San Diego roadways carry heavy commuter, freeway, and tourist traffic every day, and even careful drivers cannot always avoid a collision caused by someone else. When another driver ignores the rules of the road, the resulting crash can leave you with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and lost income. If you were hurt in a San Diego car accident that was not your fault, California law gives you the right to pursue financial recovery for those losses, and the right attorney can make a meaningful difference in the outcome. For a broader look at how we help injured people across the region, see our San Diego personal injury practice.
Callahan & Blaine, PC is a California civil trial firm that has represented injured clients and businesses since 1984. Our team of more than 30 attorneys is led by President and Senior Trial Attorney Edward Susolik, who has been recognized in Super Lawyers among the Top 100 attorneys in Southern California. We prepare every San Diego car accident claim as though it will be tried, because that readiness is often what moves an insurance company to a fair result.
What to Do After a Car Accident in San Diego
The steps you take in the hours and days after a crash can protect both your health and your right to recover compensation. The following actions help preserve the evidence a strong claim depends on.
Call Law Enforcement
Report the crash so officers can secure the scene and file a police report, which becomes a key record for your claim.
Seek Medical Care
See a doctor promptly, even if you feel fine, because some injuries appear only after the adrenaline fades and early records tie your injuries to the crash.
Document the Scene
Photograph the vehicles, the roadway, visible injuries, and any hazards, and note nearby cameras that may have recorded the collision.
Exchange Information
Collect the name, contact details, and insurance information of the other driver, along with the names of any witnesses.
Contact a Lawyer
Speak with a San Diego car accident attorney before giving a recorded statement to an insurer, so your rights are protected from the start.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a San Diego Car Accident
Identifying every responsible party is one of the most important parts of a car accident claim, and it is not always as simple as it first appears. Depending on how the crash happened, liability may rest with another driver, an employer whose worker was on the job, the maker of a defective vehicle part, or a public entity responsible for a dangerous roadway. Our attorneys investigate the police report, physical evidence, video footage, and witness accounts to establish who is at fault and to pursue each source of recovery available to you.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in San Diego
Most crashes trace back to a preventable driving error. Some of the causes we see most often in San Diego car accident claims include the following.
- Distracted driving, including texting and phone use
- Speeding and driving too fast for conditions
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Reckless and aggressive driving
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Unsafe lane changes and failure to yield
- Fatigued driving
- Poor weather and hazardous road conditions
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in San Diego
Every collision is different, and the way a case is built depends on how the crash occurred. Our San Diego attorneys handle the full range of motor vehicle claims, including the following.
Rear-End Collisions
Often caused by tailgating or distraction, these crashes can produce serious neck and spine injuries even at lower speeds.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
When a driver leaves the scene, we work to identify them and to pursue available uninsured motorist coverage.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riders face a higher risk of catastrophic harm, and these claims demand a careful, well-documented approach.
Truck Accidents
Commercial truck collisions involve added layers of liability and insurance that require experienced handling.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians struck by a vehicle frequently suffer severe injuries and deserve a thorough investigation of fault.
Head-On and Intersection Collisions
High-force crashes at intersections and on open roads often lead to the most significant injuries and losses.
Common Injuries in San Diego Car Accident Claims
Car accidents can leave victims with harm that ranges from temporary to life-altering. Common injuries include whiplash and other soft-tissue damage, broken bones, back and spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, and in the most serious crashes, paralysis or death. When a crash proves fatal, surviving family members may also have grounds for a San Diego wrongful death claim. Because some injuries worsen over time, prompt medical care and an accurate record of your treatment are essential to the value of your claim.
How Fault Is Proven in California Car Accident Claims
California is an at-fault state, which means the driver who caused the crash, and that driver’s insurer, are responsible for the resulting damages. To recover, you must show that the other party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries, and that you suffered real losses as a result. Our attorneys build that proof through medical records, the police report, witness testimony, and video and traffic-camera footage.
California also follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so you may still recover even if you are found partly at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of responsibility. Insurance companies know this rule well and often move quickly to assign blame to you or to press an early, low offer. Having a lawyer manage communications with the insurer helps protect the value of your claim, and if the at-fault driver has no coverage or too little, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply.
