Car Accidents

Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer

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California Auto Accident Attorneys

A California car accident claim runs on three hard deadlines. If anyone was injured or killed, the driver must file a written report with the CHP or city police within 24 hours (Veh. Code § 20008(a)). An SR-1 must reach the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or property damage exceeds $1,000 (Veh. Code § 16000(a)). And you generally have two years from the crash to file suit (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1) — six months if your claim is against a government entity (Gov. Code § 911.2(a)).

California is an at-fault state, not a no-fault state, and it applies pure comparative negligence: being partly at fault reduces your recovery in proportion to your share of the fault, but never eliminates it (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). For a step-by-step guide to the hours and days right after a collision, see what to do after a car accident in California.

Injured in a car accident? Here is what to know.

Yaghmai Law Firm represents drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians injured in car crashes throughout Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, and the San Fernando Valley.
We handle rear-end collisions, T-bone and intersection crashes, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle pileups, hit-and-run claims, DUI crashes, and rideshare collisions.
California gives you 2 years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under CCP Section 335.1 (3 years for vehicle property damage under CCP Section 338(c)).
No fees unless we recover compensation. Free case review.
Call or text (888) 800-6731 or submit your case online.

A car accident lawyer Sherman Oaks injury victims trust can mean the difference between an undervalued insurance settlement and full compensation. A car accident in Los Angeles can upend your life in seconds — medical bills, lost wages, a totaled vehicle, and an insurance company already working to minimize your claim. Whether you were rear-ended on the 405, T-boned at a Ventura Boulevard intersection, or struck by a distracted driver in a Sherman Oaks parking lot, the steps you take in the first days after the crash often decide what you are able to recover.

Yaghmai Law Firm, APC handles car accident cases from the San Fernando Valley to downtown Los Angeles and across California. We deal directly with insurance adjusters, preserve evidence (police reports, dash-cam footage, event-data-recorder downloads, medical records), and build a case under California’s pure comparative fault rule — established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804 — so that even a partially at-fault driver can still recover damages.

You will not pay anything out of pocket. We work on contingency: no fee unless we recover compensation. Call or text (888) 800-6731 for a free, no-obligation case review, or submit your case online.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a car accident, we are ready to help.

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No Win, No Fee

At Yaghmai Law Firm, you pay nothing out of pocket to start your case and nothing at all unless we recover compensation for you. Our contingency-fee structure aligns our incentives with yours: we only get paid when you get paid, and the fee comes out of the settlement or verdict — never out of your pocket up front.

That includes the cost of investigating your crash, retaining accident reconstructionists, obtaining police and CHP traffic-collision reports, ordering certified medical records, retaining medical experts, and preparing your case for trial if the insurance carrier refuses to make a fair offer. Your initial case review is free and confidential. If we are not the right firm for your case, we will tell you that directly and point you to someone who is.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

We represent injured drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and surviving family members in car accident claims throughout California. Our case types include:

Rear-end collisions (freeway slowdowns, stop-and-go traffic, distracted-driver impacts)
T-bone and intersection crashes (red-light running, failure to yield, left turns across oncoming traffic)
Head-on collisions and wrong-way crashes
Sideswipe and unsafe-lane-change crashes
Rollovers and single-vehicle crashes caused by road defects, tire blowouts, or hazardous conditions
Multi-vehicle pileups on the 405, 101, 5, and 134
Hit-and-run crashes and unidentified-driver claims
DUI and drugged-driving crashes (often supporting punitive damages)
Rideshare crashes involving Uber or Lyft drivers
Crashes involving commercial trucks, delivery vans, and big rigs
Crashes injuring motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians
Uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) motorist claims under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2
Parking-lot and low-speed impacts that nonetheless produce serious soft-tissue injuries

Common Causes of Los Angeles Car Crashes

Most California car crashes trace back to a small set of driver decisions, each of which is regulated by a specific California Vehicle Code section. When the at-fault driver violated one of these statutes, that violation often supports a negligence-per-se argument under California law — meaning the violation itself can establish breach of duty:

