Oakland Accident Lawyers
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Our Award-Winning Oakland Accident Lawyers Are Personally Committed To Securing Your Justice
A head-on crash, slip-and-fall, animal attack, or construction accident can have a life-altering impact on victims and their families. If you or a loved one suffers from injuries due to an accident, Arash Law can help you file a claim. Call us today at (888) 488-1391 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our dedicated Oakland accident lawyers will review your case and advise you on what to do next.
As the East Bay’s cultural and economic hub, Oakland is home to renowned institutions, companies, and corporate headquarters, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Kaiser Permanente. This vibrant city also has many exciting attractions for tourists and locals, such as the Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland Museum of California, Morcom Rose Garden, and Children’s Fairyland.
With so many things to do in Oakland, it’s no wonder countless people visit the city each year. Unfortunately, tourism also increases the risk of accidents. Someone’s carelessness could easily lead to fatal consequences.
You can get legal assistance from our law firm in Oakland if you sustain an injury due to someone’s negligence, no matter if you’re a resident, visitor, or undocumented person. Our lawyers will help connect you with medical professionals and provide top-notch legal guidance. We will build a strong case so you can get compensated for the damages you suffer in an accident.
Settlement in a motor vehicle accident where a client was rear-ended on the freeway after his vehicle broke down; client suffered spinal injuries– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
How Our Top-Rated Accident Lawyers In Oakland Help Win Your Claim
Our Oakland accident lawyers can discuss your legal options if you sustain an injury or a loved one dies due to someone’s irresponsible actions. We will also answer any questions you may have about your accident.
- Evaluate and investigate your case thoroughly
- Connect you with top medical experts for the proper treatment of your injuries
- Explain your legal rights as an injured victim
- Gather all essential evidence, from photos and videos of the accident site to surveillance footage
- Negotiate with defendants and insurance companies to get a favorable settlement
- Guide you through the complex legal process
- Represent you in court if needed
Our team of award-winning accident attorneys is personally committed to helping injured victims in Oakland. With a proven track record and an astounding $500 Million in compensation recovered, we have the knowledge and skills to win even the most complicated cases. You can have peace of mind knowing that your case is in good hands.
Common Cases Handled By Our Oakland Accident Lawyers
Our lawyers mostly handle car accident cases, but we are also experienced in all other types of traffic accidents. Apart from these, we also work with victims of premises liability accidents, food delivery accidents, and product liability accidents.
Here are our most common practice areas:
Car Accidents
Various car accidents happen in the city of Oakland, including rear-end, head-on, backing, and rollover collisions. Our Oakland personal injury lawyers will determine the responsible parties in a car accident and negotiate a fair settlement for the damages suffered. We can also help you with claims involving uninsured and underinsured motorists.
Rideshare Accidents
Uber and Lyft drivers qualify as independent contractors rather than employees. As such, it can be tough to get maximum compensation should you need to file a claim against these companies. Our lawyers specializing in rideshare accidents know the elaborate rideshare laws and the strategies to use to win a case.
Truck Accidents
Most truck accident victims suffer serious injuries due to the size and weight of these road giants. And often, it’s the occupants of smaller vehicles that are more severely affected. If a tractor-trailer has injured you, our truck accident lawyers can assist you in taking the next legal steps.
Motorcycle Accidents
From side-swipes and T-bone collisions to left-turn and rear-end collisions, motorcycle accidents can occur at any moment. Our motorcycle accident attorneys in Oakland have the necessary experience to help victims recover compensation from negligent drivers.
Bicycle Accidents
Oakland’s Bay Trail in Jack London Square accommodates outdoor enthusiasts, especially bicyclists. Unfortunately, cyclists are more vulnerable than drivers when traffic accidents occur. Our expert bicycle accident lawyers in Oakland can effectively demonstrate the at-fault driver’s negligence in these cases.
Pedestrian Accidents
Motorists are not the only ones vulnerable to traffic accidents. Other road users, especially pedestrians, are more at risk due to their lack of protective gear. If you’re a pedestrian injured due to somebody’s carelessness, you can make a personal injury claim with the help of a knowledgeable Oakland attorney specializing in pedestrian accidents.
Premises Liability Accidents
In a premises liability claim, an injured victim holds the negligent property owner accountable for injuries and losses.
Common premises liability claims include the following:
Food Delivery Accidents
Millions of people rely on food delivery services such as Postmates, DoorDash, or Uber Eats on a daily basis. With the pressure of meeting demands and completing as many orders as possible, food delivery drivers tend to speed or fail to yield, leading to accidents. Our food delivery accident lawyers in Oakland can help you file a claim against negligent riders or couriers.
Product Liability Accidents
Users and customers can suffer injuries from products, even when they use them as the manufacturer intended. Negligent or not, companies like Walmart can be held liable for selling defective or subpar products. Our Oakland product liability attorneys will help you get justice and compensation from retail giants and other big companies making or selling unsafe products.
Common Injuries Suffered By Accident Victims
Various types of injuries can occur in an accident, from minor scrapes and wounds to severe fractures leading to nerve damage and paralysis. The severity of injuries often depends on the strength of the impact, the victim’s physical condition, and their positioning during and after the accident.
