Fresno Car Accident Lawyers
Fresno Car Accident Lawyers Helping Victims Recover Compensation Since 2009
Fresno is a large city in California that sees more than its fair share of car accidents where people sustain extremely serious injuries. It’s a great city with an excellent cost of living index and a unique street layout that is categorized by quadrants.
From 2003 to 2016, there were nearly 11,000 car accidents in Fresno, which should be a cause for concern for anyone living or working in the area.
A car accident is an overwhelming experience for everyone involved. First, you must deal with emergency medical personnel and police officers on the scene. Then you must coordinate follow up medical care for all of your injuries. Next, you have to deal with filing a claim with the insurance company. This can be a complicated and confusing process.
Worse still, many insurance companies try to take advantage of the confusion. They work hard to find any excuse to reduce the amount they must pay you. After an accident, you can protect your legal rights by hiring an experienced Fresno car accident lawyer. Attorneys know how to deal with insurance company tactics and lowball settlement offers.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Fresno car accident, you have important legal rights that must be protected. The experienced personal injury lawyers at our Fresno law firm have years of experience in defending the rights of Fresno injury victims to be fully and fairly compensated for their losses. Call (888) 488-1391 to schedule your consultation with an experienced, aggressive personal injury attorney.
Our client was driving with his wife and son on a two-lane highway when a drunk driver crossed the double yellow lines, causing a head-on collision that claimed the life of a loving wife and mother.– Arash Khorsandi
What to Do After a Car Accident
A car accident is a terrifying experience. It can be challenging to know what to do immediately after you are involved in a violent collision. Follow these steps to ensure the safety of everyone on the scene:
Get witness information and photos of the scene.
Once you are sure of everyone’s immediate safety, it is important to gather evidence. This starts by getting the name and phone number of anyone who might have witnessed the accident. You can also take photos with your phone. Get pictures of the damage to all vehicles involved, and document the scene as best you can. Ask the responding police officers how you can get a copy of their report. These witnesses, photos, and police reports will be important evidence in your personal injury claim.
Follow up on your medical care.
Whether or not you meet with emergency medical technicians on the scene of an accident, it is important to receive follow up medical care. Here are some local hospitals where you can receive medical treatment:
It is also important to follow up with your primary care provider (PCP) after you receive any emergency medical treatment. This is the only way to ensure that your injuries are healing appropriately. It will also help you access any other medical care you need. Some injuries do not show up right away.
Often, an injury victim will not feel sore until the day after a car accident. Injuries to the soft tissue (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) may become worse over time. This is why it is so important to continue consulting with your doctors to ensure that you receive all the medical care you need.
Common
Injuries in Auto Accidents
Soft tissue injuries can be common in car accidents. Some of these injuries are specific. For example, whiplash is a soft tissue injury affecting the neck and shoulders. It is especially common in rear-end accidents. But minor soft tissue injuries are not the only injuries that can occur in a car accident.
Some victims have brain injuries. Some minor brain injuries result in a concussion that resolves on its own in a day or two. More severe brain injuries can leave lasting damage.
Here are some other common injuries you might experience in a car accident:
- Nerve damage
- Organ damage
- Bone fractures
- Facial lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Loss of limbs (Amputation Injuries)
- Neck injury
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
- Nerve damage
- Organ damage
- Bone fractures
- Facial lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Loss of limbs (Amputation Injuries)
- Neck injury
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
Don’t Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company.
After an accident occurs, all drivers should call their insurance companies to file a claim. The insurance companies will then conduct their own investigations to determine who was at fault for causing the accident. This almost always starts with a call to each involved driver. The insurance company will ask each driver to tell his or her side of the story. While this seems simple, the truth is that insurance companies are looking for an excuse to point the blame at someone else.
This lets them avoid paying an injury claim. Another trick insurance companies use is to offer a low settlement offer as quickly as possible, and try to pressure the victim into accepting it. The temptation of a quick settlement prevents many injury victims from consulting with their own attorney. You will only know the fair value of your personal injury claim by speaking with an experienced professional who is on your side.
