The aftermath of a car accident can be a frightening and confusing time. You can end up injured and become unable to work. These situations can be very scary. Whether you’re in Northern or Southern California, hiring an experienced car accident lawyer on your side can take a huge weight off your shoulders so you can focus on what is most important after a wreck: your health.
You can try checking out law firms, but finding a personal injury attorney can be difficult when you already have so much on your plate. Fortunately, Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices has a team of personal injury and car accident attorneys who will walk you through the steps involved in your claim. Our California accident lawyers can help you through the whole process: starting from gathering evidence, making a strong case, and negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurers.
An injured woman sits frustrated next to her wrecked car. Find out how a Los Angeles car accident attorney can help you recover from your crash.
Table of Contents
Is It Worth Getting a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles?
In the vast majority of cases, it is worth getting a capable attorney in Los Angeles if you’ve been in a vehicle accident. Why? Jacoby & Meyers specializes in this area of the law. We understand what it takes to get the insurance company to cover the full value of your claim.
Without the help of an auto accident attorney, the insurance claims adjusters will do everything they can to settle for less than you deserve.
How Long Do You Have to Report a Car Accident in California?
According to the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) § 335.1, the statute of limitations to file a claim for injuries sustained in a car accident in California is two years. Two years is also the time limit for filing a wrongful death claim if the accident involved fatalities.
According to CCP § 338, you have three years to file if you’re only seeking damages related to vehicle repair. After an accident, reach out to a car crash lawyer as soon as possible to get your case started.
When Should You Call an Attorney for a Car Accident?
The best time to contact Jacoby & Meyers in Los Angeles is immediately after your accident takes place. However, if the accident has already happened, don’t worry — it’s not too late.
The sooner you reach out to our a lawyer, the sooner we can begin building your case. The longer you wait, the greater the chances that witness memories will fade. This can affect your settlement.
What Is the Normal Settlement for a Car Accident in Los Angeles?
Jacoby and Meyers in Los Angeles has case results that speak for themselves. While there is no one “normal” or average settlement because every case is unique, here are some examples of settlements and jury awards we were able to secure on behalf of our clients.
In most cases, your settlement will be limited to the maximum limits of the at-fault driver’s policy. According to the California DMV, drivers are required to have coverage of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident. They must also carry this amount of uninsured motorist insurance. In addition to this, they must carry a minimum of $5,000 for property damage.
What Is a Good Settlement Offer?
When you are injured, missing work, and the bills are piling up, any offer might seem like a good offer at first. However, the insurers are counting on this. Their job is to protect the company’s profits and not to protect your future, so they will try to draw the settlement out to get you to settle for less. A good settlement will cover the full value of your present and future expenses.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?
If you are wondering, “Should I get a lawyer for a minor car accident?” the answer is yes. There is no way to know for sure that your accident was minor until you have been medically cleared by a doctor. Injuries may take hours, days, or even weeks to reach their full severity. When any injury is involved in Los Angeles, CA, it’s always worth consulting a lawyer.
A California accident attorney can make sure you get enough compensation for a full recovery, no matter what the extent of your injuries are. This includes making sure you have enough for your future medical bills.
How Do I Maximize My Car Accident Settlement?
Patience is the key to making the most of your settlement. Before you agree to an insurer’s offer, make sure you have completed treatment for your injuries so you can be compensated for all of your costs. If you settle too soon, you may end up requiring further treatment, and your settlement will not be enough to cover your future expenses.
A woman holds her neck in pain in front of the scene of a car crash. Learn how a lawyer in Los Angeles can help pay your medical bills.
How Do You Prove Liability in a Car Crash?
In any car accident claim against an at-fault party, you need to establish three things to prove their liability for your damages:
- The liable party owed you a duty of care.
- They breached that duty of care.
- Their breach of duty caused your economic or non-economic damages.
To show these three components, you and your California accident lawyer need to do your best to gather any evidence, including witness testimonies and pictures of the accident. Only by building a strong case against the at-fault party can you prove that they were liable for the damages that you suffered during and after your accident.
Can I Afford a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles?
You can get a traffic accident attorney in Los Angeles, even if you don’t have the funds to pay a retainer fee. We work on a contingency basis, which means you won’t pay a dime until we successfully settle your claim or win an award in court. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. It’s that simple.
In addition to offering services that won’t cost you anything up front, we also offer a free car accident consultation. Our goal is to get you the help you need, regardless of your financial situation. Indeed, we understand that you may be injured and out of work.
What You Need to Know After a Car Accident
The best time to watch this video is before you have a car accident. You never know when disaster will strike, especially not in Los Angeles traffic. Even if you safely drive on familiar roads, such as Sunset Boulevard and Allenford Avenue, a crash can still happen due to other people’s recklessness.
A man with a whiplash injury. Call a Los Angeles car accident lawyer if you’ve been injured.
What Can a Car Accident Attorney Do for You?
After an accident, your auto accident lawyers in Los Angeles will act as a liaison between you and the other party’s insurance company during your car accident case, but that’s just the beginning of what we do. Let Jacoby & Meyers take care of the following steps:
How Can a Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney Help?
Having a car accident attorney in Los Angeles to act as your advocate will give you a strategic advantage when you’re dealing with insurers. These are some of the reasons you will be glad you chose to work with us:
- We’ve have recovered more than $1 billion for our clients.
- Our team won’t collect any fees until you’ve won your case.
- We have been protecting the rights of Californians since 1972.
- Our diverse staff will handle every aspect of your claim from beginning to end.
