Car accidents are one of the most common causes of serious injuries in San Bernardino. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle collision in the Inland Empire, you may be eligible for financial compensation from the other driver.
While it may be difficult to think about an insurance claim or lawsuit after an accident, collecting a fair amount can help you move forward and provide the financial support that you need to pay for your medical bills and property repairs.
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At Jacoby & Meyers, we have dedicated our practice to helping Californians who have been injured in car accidents. Our San Bernardino car accident attorneys passionately advocate for clients and make sense of the insurance process that is designed to take advantage of them. We can help you hold a careless or reckless driver accountable for the harm you have suffered and ensure that the insurance companies treat you fairly.
Our team is dedicated to achieving the best possible results for car accident cases and offers legal representation you can trust. Contact us today at (909) 245-8920 or by filling out a contact form for a free case review.
The road to recovery after a serious car accident can be long and frustrating, however, you don’t have to go it alone.
Why Hire Jacoby & Meyers’ Car Accident Lawyers?
- Our San Bernardino personal injury lawyers have been assisting, representing, and fighting for injured car accident victims since 1972. We know what it takes to get real results and help our clients achieve healthy recoveries.
- We understand how to handle complex motor vehicle accident cases and have experience handling claims involving passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, rideshare services, motorcycles, and non-motorists such as bicyclists and pedestrians.
- Our attorneys know how insurance companies approach claims, the tactics they use to deny or devalue valid claims, and how to build strong claims that maximize compensation.
- We have collected over $2 billion in financial compensation for our clients, including $19 million for a rideshare accident victim and $17.5 million for a bicycle accident client.
- We take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if you win your San Bernardino car accident case. If you don’t win, you don’t pay; it’s that simple.
How a San Bernardino Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
While California law does not require that you hire an attorney after a car accident, if you suspect that anyone was injured, it is likely in your best interests to do so. Insurance companies have made billions by denying, delaying, and devaluing valid insurance claims. From the moment the accident is reported, they begin working to get claimants to settle the case for less than its worth.
However, an experienced car accident attorney can step in, handle all communication with the insurance company, and help you to maximize the outcome of your claim without the stress. Your lawyer will understand the process, all the challenges, important deadlines, and how to prove your damages and build a strong case to recover compensation for them.
At Jacoby & Meyers, our car accident lawyers begin working immediately on our clients’ behalf, investigating the collision to gather evidence of fault, such as eyewitness statements and physical evidence. We help injured clients get the medical treatment that they need to recover from their injuries and take the time for them to reach maximum medical improvement.
Once we fully understand the extent of your injuries and are able to place a value on your damages, we begin negotiations with the insurance company or companies. If they refuse to deal with our clients fairly, we do not hesitate to file a lawsuit and take them to court to compel them to do so.
At Jacoby & Meyers, our San Bernardino accident lawyers can transform your legal experience. Our team of attorneys, medical case managers, assistants, and negotiators can handle every aspect of your case and stand by your side every step of the way.
Important Evidence in Car Accident Cases
If you are involved in a car accident, the outcome of your case will depend greatly on the evidence that your attorney gathers. This evidence can prove who was at fault for the accident, that they had a responsibility to you and other drivers, and the extent of the impact that the accident and your subsequent injury had on your life. This can include:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Police reports
- Accident reconstruction
- Tire skid marks and tread patterns
- Dash cam or surveillance camera footage
- EDR (Event Data Recorder) data
- Medical records and bills for treatment
- Subject matter expert statements (such as medical experts)
- Insurance contracts and communication with adjusters
- Driver logs and maintenance records (in cases involving commercial vehicles)
Of course, the evidence available will depend greatly on the specific circumstances of your cases. However, in many cases, prompt action is incredibly important. Some evidence, such as EDR data or tire skid marks, may disappear as time goes on. Others, such as eyewitness testimony, may become less reliable. The sooner you speak with a lawyer, the sooner they can begin the process of collecting and preserving valuable evidence.
Common Causes of Automobile Accidents in California
One of the most frustrating things about car accidents is that they are almost always preventable. Too often, careless, negligent, and reckless drivers are responsible for devastating vehicle collisions in San Bernardino. In car accident law, “negligence” refers to the failure of a party to act with a reasonable level of care, such as a driver violating a traffic law. Common causes of motor vehicle accidents are:
- Speeding
- Inattention
- Distracted driving
- Texting and driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Aggressive driving or road rage
- Inexperience
- Driving while tired
- Following too closely
- Ignoring road signs
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Unsafe or illegal passing
- Poor vehicle maintenance and part breakdowns
- Dangerous road conditions and defects
- Back-up accidents
If a driver or another party, such as a vehicle manufacturer or a government agency, contributed to your car accident in San Bernardino, that party may be held financially responsible for your losses. However, the time limits, evidentiary requirements, process, and amount of insurance available depend upon who the responsible party is. For this reason, it is important to speak with an attorney about your specific situation as soon as possible to ensure that all deadlines are met and you fully understand your options.
