Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers

Car Accidents Basic Moments

Car accidents are unfortunately not uncommon in Los Angeles. Many of them result in injuries and damage to vehicles. The process of settling a car accident case can be complex and time-consuming. The best solution is to contact Los Angeles car accident lawyers. This will allow you to calmly recover after an accident and increase your chances of receiving decent compensation.

Data on Car Accidents in Los Angeles

According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), the following car accidents occurred in Los Angeles in 2023:

• Fatal – 278
• Injury Severe – 1486
• Injury Other Visible – 3242
• Injury Complaint of Pain – 5395

They suffered:

• Killed – 296
• Suspected Serious Injury – 1640
• Suspected Minor Injury – 4347
• Possible Injury – 8665

From the statistics we can distinguish categories of victims:

Victim Role	%
Driver	62.53%
Passenger	26.02%
Pedestrian	8.69%
Bicyclist	2.35%
Other	0.41%

Types of Car Accidents and Emergency Places

Data from the 2023 SWITRS report shows the main types of accidents that occurred in Los Angeles:

Type of Crash	%
Head-On	5.74%
Sideswipe	17.06%
Rear End	37.40%
Broadside	16.37%
Hit Object	9.84%
Overturned	1.49%
Vehicle/Pedestrian	9.95%
Other	1.54%

Identifying the places with the highest number of accidents in 2023 is also possible. TOP 10 looks like this:

• La Brea av and Obama bl
• Crenshaw bl and Pico bl
• Imperial hy and Main st
• Tampa av and Nordhoff st
• Balboa bl and Saticoy st
• Roscoe bl and Lindley av
• Figueroa st and Gage av
• Van Nuys bl and Nordhoff st
• Sepulveda bl and Roscoe bl
• Sherman wy and Sepulveda bl

Recent Injuries in Car Accidents

Car accidents are almost always traumatic events. These can be not only physical injuries but also psychological ones. Here are the most common injuries in road accidents:

Spinal injuries
In various collisions, overloads may occur in different parts of the spine. This can lead to pinched nerves and slipped or fractured discs. Serious spinal injuries often lead to disability.

Whiplash
It is the most common neck injury in a traffic accident. When a collision occurs, the body fastened with a belt almost does not change position, and the head has greater freedom of movement and a sharp and strong load occurs on the neck area. This leads to soft tissue injuries. Whiplash may not appear immediately after the accident, but may occur later.

Head injuries
As a result of hitting the head or parts of the car on the head, traumatic brain injuries occur. Depending on the force and location of the impact, various consequences may occur, such as concussion, skull fractures, and brain contusion. Often these injuries are serious and can lead to paralysis or even death.

Limb injuries
Characteristic manifestations of such injuries will be dislocations of joints, fractures of the bones of the arms or legs, and in the worst case, amputation of limbs.

Typical Cases for Car Accident Lawyers in Los Angeles

Returning to the data from the SWITRS report for 2023, we can identify what violations are committed by potential clients of Los Angeles car accident lawyers:

Primary Crash Factor Violation	Crash count
Driving or Bicycling Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drug	1075
Impeding Traffic	4
Unsafe Speed	3983
Following Too Closely	94
Wrong Side of Road	203
Improper Passing	41
Unsafe Lane Change	807
Improper Turning	1350
Automobile Right of Way	821
Pedestrian Right of Way	364
Pedestrian Violation	427
Traffic Signals and Signs	631
Unsafe Starting or Backing	104

What Do Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers

The entire process of settling a road accident case usually comes down to three stages.

Preparing case materials
Lawyers investigate the accident and determine the true cause of the accident and the percentage of fault of each party. They collect evidence, review the police report, review witness statements, and review surveillance video. If necessary, accident reconstruction specialists are involved. Various medical reports and opinions are added to the case file. Assess compensation claims and prepare a claim.

Negotiations with the insurance company
In most cases, this stage becomes final and the parties agree. The task of Los Angeles car accident lawyers at this stage is to prevent the insurance company from underestimating the level of compensation, using various tricks used by insurance company adjusters.

