Whether you’re driving through Los Angeles for work or pleasure, the 500-square-mile City of Angels can become a scary place if you find yourself in a car accident due to a careless driver. Fortunately, there are laws to protect drivers’ rights if they find themselves injured due to the actions of another.
At Maison Law, we represent injured drivers involved in car accidents in Los Angeles. Whether you’ve been rear-ended in traffic, suffered a head-on collision, or you’ve been forced off the road due to a reckless driver, having the right legal representation makes all the difference when it comes to getting your life back after an accident.
The Car Accident Attorneys at Maison Law are prepared to provide you with legal representation that protects you from liability and ensures you are fully compensated after a car accident in Los Angeles. Get started today and contact us for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation to see what legal options are available for your situation.
How Do I Know if I Need a Lawyer After a Los Angeles Accident?
A car crash resulting in only fender damage and perhaps a few scratches and bruises might not leave you in need of a lawyer’s help. But if a reckless driver leaves you with serious injuries like a broken leg, or a neck or back injury, it becomes much more important to have a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer protecting your case.
The higher your medical bills go, the more an auto insurer will fight to avoid paying those invoices. They can cast doubt on what a police accident report says and try to blame you. Your Maison Law lawyer is your defense against these unfair strategies. Your lawyer gathers all evidence and uses it to build a strong case that insurance adjusters can’t easily reject. Your lawyer then demands the most in compensation possible for your injuries.
How Maison Law Helps Los Angeles Car Accident Victims
Whether you’re driving on the 110 freeway or through the South Central Los Angeles neighborhoods like Florece or Vermont Knolls, a car accident can occur at any moment. And the statistics from the California Office of Traffic Safety back up this statement, as Los Angeles averages around
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Los Angeles averages around 90,000 injury-related car accidents per year. But what these statistics don’t show is the aftermath that car accident victims in L.A. face after a serious injury. Injured car accident victims typically need extensive medical treatment, lose the ability to work, and suffer long-term health complications such as permanent disability as a result of a serious accident. Despite these facts, insurance companies will still attempt to reduce or deny compensation owed to injured car accident victims.
At Maison Law, we offer legal support to car accident victims in Los Angeles, so their rights are protected and they don’t have to worry about being taken advantage of by the insurance companies. Forget trying to negotiate with the insurance company yourself. We’ll manage your claim and ensure you’re compensated for the following damages:
- Special Damages: medical bills, ongoing treatment, costs that accumulate when you’re unable to work, like rent or mortgage payments
- General Damages: these are non-economic hardships like pain and suffering, anxiety, depression, mental trauma
- Wrongful Death Damages: these damages may be sought by a spouse or close relative for funeral arrangements, burial expenses, and medical treatment before a loved one’s death
- Punitive Damages: these damages are rare, but if the driver engaged in reckless driving with the intention of hurting you, then you could sue for punitive damages
How Many Car Accidents Occur in Los Angeles Each Year?
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) reports that in 2023 there were 10,401 car accidents involving injury in Los Angeles. Those accidents took their toll on human life, tragically claiming 296 victims. Those figures were down slightly from 2022 when there were 11,259 serious car accidents reported in the city and 367 lost lives.
Los Angeles is well known for its crazy drivers and busy streets. Drivers on the freeway are just as likely to be watching a video on their phones than watching the lanes ahead. Motorists on Sepulveda Boulevard can speed or drive aggressively, putting all other drivers at risk of a deadly collision.
If you are hurt in any collision caused by another driver, you should never accept having to pay for even a small percentage of your recovery bills. Your Maison Law attorney will be demanding the maximum in compensation possible and helping you reject any lowball settlement offer to demand more.
Los Angeles Car Accident Injury Claim Process
STEP 1
Call Us For A Free Consulation
Call us 24/7 with No Obligations
STEP 2
Describe Your Accident Details
We will then discuss your legal options and decide whether to move your case forward.
STEP 3
Retain Maison Law w/ No Upfront Fees
We work on contingency. No attorney fees unless you win your case.
