California Car Accident Lawyers
The roads of California are some of the most congested in the country, yet accidents still happen that leave victims seriously injured.
You might be following all traffic laws and driving defensively when another driver’s mistake causes a sudden and life-changing collision.
Finding yourself with injuries from a car accident is stressful and scary. No matter how minor or serious the crash, a lot happens in the moments and days following that can determine your legal course of action.
You deserve compensation for your losses when you have suffered an injury in an accident, and someone else was to blame.
Call the California car accident attorneys at Silva Injury Law to discuss your injuries and build a case against the negligent party. Case evaluations are always free, so never wait to learn about your rights and options.
Why Choose Silva Injury Law?
Silva Injury Law represents clients throughout California who have suffered injuries in different types of car accidents.
We pride ourselves on fighting for the rights of all clients so that they have the opportunity to recover compensation to cover their losses.
We operate offices in the following areas:
The California car accident attorneys at Silva Injury Law promote healing through compassionate advocacy. We will take on any case, no matter how serious the injury or how small the policy limit is on the insurance policy.
Our team consists of experienced trial attorneys who are always ready to take your fight to court.
We Get Results For Car Accident Victims
Martin Rose was a client of our firm who suffered a torn rotator cuff in a rear-end crash on Highway 99. A distracted driver caused the accident, and Rose suffered a serious injury.
He recovered fully from the torn rotator cuff and secured $110,000 for his injury. Silva Injury Law fought on his behalf to secure a settlement that was 45 percent higher than the initial offer from the negligent party’s insurance company.
This is only one of many examples of how we fight for our clients. Reach out to learn how we might fight for you and your injury claim.
California Car Accident Statistics
California has seen an average of 3,500 traffic fatalities yearly over the past five years. Last year, there were over 4,100 traffic deaths in California, which was a significant increase.
Fatal car accidents change your family’s life in an instant. Whether you lost your spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or any other family member, your life will never be the same again.
Some of the deadliest roads in California include:
- I-15: Cajun Junction To Hesperia
- I-80: Emeryville To Albany
- I-80: El Cerrito To Pinole
- I-5: Del Paso Rd. To Railyards Blvd.
- I-215: Grand Terrace Through San Bernardino
A study of car accidents found that I-15 between exits 138 and 129 was the most dangerous stretch of road in the whole state.
There was a high rate of fatal crashes over a span of 4.5 miles. There are many other stretches of road with similar risks, and further, accidents can happen on any road at any time.
When you or a loved one suffers an injury in an accident, you should talk to an experienced California car accident attorney from Silva Injury Law.
Most Common Types Of Car Accidents
Various types of car accidents might occur and cause injuries in California. No matter what type of crash causes your injuries, you deserve compensation for your losses from liable parties.
1. Rear-End Car Crashes
Even though many people might think rear-end crashes do not cause many injuries, they can be some of the most serious crashes in California. Even a low-speed rear-end collision can lead to serious head, neck, and back injuries, including whiplash.
2. Head-On Car Accidents
A head-on car accident is one of the worst crashes you can be in, often leading to traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, and even death. Head-on crashes happen because of high speed, distractions, impairment, aggressive driving, and more.
3. Sideswipe Car Crashes
A sideswipe accident occurs when one car scrapes the side of another, often during improper lane changes. A sideswipe car crash often results in vehicle rollovers.
If your vehicle rolled over in a sideswipe crash, you might have suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, TBI, spinal cord damage, nerve damage, and more.
4. Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents destroy families throughout California. Over the last decade, 9,288 people died in drunk driving crashes across the state.
Every driver should know that driving under the influence (DUI) is not only criminal conduct but also highly dangerous to others.
Still, people continue to drive after having too much to drink. Even if a driver faces criminal DUI charges, accident victims need to take civil action to seek compensation from the driver.
5. Distracted Driving Crashes
Distracted drivers can be just as dangerous to others in California as impaired drivers.
Distractions include cell phone use, changing radio stations, talking to passengers, reading an email, texting, eating, getting dressed, shaving, applying makeup, and anything else that takes hands off the wheel or prevents the driver from focusing on the task of driving.
While checking a text might seem minor compared to other traffic violations, it can lead to life-altering injuries or death.
Many Crashes Cause Serious Injuries
Even accidents that occur at slow speeds can lead to serious injuries. Victims of car accidents can suffer from catastrophic injuries or even death. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in a car accident, you deserve compensation for your losses. An experienced California car accident attorney from Silva Injury Firm can fight to protect your rights after a crash.
The following are some injuries that might result in a car accident claim.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can change your life in an instant. You might even need assistance eating, getting dressed, running errands, cleaning the house, and performing other daily tasks. A TBI can also keep you from working, which can deprive you of income. Some TBI victims can never return to the life they once lived.
