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Stockton Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer
Stockton is home to more than 300,000 people and has several life-blood highways passing through it, including State Route 99, State Route 4, and Interstate 5. These highways allow millions of vehicles every day to travel up and down the west coast and from Stockton to San Francisco and back. With so many cars on the road, accidents are inevitable.Serious and Fatal Car Accident Statistics in StocktonOur San Joaquin County, CA personal injury law firm has recently conducted a traffic study to investigate the number of motor vehicle accidents in Stockton from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2019 (the latest date our files contain information on accidents in this area). This is what our Stockton auto accident attorneys have found:
There were 12, 529 collisions during this period in the City of Stockton. There were 282 fatalities and 18,206 people injured. There were 1088 pedestrian injuries, 919 bicycle accidents and 473 motorcycle collisions.
You may wonder where most of these accidents occurred.
The following table lists the intersections with the most accidents. This can be important so you can be especially careful when going through them, and can also be important because government entities may have responsibility for defectively designing such intersections. Our Stockton personal injury attorneys evaluate this on every legal matter on catastrophic injury and wrongful death.
Rank | Intersection | # of Collisions |
| 1 | CENTER ST & HARDING WAY | 62 |
| 2 | MARCH LN & PERSHING AVE | 60 |
| 3 | DA VINCI DR & MARCH LN | 59 |
| 4 | HUNTER ST & WASHINGTON ST | 58 |
| 5 | EL DORADO ST & MARCH LN | 54 |
| 6 | HAMMER LN & WEST LN | 52 |
| 7 | AIRPORT WAY & HAZELTON AVE | 49 |
| 8 | MARCH LN & WEST LN | 48 |
| 9 | HAMMER LN & TAM O SHANTER DR | 43 |
| 10 | HAMMER LN & KELLEY DR | 41 |
After a vehicle accident in Stockton, injured individuals and their families often need resources and support. No matter how minor or severe the collision, it is often challenging to recover from traumatic accident injuries while dealing with medical expenses, accidental property damage, and insurance company claims. Fatal accidents are even more of a burden on families and loved ones as they deal with these problems while coping with their loss.
A Stockton, CA personal injury attorney who is familiar with the city is a huge benefit in each and every car accident case, especially when it comes to dealing with auto insurance carriers.
How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer for Your CaseSelecting the right attorney to handle your personal injury car accident claim is not always easy. There are thousands of personal injury lawyers in California, many of whom offer to accept cases in Stockton. A few things for you to consider when looking for legal representation are:
- Select a San Joaquin County, CA personal injury attorney that cares about you, your family, and your needs.
- Choose a Stockton car accident lawyer that practices personal injury law exclusively.
- Make sure the San Joaquin County personal injury lawyer has a history of taking motor vehicle accident cases to trial if necessary.
- Pick a Stockton, CA auto accident attorney with a proven history of high verdicts and settlements.
For more tips on selecting a top-rated attorney nearby to represent you, watch the video our Stockton personal injury law firm has made on YouTube below.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Does a Lawyer Handle?Our injury attorneys handle all types of personal injury claims, particularly motor vehicle accidents involving passenger cars, large commercial trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, and more. Our accident lawyers also represent clients in Stockton, CA involved in:
- bicycle accidents
- brain injuries
- dog bites
- farm accidents
- motorcycle accidents
- pedestrian accidents
- products liability
- truck accidents
- wrongful death
We work for you and your case to get the best outcome for you possible. My firm is known as the "personal" personal injury law firm because we take the time to get to know you, your background, your hopes and your dreams. We take satisfaction in helping you and your family find positives in what could otherwise be a medical, emotional and economic disaster. That said, here is a little more information about us.
- I have been handling ONLY personal injury cases since 1982.
- I believe in a holistic approach to personal injury cases.
- Our staff is like a family here.
- I am a member of Consumer Attorney's of California, The Million Dollar Advocates, The Brain Injury Association of California as well as the Capital City Trial Lawyers Association.
- You can see our ratings on Yelp and Avvo.
- I've written several books on personal injury law including The Ultimate California Auto Injury Handbook and The California Motorcycle Accident Handbook.