STEP 4
Receive Your Compensation
We will fight for you to earn the highest possible payout for your damages.
What Types of Things Earn Compensation After a L.A. Traffic Accident?
If you earn an insurance settlement or a court judgment, you can expect to receive compensation for several factors involved in your recovery:
- Hospital and medical expenses and those expected in the future.
- Costs associated with a permanent physical disability such as brain damage, vision impairment, paralysis, or the loss of a limb.
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional Anguish.
- Loss of enjoyment of life. Loss of consortium (Intimate Relationships).
- Earnings you’ve lost while missing work.
- Damage or destruction of property.
California Statue of Limitations for Car Accidents in Los Angeles
In California, injured victims are given up to two years to file a claim for damages with an insurance company. This may seem like you don’t have to rush, but it’s important to file as soon as you and your personal injury attorney are ready.
Collecting evidence and documents will be much easier in the early going. Keeping track of witnesses will also be easier if you don’t wait years to move your case forward.
Driver’s Rights to Recover Compensation After a Los Angeles Car Accident
California State Law has set the framework for protecting injured drivers and determining fault after a car accident. California Laws implemented to protect the rights of injured drivers include:
- Comparative Negligence Law: This law allows an injured party who shares fault for their injuries to receive compensation. Comparative negligence determines liability, assigning a percentage of fault to all parties involved.
- California Law mandates that all drivers carry minimum liability insurance to cover damages in the event of an accident.
- California Civil Code 335.1: This law gives car accident victims two years from the day of their accident to file a personal injury claim to pursue compensation for damages.
- California Vehicle Code 20008: Drivers are required to report a car accident to police within 24 hours of being in an accident. Even if you were not at fault, you are required to report the accident to the police.
- Distracted Driving Law: Using your cell phone or similar electronic communication device while driving in California is illegal. Only hands-free communication is permitted while driving. If your accident was caused by a distracted driver, then you’ll have a strong case to recover necessary damages.
If you have any questions about your legal right to compensation after a car accident, contact us today for a free case review.
Proving Fault in a Los Angeles Car Accident
When dealing with car accidents, it is not always easy to prove fault. In some instances, there are multiple parties involved, as well as comparative negligence. Comparative negligence is when blame is divided amongst multiple “at-fault” parties, as stated within California’s Comparative Negligence Law:
“Under the pure comparative negligence rule, the state allows the plaintiff to claim damages for the 1% they are not at fault even when they are 99% at fault.”
Regardless of how many parties are involved, if you can prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you will most likely have a case. The following are four elements of evidence necessary to prove fault in a wrongful death case:
- Had an obligation to act with reasonable care: If a person is driving on the road, they are expected to follow traffic laws, as well as be aware of other drivers on the road.
- Breached their “duty of care:” The injured party (plaintiff) must demonstrate they were owed a duty of care by the person at fault (defendant). For example, in a car accident, the duty of care would have been ignored if a driver broke a traffic law and was driving dangerously before the collision.
- Acted careless or reckless: If the driver failed to follow the law or safety protocols and caused another’s death, the plaintiff must prove the other’s careless or reckless actions resulted in the loss of their loved one.
- Damages: The plaintiff must be able to prove they suffered damages such as medical bills, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, or mental trauma.
"Negligence Per Se" in a Los Angeles Car Accident
If you can establish that a driver’s careless actions caused your accident, you may be able to establish “Negligence Per Se” and recover damages. Negligence Per Se means the driver broke the law, which directly caused your injuries. Illegal U-turns, distracted driving, speeding, or running a red light typically come with citations, which will make proving “Negligence Per Se” fairly easy in court if your lawsuit goes to trial. Proving Negligence Per Se is much easier than proving negligence.
Proving negligence usually involves an investigation to obtain video footage or witness statements. Sometimes, there is no available evidence, and your case becomes one person’s word over another’s. For this reason, it is important to report your accident to law enforcement the moment it happens and speak with Maison Law to understand your legal options.
