Motor vehicle accidents can cause injuries ranging from minor strains and fractures to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, permanent disabilities, and life-threatening conditions. Crashes involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles can happen anywhere, from busy intersections and highways to parking lots and residential streets. Speeding, distracted or impaired driving, unsafe lane changes, and other negligent conduct can have serious consequences.
At James Hawkins APLC, we represent individuals injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout California. We understand that every injury affects a person differently. The treatment you need, time away from work, and the impact on your daily life all matter when evaluating your claim. Our attorneys investigate how the accident happened, who may be responsible, and the full extent of your economic and non-economic losses so we can pursue the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact James Hawkins APLC to discuss your situation and learn about your legal options.
Motor vehicle accidents are not limited to two cars colliding at an intersection. Different vehicles and road users can create different legal and investigative issues.
We represent drivers and passengers injured in collisions involving cars, SUVs, vans, and other passenger vehicles. These cases may involve rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, sideswipe accidents, head-on collisions, lane-change accidents, and other types of crashes.
Collisions involving tractor-trailers, delivery trucks, commercial vans, buses, and other large vehicles can cause devastating injuries. These cases may involve the driver, trucking company, vehicle owner, maintenance providers, cargo loaders, or other potentially responsible parties. We investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and identify all parties whose conduct may have contributed to the collision.
Motorcyclists have significantly less physical protection than people inside passenger vehicles. A motorcycle crash can result in serious orthopedic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, road rash, and other life-altering harm. We investigate how the collision occurred rather than assuming the motorcyclist was responsible simply because a motorcycle was involved.
Accidents involving rideshare vehicles, taxis, buses, and other transportation services can involve additional insurance and liability questions. Depending on the circumstances, the driver’s personal policy, a commercial policy, or coverage tied to the transportation company may apply. We review the accident circumstances and applicable insurance coverage to determine what recovery options may be available.
Being injured by a driver who leaves the scene can create another layer of uncertainty. Identifying the driver isn’t always possible, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have no legal options. Depending on the circumstances and available insurance coverage, an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim may provide another potential source of compensation.
A person walking near or crossing a roadway can suffer catastrophic injuries when struck by a vehicle. Pedestrian accidents may occur in crosswalks, intersections, parking lots, residential areas, and other locations. These cases can require a careful examination of traffic signals, visibility, vehicle speed, driver behavior, road conditions, and witness accounts.
Determining why a collision happened is one of the most important parts of a personal injury investigation. Common causes of motor vehicle accidents can include:
In commercial truck cases, we may also investigate issues involving driver qualifications, company policies, maintenance, hours of service, cargo loading, and other factors relevant to the collision.
The driver who caused a collision is not always the only person or company whose conduct needs examination. Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include:
California courts recognize that determining who should be sued is not always straightforward and that in certain cases responsibility can extend beyond the individual driver depending on the circumstances. That is why an accident investigation should not stop at determining which vehicle struck you. Our attorneys look at how the collision happened, why it happened, and who may legally be responsible for the resulting harm.
The severity of an injury does not always become clear immediately after a collision. Some injuries require extensive treatment or become more apparent over time. Motor vehicle accidents can result in:
For some people, the physical injury is only part of the problem. An accident can also affect your ability to work, care for your children, participate in activities, drive, sleep, or live independently. Our team considers those consequences when evaluating a claim.
The value of a personal injury claim is not determined solely by the initial medical bills. California personal injury damages can include financial losses and harder-to-quantify losses. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are losses that can generally be documented financially, such as:
Non-economic damages address the human consequences of an injury that do not come with a simple price tag but are just as important. Depending on the circumstances, they may include:
At James Hawkins APLC, we look at the whole picture. We want to understand not only what your injuries have cost you financially, but how they have changed your life. We fight for full and fair compensation that reflects the full impact of your injuries.
After a motor vehicle accident, an insurance adjuster may contact you quickly to ask what happened, request a recorded statement, ask about your injuries, or offer you a settlement. It may seem like they are simply trying to gather information and help resolve your claim, but the adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. Their job is to evaluate the claim from the insurer’s perspective and, when possible, limit the amount the company ultimately pays. What you say during an early conversation can affect how your claim is evaluated. You may unintentionally minimize your injuries, speculate about how the accident happened, accept responsibility for something that was not your fault, or provide information that can later be used to challenge your claim. You also may not yet know the full extent of your injuries. Some conditions become more apparent over time, and you may still be facing treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, or other future losses when the insurance company asks you to settle. You do not have to navigate those conversations alone. When you contact James Hawkins APLC, our team can communicate with the insurance companies involved in your claim, handle information requests, review available coverage, and negotiate on your behalf. This allows you to focus on your medical recovery while we work to protect your legal interests. Before giving a recorded statement, signing documents, or accepting a settlement offer reach out to our team.
California follows a pure comparative negligence system, which means you may still be able to recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for an accident. Your percentage of fault may reduce your recovery. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 but found 20% responsible for the collision, your recovery could be reduced to $80,000. Insurance companies may try to assign you more responsibility than the evidence supports, but our team investigates the accident circumstances and the evidence surrounding fault so we can evaluate your responsibility fairly and ensure your claim reflects what happened.
Not every driver carries enough insurance to cover the injuries and losses caused by a serious accident. California requires drivers to maintain financial responsibility, and the current minimum liability limits for private passenger vehicles are $30,000 for one person’s injury or death, $60,000 for injuries or deaths to multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage. When a serious injury exceeds the available liability coverage, other insurance policies may need to be examined. Depending on the circumstances, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may become important. Our attorneys review the available insurance coverage and investigate potential sources of recovery rather than assuming the at-fault driver’s policy is the only option.
California generally gives an injured person two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Different deadlines can apply in certain circumstances, including claims involving government entities, so we should evaluate the applicable deadline based on the specific facts of your case. Do not assume that you have plenty of time simply because you are still receiving medical treatment or negotiating with an insurance company. Important evidence can also become more difficult to obtain as time passes. If you have been seriously injured, it is worth having your potential claim evaluated as soon as possible.
After a serious collision, you may have a lot to manage at once. Medical appointments, insurance calls, vehicle repairs, missed work, and uncertainty about your recovery can quickly become overwhelming. At James Hawkins APLC, we take on the legal side of the process. Our team will:
Most importantly, we take the time to understand you and what you are facing because we know that the same collision can affect two people very differently. Your injuries, medical history, work, family responsibilities, financial circumstances, and recovery may differ from another person’s. We build our approach around those individual circumstances.
You don’t have to figure out your claim’s value, determine who is responsible, or navigate the legal process on your own. James Hawkins APLC offers free consultations for individuals injured in California motor vehicle accidents. We can listen to what happened, review the circumstances of your accident, and help you understand your legal options. Reach out today to discuss your situation with a qualified attorney.
Call Us Today (949) 387 – 7200
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