- Here are some of our past verdicts and settlements.
- To see all of our testimonials, please go to our testimonials page.
Stockton has always had a deep resonance in my heart. When I attended Law School, I worked almost full time at my first legal job as a law clerk at the Stockton County Counsel's Office.
I was lucky to have some great attorney's there who took me under their wing and taught me Trial Law. Mike Garrison, who later became a San Joaquin County judge taught me much. Pat Friedrich was another great Stockton Lawyer who tutored me.
I worked several years in the San Joaquin County Counsel's Office and learned the ins and outs of San Joaquin County from experts. That knowledge has served me well as my legal career progressed.
I've worked many cases in Stockton with the world-famous mediator, Dan Quinn. I've handled every kind of personal injury case imaginable in San Joaquin County, from cases involving drunken boaters in the Delta to chain collisions in the fog on I5.
I also fell in love with a Stockton girl who forever changed my life. I really do love Stockton and Stocktonians.
I love to eat at the Market Tavern or the Abby Trappist Pub and drive down to visit often. Yes, my office is located in Sacramento some 45 minutes away but if you come up here and tell me about your case. I'll give you straight advice that other, less experienced lawyers can't offer, and I'd never invite you to visit me up here without buying you lunch! I like to talk while I eat, that's how I learned to do it in Brooklyn.
Stockton FAQWhen should I call a Stockton personal injury lawyer after a car accident?
It is best to call an experienced personal injury lawyer almost immediately. While you will need immediate medical care, it’s best to consult an experienced lawyer first because most doctors are biased and do work for the insurance industry. You want a doctor who is fully in your corner and will help you get well. An experienced personal injury lawyer will know doctors who may have a bias. The at-fault driver will have likely notified his or her insurance company about the accident right after it had happened. Their insurance company will try to contact you to get a statement about the accident and any injuries you may have sustained. It’s crucial that you don’t make a statement until you have consulted with an attorney. The insurance company is not looking out for your best interest. They don’t care about your injuries, they only care about protecting their profits by settling with you for as little as possible. You will need a personal injury attorney on your side to handle the claims negotiation process with the insurance company on your behalf. This way, you do not end up accepting a lowball settlement offer that barely covers all your medical care and expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The second reason why you should call a Stockton car accident lawyer right away is because of the two year statute of limitations. This means you have two years from the date of your car crash to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. If it involves a governmental entity, local, state, or federal, you only have six months. If you don’t file a claim within that time frame, you will be barred forever from being brought to court and will miss your chance of recovering the compensation that you deserve.
How do I choose the right Stockton personal injury attorney for my case?
It can sometimes be difficult to tell if someone is a good personal injury lawyer. However, here are some tips to help you find the right lawyer for your case. First, check the attorney’s ratings and reviews on third-party sites like Google, Yelp, and Avvo. Check the ratings but really read what the reviews are saying. Learning how an attorney was able to assist former clients will help you understand how he or she can serve you. You should also look into client testimonials. Reviewing former client testimonials will give you insights into the skills and knowledge of the attorney and his or her staff. Next, look to see if the attorney is dedicated to his or her selected field. You do not want a lawyer who is a Jack-of-all-trades. The lawyer you select should not be doing DUI and criminal defense or real estate. Finally, look at the lawyer’s past personal injury case verdicts and settlements. You want someone with the capability to obtain a large verdict or settlement if you are seriously injured.
Should I admit fault in a car accident?
No, don't admit fault in an accident, not even partial fault. You may not be aware of all the factors or circumstances that may have occurred in the short time leading up to the accident. For example, if the other driver was later found texting and driving right before the accident but you had already admitted fault, it may be more challenging to file a claim against the other driver to get a fair settlement. The best thing to do is to provide a true statement to the police but don't assume what has caused the accident.
Stockton, CA Personal Injury Lawyers
Hurt after a car accident caused by someone else? Our personal injury lawyers in Stockton have helped Californians like you recover from traumatic accidents since 1982. Call our attorneys today for free, friendly legal advice on how to get started on your case at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
The founder of our Stockton, CA personal injury law firm, attorney Ed Smith, is a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates 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 9.9.20]
Photos by pixabay
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