How Los Angeles Police Assign Fault for a Car Accident
When a police officer is called to an accident, they will attempt to capture as much information as they can about the accident. At first glance, they’ll look to see what happened leading up to it, how it started, and who was likely the at-fault party. While determining fault at the scene of the accident, police officers will look at the following:
- Evidence at the scene:
- Tire marks
- Road damage
- Vehicle damage
- Eyewitness statements
- Appearance and behavior of both drivers
- Whether a citation has been issued to either driver in the past (speeding, tailgating, DUI, or other concerning violations)
- Any other available evidence such as street cameras, dash cams, or photos
After an investigation, police will issue citations for any violations committed by either driver. Citations can be harmful to both drivers in an accident case. However, guilt of a traffic violation is only settled after a ruling, conviction, or the payment of the fine without pleading “nolo contendre.” So, if you are given a citation, but feel it was unwarranted, you do not have to admit fault. Contact one of our attorneys today, and we’ll help you build your case, as well as protect your right to compensation if you’ve been injured or suffered damages.
What to Do After a Los Angeles Car Accident
A car accident can be life-altering. If you’re involved in an event as traumatic as a car accident, it can be tough to think straight and know what you’re supposed to do next. We’ve provided you with the following steps to protect your rights and begin building your case:
- Seek medical attention immediately: Even if your injuries seem minor (which is unlikely in a tcar accident), they can manifest into something much worse weeks later. So, it is recommended to check in with a doctor to make sure everything is okay.
- Call the Police: Failing to alert the police does not help your case, especially if the case comes down to your word over the car driver. A police officer will file an accident report and may even assign blame based on their collision assessment. A police report is critical evidence in any claim and will play a key role in ensuring you are fully compensated.
- Gather Evidence: You should document the accident as thoroughly as possible. Take pictures of the damage to your car, to the car, your injuries, skid marks on the road, and street signs or landmarks. Take a video of yourself recounting the accident while it is still fresh in your mind. And if there are any eyewitnesses, be sure to get their names and numbers as they can testify on your behalf or provide a statement to corroborate your story.
- Collect Information: Exchange insurance information with the driver, and be sure to get their name, phone number, and contact information.
- Contact Maison Law: Our firm is standing by to help car accident victims physically and financially recover quickly. Call, text, or email. Our door is always open, and we’d love to help you through this difficult time.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Los Angeles
1
Call the Police
Even if you don’t feel injured or the damage is minimal, always call the police to get a police report.
2
Take Photos
Take pictures of the car damage, license plates, intersection, and surrounding area.
3
Swap Info
Swap insurance info with the other driver, but don’t apologize or say that you aren’t injured.
4
Contact Your Insurer
Most insurance companies require you to report your accident to them, regardless of who is at fault.
5
Go See Your Doctor
Document any pain you feel immediately and in the days and weeks after the accident. Keep your receipts from you appointments and medications.
6
If you are injured in your accident, the insurance company will want to pay as little as possible.
Find out what your case is really worth.
Common Los Angeles Car Accident Injuries
It’s important to monitor your well-being in the days after living through an impact. An accident of any kind can leave you dazed and in shock. That shock can mask the pain from injuries you don’t know you have.
The next day you may wake up with extreme pain and be in need of further medical care. It’s important to get these new injuries examined right away, whether by your physician or during another visit to the emergency room.
It may be another trip to the hospital and another round of expensive ambulance fees.
A car accident can leave victims with major injuries that can linger over weeks, months, and years. And there’s always the unfortunate possibility an injury may cause pain over a lifetime or become a permanent disability.
Here are just a few of the more common injuries reported by emergency room doctors after accidents:
- Brain injuries: Injuries can be short-term issues or cloud memories and physical control of the body for a lifetime. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) after a blow to the head can result in headaches and seizures, and even cause victims to experience anxiety and depression.
- Thoracic Spine Injury: Whiplash or disc nerve damage is common, especially in rear-end impacts. This damage can result in pain that travels through all parts of the body and a loss of control of body parts.
