Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer

An auto accident is often traumatic and unexpected. You may be overwhelmed by emotional, physical, and financial hardship following a collision. Fortunately, you don't have to struggle with the consequences of a car crash alone. If the other driver was responsible for the incident, an experienced California car accident attorney could help you file a bodily injury claim and demand compensation for losses incurred. 

If you were injured in a traffic crash in Sacramento County, speak with our California car accident lawyers to learn how we can help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. Call (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice on your injury case. 

Since 1982, our compassionate legal team at AutoAccident.com has stood up to difficult insurers on behalf of our clients. We know how critical an insurance settlement or a jury award may be following a serious motor vehicle crash in Sacramento. Our law firm will put our decades of experience to work for you and your personal injury case. If you would like to learn more about how we can help, give us a call to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident lawyers today. Our California car accident attorneys handle cases under a contingency fee agreement, meaning you owe us nothing unless we successfully resolve your case. 

Unfortunately, car accidents are a daily occurrence in the City of Sacramento. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were 3,205 injury and fatal accidents on Sacramento roads in 2020. Of these auto collisions, there were: 

Intersection collisions in California are common and cause many injuries and deaths each year. Some of the most dangerous intersections in the Sacramento area include:

• Arden Way and Interstate 80
• Fair Oaks Boulevard and Howe Avenue
• Franklin Boulevard and Broadway
• Fruitridge Road and Franklin Boulevard
• Highway 99 and US-50 Interchange
• Power Inn Road and Folsom Boulevard
• State Route 99 and 12th Avenue
• SR-160 and Richards Boulevard
• Sutterville Road and Franklin Boulevard
• West El Camino Avenue and Northgate Boulevard

The roadways in Sacramento are full of distracted and impatient drivers, who can cause many car collisions and severely injure all parties involved. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that human error is responsible for 94 percent of vehicle crashes every year. Some of the common reasons for traffic collisions include:

• Drunk driving
• Falling asleep behind the wheel
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Texting and driving
• Weaving in and out of traffic

No matter how safe a driver you are, you can still get into a motor vehicle crash. To protect yourself and your loved ones, follow these crucial steps after a car accident in Sacramento:

• Stay at the scene of the car wreck
• Check yourself and others for injuries
• Request medical attention at the scene if needed
• Report the road crash to local law enforcement
• Ask responding officers for a traffic accident report
• Exchange contact information with the other driver
• Look for witnesses and request their contact information
• Take pictures of visible injuries and the automobile accident scene
• Contact your auto insurance company to report the traffic accident immediately 
• Be consistent with medical treatment, including following orders from your doctor
• Contact the best car accident lawyer in California to discuss your injury case 
• Do not post about the accident on social media until your bodily injury claim has been resolved

Watch the video below for information on the types of factors that may impact the value of a personal injury case.

Our law firm often handles personal injury cases arising from the following types of motor vehicle collisions:

• Distracted Driving: A driver who diverts their attention off the road may increase their chances of striking other cars. Common forms of distracted driving include texting or talking on a cell phone, eating, applying makeup, and more.
• Drunk Drivers: Intoxicated motorists cause many traffic crashes, including catastrophic ones resulting in serious injury or fatality. When this happens in California, an auto accident lawyer may seek punitive damages from the at-fault party.
• Hit and Run Accidents: When a motorist crashes into another party and flees the scene of the incident, a car accident lawyer can help the injured individual track down the at-fault party by retaining a private investigator for the case.
• Rear-End Collisions: These are among the most common kinds of motor vehicle crashes. Rear-end collisions can result in severe trauma such as cervical sprain and spinal cord injuries.
• Road Defects: Uneven pavement, potholes, and other dangerous roadway conditions may cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle and crash through no fault of their own. If that is the case, an auto accident lawyer can bring a government entity claim against the public agency in charge of designing and maintaining the road.
• Speeding: A common factor involved in vehicular accidents causing severe injury and wrongful death is speeding. This consists of a motorist driving above the posted speed limit or too fast for road conditions.
• Motor Vehicle Defects: Automakers have a legal duty to design and manufacture vehicles that meet federal safety guidelines. One example of a defective car is a fault in the fuel system, leading to a car fire or explosion after a traffic accident. Conversely, a defective battery in an electric vehicle may also cause a vehicle to catch fire or engulf it in flames. Before an auto products liability claim may be brought, the car in question must be kept and preserved until an accident attorney has examined it for potential defects. To learn more, contact the best auto accident attorney in Sacramento to discuss your potential options for financial recovery.

If personal injury damages exceed the minimum liability insurance coverage required by California law, this may be an issue. Minimum auto liability limits required in California include:

• $15,000 per person for serious injury or wrongful death
• $30,000 for all parties involved in the traffic accident
• $5,000 property damage

Our auto accident attorneys in Sacramento County can help you seek full and fair compensation for your injuries and damages incurred. To learn more about how we can help you, contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation with one of our injury lawyers regarding your potential accident claim.

Civil cases are subject to strict criteria and filing deadlines. Below is an overview of the personal injury legal process in California:

• Bodily Injury Claim: It is essential to notify the insurer immediately after a severe accident. A bodily injury claim must be filed with the car insurance company within a reasonable time. This may vary from carrier to carrier.
• Personal Injury Lawsuit: A claimant has two years from the date of a car wreck to file a lawsuit. If the claimant does not file an injury-related lawsuit in civil court or accept an insurance settlement offer within the two-year statute of limitations, they may lose the right to recover financial compensation.
• Government Entity Claim: If a car accident injury case involves government agency negligence, there is less time to file a claim. Under these circumstances, a claimant has six months or 180 days to file a notice of claim.

For a bodily injury claim, retaining legal counsel is often necessary because of the complex legal rules in California. For this reason, it is best to let a top-rated auto accident lawyer in Sacramento take the stress out of the claims process so you can focus on recovering.

The auto accident lawyer handling the personal injury case will prepare a demand letter to the insurance company. The demand package will consider current and future projected economic damages and non-economic damages, such as:

• Cost of past medical bills
• Expenses for future medical treatment needed
• Lost wages and loss of future earning potential
• Accommodations for temporary or permanent disability
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• Lost enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Scarring and Disfigurement

Our legal team offers veterans a 25% attorney's fee for cases settled without litigation. The founder of our personal injury law firm, attorney Ed Smith, served in the United States Air Force in the airborne division in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Our honor would be to provide legal representation to fellow veterans injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by negligent drivers.