Amputation
A serious crash can lead to amputation, either during the collision or in the hospital after the fact. Suffering an amputation can also require you to have assistance at home if you can no longer use an arm or a leg. You might also require a prosthetic device or a wheelchair. This is also a mentally traumatic injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Victims of car accidents often suffer spinal cord injuries. These injuries can range from damaged nerves to slipped discs to total paralysis. Many spinal injury victims require surgery and extensive physical therapy. Paralysis can prevent you from working or engaging in your usual activities ever again.
Death
If your loved one died due to a car accident in California, you might be eligible to file a wrongful death claim.
These people can file wrongful death claims:
- Surviving spouse or domestic partner
- Surviving children
- Surviving grandchildren of any deceased child of the decedent
Who Is Liable For Your Accident And Injuries?
Car accident liability is not always cut and dry. Multiple parties can be accountable for a crash, which is why it is best to talk to a California car accident lawyer about the matter. They can investigate the crash and identify all of the possible parties that can be liable for your injuries.
Possible liable parties include:
- The other driver(s)
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Shippers of goods (if a truck was involved)
- Trucking companies
- The vehicle owner
- The employer of the driver
- A government entity
If your lawyer can identify multiple liable parties in a car accident, you can legally hold all of them responsible for the crash. You might need to file multiple claims with multiple insurance companies, and you might have to apply different principles of legal liability. Any lawsuit you file will name all parties as co-defendants, all of whom can defend against your claims.
You want a California car accident lawyer who will handle such complex situations for you.
Seeking The Compensation You Deserve Under California Law
Victims of California car accidents can seek compensation for their injuries from the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company. If unsatisfied with the settlement offer, a California car accident attorney at Silva Injury Law will take your case to trial.
You can seek compensation for the following damages after a car accident:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitative costs
- Repairs to your home to make it handicap accessible
- Lost income (current and future)
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
You can also receive punitive damages. Punitive damages awards specifically punish the negligent party because of egregious actions. Not every car accident case will include punitive damages, which are entirely up to the judge presiding over your case.
Wrongful Death Compensation
If your loved one died from a California car accident and you fall into any of the three categories mentioned earlier, you can file a claim for wrongful death.
A wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover compensation for:
- Loss of the decedent’s income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Payment for medical expenses leading up to the decedent’s death
What You Can Use Your Compensation For
You can use the compensation you receive following a car accident as you see fit, but you should use it for medical expenses and any other bills you receive from the crash. If the award is large, you can use the money to renovate your home so that it is handicap accessible or even buy a new home that is a rancher, so you do not have two floors.
How A California Car Accident Lawyer Will Help
You are likely scared and unsure of what to do when injured in a car accident, especially if you have never been in an accident before. Know that our California car accident attorneys at Silva Injury Law are here to walk you through the legal process, protect your rights, and ensure that you receive proper compensation for your losses.
Secure Evidence on Your Behalf
One of the most important ways a car accident lawyer can help your case is to secure evidence that proves who was at fault in the crash.
Evidence a lawyer will look to collect includes:
- Security camera footage
- Video footage from witness cell phones
- Eyewitness testimony
- Police reports
- Accident reconstruction reports
- Medical records
- Weather reports
- Photos from the crash scene
Handle All Communications
Nothing is more stressful than having to talk to other lawyers and insurance adjusters when trying to focus on recovering from your car accident injuries. Our car accident attorneys will handle all communications about the case for you. This task includes talking to the insurer or lawyer for the at-fault party, writing demand letters, negotiating with the insurance company, and filing all required paperwork.
Take Your Case to Trial
The car accident attorneys at Silva Injury Law are experienced trial lawyers, so we do not shy away from taking cases to court. We are always ready to bring a case to court, especially when we know the insurance company is lowballing you with their settlement offers. We will help you prepare for depositions, cross-examination, and how to handle yourself in court should your case wind up going to trial.
Secure Expert Witnesses For Trial
An expert witness can help drive the success of your claim if it goes to trial.
A California car accident lawyer can secure these professionals as expert witnesses:
- Doctors
- Engineers
- Auto mechanics
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Accident reconstructionists
Consult With Our California Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a car accident, you deserve compensation for your losses. An experienced California car accident attorney from Silva Injury Law can examine your case, talk to witnesses, collect evidence, and build a case in your favor.
Call our office at (209) 308-8924 or submit our contact form for your free initial consultation with a member of our team today.
Testimonial
“I cannot say enough good things about Silva Injury Law. Everyone starting with the front desk were very professional, honest and hardworking. Michael and his team worked diligently to make sure everything went as quickly and as smooth as possible. Silva Injury Law genuinely care about their clients and I would highly recommend them.”
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