- Back injuries: The stretching of tendons and/or muscles leaves small tears of varying degrees in these tissues. Years of back pain and limited motion can result. Just sitting upright in a chair can be excruciating.
- Broken bones: Fractures in the legs and arms are common in car accidents and some breaks can be very difficult to heal. Bones could heal in the wrong position and require expensive surgery down the line.
Our Clients Say...
Wonderful service, very pleased with everyone that was involved in my case. They helped me with every question and concern I had in a timely manner.
I would highly recommend them.
August 2021
Can a Car Accident Cause Scoliosis?
Yes. Scoliosis develops over time, often when people are young and their bodies are developing. A car accident might cause a spine injury that in the years to come could develop into scoliosis. A crash could also make an existing case of scoliosis worse.
Traumatic scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that generally takes years to develop. A powerful impact in a car collision can rupture spinal discs. Discs can also bulge or fracture. Whiplash from a quick back and forth motion of the neck is also possible.
These injuries may not heal right and the degenerating tissue around them may allow the spine to slowly form a curve.
Victims of scoliosis may need to wear special back braces and attend physical therapy to correct the curvature. Surgery may also be needed. A spine fusion allows doctors to connect bones in the spine so they can’t move and continue to curve. Metal rods and screws help hold the bones together until old and new bone material fuse together.
Even the less invasive option of physical therapy can cost well more than most victims can afford. Spine injury victims must work with their personal injury lawyers to secure the money they need for care now. An insurance settlement must also include support to cover any care necessary in the future.
Can You File a Claim for Cosmetic Disfigurement After a Car Accident?
Yes. When the careless acts of drivers leave you with a disfigurement, they are liable for every recovery cost, including surgery expenses. The emotional difficulties you face would also increase the support earned in an injury claim.
A disfigurement combines a physical injury with emotional trauma. The injury is often painful and recovery is usually difficult. But a visible scar and cosmetic disfigurement also affect your self-image and the way you feel others perceive you. This serious injury might leave you reluctant to face family and friends or go out in public.
You might understandably lose some enjoyment in life, and these emotional damages commonly earn compensation in car accident claims. A claim prepared by a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer would seek full compensation for scar revision plastic surgery bills. The claim must also take into consideration any medical treatment expected to be necessary in the future.
How to Account for Accident and Ambulance Bills that Come Years Later?
Ideally, you would file a personal injury claim against an insurance company once you have fully recovered from injury and all medical bills have been received. Sometimes this isn’t possible. You may have suffered a long-term injury and you may have bills that don’t arrive when they should.
If not all bills have shown up in a timely manner, an estimate of the charges would need to be made. This anticipated cost would be listed on a claim for damages to be added to any settlement check you received.
This isn’t an uncommon problem and estimates on the costs of care and length of care are a part of many claims. When a long-term or permanent disability is involved, personal injury lawyers often rely on medical experts to estimate the costs of constant care over a year, over a decade, or over a lifetime.
Insurance companies for at-fault parties may want to argue over the value of a missing bill or the cost of care, but your personal injury lawyer would make sure you received a fair settlement.
What Our Clients Say
What Should I Watch Out For When Dealing with Car Insurance Companies?
Once you’ve been hit, your interactions with at-fault drivers will likely be brief. Your true battle will be with the insurance company they’ve chosen to secure coverage with. Those insurance adjusters determine how much support you’ll receive with your medical bills and losses at work while you heal. At least that’s what they want you to think.
Victims who demand what’s fair for what they’ve been through with the help of a skilled Los Angeles personal injury attorney can enjoy a better chance of earning everything they need to recover physically and financially. Filing a claim for damages is often necessary to highlight for insurance companies exactly what they’ll be held accountable for.
If not, insurance companies can rely on their time-tested tactics to separate injury victims from the compensation they desperately need. These are just a few of the strategies they may try on you:
Delayed Response: Insurance companies can simply lay your claim aside for a few months or more and let you wait it out. They know you’ll be facing a growing pile of bills while you are also out of work. This pressure would make anyone desperate and that’s what insurance adjusters are counting on.
