaintiff may have to travel, but also because California attorneys are often only licensed to work in California.
This means the plaintiff will likely not be able to use them. Instead, an attorney will need to be hired that is licensed to work in the state where the accident happened. While many attorneys will be able to work long-distance through emails and phone calls with a driver, the case can become complicated if the California driver has to appear in court to provide testimony.
None of this means that a California driver should not make an out-of-state claim if another driver was at fault and they were seriously injured. It may, however, mean trips out of state will be required to file the claim and see it through.
Talking to a Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney
Car accidents can be the cause of severe, life-altering injuries. Fortunately, though, a Los Angeles car accident lawyer can help you if you suffered injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence. Contact an experienced attorney today to start pursuing the compensation you deserve.
FAQ
How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles?
Most car accident lawyers, including our firm, work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs or hourly fees — the attorney only gets paid a percentage of your settlement or verdict if your case is successful. If you don’t recover compensation, you typically owe nothing for attorney’s fees. This arrangement allows injury victims to get experienced legal representation regardless of their financial situation.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in California?
In California, the statute of limitations for most car accident injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. If the claim involves a government vehicle or public entity, that deadline can be much shorter — sometimes as little as six months to file an initial claim. Missing these deadlines can permanently prevent you from recovering compensation, which is why it’s important to consult an attorney as soon as possible after a crash.
What happens during a free consultation with a car accident attorney?
During a free consultation, an attorney will typically ask about how the accident happened, the extent of your injuries, your interactions with insurance companies so far, and any documentation you have such as police reports or medical records. The attorney will explain your legal options, give you a realistic sense of your case’s strengths, and outline next steps. There’s no obligation to hire the firm after the consultation — it’s simply an opportunity to understand your rights.
Should I give a recorded statement to the insurance company before talking to a lawyer?
It’s generally advisable to speak with an attorney before giving any recorded statement to an insurance adjuster — including your own insurer in some cases. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can minimize the value of your claim, and statements made early on, before you know the full extent of your injuries, can be used against you later. An attorney can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf so you don’t have to navigate those conversations alone.
How long does it typically take to settle a car accident case in Los Angeles?
The timeline varies significantly depending on the complexity of the case, the severity of injuries, and whether liability is disputed. Straightforward cases with clear liability and minor injuries may resolve in a few months, while cases involving serious injuries, multiple parties, or disputed fault can take a year or longer — especially if a lawsuit needs to be filed. An attorney typically won’t recommend settling until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement, so the full cost of your injuries can be accurately calculated.
Will my car accident case go to trial, or does it usually settle out of court?
The vast majority of car accident cases settle before trial through negotiation with the insurance company. Filing a lawsuit doesn’t necessarily mean going to trial — it often moves the case into a more formal negotiation process that can lead to a fair settlement. An experienced attorney will still prepare your case as though it may go to trial, since insurance companies tend to offer better settlements when they know the attorney is ready to litigate if necessary.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident — can I still recover compensation?
Yes. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your compensation would be reduced by your percentage of fault, but it wouldn’t be eliminated entirely — even someone found 90% at fault could still recover 10% of their damages. An attorney can help gather evidence to minimize your assigned share of fault and maximize your recovery.
Local Resources in Los Angeles
Being hurt in a car accident in Los Angeles can turn your life upside down overnight. Between emergency treatment, a totaled vehicle, missed work, and calls from insurance adjusters, it helps to know where to turn. The trusted local resources below can help you get emergency care, obtain your collision report, repair or replace your vehicle, and start recovering. While these services help in the immediate aftermath, speaking with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer as soon as possible can help protect your rights and your claim. Contact our office for a free consultation.
Police & Public Safety
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) – Handles law enforcement, investigations, and traffic collision reports for crashes on city surface streets. For emergencies dial 911; for non-emergency police response, call 1-877-ASK-LAPD (1-877-275-5273). Visit Website
- California Highway Patrol (CHP) – Los Angeles – Responds to and reports collisions on freeways and state highways (such as the 405, 5, 10, and 101). Visit Website
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Handles incidents in unincorporated areas and communities outside LAPD jurisdiction. Visit Website
Accident Reports & Records
- LAPD Traffic Collision Reports – Request an official collision report for a crash within Los Angeles city limits by mail to the Records and Identification Division, Document Processing Unit, P.O. Box 30158, Los Angeles, CA 90030. There is a required waiting period after the collision date. For status updates, call the recorded line at (213) 486-8130. Request a Report
- California Highway Patrol Collision Reports – Request reports for collisions that occurred on freeways or state highways through the CHP. Request a Report
- California DMV – SR-1 Accident Report – California requires drivers to report an accident to the DMV within 10 days when there is injury, death, or property damage over the state threshold. File an SR-1
Medical & Emergency Care
- Los Angeles General Medical Center (formerly LAC+USC) – One of the busiest Level I trauma centers in the country, serving the region’s most critical cases. Located at 2051 Marengo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033. Visit Website
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center – A Level I trauma center with a 24/7 emergency department serving central Los Angeles. Located at 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Visit Website
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center – A Level I trauma center serving the Westside, recognized for advanced neurosurgical and critical care. Located at 757 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095. Visit Website
Urgent Care & Rehabilitation
- UCLA Health Urgent Care – Walk-in care for non-life-threatening injuries at multiple Los Angeles locations, with specialist referrals. Visit Website
- Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute – Orthopaedic and physical rehabilitation services for accident-related injuries across the Los Angeles area. Visit Website
Towing & Roadside Assistance
- Official Police Garages (OPG) of Los Angeles – The network of city-authorized garages that tow and store vehicles after collisions within LAPD jurisdiction. If your vehicle was towed after a crash, the responding officer can tell you which OPG has it. Visit Website
- AAA Roadside Assistance – Southern California – 24/7 towing and roadside help for members throughout Los Angeles. Call 1-800-400-4222. Visit Website
Collision Repair & Auto Body Shops
- Caliber Collision – Los Angeles – Nationwide collision repair provider with multiple LA locations, insurance coordination, and lifetime warranties. Visit Website
- RepairPal Certified Shops – Los Angeles – Compare vetted auto repair and body shops in Los Angeles with fair pricing and service guarantees. Find Shops Near You
Rental Car Services
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car – Los Angeles – Multiple locations offering insurance replacement rentals while your vehicle is repaired. Visit Website
- Hertz Car Rental – Los Angeles – Short- and long-term rental options across the LA area. Visit Website
Transportation Services
- LA Metro – Bus and rail transit throughout Los Angeles County for getting around while your vehicle is out of service. Call 323-466-3876. Visit Website
- Access Paratransit – Shared-ride service for LA County residents whose injuries prevent them from using regular public transit. Call 1-800-883-1295. Visit Website
Courts & Legal Resources
- Los Angeles Superior Court – Stanley Mosk Courthouse – The primary civil court for Los Angeles County, where car accident lawsuits are filed. Located at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Call (213) 830-0803. Visit Website
Mental Health & Support
- LA County Department of Mental Health Help Line – Free, 24/7 support and counseling referrals for trauma and emotional recovery after an accident. Call 1-800-854-7771. Visit Website