$8.5M
Bakersfield car accident settlement: a rear-end collision injured an occupant of one of the vehicles involved, leaving the occupant with a head injury.
Personal Injury
How to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in California
Not sure how to choose the right attorney after a crash? Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — helps injured Californians understand what to ask and what to expect. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional, and remember: no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
- 7X"BEST LAW FIRM" AWARDS
- 24/7AVAILABILITY & SUPPORT
- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Automobile Accident Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Hiring a car accident lawyer generally comes down to four steps: gather your accident records, schedule free consultations, ask the right questions, and sign a written fee agreement before work begins. Most reputable firms, including Wilshire Law Firm, offer a free case review so you can understand your options before you commit — and there are no fees unless you get paid.
Look for relevant experience, clear communication, and a fee structure you understand. A strong car accident lawyer handles insurance negotiations for you, investigates fault, explains the process in plain language, and is reachable when you have questions. Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team available 24/7 to review your crash.
Ask how the firm handles cases like yours, who will manage your case day to day, how you will be updated, and exactly how fees work. You should also ask about the firm's experience with California car accident claims and how it approaches settlement versus trial. A legal professional at Wilshire Law Firm will answer these during your free case review.
In most cases, nothing upfront. Car accident lawyers generally work on a contingency fee, which means the attorney's fee is a percentage of your recovery — so there are no fees unless you get paid. Your initial case review with a legal professional is always free. Learn more about how contingency fees work.
Generally, the sooner the better. Evidence fades, witnesses become harder to reach, and California's statute of limitations — usually two years from the date of the crash for injury claims under California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 — limits how long you have to file. Speaking with a legal professional early helps protect your claim. For the full overview, see our California car accident lawyers page.
Meet Our Automobile Accident Attorneys
Nationally Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
Learn more about the team
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Colin M. Jones, Esq.Senior Partner and Senior Trial Attorney, Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Department
Jennifer P. Burkes, Esq.Senior Partner & Strategic Advisor, Personal Injury Litigation Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Ryan Casey, Esq.Senior Partner and Trial Attorney
Tae-Yoon Kim, Esq.Senior Partner
Philip Andonian, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Alivia E. Abreu, Esq.Partner
Shervin G. Ghanoongooi, Esq.Partner
Christopher Goodroe, Esq.Partner
Nathan A. Guest, Esq.Partner and Trial Attorney
Brian M. Jacobson, Esq.Partner
Ariella Perry, Esq.PartnerRecent wins
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$7.1M
San Diego County car accident settlement: a crash with a pickup on a state highway left a driver hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries.
$5.8M
San Diego County car accident settlement: a rear-end collision broke a passenger's seat, leaving the passenger with a serious neck injury and back pain.
$5.0M
Lake Elsinore car accident settlement: a vehicle occupant suffered a traumatic brain injury, serious neck injuries and arm injuries when a rear-end collision overturned the vehicle.
$4.1M
Santa Monica car accident settlement: a commercial pickup ran a red light and hit a car crossing on green, leaving the driver with headaches, dizziness and leg pain.
$4.0M
California car accident settlement: a driver whose light had turned green suffered serious head, neck and back injuries when a commercial pickup ran a red light and broadsided the vehicle.
$3.8M
Menifee car accident settlement: a driver making an unsafe lane change struck a car carrying a passenger, who suffered serious neck and back injuries.
$3.5M
California car accident settlement: a motorist unable to stop in slowing rainy-day traffic on the 101 rear-ended a pickup, and its driver reported leg, neck and lower back pain.
$3.3M
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a commercial vehicle struck a stopped car, injuring the person inside and leaving the car a total loss.
$3.1M
El Monte car accident settlement: a commercial vehicle collided with a car in a major-impact crash, leaving an occupant with serious neck and lower back injuries.
$3.0M
Riverside County car accident settlement: an oncoming pickup rear-ended another vehicle and pushed it head-on into a driver, who suffered serious leg injuries and other injuries.
$3.0M
California car accident settlement: a commercial vehicle and a car collided, and the person in the car suffered a serious back injury.
$3.0M
Concord car accident settlement: a speeding motorist cut across several 680 Freeway lanes and struck a driver, causing leg and other injuries along with neck and back pain.
$2.9M
San Francisco car accident settlement: a driver swerving into a U-turn struck a motorist head-on as the motorist waited to turn right, causing hip and head pain.
$2.9M
Los Angeles County car accident settlement: a heavy-duty work pickup rear-ended a stopped driver on the 405 Freeway in a four-vehicle crash, causing neck, back, arm and leg pain.
$2.8M
Fresno County car accident settlement: a driver ran a stop sign and broadsided another car, spinning it several times and leaving its driver with neck, back and arm pain.
$2.7M
Palmdale car accident settlement: a three-vehicle collision at an intersection totaled a car and left its driver with serious head, arm, leg and other injuries.