Lowball Offer: Insurance agents wait until you are good and worried and then extend a “lowball settlement” offer that doesn’t fully cover all of your hardships. You may bite on this offer fearing you may not get a better one Victims often end up paying for part of their recoveries out of pocket when they trust in the goodwill of insurers.
Blaming You: Insurance companies can also go to a lot of effort looking into your driving record and your medical history. Their go-to tactics are to try to demonstrate that you’re a reckless driver who has been in previous accidents to show you may have caused your most recent accident. They can also use any recorded statements you’ve provided to twist your words to discredit your claim. Just say no to any request for a recorded statement.
Refusal to Make A Settlement Offer: Insurers may know their policyholder was in the wrong, but still reject your claim hoping you don’t have the nerve to take them to court. This is a mistake on their part if you have a skilled, competent California lawyer on your side. Your attorney will have already collected evidence and testimony to build a strong case that will stand up in court. This real threat is usually enough to get insurance representatives back to the negotiating table to extend a fair settlement offer.
These tactics are pretty devious but if you have a personal injury lawyer your outlook changes dramatically. Most insurance adjusters give up these strategies once they know a legal professional is on your side. If they don’t, your attorney will easily be able to deflect their false claims and “bad faith” behavior towards you and your case.
Average Settlement for California Speeding Accident Injuries
The severity of your car accident injuries will account for a majority of your overall compensation if you reach a successful settlement. While there are other determining factors, the following personal injury classifications can give you a rough estimate of what your case is worth.
- Minor injuries: Approximately $1,500 – $15,000 – minor injuries are considered sprains, strains, and minor cuts and bruises.
- Moderate injuries: Approximately: $15,000 – $100,000 – moderate injuries are considered fractures, herniated discs, and torn ligaments.
- Severe injuries: Approximately $100,000 – $1,000,000+ – paralysis and death can quickly exceed settlement amounts of around $1,000,000 or more.
Los Angeles Car Accident FAQs
After a car accident in Los Angeles, you want to determine who is at fault. One of the most important steps in proving fault is a police report. No matter how minor you may feel the damage and your injuries are, having a police officer or the California Highway Patrol respond to the scene is important.
Officers prepare an accident report that will lay out who they feel was to blame. Insurance companies can dispute this report, but it can still be used as evidence to prove that you were not at fault.
Witness testimony can also be a powerful tool to prove who was at fault for an accident. On the scene, speak with all witnesses to find out what they saw. You should also get their contact information so your personal injury lawyer can contact them later.
Yes. In California, even if you are partially responsible for your accident, you might still receive compensation for your damages.
Because California is a pure comparative negligence state, more than one person can be assigned liability in an accident.
You could bear 25% of the blame in a collision for not obeying a traffic law, but the driver involved could also bear 75% of the blame for speeding or using a cellphone while driving. In this case, you would be awarded compensation, and then your part of the blame, 25%, would be subtracted.
Injured victims in California are permitted to file a claim or lawsuit and represent themselves. Handling your claim yourself is only recommended if an accident involves only minor injuries and property damage.
When an accident involves a serious injury or the loss of life, settlements and courtroom judgments should be worth much more and that means insurance companies will work much harder to discount your case.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will know what to do when insurance adjusters try to shift blame from their policyholder to you. You’ll be protected from baseless attempts to show you are a dangerous driver when insurance companies go digging into your driving record.
A personal injury attorney also evaluates every settlement offer you receive and alerts you when you should be getting much more. Your lawyer also represents the implied threat of a lawsuit if the insurance company doesn’t make you a suitable settlement offer.
Yes. It’s legal to bring claims against drunk drivers in Los Angeles car crashes. In fact, you may be able to recover more compensation if your lawyer could prove gross negligence. DUI is a serious crime in California, which means you could be entitled to serious compensation.
Just like two drivers can share blame in an accident, multiple drivers can have the liability in an accident divided up into percentages. After a chain-reaction accident involving multiple vehicles, a judge or jury could assign blame to several drivers based on their levels of liability.