Some claims adjusters will even try to twist your words against you. If, for example, you chose not to leave the scene in an ambulance, the insurance company might try to say that your injuries weren’t that serious. Or if you didn’t experience pain on the day of the accident, they might question why you have pain the next day (despite the fact that this is very common). Protect yourself by hiring your own attorney.
An aggressive Fresno personal injury lawyer can protect your legal right to compensation. He or she will prove who was at fault. They will also confirm the amount of money it will take to compensate you for your injuries fairly. So if the other driver’s insurance company calls to discuss the accident, tell them to talk to your lawyer.
The Types of Financial Losses You Might Suffer After a Car Accident
There are many types of losses you can suffer after a car accident. Some of these are easy to value because there are receipts to show what was paid. These types of losses include:
- Medical bills
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Lost wages (which can be proven by documentation from your employer showing how many hours you missed from work)
Other losses are far more difficult to value. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement (such as a scar)
- Loss of a limb
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement (such as a scar)
- Loss of a limb
Largest motorcycle settlement in Tulare County in 2021; client suffered spinal and wrist injuries.– Judd Ross Allen
Types of Collisions
There are many different types of collisions. Each type produces different injuries. Each type also affects who is at fault for causing the accident. Here are some of the most common types of Fresno car accident:
- Rear end collision
- T-bone collision
- Sideswipe collisions
- Head-on collision
- Blind spot accidents
- Broadside accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Rear end collision
- T-bone collision
- Sideswipe collisions
- Head-on collision
- Blind spot accidents
- Broadside accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
Causes of Fresno Car Accidents
The first thing an insurance company will want to know is who is at fault for causing the car accident. Legally, this is known as “liability.” A negligent driver is liable for all the injuries and losses he or she causes. A car accident can be caused by:
- Driving over the speed limit
- Failing to control speed to avoid a collision
- Failing to obey traffic signals and signs
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Driving while distracted by a cell phone or mobile device
- Making an improper turn
- Failure to check blind spots before changing lanes or backing up
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, controlled substances, or any combination of these.
- Driving over the speed limit
- Failing to control speed to avoid a collision
- Failing to obey traffic signals and signs
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Driving while distracted by a cell phone or mobile device
- Making an improper turn
- Failure to check blind spots before changing lanes or backing up
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, controlled substances, or any combination of these.
Alcohol Causes Many Car Accidents
DUI is a significant public safety problem. Thanks to advocacy groups like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving), people are becoming aware of the dangers of drunk driving. Unfortunately, alcohol isn’t the only thing that can impair a driver. The opioid epidemic in the United States has led to many car accidents. Drivers who are impaired by pills can injure and kill innocent victims.
DUI is a particular problem here in Fresno. The Fresno Bee reports that our town ranks 25 in the U.S. cities with highest DUI rates. 7 of the top 25 cities were all in California. This shows what a problem DUI is for Fresno drivers. Drunk driving is negligent. If you are injured by a drunk driver, you are entitled to compensation for all your losses.
The Most Dangerous Roadways in Fresno
Fresno has some dangerous sections of road. Drivers should be aware of these areas so they can use extra caution when traveling through. ABC 7 reports that the Fresno section of Highway 99 has been rated the most dangerous roadway in the entire United States. It had more fatal accidents per hundred miles than any other roadway in the nation. It was also the darkest highway in the United States, and the second worst for drunk drivers.
Car accidents are also more likely to occur at intersections. This is because there are changes in traffic controls and the flow of traffic. There is also generally more traffic, and this added confusion can make some drivers more likely to cause a collision. Fresno drivers should slow down, pay attention, and use extra caution when approaching an intersection. Be sure to watch for other drivers (who may be confused) until you have made it safely through the entire intersection.
