Elk Grove Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer
Our office specializes in car accidents whether they be rear-enders, broadside accidents, head-on collisions, pedestrian accidents or motorcycle or truck accidents.
We are the "Personal" Personal Injury Law FirmWe call ourselves the "Personal" Personal Injury Lawyers because we take pride in connecting with our clients throughout their case, no matter how long it takes to resolve.
Typically, we meet with family members and friends throughout your case. If the injury is a serious one and goes to trial, it's important to have people that know you well explain to a jury how you have changed after a serious injury.
If you are not comfortable with a high level of personal attention, I'm not likely the attorney for you. There are many attorneys in town whose style is to be Captain of the Ship with little input or knowledge of their client's personality and/or family or friends.
Here is an article I wrote suggesting a plan of action in selecting any personal injury lawyer, and a video to help guide you in choosing an excellent attorney.
Whether you are comfortable with my office or feel another attorney would better serve you, the questions in that article will help you make a decision. I hope you'll give me a call. Call me at 916-694-0002 for free, friendly advice.
Elk Grove Injury FAQ'sQ: Where can you get the police report?
A: If the Elk Grove Sheriff did the police report you could get a copy below. If the CHP did the report, most often you can get a copy at:
Q: Where's the best place to rent a car in Elk Grove?A: I actually have not found ANY good rental car companies in Elk Grove. You'll need to travel to South Sacramento for any decent service. I recommend the Enterprise Car Rental.
Q: My body is hurting. Where can I find a good Chiropractor in Elk Grove?
A: The following two chiropractors have very high ratings and satisfied clients on Yelp:
Q: Is there an urgent care center? Where can I get emergency care?
A: Yes. This center is spoken of very highly: MDSTAT Urgent Care.
Q: Where’s a reputable body shop in Elk Grove?
A: By all accounts, these body shops do an excellent job.
Q: What are some of the more dangerous intersections in Elk Grove?
A: Laguna Blvd and Bruceville Road are very dangerous. There were four bicycle accidents at that intersection in just the past year. It also ranked fifth for the number of accidents between cars. Elk Grove Boulevard at Auto Center Drive is also a very dangerous intersection. Vineyard Road, SR 99, Bond Road and Kammerer Road also have more than their fair share according to data from our past cases.
The following are the most dangerous intersections from 2010 through 2014.
- Barrymore Dr & Calvine Rd
- Bond Rd & Elk Crest Dr
- Bond Rd & Elk Grove Florin Rd
- Bond Rd & Stockton Blvd
- Calvine Rd & Elk Grove Florin Rd
- Elk Grove Blvd & Emerald Oak Dr
- Elk Grove Blvd & Emerald Vista Dr & Stockton Blvd
- Elk Grove Blvd & Elk Grove Florin Rd
- Elk Grove Florin Rd & Sheldon Rd
- Elk Grove Florin Rd & Polhemus Dr
- Grant Line Rd & Waterman Rd
- Sheldon Rd & Stockton Blvd
Q: What can I do if I am injured in a taxi?
A: If you are injured in a taxi, you should insist that a police report is made, even if the Taxi driver doesn't want to. The police report is valuable and may be used in your case to help determine liability. Taxi drivers often have very high insurance rates and are reluctant to ask the police to the scene. As soon as the police come out and take statements, you should make an appointment with a medical provider as soon as you can. Whatever you do, do not speak to any insurance company until you speak to an experienced lawyer.
Q: Do many trucks come to the Apple Distribution Center in Elk Grove?
A: It may not be fair to call it a distribution center because Apple is pretty secretive about what it does there. Nonetheless, at last count, over 2000 employees were working at the site near Laguna Boulevard and I5. Many trucks are coming and going every day.
Q: My daughter was a pedestrian struck by a hit and run driver last week. We have not been able to identify the driver of the car that hit her, is she just out of luck?
A: Not necessarily. There may be witnesses of the accident that a thorough investigation would reveal. Additionally, if she lived in your home, she is likely covered By your auto insurance policy. Most policies have Uninsured Motorist coverage that will pay in this situation. Feel Free to call me for friendly advice.
Q: Were there many serious accidents in Elk Grove?
A: Yes, there were many serious accidents in Elk Grove. Below are a few videos about some severe accidents in 2018 and 2019:
- Fatal Crash Involving SUV in Elk Grove
- Teen Dies from Injuries in Elk Grove DUI Crash
- 4 Injured After Car Drives into Oncoming Traffic in Elk Grove
Q: A friend of mine was recently seriously injured in Elk Grove by a deliberate machete attack. Can they recover from the wrongdoer?
