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:
Tuve un accidente hace 3 años y tuve una muy mala experiencia con el abogado en ese entonces. Tuve otro accidente el año pasado y llamé a Los Advocates. Mark y su equipo fueron increíbles, cambiaron mi opinión sobre los abogados de accidentes, se mantuvieron en contacto conmigo en cada paso del camino y me dieron autoridad para elegir por mí misma. No me obligaron a aceptar lo que ellos decían, podía ir en contra y aun así habrían trabajado conmigo de la misma manera. Esta vez tenía opciones, siempre iría con Mark. Incluso le he enviado varios amigos, porque agradezco toda la ayuda y el apoyo durante todo el proceso.
Mi experiencia con Los Advocates fue muy buena. Después de ser atropellado por un automóvil en mi motocicleta, me ayudaron con el acuerdo con la compañía de seguros para pagar las facturas del hospital. Ellos fueron extremadamente servicial y amables. Siempre respondían mis preguntas en el mismo día o al día siguiente. Cada correo electrónico que envié siempre fue respondido. Si desafortunadamente tiene que sufrir una lesión por parte de otra persona, recomendaría a Los Advocates para que lo ayuden a resolver cualquier deuda que tenga debido a esa lesión. Fue genial trabajar con ellos y me ayudaron a dejar atrás este desafortunado evento.
Steve y su equipo en Los Advocates fueron increíbles. Tomaron mi caso después de que me chocaron por detrás resultando en una operación del cuello. Steve y compañía se aseguraron de que todo estuviera resuelto y de que obtuviera la máxima compensación posible. Definitivamente recomiendo a Los Advocates.
¡El Sr. Brad Johnson, nuestro abogado, fue increíble! Fue muy informativo, nos mantuvo al tanto de mi caso con llamadas periódicas. Nos devolvió las llamadas en 24 horas o menos. Brad Johnson es muy cortés, honesto, amable y es un placer hablar y trabajar con él. Hay muy pocos abogados por ahí que podrían siquiera acercarse a la alta moral que Brad Johnson tiene y ha mostrado hacia nosotros. Necesitamos más abogados como Brad Johnson. Si alguna vez volviéramos a necesitar un abogado de discapacidad en el futuro, será Brad Johnson y la firma de abogados Los Advocates en la que trabaja. ¡Definitivamente les diremos a TODOS nuestros familiares y amigos del abogado Brand Johnson y la firma en un abrir y cerrar de ojos!
Primero quiero decir que estoy realmente agradecido por el bufete de abogados Los Advocates, me han brindado un gran servicio a través de esta terrible experiencia y Katie, es una abogada tremenda, alguien a quien recomendaría que lucha con uñas y dientes por sus clientes y el resto del equipo me apoyó al máximo, dicho esto, me gustaría decir que cualquiera que esté tratando de encontrar un abogado para pelear su caso, Los Advocates son el camino para seguir.
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.
