Item: Edward A Smith Law Offices
Rating: 5
Author: Alex & Dinah M.

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 Stockton

We’ve recently done a study to investigate Stockton vehicle accidents from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2019 (the latest date our files contain info on Stockton crashes.) This is what we’ve 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. (We evaluate this on every fatality case and serious injury matter).

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

Contacting a Stockton Car Accident Lawyer

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 car accident lawyer who is familiar with Stockton is a huge benefit in each and every case, especially when it comes to dealing with auto insurance companies.

How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case

Selecting 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 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 car accident cases to trial if necessary.
Pick an attorney with a proven history of high verdicts and settlements.

For more tips on selecting an attorney to represent you, read Tips to finding a great personal injury lawyer, or watch the video I made on YouTube.

What Types of Personal Injury Cases Does a Lawyer Handle?

My law firm handles all types of personal injury claims, especially auto accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and SUVs. We also represent clients in Stockton involved in:

About You and the Law Offices of Edward A Smith

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.

I Consider Stockton My Home

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 FAQ

When 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 Car Accident and Personal Injury Attorney

I'm Ed Smith, a Stockton Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer. I have been serving the people of Stockton, California since 1982. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident or sustained a personal injury, contact our office right away for free, friendly advice at 209-227-1931 or 800.404.5400.

I have the most comprehensive and complete web site in California on motor vehicle accidents, www.AutoAccident.com. Check my firm's ratings and reviews on Avvo, Yelp, and Google.

See a list of our previous verdicts and settlements.

I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

If you need a personal injury lawyer, who knows Stockton, loves Stockton, please give me a call.

Español hablado aquí.

Photos by pixabay

Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 5.1.20]

Additional Resources:

Dangerous Conditions in Crosswalks

★★★★★

"Me and my wife; had a car accident. We were amazed how easy, professional, friendly attorney Ed Smith is along with his staff. Everybody is amazing. Thank you so much, we are very impressed!" Alex & Dinah M.

"Ed Smith and his office team took on a difficult personal injury case on my behalf and for the passenger in my car. Ed is a top- notch attorney. His staff couldn't have been more helpful and kind. No need to look elsewhere. I give Ed Smith my highest recommendation." Beverly

"Ed and Robert have been taking great care of my husband and I for the past 5+ years. They are always there when you have a problem and a quick resolution! Even when the issues have nothing to do with them. They are willing to help ease the pain off your shoulders. They are as good as it gets! Thank you again for everything." Annie T.

"Very professional. Great team, staff and service all around. Mr Smith was very honest, straight forward with his advice. He gives the word "attorney" an honest reputation. I will seek his council anytime, and would recommend him at the drop of a dime." Jeremy M.

"I would highly recommend Ed Smith to any friends or family in need of a personal injury attorney. Ed, and his staff, are very caring on top of being very experienced in this field. The staff always keeps you informed of the status of your case and they are always easy to reach by phone." Shannon D.

"Edward Smith law offices provide competent, thorough, and personable help for victims of personal injury. When you first meet the staff you know you contacted the right office. This law office treats clients like people. I recommend this office to anyone seeking representation regarding personal injury." David M.

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