Distracted driving — phone use, texting, in-car infotainment, eating, and grooming behind the wheel. CHP collision reports frequently note these factors when there is no other plausible explanation for the crash.
Speeding or unsafe speed — California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) requires drivers to travel at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for current conditions, regardless of the posted limit.
Driving under the influence — CVC Section 23152 prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and sets a 0.08 percent BAC limit. DUI crashes often support punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages.
Unsafe lane changes — CVC Section 22107 prohibits turning or moving right or left on a roadway until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and only after an appropriate signal.
Following too closely (tailgating) — CVC Section 21703 prohibits following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent given speed, traffic, and road conditions.
Failing to yield right-of-way — left turns across oncoming traffic, ignoring stop signs, missing crosswalks, or merging into occupied lanes.
Running red lights or stop signs — a common cause of T-bone intersection crashes.
Drowsy or impaired driving — drivers who have not slept, are on prescription medications that warn against operating vehicles, or are otherwise unfit to drive.
Road defects and dangerous conditions — unmarked construction zones, missing or obscured signage, poor lighting, potholes, debris.
Vehicle defects — defective brakes, tires, airbags, seatbelts, fuel systems, or steering — claims that can extend to the manufacturer or dealership.

Common Injuries in Car Accidents

Car crashes cause a wide range of injuries — some immediately obvious, others (like soft-tissue injuries and concussions) that may not surface for days. Common car accident injuries we represent include:

Whiplash and other cervical-spine soft-tissue injuries
Herniated and bulging discs
Broken bones — clavicles, ribs, wrists, arms, legs, and pelvis
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries from head impacts or rapid deceleration
Spinal cord injuries, including partial and complete paralysis
Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
Lacerations, scarring, and disfigurement from glass and metal
Burns from vehicle fires
Post-traumatic stress disorder and persistent anxiety around driving
Fatal injuries — see our wrongful death page for the rules that apply when a loved one is killed in a car crash

Always see a doctor after a car crash, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries for hours or days, and a documented medical exam in the days immediately after the crash also protects the value of your case: the longer the gap between the crash and your first medical visit, the more aggressively insurers will argue your injuries are unrelated to the collision.

What Is Your Car Accident Case Worth?

The value of a California car accident case depends on the severity of your injuries, the cost of medical treatment, the impact on your income and earning capacity, the strength of the liability evidence, and the at-fault driver’s insurance limits. Recoverable damages typically include:

Medical expenses — emergency room, surgery, hospitalization, imaging, physical therapy, chiropractic, prescriptions, future medical care, and life-care plans for catastrophic injuries.
Lost wages and lost earning capacity — time off work for treatment and recovery, plus the reduction in your future ability to earn if injuries are permanent.
Property damage — vehicle repair or replacement (actual cash value), diminished value, towing, storage, and rental car costs while your vehicle is in the shop.
Pain and suffering — physical pain, mental anguish, anxiety, and the loss of enjoyment of life caused by the crash and your injuries.
Emotional distress — including post-traumatic stress disorder where supported by treating clinicians.
Loss of consortium — recoverable by a spouse or registered domestic partner for the loss of companionship and intimacy caused by your injuries.
Punitive damages — available in DUI cases and other instances of egregious misconduct under California Civil Code Section 3294, on top of compensatory damages.

Insurance limits often dictate the practical ceiling of a settlement. California’s mandatory minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage (raised effective January 1, 2025 under SB 1107). When the at-fault driver carries only minimum limits — or no insurance — we look to your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and to any other applicable policies. We do not commit to a number until we know the full medical picture, because a premature demand almost always undervalues the case.

California Car Accident Law

California car accident claims are governed by a combination of Vehicle Code rules of the road, Code of Civil Procedure filing deadlines, Insurance Code coverage requirements, and California Supreme Court case law:

SR-1 accident report (CVC Section 16000) — the driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident on a California street or highway that causes more than $1,000 in property damage, or any bodily injury or death, must file a report with the DMV within 10 days of the crash. The report can be filed personally, through an insurance agent or broker, or through a legal representative. Failing to file an SR-1 can result in suspension of your driver’s license.
2-year statute of limitations for personal injury (CCP Section 335.1) — you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for bodily injuries. Miss this deadline and your claim is permanently barred.
3-year statute of limitations for property damage (CCP Section 338(c)) — claims for damage to your vehicle and other personal property have a three-year filing window.
Pure comparative fault — under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, California replaced contributory negligence with pure comparative fault. You can still recover even if you are partly to blame; your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. There is no 50-percent cutoff the way there is in many other states.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (Insurance Code Section 11580.2) — your own auto policy must offer UM/UIM coverage. If you accepted it, you can use it when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient limits. UM/UIM claims often resolve in arbitration rather than a courtroom trial.
Proposition 213 limitation — drivers who were operating uninsured at the time of the crash, or who were committing certain crimes, are generally barred from recovering non-economic damages (pain and suffering), even if the other driver was 100 percent at fault. This rule does not apply to passengers.