A: The answer is complicated. Usually, insurance does not cover intentional injuries. IF the person wielding the machete intended to attack and injure your friend, the insurance company will deny coverage. Nonetheless, there are some times when they may be made to pay. Perhaps the person using the machete intended merely to scare your friend and accidentally struck him. In that circumstance, there might possibly be insurance coverage for the injury. Also, even though there may be no insurance, your friend will be able to bring a lawsuit against and will undoubtedly get a judgment against the person injuring him or her. If that person has assets, the injured party can recover from those assets. If the injury was the result of an Elk Grove crime, your friend could file a claim with the California Victim’s Compensation Board here.
Q: I live in Elk Grove, and a traffic light near where I live does not work properly. Who do I contact to have it looked at?
A: In Elk Grove, if there are any problems with traffic lights, you can report the problem to Traffic Maintenance at (916) 687-3005.
Q: There’s a dispute over which car ran the red light. Where are traffic cameras located in Elk Grove?
A: Elk Grove Traffic Cameras on WeatherBug.
Q: How can I find out information on recent accidents in Elk Grove?
A: Latest Accident reports on Navbug.
Q: Does any website report fatal Elk Grove Accidents?
A: Yes, this website has info on fatal accidents in Elk Grove: City-Data.com.
Q: I was riding a bicycle when injured in Elk Grove. Where can I find information on bicycle accidents?
A: You can find stats on dangerous bicycle accidents at Patch Stats.
Q: I was in an accident recently in Elk Grove and am confused about which insurance should pay my bills. Should the other party’s insurance pay, my own auto med-pay insurance or my health insurance through my work?
A: Good question. First, the wrongdoer’s insurance will not advance fees to pay your medical bills. They will only pay you a lump sum when your case is over. Typically, it’s best to use your own Auto Medpay for a few reasons. First, there is more flexibility in getting the care you need if you use Medpay. You can go to any licensed MD, chiropractor or physical therapy and the insurer should pay the bills. Also, the Medpay may not have a reimbursement provision. Typically your health insurer will only pay if you see certain doctors on their plan and then they will almost always want their money back for the medical care they provide at the end of the case. The auto med-pay is more liberal. You can see virtually any medical provider you choose and many insurers do not require to repay them at the end of the case. To be certain of the best insurance to use for medical care, bring copies of your med-pay insurance and health insurance to be reviewed by your attorney. An experienced attorney will guide you correctly as to which insurance you should be using.
Q: Driving down Laguna Boulevard in Elk Grove is a mess. Whenever I drive North or Southbound on Laguna, the lights change so quickly only a few cars can pass at a time. If there is a traffic accident because of this can the City of Elk Grove be responsible in whole or in part?
A: That’s a great question. I heard from many potential clients about problems with the traffic signals on Laguna. The flow of traffic is often backed up on Laguna as well as on Elk Grove Boulevard. It appears that City Hall changed the timing on the lights around May of 2015 and ever since then there have been problems. You can call Elk Grove Operations and Maintenance to complain at 916-687-3005.
To return to the question. If the City of Elk Grove failed to set the timing of these lights properly or failed to maintain the lights so that traffic flowed properly, and if that failure caused an accident then the City of Elk Grove would have partial or total liability. Some codes and regulations govern how traffic signals should be timed and maintained. An experienced Elk Grove personal Injury lawyer would hire a traffic engineer to see if the signals were set properly and if the settings were improper if that contributed to an accident.
Please be aware, however, that if there’s an accident or injury caused by the City of Elk Grove’s failure to correctly time or maintain traffic lights, someone injured by this must file a claim with the proper government agency (the City of Elk Grove or Caltrans or possibly other government agencies) within 180 days of the accident date.
Elk Grove Car Accident LawyerI’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove personal injury attorney. If you have been seriously injured in an accident in Elk Grove, please call me anytime for free, friendly advice at 916-694-0002 or 800-404-5400.
I'm a member of the Elk Grove Auto Accident Attorney Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
I have written several books on Amazon about California accidents, including The Ultimate California Auto Accident Handbook and The California Motorcycle Accident Handbook.
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You can find our previous cases on our Verdicts and Settlements page.
Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 7.16.19]
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