French Camp, CA, is a small community located in San Joaquin County. It is known for its historical significance as a former stop on the California Trail during the Gold Rush era. Today, the town is home to a diverse population known for its agricultural industry, particularly vineyards and wineries. French Camp offers a quiet, rural lifestyle with easy access to larger cities such as Stockton and Sacramento. The community has a small-town feel, with a strong sense of community and various local events and activities throughout the year.

French Camp is considered the oldest community in the county, along Interstate 5. Most residents spend an average of 15 to 30 minutes commuting one way to work. While the population of French Camp is roughly 3,400, the chances of suffering a traumatic injury from an auto accident are still high for those traveling and living in the area.

If you or a family member has suffered severe injuries in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you’ll need the guidance of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Call our legal team at AutoAccident.com today for a free consultation at (209) 227-1931.

Types of Personal Injury Cases Our Law Office Handles

Personal injuries encompass many different types of accidents. Our law firm provides dedicated, compassionate, and professional services. We exclusively handle severe injury and wrongful death cases. Following are some of the types of accident cases we handle for injuries and fatalities caused by:

• Amputations
• Bike Crashes
• Bus Accidents
• Car Accidents
• Dog Bite Injuries
• Motorcycle Collisions
• Nursing Home Abuse
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Products Liability
• Roadway Defects
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Trucking Collisions
• Wrongful Death

As with any personal injury case, causation and negligence must be proven to reclaim damages. Two types of damages may be sought in a personal injury claim, economic and noneconomic. Economic damages reimburse tangible losses such as medical bills and wage loss. Noneconomic damages refer to intangible loss and are more subjective. Because of this, noneconomic damages vary from case to case. This is due to one person experiencing pain and suffering differently from another.

Liability in an accident is generally determined by an insurance adjuster. This is based upon a compilation of evidence, including witness accounts and traffic collision reports. Physical evidence such as the location of the damage, position of the vehicles, and tire marks are also used to decide fault. In complex cases, such as those involving multiple cars, the matter may be taken to court, and liability will be determined by a judge or jury.

California follows a comparative fault system. Anyone who shares fault for an accident can be held financially responsible for damages incurred. The compensation awarded will be reduced based on the percentage of fault apportioned to each party. For instance, if the injured party were to be found 30 percent negligent, they would still be able to claim 70 percent of the damages awarded.

There is a limited amount of time for which a claim for damages must be filed. This is known as the statute of limitations, which is two years for personal injury in California. The deadline is tolled or extended for minors until they turn 18. From that date, the injured party has two years to file. When a personal injury is caused by the negligence of a government entity, the statute is drastically shortened to 180 days or 6 months from the date of loss. 

This shorter statute allows the government to notice any issues that need to be addressed and create a budget for settlements or trials. If the government fails to respond within 45 days or denies the claim in writing, a lawsuit must be filed within six months. An experienced French Camp personal injury lawyer will ensure claims are filed promptly.

Interviewing and hiring a French Camp auto accident attorney can be intimidating, mainly if you have never worked with one before. To decide whether a lawyer is a good fit for you and your case, be sure to keep the following in mind:

• Read reviews of an attorney from other people. This can give you a general idea of whether a particular attorney can suit your needs and handle your case. While not every comment will be entirely accurate, it can provide a pattern of what clients say about a lawyer.
• Retain an attorney experienced in resolving personal injury cases outside the courtroom and through litigation.
• Work with a responsive lawyer. If you find yourself sending emails or leaving voicemails to your attorney without receiving any form of response or acknowledgment, they are not the right attorney for you.
• Hire an attorney who solely handles personal injury cases, precisely the type of case you are bringing.
• Select a lawyer that has the resources to take on more severe cases. Pursuing a claim can be expensive, especially if it goes to trial. A lawyer who does not have the proper resources for an auto accident or personal injury case may not be able to obtain a favorable outcome on your behalf.

Watch the video below for more information on finding a quality lawyer to represent your case.

A case involving serious injuries comes with solid legal protection and representation. This will help better your chances of a fair financial recovery. But finding the funds to hire an experienced personal injury attorney in French Camp can be difficult. We take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not have to pay fees unless we obtain a successful outcome on your case. This includes upfront attorneys’ fees.

Which intersections in French Camp have a high rate of car wrecks?

These are the intersections in French Camp with the highest number of car accidents from 2015 to 2017:

• Ash Street and McKinley Avenue
• El Dorado Street and French Camp Road
• French Camp Road and Priest Road
• Freedom Road and Mathews Road
• Hospital Road and Interstate 5
• Manthey Road and Mathews Road
• Mathews Road and I-5
• McKinley Avenue and Ash Street
• Ponderosa Street and French Camp Road
• Wyman Road and McKinley Avenue

Contacting a French Camp personal injury attorney experienced with the claims process is one of the most important steps you can take following an accident. An experienced injury lawyer will assist in communicating effectively with insurance companies and filing paperwork by ensuring that your case is in good hands. An attorney can also provide invaluable insight into what mistakes should be avoided and what evidence must be compiled to maximize the claim. This way, the attorney can obtain the compensation an injured party needs and deserves.

Did you get hurt after a crash caused by the negligence of another? Call our law firm at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 to receive free, friendly advice from an accident attorney.

Since 1982, we have helped French Camp and San Joaquin County residents obtain fair compensation in traumatic injury and wrongful death cases.

^{Editor’s Note: updated 5.16.23 Photograph by “Free-Photos” and “Activedia” via Pixabay ds [cs 1188]}