Car accidents happen every day in Los Angeles, but no two accidents are alike. The circumstances of your car accident injuries and losses are unique to you and deserve the full attention and service of an experienced car accident attorney. At The Dominguez Firm, we understand the challenges and obstacles car accident victims face on the road to recovery. As a full-service law firm, we have a team of in-house trial lawyers, skilled investigators and the financial resources to handle your case efficiently from start to finish.

Our number one goal is to obtain the maximum legal compensation you're entitled to for your injuries, not what the insurance companies want to pay out. Hire a car accident lawyer who has your best interests in mind. Hire the personal injury attorneys at The Dominguez Firm today.

Call us now and discover how we can help you and your family.
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What You Need To Know About Car Accidents & Auto Accident Attorneys

Do You Need to Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

If you have been in a car accident, you may wonder if you even need to hire an auto accident attorney. Many accidents are minor and can be resolved directly between those involved, or through their insurance providers. In very simple cases or those that involve no injuries or lower damages, it may be faster and more straightforward to resolve the case without the help of personal injury attorneys. However, even accidents that first appear minor can later prove to be extremely complicated, for example if injuries take a while to manifest symptoms or the other party to the accident fails to pay agreed-upon compensation.

Certain situations and serious accidents absolutely warrant hiring a car accident lawyer. Specifically, if the car crash caused serious or permanent injuries, impacting your ability to work, or live life to the fullest, you should immediately contact a car accident attorney. Similarly, if there is a problem with either party’s insurance, you should hire an experienced car accident lawyer.

Issues can include:

Disputes about who was at fault for the accident.
The other party or their insurance carrier is refusing to pay for damages related to the accident.
The other party to the accident is a government entity, which changes how and when you can file a personal injury lawsuit.

Questions You Should Ask a Car Accident Lawyer Before Hiring Them:

Have you handled cases like mine?
If I lose, will I be responsible for costs?
What are your fees?
What staffing and financial resources do you have to fight my case?
How long have you been handling car accident cases?
About how long will it take to resolve my lawsuit?
What can be done to improve the chances of a successful outcome?

What to Do After an Accident

Get to an area of safety and call 911 to report the accident to the proper authorities.
Cooperate with the attending officer and provide your version of the facts as best you can.
Gather witness information and take pictures of the involved cars and scene if you are able to.
Seek or demand immediate medical attention for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.
Engage the services of a powerhouse law firm to handle all aspects of your auto accident case.

What Should I Not Do?

Do not admit fault or any wrongdoing. Note that apologizing can be seen as an admission of fault.
Do not guess or assume facts when providing information to an attending officer.
Do not wait to seek medical treatment.
Do not give any statements to ANY insurance representative (including your own).
Do not accept any settlement offers or settlement agreements without consulting with a car accident lawyer.

What Are Some Common Car Accident Injuries?

While a lot of people think the bigger the accident, and the more property damage to your car, the bigger the injury. The truth is that even small or seemingly minor accidents can result in catastrophic injuries. It doesn’t take much force to hurt the vulnerable spine, delicate brain, joints, and bones alike.

What are some of the most common injuries?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Wrongful death
Spinal cord injuries, including partial or full paralysis, whether temporary or permanent
Whiplash and nerve injuries, including radiculopathy and others
Internal injuries, including bruised, damaged, and/or lacerated organs
Crush injuries
Facial injuries, eye injuries, dental injuries, and scarring
Broken bones
Torn ligaments
Dislocated joints and/or deranged joints
Cuts and lacerations
Muscle strain and/or sprain

The Legal Process and Time Frames

There is often confusion about the difference between a car accident lawsuit and a car accident insurance claim. These are two separate claims processes, and confusion likely arises from the fact that both involve a ‘settlement.’ In this section, we will specifically discuss filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Lawsuits related to car accident injuries are generally treated as personal injury lawsuits and filed in civil court, where the plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) seeks to recover money from the defendant (the person being sued). This type of action occurs independently of the insurance claims process, although the plaintiff may choose to sue the insurance company if they are unsatisfied with the compensation offered.

File a Complaint.
The first step in pursuing a car accident lawsuit is to file a complaint (or petition) with the court. This document includes a standardized court form, as well as a detailed narrative laying out what happened, what damages the plaintiff is claiming, and the legal basis for bringing the lawsuit. You must file your complaint within your state’s statute of limitations—in the case of California, generally within 2 years of the car accident. This time frame can vary according to the factors involved.
Serve the Complaint on the Defendant.
After your car accident attorney files your complaint with the court, theyinform the defendant that that you have filed a lawsuit against them. This process is formally known as ‘serving the complaint,’ and there are strict guidelines involved.
The Defendant Files a Response to Your Complaint.
This answer will likely include admission or denial of the factual allegations laid out in your complaint and set forward any legal defenses.
Discovery.
Once the complaint and answer have been filed in court, both parties will set about requesting and exchanging evidence—known as ‘discovery.’ During this phase, you may be asked to produce documents, answers to written questions, or depositions related to the case, as well as have the opportunity to request the same from the Defendant.
Trial.
If both sides can't come to a settlement agreement, they will go to court. The Plaintiff and Defendant will be given the opportunity to present evidence, produce witnesses, cross-examine the witnesses of the opposing party, present experts, etc. Once the trial is closed, the judge or jury will deliberate and issue a verdict in favor of either the Plaintiff or Defendant, including an amount in compensation. Note that most cases do not go to trial.