Common Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle collisions are among the leading causes of serious unintentional injury and death in the United States. In vehicle-centric cities such as San Bernardino, that is especially true. Among them are:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Nerve and soft-tissue damage
- Burns
- Head and brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Injuries to the extremities, including the knee, ankle, and even amputation injury
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries
- Injury to internal organs
- and even death
While severe injuries are common in these crashes, even relatively minor injuries can dramatically impact your life. Nerve damage, for instance, can cause chronic pain, affect your ability to work, reduce the quality and enjoyment of your life, and even affect your relationships.
The type and extent of injuries depend greatly on the circumstances and the road users involved. For example, pedestrians who are struck by motor vehicles almost always suffer severe injuries. Motorcyclists often suffer road rash and injuries to the lower extremities.
San Bernardino Car Accident Statistics
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, in 2022, 1,370 fatal and injury crashes were reported in the City of San Bernardino. San Bernardino County had 15,381 total fatal and injury accidents the same year. Citywide, 174 harmful and fatal accidents involved speeding, 166 were hit-and-runs, and 117 involved alcohol. Pedestrians represented 137 of the victims, in addition to 38 bicyclists. Since 2014, the number of people injured in motor vehicle accidents in San Bernardino has grown by 18 percent.
Where are Drivers in San Bernardino at Highest Risk of Motor Vehicle Accidents?
According to a Jacoby & Meyers analysis of California crash data, intersections are particularly dangerous in San Bernardino. The data indicates that the city has an intersection crash rate that is 13 percent higher than the California average. Our analysis identified several high collision intersections in San Bernardino, including:
- N. Sterling Avenue & E. 5th Street
- E. Date Street & N. Del Rosa Avenue
- N. Arrowhead Ave. & W. Baseline Street
- E. Highland Avenue & Valencia Avenue
- W. Baseline Street & N. Mountain View Avenue
While a collision can occur anywhere and at any time, it appears that drivers in San Bernardino should remain extra vigilant when approaching or passing through intersections.
Is California a No-Fault State?
No, California is not a no-fault state. As outlined in California Civil Code Section 1714, it follows a fault-based system, which means the person or party found to be responsible for causing a car accident is legally responsible for the victim’s damages.
(a) Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person, except so far as the latter has, willfully or by want of ordinary care, brought the injury upon himself or herself.
In motor vehicle collisions, California is a pure comparative negligence state (adopted by Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 532 P.2d 1226), allowing drivers to recover compensation even if they are found to be partially at fault, though their total compensation would be reduced by their percentage of fault.
In most cases, compensation is paid by insurance coverage. All California drivers are required to carry liability insurance to cover any property damage, injuries, or deaths in collisions that they cause. These minimums are set by California Insurance Code §11580.1b at:
- $30,000 for injury/death to one person.
- $60,000 for injury/death to more than one person.
- $15,000 for damage to property.
However, in cases involving serious injury, these minimums are likely to be inadequate. An attorney can help you find coverage, whether that be through your own underinsured driver police or from other negligent parties.
What to Do After a Car Accident in San Bernardino
It is easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated in the aftermath of a car accident in San Bernardino. However, it is important to try to stay calm and remember the steps you need to take to protect yourself and begin building your injury claim.
If you can, take the following actions:
- Check yourself and others for injuries.
- Get medical care immediately, even if you initially feel fine.
- Call 911 to report the car accident to the police.
- Exchange information with the other driver.
- Do not admit fault.
- Take pictures of the crash scene before you leave.
- Get copies of your police report and medical records.
- Notify your car insurance company of the accident without delay.
- Contact the other driver’s insurance company to file a claim.
- Consult with a car accident lawyer in San Bernardino before accepting a settlement.
Once you contact a lawyer at Jacoby & Meyers, you can begin to understand your rights and how to preserve them. We can step in to handle the remainder of your claim at any stage.
Dealing With the Insurance Company After a Crash
One of the most valuable things to know as you deal with the insurance claims process is that you cannot trust an insurance company. Even if an insurer says it wants to help you after a car crash, its main goal will always be to save itself as much money as possible on your payout.
During your initial conversations with an insurance claims adjuster, do not give a recorded statement. When answering questions about your crash, do not dive into too much detail. Keep your responses short and sweet. Do not speculate about fault.
