Practice Area
Car Accident Lawyers in California
Car crashes are the most common serious-injury claims in California — and the ones insurers fight hardest. We build the medical and liability record that makes your claim impossible to lowball.
- FeeNo fee unless we win
- First conversationFree and confidential
- LanguageSe habla español
Overview
How these claims work.
A California car accident claim turns on two questions: who was at fault, and how badly you were hurt. We investigate both from day one — the traffic collision report, scene and vehicle evidence, and your full treatment record — so the story of your crash is documented before the insurance company writes its own version.
Adjusters routinely argue that injuries were pre-existing or minor. Because we read the medicine closely, we connect the forces of the crash to the diagnosis and the long-term prognosis, and we do not settle until the true cost of your injury is on the table.
What We Handle
Common car accident injuries we handle
- Whiplash and cervical spine injuries
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Concussions and traumatic brain injury
- Fractures and crush injuries
- Shoulder, knee, and ligament tears
- Internal organ damage
- Lacerations and permanent scarring
California Law
What you should know.
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You generally have two years to file
California’s statute of limitations for most car accident injury claims is two years from the date of the crash (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a government vehicle or a dangerous road condition is involved, you may have only six months to file a claim. Missing the deadline usually ends the case.
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Partial fault does not bar your claim
California follows pure comparative negligence. Even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover — your compensation is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers know this and will try to shift blame onto you to cut what they pay.
General information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules depend on the facts of your case, so talk to a lawyer about yours. Read our FAQ.
How We Help
What Reardon Stodolka brings to your case.
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We read the medicine, not just the file
The firm was built around reading treatment records the way clinicians do — connecting the mechanism of your injury to the diagnosis, the prognosis, and the long-term cost. That is what stops an insurer from dismissing a serious injury as minor.
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California is the whole practice
Deadlines, comparative-fault rules, and the insurers and courts you will face are all California-specific. The work is built around how injury claims actually move here, from the first claim letter to trial if it comes to that.
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No fee unless we win
You pay nothing up front and nothing unless we recover for you. The first conversation is free and focused on giving you a clear, honest read on your claim.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in California?
Generally two years from the date of the crash. Claims involving a government entity — a city bus, a poorly maintained road — can require a formal claim within six months, so it is important to talk to a lawyer quickly.
The other driver’s insurer wants a recorded statement. Should I give one?
Be careful. Recorded statements are used to lock you into early, incomplete descriptions of your injuries and to find admissions of fault. You are not required to give the other driver’s insurer a statement — talk to us first.
What if I was partly to blame for the crash?
You can still recover in California. Under pure comparative negligence, your award is reduced by your share of fault but is not eliminated.
Free Case Review
Ready to talk about your case?
Share what happened and the questions weighing on you. The first conversation is free, confidential, and focused on clarity — with no fee unless we win.