Car accidents in Long Beach and all over California have led to serious injuries and devastating losses of life. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) in 2022, 3,542 people were injured and killed in car accidents in Long Beach.
If you or a family member was injured or if a family member was fatally injured in a car accident, a Long Beach car accident lawyer might be able to help you pursue financial recovery. If another driver caused the accident out of negligence or intentional wrongdoing, they might be held responsible for the cost of treating your injuries and your injury-related expenses.
Our team wants to help you pursue compensation, whether by an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Contact the personal injury team at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices for a free consultation by calling (888) 522-6291 today.
Why Choose Jacoby & Meyers?
- No law firm has won as much for their clients for as long as Jacoby & Meyers. We have over 50 years of experience and more than $2 billion in settlements.
- We believe everyone deserves justice. We will fight for the car accident case results you need to move forward. We handle every case with the same level of care, big or small.
- We will help you handle property damage and get medical treatment in the aftermath of a car accident. Our team will make sure you have everything you need during this difficult time.
- There are no fees unless we win. We work for you. This means if a car insurance company denies coverage, we will not collect a fee. We will only get paid if you win.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Long Beach
The number one cause of motor vehicle collisions in Long Beach is driver error. Drivers are often guilty of many examples of negligence, or the failure to use proper care behind the wheel. If a driver breaks a traffic law or stops paying attention to the road for even a moment, this can lead to a devastating collision.
Our Personal Injury Team Can Help You File a Lawsuit About Your Case Accident
Like all personal injury lawsuits, your Long Beach car accident claim has a time limit. Known as the statute of limitations, California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1 generally gives people two years from the date of the collision to file their lawsuits. Failing to file your lawsuit on time may prevent you from receiving the compensation you might be entitled to receive due to negligence.
If you choose to have our team represent you in your pursuit of financial compensation, we can make efforts to prepare your case in time so that it complies with the statute of limitations. We also keep track of other laws in California that may be relevant to your case. Some of those laws include:
- Filing a wrongful death lawsuit: The wrongful death statute of limitations is also two years, according to CCP §335.1. If a family member lost their life in the accident, you must file your lawsuit within this timeframe.
- Minor involvement: The statute of limitations might ‘toll’ or change if a minor was involved in the accident. Your lawyer may explain how a minor, or other specific circumstances, might alter the timeline of your compensation claim.
- SR-1: In California, you are required to use this form to file a crash report if anyone involved in the accident is injured, fatally injured, or property damage is valued at more than $1,000.
Information is an important tool for fighting legal battles, and our team intends to collect as much information about your case as possible. Make sure your lawyer is aware of any circumstances around your accident that might alter or affect your case.
Our Team May Be Able to Uncover the Cause of Your Long Beach Car Accident
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), common causes of car accidents include:
- Speeding
- Driving while distracted
- Driving in the wrong direction
- Making improper turns
- Failing to yield
- Disregarding traffic signs
- Using a cellphone while driving
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Drowsy driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Vehicle defects or poor maintenance
- Dangerous road or weather conditions
If one or more of these factors played a role in your car accident, your lawyer might be able to prove you are entitled to financial compensation for getting injured by the at-fault driver. You can find out how a car accident attorney may work on your car accident case by calling Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices at (888) 522-6291 today.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
At Jacoby & Meyers, our premier personal injury law firm can handle virtually any type of motor vehicle accident case in Long Beach. We are experts in serious automotive accidents.
We can handle all of the following case types:
- Passenger car accidents
- Large truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Long Beach Transit accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- DUI accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone accidents
- Vehicle rollovers
- Hit-and-runs
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist accidents
- Fatal accidents
Regardless of the circumstances of your recent car accident in Long Beach, contact us to discuss your legal options.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
If you get involved in a car accident in Long Beach or anywhere in LA County, take the following steps to protect your physical safety and legal rights:
- Check yourself for injuries and go to the nearest hospital for professional medical treatment without delay.
- Call the police from the scene of the accident to report the crash and obtain a police report. Do not admit fault.
- Gather contact information from the other driver and any eyewitnesses. Write down a description of the crash.
- Take photos of the crash scene before you leave. Look around for traffic or surveillance video cameras, as well.
- Contact your car insurance company to notify them of the accident. Then, pursue a claim from the insurance provider of the at-fault driver.
When you’re ready to take legal action for your car crash, contact Jacoby & Meyers to arrange a free, no-pressure consultation.