Here are the most commonly reported injuries after an accident in California:
Head and Brain Injuries
Blunt force to the head can lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Different types of head and brain injuries include skull fractures, concussions, epidural hematomas, and acute subdural hematomas. Falls and motor vehicle accidents are typical causes of head injuries in the U.S.
Back and Spine Injuries
Damage to the thoracic spine, which includes the upper back, can be fatal. Common back injuries include back sprains and strains, fractured vertebrae, and herniated discs.
Victims with a damaged lumbar spine typically suffer pain, swelling, and limited movement. Furthermore, severe spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis or permanent disability.
Soft-Tissue Injuries
These injuries involve the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Common soft-tissue injuries include sprains, strains, contusions, and tendonitis. Sprains result from overly stretched or torn ligaments, whereas strains occur due to overextended or torn muscles or tendons.
Whiplash
This neck injury occurs due to abrupt back-and-forth motions of the head. Whiplash is a typical injury in rear-end vehicle crashes. It may be considered minor, but a whiplash injury left untreated can cause permanent nerve damage.
Fractures (Broken Bones)
Any accident involving a force strong enough to snap a bone can lead to fractures. In stable fractures, two broken bones are only a little out of place. On the other hand, open, compound fractures have bones protruding from the body. This increases the risk of an infection and could eventually lead to amputation.
Suffering serious injuries after an accident is a stressful experience. Our experienced Oakland accident attorneys will aggressively pursue just compensation to help ease your financial burdens.
Types Of Damages In Accident Cases
Damages refer to the money an injury victim recovers from the responsible party. Economic damages compensate the victim for quantifiable losses. Non-economic damages are subjective losses that are harder to calculate.
These compensatory damages include:
- Medical bills (past, ongoing, and future expenses related to the treatment of your injuries)
- Property damage (car repairs or replacement)
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
There are also cases where extreme recklessness caused the injury. Although rare, the court may award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behaviors.
Negligence Law In California
In California, pure comparative negligence law applies. This means an injured individual who’s partly at fault for an accident may still file a claim and recover damages. The court will identify the percentage of fault and reduce the amount of compensation accordingly.
Let’s say an injured driver points to a motorist’s speeding as the primary cause of the accident. However, the court found proof that the driver didn’t obey the right-of-way. As such, it was decided that the injured victim was 30% at fault. If the awarded amount is $100,000, the victim will only receive $70,000 upon deducting their percentage of liability.
Comparative negligence can be tricky. Our knowledgeable accident attorneys in Oakland will collect enough evidence to prove the other party’s fault and maximize your compensation.
Establishing Negligence Of Liable Parties
The following elements must be present when filing a personal injury claim:
- The liable party failed to uphold a duty of care in keeping others safe.
- A particular form of negligence led to the accident that caused the victim’s injuries and losses.
Consider this example of a car accident claim:
An at-fault driver was driving while distracted or intoxicated. Their negligence resulted in a collision that injured another driver. The victim suffers legal damages, including medical expenses, lost income capacity, vehicle damage, emotional distress, and psychological suffering.
Because of these losses, the injured victim files an accident claim to obtain fair compensation. In the process, they discover that obtaining sufficient evidence is more challenging than they expected.
True enough, getting the compensation you deserve can be stressful. Our accomplished Oakland accident attorneys will fiercely fight for your rights and work hard to secure a substantial settlement on your behalf.
Proving Liability In An Accident Case
Proving the defendant’s negligence is critical to winning your accident case. Our Oakland accident lawyers, who specialize in car, truck, motorcycle, and other accident cases, typically collect the following evidence to build a solid case:
- Your version of the accident
- Relevant photos, videos, dash cam footage, and surveillance footage to support your claim
- Physical evidence obtained at the accident scene
- Accident report and police report
- Eyewitness testimony
- Trusted testimony from credible experts
- Accident recreation models
Injuries can be debilitating, especially in life-threatening accidents. Some victims require ongoing, long-term aftercare. To prove the severity of your injuries, our experienced attorneys will acquire the following evidence:
- Your account of the physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering you’ve endured since the accident
- Relevant medical records
- Doctor’s testimony to elaborate on your medical condition and recovery
- Testimony from your family and friends to establish the life-altering effects of the accident
- Income statements and employment records to prove temporary or permanent loss of earning capacity
Ultimately, our Oakland accident attorneys will put together all related facts to build a strong, comprehensive claim that satisfies the burden of proof and demonstrates the full extent of your damages.
Dos And Don’ts After An Accident
When somebody’s negligence causes injuries and losses, the at-fault party’s insurance company wouldn’t willingly pay the maximum settlement amount. They will resort to cunning negotiating tactics to give you the lowest settlement possible.
Keep the following tips in mind to obtain fair compensation as your case progresses:
Don’t Delay Getting Medical Care
Doing so may lead the insurance adjusters to believe that your injuries are not severe. Also, delaying medical care could worsen your health condition if the symptoms of your injuries are not immediately apparent.
Follow your doctor’s instructions properly to avoid medical complications.