Compensation You May Recover After a San Diego Car Accident
The value of a claim depends on the specific facts, including the severity of your injuries, the length of your recovery, the impact on your work and daily life, and the strength of the evidence. When we evaluate your case, we account for the following categories of damages.
Economic Damages
Tangible losses with a clear dollar value, such as medical bills, future care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
Losses without a set price, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and reduced quality of life.
Punitive Damages
Awarded in cases of extreme or willful misconduct to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.
Statute of Limitations for San Diego Car Accident Claims
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, and a related wrongful death claim carries a two-year deadline measured from the date of death. If your crash involved a government vehicle or a dangerous public roadway, you must first file a claim with the government entity within six months under Government Code section 911.2, a far shorter window that is easy to miss. Property damage to your vehicle carries a separate three-year deadline.
Missing the deadline that applies to your case usually means losing the right to recover altogether, no matter how strong the facts are. Because evidence also fades and witnesses become harder to reach as time passes, it is wise to act promptly. You can review the state’s own overview of these deadlines through the California Courts self-help guide.
Meet Edward Susolik
Our San Diego car accident clients are supported by one of the most recognized trial lawyers in Southern California.
Edward Susolik
President and Senior Trial Attorney
Edward Susolik leads Callahan & Blaine, PC and its insurance and complex commercial litigation practice. He has been recognized in Super Lawyers among the Top 100 attorneys in Southern California for many consecutive years, and he has spent his career holding insurance companies accountable and taking difficult cases to trial. That courtroom experience informs how our attorneys prepare and value every San Diego car accident claim.
Why Choose Callahan & Blaine, PC for Your San Diego Car Accident Claim
When you are choosing a firm to handle your recovery while you focus on healing, preparation and trial readiness matter. The following strengths set our representation apart.
Trial-Ready Representation
We prepare each claim for the courtroom, which strengthens our position in every negotiation.
Decades of California Litigation
We have represented injured clients and businesses across California since 1984.
A Deep Bench
A team of more than 30 attorneys allows us to take on complex, high-stakes claims.
Statewide Reach
From Orange County to San Diego, we serve clients throughout Southern California.
With decades of courtroom success across California, our attorneys are prepared to fight for the outcome you deserve.
Contact the San Diego Car Accident Lawyers at Callahan & Blaine, PC
If you were injured in a San Diego car accident through no fault of your own, you deserve representation that will handle every part of your claim with care and resolve while you concentrate on recovery. Our attorneys understand what is at stake for you and your family, and we are prepared to pursue the full compensation the law allows.
To put our trial experience to work on your case, contact us to submit your potential case and take the first step toward accountability. Hire Callahan & Blaine, PC to Handle Your Litigation Matter.
Frequently Asked Questions About San Diego Car Accident Claims
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in San Diego?
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. If a government vehicle or public roadway was involved, you may have as little as six months to file a claim with the government entity, so it is important to act quickly.
Who can be held liable for a San Diego car accident?
Liability may rest with another driver, an employer whose employee caused the crash while working, the maker of a defective vehicle part, or a public entity responsible for a hazardous road. Our attorneys investigate the crash to identify every responsible party and every available source of recovery.
What should I do immediately after a car accident in San Diego?
Call law enforcement, seek medical care even if you feel fine, document the scene and your injuries, exchange information with the other driver, and speak with a car accident lawyer before giving a recorded statement to any insurer.
What compensation can I recover after a San Diego car accident?
You may be able to recover economic damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, and in cases of extreme misconduct, punitive damages. The value depends on the severity of your injuries and the strength of the evidence.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Yes. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you may still recover even if you share some of the blame. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, so how fault is assigned can significantly affect your result.
How long does a San Diego car accident claim take to resolve?
The timeline varies with the complexity of the case, the severity of the injuries, and whether the insurer negotiates in good faith. Some claims resolve in a matter of months, while cases that proceed toward trial can take longer. Preparing each case thoroughly from the start helps move it forward.
