A California car accident lawyer protects your rights by investigating the crash, dealing with the insurance companies, and pursuing full compensation for your medical bills, lost income, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering. California's comparative fault rule means you can recover even if you were partly to blame, so it pays to understand your options before accepting any offer.
A serious crash can upend your life in seconds. Injuries, medical bills, missed paychecks, and a damaged car all land at once, often while an insurance adjuster is already calling. If another driver's negligence caused the collision, you shouldn't have to carry those costs yourself, and you don't have to navigate the claims process alone.
Why the First Insurance Offer Deserves a Second Look
After a crash, insurers sometimes move quickly with a settlement offer. It can be tempting to take it, but early offers are usually built to close the file cheaply, often before anyone knows the full extent of your injuries. Our founding attorney, Shawn Rokni, previously worked as a senior insurance defense attorney and in-house counsel for a major auto insurer, so our firm understands how carriers evaluate claims and where they look for leverage.
A car accident lawyer can:
- Investigate the crash: gather the police report, medical records, photos, video, and witness statements, and consult outside professionals when needed.
- Handle the insurers: push back on lowball offers and make sure the claim reflects all of your losses.
- Pursue full compensation: including future medical care and lost earning capacity, not just the bills you have today.
- Go to court if necessary: when an insurer won't be reasonable, a lawsuit may be the next step.
Not sure whether you need help? Our guide on when to hire a car accident lawyer covers the warning signs.
Common Causes of California Car Accidents
- Distracted driving, especially phone use
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Drowsy driving
- Dangerous road or weather conditions
- Vehicle defects and poor maintenance
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Depending on your case, damages may include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In cases involving especially reckless conduct, such as drunk driving crashes, punitive damages may also be available. For a closer look at the process, see our guide on how to claim car accident compensation.
How Comparative Fault Works in California
You can recover damages even if you were partly responsible for the crash. Under California's comparative fault rule, your compensation is reduced by your share of the blame. If you were 20% at fault, you can still recover 80% of your damages. Insurers know this, so they often try to inflate the injured person's percentage. Careful investigation is the most reliable way to keep fault where it belongs.
What to Do After a Car Accident
- Get medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor.
- Call the police so an official report is made.
- Photograph the scene and vehicles, and get witness contact information.
- Avoid giving statements to the other driver's insurance company.
- Talk to a car accident lawyer as soon as you can.
Representation for Every Kind of Crash
We represent people across California in rear-end crashes, head-on and T-bone collisions, and crashes caused by uninsured drivers. In one rear-end case, our firm obtained a $500,000 result in a rear-end crash after defeating a "ghost vehicle" defense. Every case is different, and past results don't predict the outcome of another case.
Don't let an insurance company decide what your recovery should be. Learn more about our car accident practice or contact Insider Accident Lawyers for a free case review. You pay no attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you.