$2.5M
Kings County car accident settlement: a driver passing other cars on a two-lane highway hit another driver head-on, causing multiple serious injuries, including leg injuries.
$2.4M
San Jose car accident settlement: a left-turn collision involving three cars left a vehicle occupant with hip and lower back injuries.
$2.4M
Bakersfield car accident settlement: a left-turn collision injured a vehicle occupant, who reported that the crash set back their recovery from an earlier hip condition.
$2.3M
Santa Ana car accident settlement: a red-light runner hit a motorist turning left on a green arrow, totaling the car and causing neck, arm and leg pain.
$2.3M
California car accident settlement: a driver rear-ended a stopped car, pushing it into the vehicle ahead and leaving the motorist inside with a lower-back injury.
$2.3M
Contra Costa County car accident settlement: a commercial van rear-ended a driver stopped in traffic on Highway 24, causing neck, arm and lower-back pain and difficulty walking.
$2.3M
California car accident settlement: a car turned left in front of a vehicle going through a green light, leaving its occupant with a back injury.
$2.3M
California car accident settlement: a company car rear-ended a motorist on a freeway, leaving the motorist with neck and back pain.
$2.0M
Long Beach car accident settlement: a three-car rear-end collision left an occupant of one vehicle with a traumatic brain injury and several other serious injuries.
$2.0M
Santa Fe Springs car accident settlement: another driver rear-ended a motorist stopped at a red light, causing neck and upper-back pain and a sprained arm.
$2.0M
Lake Elsinore car accident settlement: a rear-end collision flipped over a vehicle carrying an occupant, causing head, arm and leg injuries.
$2.0M
La Puente car accident settlement: a rear-end collision left a vehicle occupant with sprains and strains of the neck and back, headaches and other injuries.
$2.0M
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a vehicle occupant involved in a collision suffered serious injuries that required a stay in the hospital.
$2.0M
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a truck rear-ended a driver stopped in freeway traffic and ended up on top of the car, causing neck, arm and head pain.
$2.0M
San Mateo County car accident settlement: a driver ran a stop sign and T-boned the passenger side of a vehicle, leaving a passenger with neck, back and leg pain.
$2.0M
Visalia car accident settlement: a driver ran a stop sign and struck the vehicle another motorist was driving, spinning it around and causing serious back injuries.
$2.0M
Monterey County car accident settlement: a vehicle T-boned an SUV crossing an intersection and pushed it toward railroad tracks, leaving its driver with back, hip and arm pain.
$2.0M
Redlands car accident settlement: a left-turning driver struck another car and sent it into a sign pole, leaving its driver with neck, back and arm pain.
$2.0M
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a rideshare driver cutting in from the parking lane set off a three-car collision, leaving a passenger with back pain and fogginess.
$2.0M
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a motorist crossed into oncoming traffic and hit another motorist head-on, causing neck and back injuries. Defendants included a rideshare company.
$2.0M
California car accident settlement: a parked commercial vehicle tried to turn around in front of a driver, who struck its side. The driver had serious neck and back injuries.
$2.0M
Hemet car accident settlement: another driver rear-ended a pickup waiting at a light, leaving the pickup undrivable and its driver with back, neck, leg and arm pain.
$1.9M
Dublin car accident settlement: a pickup set off a four-vehicle chain-reaction rear-end crash, leaving a driver with arm injuries and a neck injury that worsened an existing condition.
$1.8M
Citrus Heights car accident settlement: a van traveling at high speed rear-ended a vehicle stopped on a boulevard, leaving its occupant with several leg injuries.
$1.3M
Tulare County car accident settlement: another motorist pulled out from a stop sign into a minivan's path, leaving its driver with leg pain and swelling.
$1.3M
Pasadena car accident settlement: another driver rear-ended a motorist who was stopped and signaling a left turn into a gas station, causing a neck injury.
$1.3M
Riverside County car accident settlement: a sedan driver failed to slow and rear-ended a motorist braking for traffic on the 215 Freeway, causing neck and lower back pain.
$1.2M
Bellflower car accident settlement: a company pickup turned left into a driver's path at an intersection, causing arm and lower back injuries and totaling the driver's car.
$1.0M
Fremont car accident settlement: an oncoming vehicle cutting across the road struck a motorist's car on the driver side, causing a serious leg injury with expected loss of mobility.
$1.0M
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a driver rear-ended a rideshare car stopped at a red light, leaving a passenger with whiplash, neck and head pain and worsened prior injuries.
$991K
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a driver turning into traffic caused a three-vehicle collision that left a motorist driving through a green light with back and neck pain.
$949K
Long Beach car accident settlement: a rideshare driver who fell asleep rear-ended a car stopped at a red light, leaving its driver with neck and back pain.