California is a pure comparative negligence state meaning that any driver can be assigned anywhere from 1% to 100% of the liability in a car crash. You may earn injury compensation from the insurance companies for several drivers involved.
The amount of compensation you might receive for an injury would get determined and then each driver would pay you according to their percentages of blame. If you are found partially at fault in the accident, you would see your percentage of blame deducted from your final award.
You can still file an insurance claim after a hit and run accident in Los Angeles. If the driver is never identified, you may be able to recover compensation from your own car insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. If the driver is arrested, your civil claim can move forward even as the suspect faces a criminal trial.
There is no true average for an accident claim. You can check out our California personal injury settlement calculator to get a general idea of what your case might be worth.
Several factors go into determining how much victims receive in compensation. The totals for medical bills and lost wages are a baseline for your case. A case involving a long-term injury should earn much more. The skill of your attorney also affects how much you’ll earn.
In some cases, California allows drivers to avoid liability in an accident caused by an unforeseen medical condition. However, when drivers were previously informed of a medical condition that could cause a collision, they are usually liable for the damages they cause.
This argument for people attempting to deny financial responsibility in an accident is known as a “sudden medical emergency” defense. Generally, people claiming this defense would have to show that they had no foreknowledge of the condition that left them unable to control a vehicle.
People who had been previously diagnosed with an illness that causes seizures or a heart issue likely can’t turn to this defense. A doctor may have also instructed someone with these conditions not to drive and reported the danger to the DMV. The DMV can revoke or suspend the patient’s driver’s license.
It’s important to note that California does not allow drivers to avoid accident liability over a mental health issue.
In some cases, California allows drivers to avoid liability in an accident caused by an unforeseen medical condition. However, when drivers were previously informed of a medical condition that could cause a collision, they are usually liable for the damages they cause.
This argument for people attempting to deny financial responsibility in an accident is known as a “sudden medical emergency” defense. Generally, people claiming this defense would have to show that they had no foreknowledge of the condition that left them unable to control a vehicle.
People who had been previously diagnosed with an illness that causes seizures or a heart issue likely can’t turn to this defense. A doctor may have also instructed someone with these conditions not to drive and reported the danger to the DMV. The DMV can revoke or suspend the patient’s driver’s license.
It’s important to note that California does not allow drivers to avoid accident liability over a mental health issue.
Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
After a traffic accident involving a serious injury, please rely on an experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney to handle your case and protect what’s important to you.
Insurance companies aren’t required to tell you about every benefit available to you. When you aren’t informed of your rights, you can lose out on valuable resources and end up paying for a large chunk of your recovery costs out-of-pocket.
That should never be the case when you are put through such a traumatic accident through no fault of your own. Take advantage of a free case consultation with a real lawyer at Maison Law. We want to hear about what happened to you. If we can’t help you earn more for your case, we’ll tell you that. We’ll also make sure you know how to demand fair treatment and secure the support you need to fully recover and get back to your normal life.
Additional Los Angeles Car Accident Resources:
- Zipcar Accidents
- Getting an Accident Report in Los Angeles
- Support for Families After a Fatal Accident
- Los Angeles Uber Accidents
- Los Angeles Lyft Accidents
- Metro Micro Accidents
- The Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles Hit-And-Run Accidents
- The Cost of an Ambulance Ride in Los Angeles
- Who Pays for the Ambulance After a California Car Accident?
- How Do I Get a Tow Truck After An Accident?
- Accidents On I-5 in Los Angeles
- Accidents on Ventura Boulevard
- Accidents on Reseda Boulevard
- Accidents on Wilshire Boulevard
- Accidents on Balboa Boulevard
- Accidents on Sepulveda Boulevard
- Accidents on 405 Freeway
- Accidents on Venice Boulevard
- Accidents on Santa Monica Boulevard
- Accidents on Sunset Boulevard
- Accidents on Figueroa Street
- Accidents on Highway 101
- Accidents on Highway 1
- Accidents on Freeway 10
- Accidents on Freeway 110
- Accidents on Freeway 105
- DUI Injuries