Representation of the client’s interests in court
Some cases still end up in court. Here, lawyers must present their collected evidence and convince the jury of the validity of their client’s claims.

Best Car Accident Lawyers in Los Angeles

Various criteria and methods can be used to evaluate car accident lawyers in Los Angeles. For example, based on the compensation received or the number of cases settled at the negotiation stage. But still, it would be optimal to use a comprehensive assessment.

Various legal catalogs and reference books use the concept of rating. It may include a combination of multiple criteria. If we take information from the web resources of law firms and legal forums on social networks, then such a generalized indicator is most often a lawyer’s reputation. It may include objective and subjective criteria, for example, the number of lawsuits won and client reviews of the lawyer’s work.

Regardless of the evaluation methods and criteria, the best Los Angeles car accident lawyers should:

• have extensive positive experience handling car accident cases
• specialize in personal injury law
• improve your negotiation and persuasion skills
• have respect among colleagues and positive feedback from clients
• don’t be afraid to take on the most difficult things
• demonstrate high quantitative indicators: cases won, compensation received, and others.

Ideas for Finding Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers

Personal recommendations
Recommended Los Angeles car accident lawyers from friends, colleagues, or family should be credible.

Social media
You can find good car accident lawyers in Los Angeles on legal forums or in specialized social networking groups. Feel free to ask your questions and ask for recommendations.

Local businesses
Find local law firm websites and read the information on them carefully. There you can find lawyers’ achievements and reviews from previous clients. This information will be very useful.

Bar Associations
Contact the State Bar of California or the Los Angeles County Bar Association. They will probably be able to provide you with lists of licensed lawyers in your area.

Local advertising
Pay attention to advertising in local publications, bulletin boards, or on transport. Law firms often post it. Contact them, ask questions, and sign up for initial consultations.

Initial consultations
Most Los Angeles car accident lawyers offer free initial consultations. At them, you will be able to discuss points of interest to you in your case and evaluate the approaches and methods of lawyers. This will help you make the right choice.

If I Got into a Car Accident

Most people don’t know what to do after a car accident. Although no two accidents are the same, we can offer a list of useful actions that are independent of a specific accident:

• seek medical help
• help other participants get medical help
• move to a safe place
• call the police to the scene of the accident
• notify your insurance company of the incident
• exchange all necessary information with other participants in the accident
• save contact details of witnesses
• take photos of car damage
• seek advice from a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles and follow his instructions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident

Guilty plea
This will be the biggest mistake you can make after a car accident. Anything you say can be used against you in the future. Therefore, do not make any judgments about your actions during the accident. Report only the facts in conversations with the police or insurance company.

Late seeking of medical help
If as a result of an accident your health has worsened, you have complaints of pain and other symptoms of possible injuries, immediately seek medical help. It would be a mistake to think that an insignificant injury will somehow get over it. Any injury can have a negative impact. Timely seeking medical help will allow timely treatment to begin and the injury to be linked to the accident to receive compensation.

Agreement for a quick settlement
Insurance companies often underestimate the amount of compensation in quick settlements. Therefore, you should not thoughtlessly agree to a quick settlement. Consult a car accident lawyer. He will be able to assess the prospects and possible level of compensation.

Compensation Possible as a Result of a Car Accident

In Los Angeles, compensation for economic damage is possible:

• medical expenses
• lost wages
• repair or replacement of damaged property
• decreased earning capacity

and for non-economic damage:

• pain and suffering
• disfigurement
• loss of consortium.

Punitive damages are provided in cases where the damage was caused intentionally or the party was particularly negligent. Punitive damages usually serve as punishment and to prevent this from happening again in the future.

Do This to Avoid a Car Accident

Follow traffic rules.

Practice responsible driving.

Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Consider weather conditions when driving.

Plan your route carefully before traveling.

Keep your car in good condition.

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