For accidents involving a public bus, a state vehicle, or a city-operated truck, additional pre-litigation rules apply under the California Government Claims Act — typically a six-month notice deadline under Government Code Section 911.2.

Talk to a Los Angeles car accident lawyer today. No fees unless we win.

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Why Choose Yaghmai Law Firm for Your Car Accident Case

Choosing the right lawyer is not just about logos and television ads — it is about who actually picks up the phone when you have a question, who understands how Los Angeles insurance adjusters and defense firms operate, and who is prepared to take a case to trial if the offer is unfair. Yaghmai Law Firm has handled car accident claims at every stage, from the first call to the insurance company to verdict, throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles.

“Most of my car accident clients come to me overwhelmed. They have a car they cannot drive, medical bills stacking up, and an insurance adjuster pushing them to accept a fast, lowball settlement. My first job is to take that pressure off — to deal with the insurance company directly, gather every piece of evidence while it is still fresh, and make sure we know the full extent of the injuries before we ever talk about a number. That is the difference between a quick settlement and a full recovery.”

— Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney

We practice remotely — by phone, text, video, and email — so you never have to come to an office to move your case forward. Calls and consultations are available in English, French, and Persian, with Spanish-language interpreters available when needed. Whenever you are ready to talk, we are.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in California?

Under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Property damage claims for your vehicle have a three-year window under CCP Section 338(c). Different deadlines apply if a government entity is involved (typically a six-month notice under Government Code Section 911.2) or if the injured person was a minor at the time of the crash, so contact a lawyer as early as possible.

What if the other driver was uninsured or underinsured?

If you carry uninsured (UM) or underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage on your own policy — required to be offered to every California insured under Insurance Code Section 11580.2 — that coverage can step in to pay for your injuries. UM/UIM claims usually involve arbitration with your own insurer rather than a courtroom trial, and the rules for stacking limits and offsets can be complex. We handle UM/UIM claims regularly and treat them with the same seriousness as third-party liability claims.

Do I have to talk to the other driver’s insurance company?

No. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer, and we strongly recommend you do not — adjusters are trained to use those statements to minimize your claim. Once we represent you, the insurance company communicates with our office instead of with you directly.

What if I was partially at fault for the crash?

California follows pure comparative fault under Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. You can still recover even if you were partly responsible — your award is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. A jury that finds you 30 percent at fault and awards $100,000 will reduce your recovery to $70,000. Unlike many other states, there is no 50-percent cutoff in California.

How much is my car accident case worth?

Case value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical bills and future care needs, your lost wages and lost earning capacity, the impact on your daily life, the strength of the liability evidence, and the available insurance limits. We do not give a target number until we have a clear medical picture, because committing to a low demand before injuries are fully diagnosed almost always undervalues the case.

What does it cost to hire Yaghmai Law Firm for a car accident case?

Nothing up front. We work on contingency: no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. The fee comes out of the settlement or verdict at the end. The initial case review is free and confidential, and we cover case costs (investigators, experts, records) as the case progresses.

What if I did not file an SR-1 within 10 days of the crash?

Vehicle Code Section 16000 requires the SR-1 report to the DMV within 10 days when the crash caused more than $1,000 in property damage or any bodily injury. Late filing can result in driver’s license suspension, but it does not automatically destroy your personal injury claim — that claim is governed by the two-year statute of limitations in CCP Section 335.1. Talk to a lawyer right away if you missed the SR-1 deadline so we can address the DMV issue and your injury claim separately.

Should I see a doctor even if I feel okay after the crash?

Yes. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries for hours or days. Whiplash, concussions, internal bleeding, and disc injuries often produce delayed symptoms. A documented medical exam in the days right after the crash protects your health and the value of your claim — gaps in treatment are one of the most common arguments insurers use to discount injury cases.

Related Practice Areas

Car accidents intersect with many of our other personal injury practice areas. If your case involves any of the situations below, the following pages may also be relevant:

Reviewed by Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney. Admitted to practice law in California (State Bar No. 298487). He represents personal injury and immigration clients statewide.

Last updated: July 15, 2026.