Understanding California Car Accident Laws
In California, a “fault-based” car accident law presides over car insurance claims. Under this rule, those at fault for causing car accidents are held liable, or financially responsible, for victims’ losses. You or your attorney must determine fault before you can file a claim.
All motorists in California must maintain at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, plus $15,000 in property damage liability insurance. This insurance should be available if you have to hold someone else accountable for causing your crash.
California also has a pure comparative negligence rule (California Civil Code §1714). Under this rule, you can still recover financial compensation even if you were partly at fault for a car accident in Long Beach. However, your financial recovery will be reduced by a percentage that matches your degree of fault.
Determining Liability in Your Car Accident Case
Knowing the cause of the accident can help determine how negligence came into play, so your lawyer may investigate your accident to better understand the events that took place. Your lawyer can revisit the crash scene, interview witnesses, collect key records and documents, and hire experts to get to the bottom of who caused your crash.
If someone else is responsible for causing your Long Beach car accident, you have the right to hold them responsible for your losses. For example, according to OTS Crash Rankings, 362 fatal and injury crashes in Long Beach in 2022 were speed-related, while 309 involved alcohol. There were also 335 reported hit-and-run accidents.
These are examples of negligence – a driver acting in a way that a reasonable and prudent driver would not have in the same circumstances. Our attorneys can help you prove negligence by showing that the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached this duty and caused your crash.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Long Beach Car Accident?
After determining the cause of your car accident and whether the at-fault driver was negligent, your lawyer may assess your collective damages. You might be entitled to recover the following economic and non-economic damages:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost income
- Property repair or replacement costs
- Physical pain and suffering
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
- Mental and emotional trauma
We want to calculate your damages as accurately as possible so that your compensation claim does not get undervalued or underpaid. Keep track of all paperwork and documentation related to your injuries and give them to our legal team so that they can review and assess the financial impact of your injuries.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
When an insurance company contacts you in the aftermath of a car accident, be careful what you say to them. The insurer will want to convince you to settle for as little as possible. Do not admit fault or give the insurance company a recorded statement.
Keep your answers to questions about the crash and your injuries short. Do not rush to accept the first settlement offer. When in doubt, contact our attorneys to take over communications with an insurance company for you.
Share Your Crash Report with Our Team Right Away
After a car accident in Long Beach, you must call the police to the scene immediately and exchange your driver’s license, registration card, and insurance information with the police and the at-fault driver. Avoid making statements about the accident or placing fault or blame before speaking to a lawyer.
Instead, concentrate on providing the information the investigating officer needs to complete the crash report because it will include details about your accident that may be useful for your lawyer. The crash report may contain the names and contact information of the at-fault driver and their insurance company. It may also contain:
- Names and contact information of all parties involved
- Points of impact and damage
- Occupant positions and injuries
- Possible driver distractions
- Road, weather, and lighting conditions
- Contact information of witnesses of the accident
- Accident diagrams
Do not underestimate the value and significance of your crash report. It may hold objective data and information that might help your lawyer and the at-fault driver’s representative understand what happened at the accident scene and where the financial liability might fall. As soon as it is ready, request a copy for your personal records and one for your lawyer.
A Long Beach Car Accident Lawyer Can Serve as Your Advocate
If you or a family member was injured in a car accident, our team wants to serve as your advocate. We work hard to pursue financial recovery on your behalf so that you can concentrate on getting better. You do not have to fight alone when our client care team is on your side. Call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices at (888) 522-6291 today for a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Long Beach Car Accident Claims
How long do I have to file a claim in California?
You have two years from the date of your car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, in most cases. However, you should file an insurance claim much sooner – within 24 to 72 hours of the crash. Never wait to contact a Long Beach car accident lawyer.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
You can still recover financial compensation under California’s pure comparative negligence law, though it may be reduced. Being assigned a percentage of fault will reduce your settlement or judgment award by a matching percentage. If you are awarded $100,000, for example, but given 10 percent of the fault, you will receive $90,000. Reach out to an attorney to protect your right to recover.
Can I still recover damages if the other driver was uninsured?
Yes, other options are available even if the at-fault driver is uninsured. You may qualify for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage from your own insurance company. Other options can include filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver or a third party, such as an employer or vehicle manufacturer.
What should I do if the insurance company denies my claim?
Contact an attorney at Jacoby & Meyers right away. We can help you determine the reason for the denial and resolve the issue, or file an official complaint and appeal the denial on your behalf.
Call or text 866-559-7223 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
