Los Angeles is one of the most congested cities in the United States, and with millions of vehicles on the road every day, car accidents are a constant risk. If you were hurt in a crash caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and pressure from insurance companies that want to settle for as little as possible. A Los Angeles car accident lawyer at Callahan & Blaine, PC can protect your rights and pursue the compensation you need to move forward. You can review our full range of injury services on our Los Angeles personal injury page.
Callahan & Blaine, PC has represented injured Californians since 1984, and our car accident practice is led by trial attorney Edward Susolik, who has been recognized among the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers. With more than 32 attorneys and a background in insurance and bad faith litigation, our team prepares every case for trial, which positions our clients to negotiate from strength against even the largest insurers.
California Car Accident Laws That Affect Your Los Angeles Claim
California operates under an at-fault system, which means the driver responsible for a crash is also responsible for the resulting harm. To recover compensation, you must show that the other driver was negligent. California also requires every driver to carry minimum liability coverage of 15,000 dollars for injury or death to one person, 30,000 dollars per accident, and 5,000 dollars for property damage, though these minimums are often far too low to cover a serious injury.
Two deadlines matter most. Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a government entity contributed to your accident, such as a city bus or a dangerous road condition, you must present a written claim within six months. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so you can still recover even if you were partly at fault, though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 20 percent responsible and your damages total 100,000 dollars, you would recover 80,000 dollars.
Common Types of Car Accidents in Los Angeles
Every collision presents different challenges when it comes to proving fault and documenting harm. Our Los Angeles car accident attorneys handle the full range of crashes seen on the region’s streets and freeways.
Heavy stop-and-go traffic on the 405, 10, 101, and 5 produces frequent rear-end and chain-reaction crashes.
Failure-to-yield and red-light crashes at busy intersections often cause serious side-impact, or T-bone, injuries.
Wrong-way driving and loss of control can cause head-on and rollover crashes with catastrophic results.
When a driver flees or carries no insurance, we help you pursue every available source of recovery.
Whether you were a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist, and whether the crash involved a distracted driver, an impaired driver, or a commercial vehicle, our team is prepared to investigate the cause and identify every responsible party.
Common Car Accident Injuries and Their Long-Term Effects
Car accident injuries range from soft-tissue strains to permanent, life-altering conditions. Some of the most common include whiplash and neck injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and internal injuries. Some of these do not produce symptoms right away, which is one reason prompt medical care matters so much after a crash. Seeking treatment early protects your health and also creates the medical record that connects your injuries to the accident. When a crash causes a severe or permanent injury, our catastrophic injury attorneys account for future treatment, lost earning capacity, and the long-term effect on your daily life.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Los Angeles
The steps you take after a crash can shape the strength of your claim. If you are able, move to a safe location, call for emergency help, and make sure the accident is documented through a police report. Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel only minor symptoms. Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and any visible injuries, and collect the names and contact information of drivers and witnesses.
Avoid discussing fault or apologizing at the scene, and be cautious when the other driver’s insurer contacts you. Adjusters often ask for recorded statements early, hoping you will say something that can be used to reduce your claim. Before giving any statement or signing anything, speak with a Los Angeles car accident attorney who can protect your interests and handle those communications for you.
Meet Edward Susolik, Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney
Edward Susolik
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Senior Trial Attorney, Callahan & Blaine, PC
Edward Susolik leads the trial practice at Callahan & Blaine, PC and has spent his career representing injured people and policyholders against insurers and corporate defendants. He has been recognized among the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers for many consecutive years, and his background in insurance and bad faith litigation helps our Los Angeles car accident clients hold insurers accountable when they undervalue or deny a valid claim.
Working alongside a firm of more than 32 attorneys, Mr. Susolik and the Callahan & Blaine, PC team prepare each car accident matter for trial from the start, which gives clients a stronger position in negotiation and a firm ready for the courtroom when an insurer will not offer a fair result.
How Insurance Companies Try to Reduce Car Accident Claims
Insurance companies protect their own profits, not your recovery. After a crash, an adjuster may offer a quick settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known, dispute whether your treatment was necessary, request broad access to your medical history to search for a pre-existing condition, or simply delay the claim in the hope that financial pressure leads you to accept less. Recognizing these tactics is the first step to countering them.
When you have a Los Angeles car accident attorney handling communications, the insurer is far less able to use these methods against you. Our team documents your losses thoroughly, responds to adjuster tactics, and negotiates from a position built on evidence rather than pressure.
How Callahan & Blaine, PC Approaches Your Los Angeles Car Accident Case
Every car accident case is different, and the value of a claim depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical bills and future treatment needs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and the effect of the injury on your life. In serious cases, we work with medical and economic professionals to project the full long-term cost of an injury so that no part of your claim is overlooked. Our team explains how fees work during your first meeting so you can make an informed decision before you decide to move forward.
1Investigation. We gather the police report, medical records, witness accounts, and any available footage, and identify every responsible party.
2Building Your Claim. We document your injuries and losses, consult outside professionals when needed, and prepare a demand supported by evidence.
3Negotiation. We negotiate with the insurer for a settlement that reflects the full extent of your current and future losses.
4Trial. If the insurer will not offer a fair result, our trial-ready preparation means we are prepared to present your case to a jury.
Because we treat every matter as if it will be decided by a jury, insurers understand that our Los Angeles clients are prepared to see the case through. That readiness is often what moves a claim toward a fair resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Los Angeles Car Accident Claims
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in California?
In most cases you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. A claim for property damage alone has a three-year deadline. If a government entity was involved, you must present a written claim within six months, so it is best to speak with an attorney promptly.
What should I do after a car accident?
Move to safety if you can, call for emergency help, and make sure the crash is documented in a police report. Seek medical care right away, photograph the scene and any injuries, and gather contact and insurance information from the other driver and any witnesses. Avoid discussing fault, and speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement to an insurer.
Can I still recover damages if I was partially at fault?
Yes. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so you can recover even if you were partly responsible for the crash. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers often try to assign injured people a larger share of blame to reduce what they pay, which is one reason strong representation matters.
What damages can I recover after a car accident?
You may recover economic damages such as medical bills, future treatment, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and property damage, as well as non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and the effect of the injury on your daily life. The specific damages depend on the facts of your case.
How much does it cost to hire a Los Angeles car accident lawyer?
During your first meeting, our team explains how our fees work so you can make an informed decision before moving forward. We are glad to answer any questions about costs so you understand the process from the start.
Contact the Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys at Callahan & Blaine, PC
Callahan & Blaine, PC has represented injured Californians since 1984, and our practice is led by trial attorney Edward Susolik, recognized among the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers. With more than 32 attorneys and deep experience in insurance and bad faith litigation, our Los Angeles team prepares every car accident case for trial and works to recover the full compensation our clients are owed.
California law limits the time you have to act, so do not wait to protect your claim. Contact Us to Submit Your Potential Case, and a member of our team will review what happened and explain the options available to you.