If you are offered a quick settlement to resolve your claim, resist the urge to accept. Instead, bring the offer to our car accident attorneys in San Bernardino for a comprehensive case review. We will let you know if the settlement is fair and may offer to represent you for the remainder of your claim if not.
What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in San Bernardino?
While it may be possible to calculate an average car accident settlement, the reality is that every case is different. The value of each case depends on many factors, such as the nature and extent of your injuries, the amount of insurance coverage available, and even the age of the injured. It is important not to base the value of your claim on an “average” amount. The value of your specific case will depend on factors such as the severity of your injuries and how long it will take you to recover.
For this reason, it is vital to consult with an attorney about how much your case is worth before accepting a quick settlement offered to you by a car insurance company. As a car accident victim in San Bernardino, you may be eligible for compensation for a variety of losses. These can include your required past and future medical treatments, lost wages and future earnings, motor vehicle damage, pain and suffering, out-of-pocket costs, loss of consortium, the wrongful death of a loved one, and punitive damages.
What Compensation Can I Expect After a Car Accident?
If you get hurt in a motor vehicle accident and need to file a claim, it is important to know what to expect in terms of financial compensation. In California, the law permits the recovery of economic and noneconomic damages in most cases, as well as punitive damages in some cases.
Economic damages can include:
- Present and future foreseeable medical bills
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Consultations with specialists
- Property damage repairs or replacement
- Lost wages
- Lost future capacity to earn
- Travel or transportation costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Noneconomic damages can include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Psychological harm
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
- Loss of independence
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of companionship and support
In rare cases where a defendant causes a car accident in San Bernardino due to gross negligence, malice, fraud or oppression, the courts may also award punitive damages. These are designed to punish the defendant and discourage future acts of wrongdoing.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Car Accident Claim?
The only way to obtain a specific timeline for your San Bernardino car accident claim is by consulting with an attorney. An attorney can analyze your specific circumstances to give you an accurate estimate of how long it may take to settle.
If your case can be resolved with an insurance claim and does not involve any complex issues, it can likely be settled within around three to six months. If there are complications such as serious injuries, liability disputes or an insurance company that is not cooperating, expect it to take longer.
A car accident case that has to go to trial in California can take one year or longer from beginning to end, depending on the availability of the courthouse in your county and the length of the investigative or discovery period.
Your Options if You Lost a Loved One in a Car Accident
Sadly, many car accidents in San Bernardino each year are fatal. If you are going through the tragedy of losing a loved one in a car accident, know that your family has legal options for seeking justice and holding someone accountable.
In California, a surviving spouse, child or parent can file a wrongful death claim in pursuit of financial damages after a preventable car accident that takes a loved one’s life. Families have two years from the date of death to take legal action under California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1.
Holding a driver or another party responsible for a fatal car accident could result in financial compensation for reasonable funeral and burial costs, lost financial support and inheritance, loss of consortium, loss of household services, grief and suffering, and the victim’s pain.
Legal Help for Families Facing a Fatal Car Accident Loss
While no amount of money can make what happened to your loved one right, a successful car accident claim can help your family move forward with greater peace of mind. At Jacoby & Meyers, we are committed to helping families in San Bernardino get answers and justice against those responsible for fatal collisions. We can guide your family through every step of the legal process with tailored legal services to achieve the results you need. Because you and your family deserve justice.
Tips for Choosing the Right Car Accident Lawyer in San Bernardino
When you’re ready to hire a San Bernardino car accident lawyer, start by looking for a law firm with attorneys who specialize in car accident law. Look for past case results, law firm reviews and client testimonials to find out if the attorney has what it takes to handle your case effectively.
Schedule a free consultation with your top choice to meet the attorney in person and get to know whether they are the right fit for you and your needs. You should feel comfortable with the attorney’s communication methods, strategy for handling your case and legal fees.
Contact Our San Bernardino Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or simply want to ensure that you receive the best possible results for your car accident claim in San Bernardino, contact us. At Jacoby & Meyers, our car accident lawyers have represented crash victims and their families for more than 50 years. Representing the injured is all that we do. We work hard so that our clients can feel confident as they move through the claims process.
Call us at (909) 245-8920 24/7 to schedule a free consultation in San Bernardino. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no cost to you when you hire us. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Visit Us at Our San Bernardino Office
We proudly serve clients throughout the state of California from 14 office locations. In San Bernardino. We are located at:
473 E Carnegie Dr #200,
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Get directions. You can call (909) 245-8920 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to set an appointment at our San Bernardino office. You can also contact us online, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.