San Diego Car Accident Lawyer

California has a population of more than 38,000,000. With so many people driving, yearly miles traveled are over 320,000, which puts many at risk for traffic accidents.

If you have been injured in a car accident as a result of someone else’s recklessness, the San Diego car accident lawyers at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP are here to help. We understand how overwhelming car accidents can be and we can provide you with the legal assistance and guidance you need to secure financial compensation for your injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation.

Why Choose Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP?

• We have experience handling complicated lawsuits arising from injuries or death caused by the careless or negligent actions of others.
• We focus on providing a client-centered approach to every case that we take. We pay attention to the goals and needs of our clients every step of the way.
• We treat each client in their case with integrity, personal attention, compassion, and support so they can get through this emotionally and financially challenging time.
• We have secured more personal injury verdicts and settlements worth over $10 million than any other law firm in California history.

San Diego Freeways and Roadways

According to information available from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), we can see that there were 3,606 total fatalities as a result of vehicle crashes across the state during the latest reporting year. Additionally, there were more than 268,000 total auto accident injuries during the same reporting year.

Freeways are the highest risk areas, especially closer to the city center or along I-15 toward Escondido. The hot spots are along I-805 and I-5 between highways 52 and 94 as well as surface streets between these freeways. Other notable areas include Mid-City, Rolando, and Encanto as well as the San Carlos intersection of Navajo Road and Golfcrest Road. Imperial Beach’s Nestor area and along highway 905 are also areas to watch for.

The Top Causes of San Diego Car Accidents

Vehicle accidents can occur in a wide variety of ways in and around San Diego. However, when we examine the data available from the California OTS, we can see common themes about how these incidents occur year after year. Some of the most common causes of auto accidents (in particular, accidents that result in severe injuries and fatalities) include drivers:

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

Most Common San Diego Car Accident Injuries

Even though most vehicle accidents only result in relatively minor injuries, that is not always the case. Several thousands of individuals in this state suffered serious injuries as a result of vehicle accidents during the latest reporting year. Our car accident attorneys regularly help clients who have sustained the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Spinal cord trauma
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
• Amputations or crush injuries
• Significant scarring or disfigurement
• Intense emotional and psychological trauma

How Long Do You Have to File a San Diego Car Accident Claim?

Vehicle accident victims in San Diego need to get started on their claims as soon as possible. Insurance companies in these cases typically have very strict reporting deadlines, often within a day or two after the crash occurs. Failing to promptly report a San Diego car accident could result in the insurance company delaying or denying the claim altogether.

Additionally, the personal injury statute of limitations in California is two years from the date an injury occurs. If a crash victim fails to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent driver within this two-year timeframe, they will not be able to recover any compensation for their losses.

Car Safety Has Improved a Lot Over the Years

There are a lot of car features that keep us safe today, and we take many of them for granted.

Brakes keep us safe, but their functionality has gradually improved over the years. Anti-lock brakes have prevented crashes by helping drivers maintain control. Headrests aid to prevent whiplash when the car is struck, but were optional for car manufacturers until 1969. Windshield wipers help maintain visibility by wiping off rain, snow, bugs, and, for some Southern Californians, sand. In the event of a crash, safety glass shatters in such a way as to minimize cuts to passengers.

Should You Hire a San Diego Car Accident Attorney?

If you have recently been involved in a car accident, a lot is going through your mind, both emotionally and financially. “How am I going to pay for these medical bills?” “How am I going to survive taking time off work?” As you experience this stressful time and possibly the loss of a loved one or serious medical conditions, our San Diego car accident lawyers can provide compassionate assistance to help assess your situation and formulate a case for compensation.

Being summoned to court will require you to learn procedures yourself, spending precious time and money researching legal systems. When the day comes, you will spend 5 to 10 hours before a judge arguing your case.

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, our attorneys can assist you in receiving compensation for your losses. Our superior team will 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 car accident claim.

What Types of Compensation Can You Recover for a Car Accident

Crash victims in San Diego will likely be entitled to various types of compensation if another driver caused the crash. At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we work diligently to recover multiple types of economic and non-economic compensation on behalf of our clients. This includes the following:

• All medical bills related to the vehicle accident
• The cost of any physical therapy or rehabilitation needed
• Property damage expenses
• General household out-of-pocket costs
• Rental vehicle coverage
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of quality of life damages

The total amount of compensation available to San Diego vehicle accident victims will vary depending on factors related to each situation. Some of these factors can include the extent of the injuries or property damage, how long it takes a victim to recover, whether or not a crash victim can work while recovering, and more.

What if You Are Partially At-Fault for a Car Accident in San Diego?

Many individuals are led to believe that they will not be able to recover compensation if they are partially at fault for a vehicle accident in California. That is not the truth. This state operates under what is called a “pure comparative negligence” system. This means that individuals can recover compensation even if they are up to 99% at fault for their injuries.

However, the total amount of compensation injury victims received will be reduced based on their percentage of fault for the incident. This can reduce the amount of compensation the victim receives, but it should not eliminate it.

How Can You Afford a San Diego Car Accident Lawyer?

At Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, we take San Diego car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients will not have to worry about paying any upfront or out-of-pocket costs related to their insurance claim. In fact, our clients will not pay a dime in legal fees until after we recover the compensation they are entitled to. If we do not win, our clients pay us nothing.

How Good Are Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP’s Attorneys?

One of the top-ranked personal injury law firms in the nation, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can provide you with some of the most experienced and acclaimed lawyers in the country. We have successfully filed a $58 million claim when a man was burned after his construction vehicle caught on fire and won a $4.9 billion auto product liability case against General Motors. Overall, our firm has secured more than $10 billion in verdicts and settlements.

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

Contact a San Diego Car Accident Attorney Immediately

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver in the San Diego area, the team at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP is standing by to help you today. We have extensive experience handling complex vehicle accident claims throughout California, and we have the resources necessary to thoroughly investigate this incident. Let us help you recover the closure and compensation you need to get through this. When you need a San Diego car accident lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here to fill out our contact form or calling us at (310) 477-1700.