Berkeley Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer

Berkeley is a city of spirit and the arts. Its genetic code has at its core diversity and freedom of speech. It is and always has been a city where fairness is prized. 

Berkeley lies on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, bordering Oakland and Emeryville to the south. It is home to the University of California, Berkeley. The campus was the first to be established in the UC system. With a population of 120,763 in 2020, Berkeley is the 52nd largest city in the Golden State.

A statistical analysis of the types of accidents commonly seen in Berkeley shows:

In addition, most accidents occur during daylight hours on weekdays.

One hazardous intersection is at Gilman Street’s western end. This street runs through an area where eight lanes enter and exit Interstate 80. In addition, the Bay Trail, west of the intersection, is often populated with pedestrians and bicyclists.

Population increases come with downsides such as higher numbers of significant car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents. While we handle many different types of personal injury cases, our emphasis is on large, complex cases. However, no matter how large an incident is, it can cause significant suffering for those involved. If you are unsure about your case, give our Berkeley car accident lawyers a call. We can review the circumstances and direct you to a competent local lawyer if it is not something we handle.

While many injuries are clearly seen from the moment the accident happens, others take time to manifest themselves. Treatment may not be successful or may take longer than expected. While going through extended treatment is hard enough, the expense can be overwhelming. If the case is settled before the extent of an injury and the length and success of treatment are known, the settlement amount may fall far short.

That is why we often advise clients to wait to settle on an offer or proceed to court. The sad fact is, once an offer is accepted, the client signs a waiver saying that no further litigation in the case is possible. There are times when you can move forward quickly and times when it is better to have the entire picture in front of you. The key is knowing the difference.

Personal injury is an umbrella term that encompasses many different types. They are:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Boating accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Malpractice
• Defective products
• Defective medical devices
• Medication error
• Dog bites

The one thing all personal injury cases have in common is that someone was negligent, and someone else was injured. There are basic tenets. First, negligence must be proven. It is not enough to say someone is negligent. It is necessary to prove that negligence happened and resulted in injury, and the injury caused financial loss.

Watch the YouTube video below for more on how our Berkeley personal injury lawyers apply a holistic approach to personal injury law.

I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Berkeley. We know the toll accidents take on our lives. Our investigative team uses every tool at our disposal to examine the accident, from the negligence that caused it to the damages that result. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in or near Berkeley, please reach out to our injury lawyers at (510) 631-0200 (800) 404-5400. We offer a free case evaluation. We will answer your questions and offer free, friendly advice.

Proud Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

See our client reviews on Avvo, Google, and Yelp, and our past cases on our Verdicts and Settlements page.

Editor's Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy. [cha 3.3.21]

Image attribution: sarangib on Pixabay

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