Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer

In California, more than 2,500 traffic fatalities occur each year, and over 225,000 accidents result in severe injury. Approximately 50% of these injuries result in permanent conditions impairing mobility or more serious disabilities, like brain damage or paralysis.

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we understand the life-altering impact of a car accident, and the legal challenges that may arise. Our attorneys can help protect your legal rights and help you secure the financial compensation you need to recover from your injuries. If you were injured in a car accident as a result of someone else’s recklessness, contact us today to schedule a free case consultation and receive the assistance you need.

Why Choose Our Firm?

• At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we have extensive experience handling complex vehicle accident and injury claims throughout California.
• Our firm has been ranked U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® as a “Tier 1” Firm in the areas of Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation.
• We have secured more settlements and jury verdicts worth over $10 million than any other law firm in the history of the state.
• We purposely limit the number of cases that we take so that we can provide every client with our undivided attention.

Bakersfield Freeways and Roadways with The Highest Risk of Accidents

Data presented by the California Office of Traffic Safety shows that there were more than 268,000 total injuries as a result of vehicle accidents across the state during the latest reporting year. Unfortunately, 3,606 individuals lost their lives as a result of traffic collisions during that same reporting year.

Bakersfield streets are laid out in a grid with a square surrounding the city center formed by state freeways 178, 58, 99, and 99B. According to our Bakersfield car accident lawyers, the freeways pose the highest risk, with the most dangerous areas north of Union Cemetery. Other hot spots include the neighborhoods south of White Lane on both sides of 99, and Wible Road from South Union Avenue to Gosford Road. Be particularly careful at the White-Gosford intersection, as incidents frequently occur there.

How Much Time Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Bakersfield?

It is crucial for crash victims to understand that they have a limited amount of time to file these claims. The California personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date an injury occurs. This means that Bakersfield crash victims have a two-year window with which to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent driver in their case, or they will not be able to recover any compensation at all.

Additionally, please understand that insurance carriers have very strict reporting deadlines in these cases. If you do not report a crash to the insurance carrier within a day or two after the incident occurs, this could significantly delay the insurance claim or even result in a claim denial altogether.

Affording a Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer

The attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP take Bakersfield car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients will not have to pay any upfront or out-of-pocket costs when it comes to these cases. Our clients will not even pay any legal fees until after we are able to recover the compensation they are entitled to. If we do not win the case, our clients do not pay a single dime in legal fees.

What Happens if You Are Partially At-Fault for a Bakersfield Car Accident?

If you have heard that you will not be able to recover compensation if you were partially at fault for a vehicle accident, someone has not told you the truth. In California, you can certainly recover compensation even if you are partially responsible for a crash. This state operates under what is called a “pure comparative negligence” system. This means that injury victims can recover compensation even if they are up to 99% at fault for the incident. However, the total amount of compensation they receive will be reduced based on their percentage of fault.

Interesting Facts That Keep You Safe in a Bakersfield Car Accident

There are several elements that you may not realize are at work keeping you safe. We take their value for granted, but mentioning them might help us appreciate them and utilize them more.

Defensive driving habits keep motorists on the lookout for the improper driving behaviors of others. Turn signals, brake lights, and backup lights communicate behavior between drivers so they are not surprised. Padded steering wheels and dashboards help fight fatigue and provide some cushion for impact. Safety glass surrounds drivers and is designed to shatter in a way that prevents deep cuts. Mirrors help us keep a lookout as we drive defensively. Lastly, horns help drivers warn others of immediate hazards.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Bakersfield

Bakersfield traffic accidents occur for a wide variety of reasons. In the vast majority of crashes, we will discover that the causes revolve around the careless or negligent actions of one or more drivers. Data from the California OTS presents us with some realities when it comes to understanding common causes of vehicle accidents throughout the state. This can include, but is not limited to, drivers:

• Impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Distracted by their phones or other devices
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Operating too fast for conditions
• Ignoring road signs and signals

The Most Common Car Accident Injuries in Bakersfield

Even though most vehicle accidents cause only relatively minor injuries or property damage, that is certainly not always the case. Thousands of individuals across this state sustain severe, life-altering injuries as a result of vehicle collisions on a regular basis. Our Bakersfield car accident lawyers regularly help clients who have sustained the following types of injuries in these cases:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Open head wounds
• Facial fractures
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Spinal cord injuries with paralysis
• Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
• Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
• Crush injuries or amputations
• Significant scarring or disfigurement

Do I Need a Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney?

After being involved in a car accident, many questions run through your mind. You have insurance companies to talk to, medical expenses, income loss anxiety, and more. On top of recovering from your injuries, the stress can be exhausting. If you have sustained significant loss of any kind, from injuries to employment absence, you may have a case for filing a lawsuit. Our Bakersfield car accident attorneys can assess your situation and formulate a case.

Calling for a free, no-commitment consultation can save you significant time and energy. If you are summoned to court, you will have to learn procedures yourself, spending precious time and money investigating the legal system and formulating a case. When the court date comes, you will spend 5 to 10 hours before a judge arguing your case.

Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP Bakersfield personal injury attorneys can assist you by taking your case as their own. We understand there can be a lot of financial and emotional turmoil following a car accident. Our lawyers will treat you with compassion and sensitivity as we formulate a plan for winning the compensation you need to recover. If you have not been injured but sustained some other loss, there is still an opportunity to file a claim. Call Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP for a free, no-obligation consultation with our Bakersfield car accident lawyers to determine grounds for a lawsuit.

Types of Compensation Available for a Car Accident

There may be various types of compensation available to Bakersfield crash accidents if another driver caused the incident. The attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP work diligently to recover economic and non-economic compensation on behalf of every client that we help. This can include the following:

• Complete coverage of medical bills caused by the crash
• Lost wages if a victim cannot work while recovering
• General household out-of-pocket expenses
• Property damage expenses
• Rental vehicle coverage
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages

The total amount of compensation recoverable by Bakersfield car accident victims will vary depending on the factors related to each particular situation. Some of the factors that can affect compensation amounts include the severity of the injuries, the amount of time it takes a victim to recover, whether or not a victim can work while they recover, property damage expenses, and more.

What Are the Chances of Winning My Case With Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP?

Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP lawyers are some of the top ranked in the nation. We can provide you with representation by some of the most experienced and acclaimed lawyers in the country. Our firm has secured more than $10 billion in verdicts and settlements. We have successfully filed a $4.9 billion auto product liability case against General Motors and won a $58 million verdict when a man was burned after his construction vehicle caught on fire. A case involving tire tread separation resulted in $55.4 million in compensation.

Our attorneys have won the 2014 Top Ranked Law Firms award and been featured in “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News and World Report. We are supported by the American Board of Trial Advocates and have also been recognized by Super Lawyers and LexisNexis peer review ratings.

Contact a Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney Today

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver in the Bakersfield area, reach out to the team at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP for help as soon as possible. Our attorneys are ready to get involved today, and we have the resources necessary to handle every aspect of these claims. When you need a Bakersfield car accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here to fill out our contact form or calling us at (310) 477-1700.