- We’ll deal with your doctors and other healthcare providers directly.
- Your peace of mind will always be our top priority.
Two men argue over the scene of a rear-end collision. Learn how a car accident attorney in Los Angeles can prove the other party’s fault.
What Kind of Accidents Do Our Auto Accident Attorneys Handle?
If you need a California accident lawyer, it’s important to work with a firm that has experience with your specific type of vehicle accident. We represent the following type of claims:
Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents often lead to serious injuries or even fatalities, and they are a real problem in Los Angeles. If you want to hold a drunk driver accountable in civil court, we can help.
Fatal Car Accidents
According to data from the LAPD, there were 236 car accident fatalities in 2019 alone. If your loved one was a victim, you may want to consider filing a fatal car accident lawsuit.
Food Delivery Car Accidents
Having food delivered is an incredible convenience, and it’s also a great way to make some extra cash. That is, until you get in an accident. If you were involved in a food delivery car accident as a driver or with a driver, we can file a claim.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collision accidents are one of the most serious types of wrecks, and the injuries victims sustain in them are often fatal. An accident attorney in Los Angeles will seek justice on your behalf if you or a loved one was harmed.
A traffic jam in Los Angeles. Accidents happen here every day. Call a Los Angeles vehicle accident lawyer if you’ve been hurt in an auto accident.
Hit and Run Accidents
Hit-and-run cases can be confusing. We will explain your options when it comes to holding a hit and run accident driver accountable.
Parking Lot Accidents
Drivers who engage in negligent behaviors in parking lots, such as speeding and not watching where they’re going, often cause wrecks. If you were in a parking lot accident, we can help you get a settlement. Arrange a free car accident consultation with us today.
Rear-End Collisions
If you drive in Los Angeles’s stop and go traffic, there is always the chance that you’ll be involved in a rear-end collision. Drivers have a duty to maintain a safe distance from other cars on the road. If they neglect this duty and you are hurt, you may be entitled to compensation.
Red Light Accidents
If a driver decides to run a red light because they’re in a hurry, they can cause an accident. If you were injured in a red light accident, you have rights under the law. Auto accident lawyers in Los Angeles will protect them.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents are one of the most terrifying types of wrecks to be in, and they can cause serious injuries due to their nature. If your rollover accident was caused by another driver’s negligence, let us fight for you.
Side-Impact Collisions
A car can ram into the side of a vehicle, which can cause fatalities or serious injuries. We can help you cover your crash-related expenses after a side-impact collision.
Speeding Accidents
Some drivers cause accidents because they’re in a hurry. After a speeding accident, reach out to a car accident injury lawyer.
Texting and Driving Accident
Distracted driving is a serious and growing danger, thanks to drivers who can’t stop texting for long enough to pay attention to the road. Filing a lawsuit after a texting and driving accident can make a negligent driver think twice before texting while they’re behind the wheel in the future.
Uber and Lyft Ridesharing Accidents
Whether you were a passenger or a driver at the time of a crash, the ridesharing company may be responsible for your damages. Surely, our Uber and Lyft ridesharing accident lawyers can negotiate with these companies.
Whiplash Injuries
Even a minor car accident can cause major whiplash injuries that can disrupt your life and leave you with bills, pain, and suffering. If you have whiplash injuries, we will protect your rights.
Two cars damaged in a wreck. Los Angeles car accident attorneys can help determine who was at fault.
We Owe Our Success to Our Clients
We are proud of the team of California personal injury lawyers we’ve put together at Jacoby and Meyers because it means we are able to address our clients’ needs promptly and effectively. For nearly 50 years, we have put the needs of accident victims first. Certainly, we fight for your rights because seeing justice done on your behalf is the reason we believe so strongly in what we do.
We’ll work with you until we’re satisfied. Our goal is to make sure that you have the resources to move forward with your life. You deserve a fair settlement. In fact, the law entitles you to it. We’ll make sure that justice is served.
Common Injuries in a Car Accident
When you’ve been in a crash, it can affect you in any number of ways. In some cases, the effects of your accident can be minor. For example, bruises and sore limbs are not serious. However, some injuries can affect you for months and cause you to miss work.
Common injuries in Los Angeles car accidents include:
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken Bones
- Burns
- Major lacerations
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Wrongful death
If you have suffered any of these injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to receive compensation. Surely, an L.A. vehicle accident lawyer can help tally your damages and get you what you need to get back on your feet.
California Auto Accident Laws
California has at-fault negligence laws. This means drivers are responsible for your damages when they were at-fault in your crash. You may still be owed compensation even if you shared some percentage of fault.
Compensation for Car Accident Victims in California
Jacoby and Meyers will hold the at-fault driver accountable for your damages. In cases where there is more than one potential defendant, we will identify all at-fault parties to increase your potential for compensation. Here are some of the damages you may be able to recover after your accident:
- Your current and future medical expenses
- The cost of rehabilitation
- Treatment for mental health symptoms
- Reimbursement for lost wages
- Pain and suffering
During this difficult time, your focus should be on relaxing and recovering so you can get back to your life as soon as possible.
Get a Free Consultation With a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
This may be your first accident, but our California accident lawyers have helped thousands of clients just like you. You can be confident that you are in capable hands when you choose Jacoby & Meyers to represent you. Our team is available in Los Angeles, CA anytime you need us.
Your no-obligation consultation will be confidential and free of charge. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by speaking to one of our skilled attorneys.
Call or text 866-559-7223 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
