A car accident in Newport Beach can upend your life in an instant. The team at Callahan & Blaine brings decades of combined legal experience to every case we handle, along with the resources and trial-tested skill needed to take on any opponent, regardless of their size. Our Newport Beach personal injury attorneys have won regional and national recognition as effective advocates for clients pursuing complex personal injury claims. With over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements and more than 700 years of combined trial experience, we have the track record to back up every case we take on.
We are ready, willing, and able to take your case to trial to secure the compensation you deserve. Our clients pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation on their behalf. We believe that everyone should be able to access strong legal representation, regardless of their financial situation.
Your Newport Beach Car Accident Attorney Is An Advocate
Car accident cases should be straightforward, but they rarely are. When insurance companies get involved, they are not on your side. Even when you are not at fault, they will work to lower your settlement amount. Your attorney will gather all evidence from the car accident in order to prove the other party’s negligence. Our Newport Beach car accident lawyers will ensure you are evaluated by a trusted medical professional who can help assess the overall costs of your injuries, both now and in the future.
Newport Beach is a vibrant coastal community that draws significant traffic year-round, from residents along Pacific Coast Highway to visitors crowding the harbor and beaches. Increased traffic volume means increased accident risk, and distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving are among the most common causes of crashes throughout the city. Our team knows this area and the legal landscape that governs these claims in Orange County.
Car Accidents Can Be Severe
Car accidents happen throughout Newport Beach every day, and many result in only minor injuries. However, even minor injuries can lead to major medical bills. There are times when car accidents cause serious, life-altering injuries. It is not uncommon for the team at Callahan & Blaine to see the following injuries in the aftermath of a crash:
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Severe lacerations
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Head-on collision
These injuries often lead to medical expenses reaching into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The California Office of Traffic Safety reports that there were 3,602 fatalities and more than 273,000 injuries due to car crashes in the latest reporting year. Over 13,000 of those injuries were classified as serious.
When Should You Call a Newport Beach Car Accident Attorney?
If you have been injured or sustained property damage in a Newport Beach car accident, you should consider speaking to an attorney as soon as possible. When an attorney gets involved early, preferably the same day as the accident, they can help gather the evidence needed to prove liability before it disappears. A Newport Beach car accident lawyer will also walk you through every step you need to take to pursue maximum compensation for your losses.
Not every individual contacts an attorney right away, particularly after seemingly minor vehicle accidents. Just because you do not call an attorney immediately does not mean you cannot reach out at any point during the claims process. If you receive pushback from the insurance carriers of the at-fault party, or if anyone involved tries to blame you for the crash, you need to speak to an attorney right away.
With decades of courtroom success across California, our attorneys are prepared to fight for the outcome you deserve.
Contributory and Comparative Negligence
It is not uncommon for more than one driver to share fault after a vehicle accident in Newport Beach. Many people believe they cannot recover any compensation if they are partially at fault — but that is not accurate under California law.
Some states operate under a contributory negligence system, where individuals cannot recover compensation if they bear any responsibility for causing an accident, even just 1%. Most states have moved away from this approach. California operates under a pure comparative negligence system, which means a person can recover compensation even if they are up to 99% at fault for the incident, though their recovery will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
For example, if a person sustains $100,000 in medical and property damage expenses but is found to be 20% at fault because a brake light was out, they would receive $80,000 rather than the full $100,000. Our attorneys work to challenge unfair fault determinations and present evidence that accurately reflects the other party’s negligence.
Filing a Claim With Insurance vs. Filing a Lawsuit
The vast majority of vehicle accident claims in Newport Beach are resolved through a settlement with insurance carriers. When this happens, there will typically be an initial investigation, and an insurance carrier will offer a preliminary amount for a person’s injuries and property damage. If the offer is not fair, a crash victim may need to counter and request more.
It is sometimes necessary to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party and their insurance carrier. When a lawsuit gets filed, the case enters the civil court system, which is different from a standard insurance claim. Individuals generally only file a lawsuit if the insurance carrier refuses to offer a fair settlement or denies the claim altogether.
One major difference between an insurance settlement and a personal injury lawsuit is the timeframe for recovering compensation. Insurance settlements often resolve within a few weeks or a few months. A personal injury lawsuit, by contrast, could take well over a year. Even after a lawsuit is filed, most cases are resolved through out-of-court settlements. However, if both sides do not reach a fair agreement, the case may need to be heard by a jury — and Callahan & Blaine, PC is fully prepared to try your case.
How to Handle Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists in California Car Accident Cases
California does not require drivers to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, though we strongly recommend it. When a person sustains injuries or property damage in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, recovering compensation can be challenging. Drivers who carry uninsured motorist coverage can turn to their own insurer for compensation. Those without this coverage may need to pursue the at-fault driver’s personal assets through a personal injury lawsuit.
It is also common for accident victims to sustain expenses beyond what the at-fault driver’s policy limits cover. Underinsured motorist coverage can help bridge that gap. If you have been injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, our Newport Beach car accident attorneys can help you navigate every available avenue for recovery.
Compensation for Car Accidents in Newport Beach
At Callahan & Blaine, we work diligently to recover both economic and non-economic losses on behalf of our clients.
Economic damages — also referred to as special damages — represent the calculable losses a person sustains after a Newport Beach vehicle accident. These include:
- Vehicle accident medical expenses
- Property damage expenses
- Lost income from missed work
- General household out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages — also referred to as general damages — represent the more immeasurable losses victims sustain. These include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Emotional and psychological distress
- Loss of consortium for a spouse or family members
The total compensation available will vary depending on the circumstances of each particular case. To calculate non-economic losses, attorneys often use a multiplier method — adding up all economic damages and multiplying that total by a set number, typically between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity of the injuries. For example, if a person sustains $50,000 in medical bills and property damage, an attorney may apply a multiplier of three to reach $150,000 in non-economic damages, seeking a total of $200,000 on the client’s behalf.
Contact a Newport Beach Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you need a Newport Beach car accident attorney, Callahan & Blaine, PC is ready to help. Our team has spent over 40 years fighting for injured clients throughout Orange County, securing results that include some of the largest verdicts in California history. We will investigate your accident, handle all communications with insurance carriers, and pursue every dollar of compensation you are entitled to. Contact us to submit your potential case by calling 866-311-9627 or reaching out through our contact form.