Parking lots are also a source of many Fresno collisions. Like intersections, there are many road users in one area. There are even fewer traffic controls in parking lots. Drivers and pedestrians must rely on one another to keep a close watch and yield the right of way. Some drivers fail to check their blind spots before backing up fully. This can cause a collision with another car, truck, van, bus, bicycle, or even a pedestrian.
Fresno is the “Safest Large City” in California
Despite the risks of drunk driving and unsafe roadways, local police efforts have made impressive impacts on our city’s safety. The Fresno Police Department reports that it issued nearly 55,000 citations in 2015. Both speeding and distracted driving had a high number of citations. These are some of the most dangerous driving behaviors, and the Fresno Police Department is reducing accidents by holding drivers accountable for driving safely. Fresno traffic officers also arrested 307 felony suspects in 2015. This, too, keeps all Fresno road users safe. The impressive statistics have led the Fresno Police Department to label us as the “safest large city” in California.
Local Information
We care about our Fresno community! Get involved and enjoy some of these wonderful local attractions:
- Every year, the Clovis Chamber of Commerce hosts BIG Hat Days. This festival is the largest two-day event in central California. Over 140,000 visitors come to Old Town Clovis to enjoy hundreds of crafts and food booths.
- Central Valley is the new wine country! Explore the new wineries and hip restaurants taking over converted industrial spaces in Monterey, Pasa Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. Both Fresno and Madera counties have wine trails with more than 20 wineries to sample along the way.
- When you’re in need of some culture, head to the Tower District. It’s your one-stop-spot for dining, shopping, arts, and entertainment! Dog House Grill is tri-trip royalty in Fresno.
- We’ve got the Sierra Nevada mountain range on the east, the Central Coast to the west and the San Joaquin River flowing up through us to the north. So when the going gets tough, take a second to remember the beauty all around you.
How Do YOU Say “Fresno”?
You hear many different versions of our city’s name. There’s the ever-popular “Fresyes,” the simpler “The ’No,” or for those feeling especially creative, “Fresno.” Try using them in everyday conversation to find out which moniker best rolls off the tongue!
Local Courthouses
For your legal needs, there are also several courthouses here in Fresno:
(1) Fresno Superior Courthouse Downtown Location,
1100 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93724-0002
Telephone: (559) 457-2000
(2) B. F. Sisk Court,
1130 O Street Fresno, CA 93721-2220
Telephone: (559) 457-2000
(3) M Street Courthouse,
2317 Tuolumne Street Fresno,
CA 93721-1220
Telephone: (559) 457-1700
(1) Fresno Superior Courthouse Downtown Location,
1100 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93724-0002
Telephone: (559) 457-2000
(2) B. F. Sisk Court,
1130 O Street Fresno, CA 93721-2220
Telephone: (559) 457-2000
(3) M Street Courthouse,
2317 Tuolumne Street Fresno,
CA 93721-1220
Telephone: (559) 457-1700
Our experienced attorneys at Arash Law led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq. can also help you with any personal injury case. Whether your case involves a car accident, bus accident, Uber accident, nursing home or child care injuries, dog bite, burns, brain injuries, eye injuries, birth injuries, a construction accident, a worker’s compensation claim, amusement park accidents, an accident at a vacation home rental (such as an Airbnb), or another type of personal injury, our experienced lawyers can help protect your legal right to compensation.
Why You Need an Experienced Fresno Personal Injury Attorney to Represent You
Dealing with an insurance claim after a car accident can be overwhelming. Even more importantly, it involves your legal rights. Studies have consistently found that injury victims with attorneys receive higher settlements than those without lawyers. You have the right to be fully and fairly compensated for all the losses you suffer as the result of a car accident. Even losses that are hard to value (such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurements) must be fairly compensated.
Let the experienced personal injury lawyers at our award-winning law firm, aggressively defend your legal rights. You can focus on your recovery and let our experienced legal team handle the paperwork. Call (888) 488-1391 to schedule your consultation with an experienced, aggressive personal injury attorney.
