A car crash can change your life in an instant. In what feels like the blink of an eye, you may suddenly find yourself facing serious injuries, steep medical bills, a damaged vehicle, and emotional distress.
After your automobile accident, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, angry, stressed, or unsure of what to do next. Fortunately, you don’t have to face this challenge alone.
If you or a family member has been injured in a motor vehicle accident in the state of California, you need a competent, caring attorney for your personal injury claim. The Advocates can help.
Our experienced California personal injury attorneys are here to take on your car accident claim and fight to get you a fair settlement offer for your damages. Our law firm has represented thousands of car accident victims since 1993 and we are ready to help you.
Immediately after your accident, check for injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Seek medical treatment as soon as you can
Get the damage on your car assessed and fixed
Once you’ve completed treatment, your attorney will compile your medical records
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We don’t get paid unless we win your case and you receive a settlement.
For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.
Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.
Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.
The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.
Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.
When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.
For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.
We can help you:
I was in an accident 3 years ago and had a very bad experience with the attorney back then I was in another accident last year and called the advocates mark and his team were amazing changed my view on accident attorneys they kept I'm touch with me every step of the way gave me authority on choices for myself I didn't have to go with what they said I could go against it and they still would have worked with me the same I had choices this time around I would always go with Mark I have even sent friends his way just cause I appreciate all the help and support the whole way threw.
My experience with the advocates was a good one. After being hit by a car on my motorcycle they helped me with a settlement with the insurance company to get the hospital bills paid. They were extremely helpful. They always answered any questions I had with in a day. Every email I sent was always responded to. If you unfortunately has to go through a injury by another person I would recommend them in helping you resolve any debt you have because if that injury. The Advocates were great to work with and help me get this unfortunate event behind me.
Steve and his crew at The Advocates were nothing short for amazing. They took my case after I was rear-ended resulting in neck surgery. Steve and company made sure all of the was taken care of and that I got the maximum compensation possible. I definitely recommend The Advocates
Mr. Brad Johnson, our lawyer; was Awesome! He was very informative, kept us up to date on my case with regular calls. He returned calls back to us within 24 hours or less. Brad Johnson is very courteous, honest, kind, and a pleasure to talk to and work with. There are very few Lawyers out there that could even come close to the high morals that Brad Johnson has and has shown towards us. We need more lawyers like Brad Johnson . If we ever needed a disability lawyer again in the future; it would be Brad Johnson and The Advocates Firm that he works at. We will definitely turn ALL of our family and friends towards this lawyer and firm; in a heartbeat!!!
I want to First say that I am truly thankful for the advocates Law Firm they have been a great service to me through this ordeal and Katie she is a tremendous lawyer someone that I would recommend she fights tooth and nail for her clients and the rest of the team they supported me to the fullest with that being said I would like to say for anyone who is trying to find an attorney to fight their case The Advocates is the way to go.
Motor vehicle accidents can lead to many types of injuries, varying in severity from very minor to life-threatening. Some of the most common injuries after a car accident include:
If you are involved in a car crash, always remain at the accident scene until you are cleared to go. Failure to do so could constitute a hit-and-run.
Hit-and-runs that cause property damage are misdemeanors in California and can carry penalties of up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
To avoid a hit-and-run charge, you must stop your vehicle and exchange information with the other driver. You must provide the other party with your name and address, regardless of who was at fault.
If you hit and damage a car that was parked, you must either notify the vehicle owner in person or leave a note with your contact information.
A hit-and-run may be considered a felony if another person was injured or killed. A felony hit-and-run can come with penalties of up to four years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
California first enacted seatbelt laws in 1986. It is a primary enforcement state, which means that you can be pulled over and cited for not wearing a seatbelt.
Under California law, all vehicle occupants must wear a seatbelt, regardless of age or where they are sitting in the vehicle.
If an unbuckled passenger is over the age of 16, both the driver and the passenger can be ticketed.
An adult seatbelt violation can result in a $162 fine. A seatbelt violation for a child under the age of 16 can result in a $490 fine.
Seatbelt use in California is around 96%.
The penalties for driving under the influence in California vary depending on whether it was the driver’s 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or subsequent offense. It may also depend on if the driver caused an accident that resulted in an injury or fatality.
If charged as a misdemeanor, the at-fault driver may face the following penalties:
If the at-fault party is charged with a felony DUI, the penalties are even harsher. Potential felony DUI penalties include:
DUI convictions remain on a California driver’s record for 10 years.
Even if you are not the at-fault party in an accident, it’s important to protect yourself and your right to an insurance claim. What you say and do after the crash can impact your potential settlement.
If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident, take the following actions:
Virtually all legal cases, both criminal and civil, are subject to a statute of limitations. This statute sets forth a time limit for filing charges. Once the statute of limitations has expired, the plaintiff loses their right to a claim.
The statute of limitations for car accidents in California is generally two years. This may seem like a long time, but personal injury cases can move slowly, depending on the other party’s willingness to settle and the court’s caseload.
To avoid missing deadlines, it’s a good idea to contact an attorney as soon as you believe you have a claim.
Every personal injury case is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all formula for calculating a potential settlement. Depending on the factual circumstances of your case, you may be able to seek financial compensation for the following damages:
Contact The Advocates for a free consultation—we can help determine the potential value of your case.
Not every case requires a personal injury lawyer. However, if you are facing medical expenses due to injuries from your crash, you may be entitled to compensation.
If you do choose to file a car accident lawsuit, fighting it on your own can be a challenge. Insurance providers often do their best to avoid offering accident victims a fair settlement. An auto accident lawyer can take on these multi-million dollar corporations for you.
The Advocates injury attorneys have decades of experience negotiating on behalf of clients. We will help you gather evidence, keep track of medical records, and fight for maximum compensation.
In addition to experienced legal representation, we offer personalized care and attention based on your individual needs. We can help you find medical care or repair shops in your area. Your Advocate will be there for you and your family throughout the entirety of your case.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation. You deserve a legal team that will put you and your loved ones first. You deserve an Advocate.
