Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer

Unfortunately, car accidents are a daily occurrence in the City of Sacramento. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety ( OTS ), there were 3,205 injury and fatal accidents on Sacramento roads in 2020. Of these auto collisions, there were:

The ten most dangerous intersections in Sacramento, based on recent traffic collision data, include:

• Arden Way and Interstate 80
• Fair Oaks Boulevard and Howe Avenue
• Franklin Boulevard and Broadway
• Fruitridge Road and Franklin Boulevard
• Highway 99 and US-50 Interchange
• Power Inn Road and Folsom Boulevard
• State Route 99 and 12th Avenue
• SR-160 and Richards Boulevard
• Sutterville Road and Franklin Boulevard
• West El Camino Avenue and Northgate Boulevard

Human error causes approximately 94 percent of vehicle crashes every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides this estimate in statistical reports. Some of the common reasons for traffic collisions include:

• Drunk driving
• Falling asleep behind the wheel
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Texting and driving
• Weaving in and out of traffic

If involved in a car accident, follow these steps to protect your well-being and right to compensation:

• Stay at the crash site
• Gather any evidence at the scene
• Check yourself and others for injuries
• Report the incident to local law enforcement
• Take pictures of visible injuries from the collision
• Exchange contact details with other involved parties
• Look for eyewitnesses and get their contact information
• Contact your insurance carrier to report the car accident immediately
• Order a copy of the police report once it is ready and provide it to the insurer for the insurance claim
• Maintain consistency with medical treatment, including following orders from the doctor
• Contact the best car accident lawyer serving Sacramento, CA, to discuss your case in a free consultation
• Do not post about the traffic collision on social media until your personal injury case has resolved

Immediate medical attention is essential in bodily injury claims for car wrecks. There are crash-related injuries that are not immediately apparent and may worsen without prompt treatment, such as spinal cord injuries, internal trauma, and more. As such, do not delay and seek medical care right away to ensure that your health, well-being, and potential personal injury case are in good standing.

Here at AutoAccident.com, our legal team routinely conducts independent investigations to identify all at-fault parties for car accidents occurring in Sacramento County and throughout California. We may file a claim for damages against other parties for their contribution to the incident, including:

• A government entity that was responsible for insufficient roadway maintenance or unsafe road design.
• A distributor or manufacturer of faulty vehicle parts and equipment, such as a defective steering system, faulty airbags, acceleration issues, etc.
• A bar, restaurant, or another establishment that overserved alcohol to a patron. These businesses may be liable if an overserved patron caused a crash while under the influence.

If personal injury damages exceed the minimum liability insurance coverage required by California law, this may be an issue. The current minimum auto liability limits required in California include:

• $15,000 per person for serious injury or wrongful death
• $30,000 for all parties involved in the traffic accident
• $5,000 property damage

However, at the beginning of 2025, California drivers will face higher minimum auto insurance liability limits due to Senate Bill 1107, also known as the Protect California Drivers Act. This legislation raises the required coverage to $30,000 for bodily injury or death per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. By 2035, these amounts will increase further, ensuring even more comprehensive coverage.

For you as a driver, these changes mean better financial protection if you’re involved in an accident, reducing the chance of paying for damages or injuries yourself. However, with higher coverage requirements, you can expect your auto insurance premiums to increase as insurance companies adjust their rates. While this might raise your monthly payments, the added protection could be crucial in serious accidents, giving you greater security and peace of mind while driving.

Strict filing deadlines and criteria apply to civil cases. Following is an overview of the personal injury claims process for auto accidents in California:

• Bodily Injury Claim : It is essential to notify the insurer immediately after a severe accident. Most insurers require notification of an incident within 48 hours. The insurance contractual language may vary from carrier to carrier.
• Personal Injury Lawsuit : A claimant has two years from the date of a car wreck to file a lawsuit. The injured party must settle the claim or file a case in civil court within two years of the accident date. Failure to file within the two-year statute of limitations may result in the loss of the right to seek damages.
• Government Entity Claim : If a case involves negligence on the part of a public agency, there is less time to file a claim. Under these circumstances, a claimant has six months or 180 days to file a notice of claim.

• Medical costs
• Long-term medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent injury or disability
• Loss of consortium
• Other out-of-pocket losses

Here at our law office, we offer veterans a 25% attorney’s fee for cases settled without litigation. Our firm’s owner and founder of AutoAccident.com, attorney Ed Smith, served in the United States Air Force in the airborne division in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Our honor would be to provide legal representation to fellow veterans injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by negligent drivers.

The insurance company representing the at-fault party is generally responsible for compensating individuals harmed by their insured’s negligence. However, some motorists may have insufficient liability coverage for bodily injury or none. Under these circumstances, an injured party may be able to access their uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) under their insurance policy. UM coverage may cover an insured member who suffers losses in a hit-and-run accident.

In California, fault or negligence determines who is responsible for paying damages after an accident. Comparative fault laws in California determine how to apportion negligence in an accident case. A jury chooses what percentage of the plaintiff’s fault contributed to resulting damages in a personal injury lawsuit. For more details, contact a knowledgeable auto accident lawyer in Sacramento, California, who can review your potential case.