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.
Call our law firm today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Stockton personal injury attorneys to discuss your potential claim.
Serious and Fatal Car Accident Statistics in StocktonFVAccording to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were 6,220 total fatal and injury crashes in San Joaquin County in 2018. That same year, there were 2,037 traumatic injury and fatal accidents in Stockton. Of that number, 161 involved pedestrians, 112 involved bicyclists, and 50 involved motorcycle riders. Some of these accidents resulted from:
- 389 speeding
- 305 hit and runs
- 146 drunk driving
You may wonder where most of the serious injury and fatal car accidents occurred. The following list includes the most dangerous intersections in Stockton:
- Airport Way and Hazelton Avenue
- Center Street and Harding Way
- Da Vinci Drive and March Lane
- El Dorado Street and March Lane
- Hammer Lane and West Lane
- Kelley Drive and Hammer Lane
- March Lane and West Lane
- Pershing Avenue and March Lane
- Tam O'Shanter Drive and Hammer Lane
- Washington St and Hunter Street
After a motor vehicle accident, 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 motor vehicle accidents are even more of a burden on families and loved ones as they deal with unexpected expenses while coping with their loss.
A top-rated Stockton 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 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 an attorney that cares about you, your family, and your needs.
- Choose a lawyer that practices personal injury law exclusively.
- Make sure the lawyer has a history of taking personal injury cases to trial in San Joaquin County, if necessary.
- Pick an attorney with a proven history of high verdicts and settlements for auto accident cases.
For suggestions on how to find the best attorney to handle your personal injury case, watch the video below.
Types of Personal Injury Cases Our Lawyers HandleOur 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 involved in:
- bicycle accidents
- brain injuries
- dog bites
- farm accidents
- motorcycle accidents
- pedestrian accidents
- products liability
- truck accidents
- wrongful death
Since 1982, our personal injury law firm has helped clients recover fair compensation for many types of injuries from motor vehicle collisions, including:
- Amputations
- Bone fractures
- Chest trauma
- Degloving injuries
- Eye injuries
- Internal trauma
- Road rash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Wrongful death
Our legal team will work for you and your case to get the best outcome possible. Our 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 more information about us.
- We have been only handling personal injury cases since 1982
- We believe in a holistic approach to personal injury cases.
- Our staff is like a family here.
- Our firm’s founder and injury attorney, Ed Smith, is 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.
- Injury lawyer, Ed Smith, has 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 Personal Injury FAQWhen Should I Contact an Attorney After an Auto Accident?
It is critical to contact the best personal injury lawyer in Stockton immediately after a motor vehicle crash. 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 lawyer will know doctors who may have a bias.
The at-fault driver will have likely notified their auto insurance company about the traffic collision 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 personal injury settlement offer that barely covers all your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
What is the Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Lawsuits in California?Another important 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 lawsuit in civil court 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. Since you have a limited amount of time to take legal action after a traffic collision, contact the best personal injury attorney in Stockton to schedule a free consultation today regarding your potential options for recovery.
Should I admit liability in a car accident?
No, do not admit full or even partial fault in a motor vehicle crash. You may not be aware of all the factors or circumstances that may have occurred in the short time leading up to the traffic collision. If you admit fault in a traffic collision, you may place yourself at risk of losing out on the full compensation you may be entitled to.
For example, if the other driver was later found texting and driving right before the motor vehicle collision but you had already admitted fault, it may be more challenging to file a bodily injury claim against the other driver to get a fair insurance settlement. The best thing to do is to provide a true statement to the police but do not assume what has caused the auto accident.
Call a Stockton Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you suffered serious injuries in a car accident caused by someone else's negligence, our Stockton personal injury lawyers can help you recover fair compensation in your case. Call one of our attorneys today for free, friendly advice on your potential claim at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400.
We are proud members 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 3.4.21]
Photos by pixabay
Additional Resources:
Dangerous Conditions in Crosswalks
Stockton Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Stockton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Stockton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Stockton Products Liability Lawyer
Stockton Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer
Stockton Truck Accident Lawyer
Stockton Wrongful Death Lawyer