Filing a personal injury lawsuit in California may seem simple, but in fact requires an incredible amount of skill and experience. Do not expect that you will be able to file a successful lawsuit on your own. Consult with a qualified car accident lawyer, who will guide you through the complex process.

What Types of Compensation am I Entitled to?

Medical expenses. You are entitled to compensation for medical expenses related to your injury, either through your own insurance company or that of the other party(s) to the accident, depending on who is at fault. Medical expenses can include, among others:
- Hospital bills
- Ambulance bills
- Physical therapy
- Surgeries
- Consultations with specialists
- In-home care services
- Mental health counseling
Property damage. If the other party to the accident is at fault, you are entitled to compensation for damage to your property—in most cases, the cost of repairing or replacing your car.
Pain and suffering. Also known as ‘non-economic damages,’ pain and suffering are damages related to the emotional impact of the accident on your life. Under the guidance of an experience car accident lawyer, these more difficult to quantify damages can account for a sizeable portion of accident compensation.
Lost wages. If your injuries have impacted your ability to work, you are entitled to compensation for lost wages.

Other Important Questions To Consider:

What are the different types of car accidents, causes, and related statistics?

Car accidents come in all shapes, sizes, and situations. Some of the more common car accidents include:

Rear-end collisions
Head-on collisions
Left-turn collisions
Side-swipe collisions
T-bone collisions
Merging collisions
Failure to yield right of way collisions

These accidents can include any of the following types of vehicles:

Passenger vehicles (4-door, 2-door, hatchback)
Mini-vans
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs)
Pick-up trucks
Motorcycles
Light utility trucks
Box trucks
Large commercial trucks (aka as big rigs, 18-wheelers, or tractor-trailers)

Causes of car accidents include:

Speeding
Distracted driving (texting, eating, talking on phone, and other dangerous distractions)
Drowsy, fatigued, or sleepy driving
Impaired driving (drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs)
Reckless driving
Tailgating
Ignoring traffic signals, road signage, and stop signs
Vehicle defects or vehicle recalls
Roadway design, repair, or maintenance issues
Teenage or inexperienced drivers
Weather
Construction zones

According to 2020 data compiled by the California Office of Traffic Safety:

There were 3,982 car accident fatalities
203,888 people were injured
The number of vehicle occupants killed increased by 11 % over 2019

Nationally, 42,514 people died in car accidents in 2022. This marked a 1.7% decrease from 2021.

I’m Undocumented, Can You Still Take My Case?

Yes, we can. In California, it is against the rules to use someone’s immigration status against them in a personal injury case. In other words, when someone is negligent and causes you injury, it is irrelevant what, how, or why you are here. Our litigation attorneys also issue privacy objections to stop any line of questioning meant to obtain information about your immigration status.

While English is the language spoken in the courtroom, it is common for non-English speakers to utilize licensed interpreters. Our attorneys work with excellent interpreters that can help be your voice, often matching your dialect, tone, and intonations, to ensure the translation and interpretation is spot on and conveys your story and emotions.

Can I Take Legal Action if I am Partially to Blame for My Los Angeles Car Accident?

Yes, because California is a “comparative fault” state. This means your total recovery will be reduced by the percentage you are deemed to have contributed to the accident occurring. So, if you’re total recovery is $1,000,000 and your actions were deemed to have contributed 25% to the accident, then your recovery is $750,000. You can even take action if you are considered to be 99% at-fault. An experienced car accident attorney can thoroughly investigate your claim to help determine your percentage of liability.

What if I Was Working at the Time of My Car Accident?

Depending on the specific facts of your case, you may be able to make a workers’ compensation claim and file a lawsuit in civil court against at-fault third parties (non-employer). Fortunately, we have you covered as we not only have expert auto accident lawyers on staff, we also have a full workers’ compensation department with extensive experience and success handling all types of workers’ comp cases.

Let the Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys at The Dominguez Firm Help You.

J.J. Dominguez founded his namesake firm on the principles of Compassion, Service and Results. His aim has always been to provide outstanding legal representation and excellent customer service to the community. The success and longevity of our firm is a testament to his vision.

For over 30 years, The Dominguez Firm has been helping thousands of car accident victims put their lives back together again. In that time, we have won over $1 billion* while handling every aspect of our client's cases.

As a full-service personal injury law firm, we also have the resources to take on the largest corporations and insurance companies. We are not a referral service, nor will we settle your case for less just to close it out.

Call The Dominguez Firm today for a free consultation at 800-818-1818. We are available 24/7 and can travel to your home or hospital at a moment's notice.

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