Do Keep A Journal
Log all your doctor’s appointments and therapy sessions. Record your experiences by jotting down details about your overall health condition and other daily experiences, especially difficulties, to further strengthen your claim.
Get Expert Legal Help Right Away
Our accident attorneys in Oakland will help you seamlessly handle the complicated and time-consuming legal procedure from beginning to end. Getting legal help as soon as possible will help you build a solid case.
Don’t Make Unnecessary Statements
Decline immediately if an insurance representative requests a statement. Additionally, be sure to avoid accepting any settlement offer without consulting your lawyer first.
Insurance adjusters want to reduce the damages their clients pay. Let your attorney talk to the insurance company and answer all questions on your behalf.
Our skilled Oakland accident lawyers will examine every detail of your claim to ensure a favorable outcome. Reach out to our expert attorneys to discuss the specifics of your case.
December 2016: $22M+ verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case. The entire details of the case can be found in the public record filings by the defendant entity that sued its defense.– BRIAN BEECHER
How Long Do I Have To File An Accident Claim?
California’s statute of limitations varies depending on the facts of a case. Generally, personal injury victims have two years from the accident date to take legal action against the negligent party. The same applies to wrongful death claims.
However, there are cases where the symptoms of an injury appear later. In such instances, the limit starts on the day the victim discovers the injury, provided that they could not have reasonably found out about it earlier.
Another exception is when the victim is a minor. In this case, the time limit starts only when the minor turns 18.
Our Oakland accident lawyers can help you navigate the statute of limitations and its exceptions. We will make sure you file all the required paperwork and comply with all deadlines for your claim.
How Often Accidents Happen In Oakland, CA
According to city records, more than 30 traffic accident fatalities occurred in Oakland in 2023. The primary causes of traffic-related fatalities were dangerous driver behaviors, such as speeding and red-light running.
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) analyzed data from 14 other cities of similar sizes to Oakland. From 2017 to 2021, Oakland has consistently ranked in the top 10 with the highest number of total fatal and injury crashes.
A 2023 study revealed that Interstate 80 between Exit 14A (Richmond) and Exit 8A (Oakland) is one of the deadliest and most dangerous roads in California. A total of 17 fatalities occurred in this stretch of road during the years analyzed. The study also revealed that Interstate 880, which runs from San Jose to Oakland, is the deadliest stretch of road in Alameda County.
Crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that there were over 6 million police-reported traffic crashes across the United States in 2021. Deaths from motor vehicle traffic crashes also increased by 10%, from 39,007 fatalities in 2020 to 42,939 fatalities in 2021.
The U.S. Department of Transportation responded to this crisis by creating the National Roadway Safety Strategy to help reverse the devastating increase in traffic deaths.
The Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) implemented Safe Oakland Streets as a citywide initiative to reduce severe accidents and deaths on Oakland’s streets.
FAQs About Oakland Accident Cases
How Much Do Accident Attorneys Charge In California?
Accident lawyers generally charge around 33% to 40% of the final settlement amount. Some lawyers may charge up to 50% if the case goes to trial. It’s best to ask your lawyer during the free initial consultation about fees and expenses associated with your case.
Contingency fee agreements are common among accident lawyers in Oakland, including Arash Law. We work on a “no win, no fee” basis, meaning we only receive payment upon successfully recovering compensation for our clients.
What Is The Average Value Of An Accident Claim In California?
The value of an accident claim in California varies depending on the circumstances of the case. Here are the average settlement amounts for different types of accident claims:
- From $21,000 to $23,000 for hit-and-run car accidents
- From $15,000 to $45,000 for slip-and-falls
- Around $40,000 for semi-truck accidents
- Around $51,264.60 for dog bites
How Much Is A Whiplash Claim Worth In California?
Compensation for whiplash in California depends on the severity of the injury. In minor cases, the settlement amount ranges between $5,000 and $25,000. In severe cases requiring long-term treatment, victims receive around $30,000 to $100,000.
How Do Lawyers Negotiate Settlements?
A seasoned accident lawyer in Oakland maximizes the settlement amount for a client by negotiating elements of the case, including the following:
- The defendant’s liability and degree of negligence
- The nature and severity of the victim’s injuries
- Circumstances of the accident
- Total damages
- Insurance policy limits
- The strength of the evidence
Our lawyers have the knowledge and expertise to negotiate settlements effectively. We will take the case to court if needed, particularly if the responsible party’s insurance company refuses to pay a specific settlement amount.
Consult With The Best Accident Lawyers Oakland Trusts
Victims often find it hard to know the right legal steps to take after an accident. Let our compassionate attorneys help you!
Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., will pursue the best possible resolution of your claim. We will handle every aspect of your case from beginning to end to obtain fair compensation as fast as possible.
Seek top-notch advocacy from the best accident lawyers Oakland goes to for legal help. Call us today at (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I have a case?” form for a free case review.
Our legal services are available throughout Oakland and its surrounding areas, including Alameda, Piedmont, Berkeley, Albany, Orinda, Moraga, San Leandro, San Francisco, Richmond, Lafayette, Tiburon, Ashland, San Pablo, San Lorenzo, and El Sobrante.