$900K
Riverside car accident settlement: a left-turning driver leaving a parking lot struck a motorist exiting the freeway, totaling the motorist's car and causing head, neck and back pain.
$750K
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a car turned left across a solid line into a driver's path, and the collision left that driver with numbness and other injuries.
$682K
Nevada County car accident settlement: a driver making a U-turn cut off a pickup with no room to stop, leaving its driver with neck and upper back pain.
$675K
San Diego car accident settlement: a pickup rear-ended a car stopped in traffic and pushed it into the vehicle ahead, leaving the driver with back, neck and leg pain.
$641K
Napa car accident settlement: a red-light runner struck a rideshare driver going through an intersection, leaving the driver with neck and leg pain.
$626K
Modesto car accident settlement: an oncoming vehicle turned left across a rideshare driver's lane at a green light and hit the driver's side, causing arm and other injuries.
$600K
Contra Costa County car accident settlement: a merging truck failed to brake in heavy highway traffic and rear-ended a driver, who had soft-tissue neck and back pain.
$500K
Glendale car accident settlement: a driver rear-ended a motorist stopped at the freeway divider with hazard lights on, causing a traumatic brain injury.
$500K
Alameda County car accident settlement: a pickup rear-ended a work truck at a red light, leaving the driver with neck and back pain, nausea and a suspected head injury.
$500K
Riverside County car accident settlement: a work pickup hit another vehicle, jumped the curb and rear-ended a driver, causing an arm injury and neck and back pain.
$499K
Los Angeles car accident settlement: a sedan rear-ended a driver stopped at a red light, pushing the driver's car into the one ahead and causing leg and hip pain.
$375K
Oakland car accident settlement: a driver rear-ended a stopped vehicle on the freeway, leaving an occupant with back, neck and leg pain that overlapped earlier injuries.
$300K
Riverside County car accident settlement: a three-vehicle chain-reaction crash sent a motorist's car into a pickup that had stopped suddenly, resulting in soft-tissue back and arm pain.
$300K
Buena Park car accident settlement: a driver swerved into a freeway carpool lane and struck a car, leaving a passenger with arm pain and other soft-tissue pain.
$300K
San Bernardino County car accident settlement: an SUV ran a stop sign and broadsided a dump truck, leaving the truck's driver with back pain and other soft-tissue pain.
$250K
Carlsbad car accident settlement: a driver who said a dog had jumped into their lap rear-ended a stopped car, leaving an occupant with soft-tissue neck and back injuries.
$250K
Sand City car accident settlement: a car pulled out from a stop sign without yielding, and the motorist who broadsided it had arm and hip pain.
$200K
Buena Park car accident settlement: a driver swerving to avoid another car hit a motorist in a 91 Freeway carpool lane, causing back pain.
$138K
Los Banos car accident settlement: a driver leaving a parking lot cut off a motorist making a protected left turn. The airbags deployed, and the motorist had leg pain.
*Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
Do You Really Need a Lawyer to Handle a Car Accident Claim?
You are not legally required to hire a lawyer, but you generally benefit from one when injuries, disputed fault, or an uncooperative insurer are involved. A car accident lawyer investigates the crash, values your losses, and negotiates with the insurance company so you do not have to. Because California's statute of limitations applies, contact Wilshire Law Firm for a free case review before deciding on your own.
Start Your Free Automobile Accident Case Review
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Record-breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
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#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Automobile Accident FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
Generally the sooner the better, because evidence fades, witnesses become harder to reach, and California's injury deadline is usually two years from the crash under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 — and even shorter when a government entity is involved. Early involvement lets a lawyer preserve evidence and handle insurers before mistakes happen. Confirm your specific deadline promptly, since exceptions exist.
Useful factors include experience handling crashes like yours, clear communication about who will manage your case, and a fee structure you fully understand before signing. It helps to ask how the firm investigates liability and negotiates with insurers. A written agreement should spell out costs and what happens if there is no recovery.
Consider asking how the firm handles cases similar to yours, who your main point of contact will be, how and how often you will get updates, and exactly how fees and case costs work. It is also fair to ask about the firm's experience taking cases to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached. Clear answers help you make an informed choice.
Generally, yes — clients typically have the right to change attorneys, though how any earned fees or case costs are divided depends on your existing agreement and the work already done. Whether a switch adds any out-of-pocket cost is worth confirming before you make the change. A lawyer can explain how a transition would work in your situation.
A lawyer can quickly send preservation demands for things like traffic-camera footage, vehicle data, and the other party's records before they are lost or overwritten, and can line up witnesses while memories are fresh. Prompt action also helps counter an insurer's early attempts to shift blame. This is one reason many people consult a lawyer soon after a crash. In the meantime, our guide explains what to do after a crash to help protect your claim. If a distracted driver hit you, our Los Angeles distracted driving accident lawyers can help.