Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is a California law firm that specializes in personal injury claims and their team of attorneys is committed to helping people who have been injured in a car accident.

Being injured in a car accident is a serious and stressful event that can have long-lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Accident victims may suffer permanent injuries, including paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, or chronic pain, and quickly become overwhelmed by medical bills, insurance paperwork, and vehicle repair costs.

A car crash can disrupt every part of your life, which is why getting reliable legal help as early as possible is essential. That’s where we step in.

What Sets Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Apart

Proven Results – Since 1990, our lawyers have represented clients from all walks of life and recovered over $750,000,000 for them.
Communication You Can Rely On – From the moment you sign on with us, you will have direct access to the attorney who is handling your case.
Client First Approach – Our firm understands how devastating car accidents can impact a person’s life and we make it our goal to make sure our client’s needs are met and their voice is heard while we work on their case.
Strong Local Connections – Should your case require immediate action, our attorneys have access to a local network of providers who can give you the resources you need.
No Legal Fees Until You Win – We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay any legal fees unless we win your case.

Call us today at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our easy online contact form for a free case consultation!

California Car Accidents Statistics

According to a 2024 demographic report from the United States Census Bureau, California has a population of around 39 million people and it takes an average of 29 mins to get to their place of work. Therefore, it is unsurprising that car accidents occur in large numbers in the state.
According to a quick fact sheet from the California Office of Traffic Safety, the number of traffic fatalities have decreased around 2%.
Despite a slight dip in the number of traffic fatalities, California still has an average of 162,132 auto accidents per year according to California Highway Patrol data.
A 2024 analysis by Consumer Affairs found that roads in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Diego County cause hundreds of car accidents and crashes every year.

Concussions After a Car Accident

Car accidents are a leading cause of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Even minor accidents can cause concussions, and victims may feel fine immediately following their crash only to discover later they were concussed. Typical symptoms of a concussion following an accident includes headaches, dizziness, memory problems, or difficulty concentrating.

Remember, even a mild concussion can have serious long-term effects. Following a car accident, it’s important to seek medical attention even if you believe you feel fine. After all, injuries such as concussions and whiplash may not be immediately obvious.

If you’re diagnosed with a concussion after a car accident, contact our brain injury lawyers to learn your legal options.

Common Causes for California Car Accidents

Car accidents can happen anytime and anywhere for a variety of reasons, from reckless behavior to negligent actions. However, from what is commonly seen in California, speeding, impaired driving, and distracted driving are some of the most prevalent. Despite the number of safety measures and educational courses in place, negligent and reckless driving harm hundreds of thousands of people every year and it is recommended to understand each type in order to get a better understanding of your situation.

Speeding

According to a report from the National Safety Council, speeding accounted for around 29% of all car accidents in 2023.
It is widely considered to be the leading cause of all car accidents.
Speeding accidents can result in catastrophic injuries with life long consequences.
The associated costs of car repairs and medical expenses in speeding accidents can be significantly high depending on the impact force.

Impaired Driving

Impaired driving is referred to as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Regarded as one of the most common causes of car crashes because it affects a person’s ability to make rash decisions.
According to the CDC, around 30% of all car accidents in 2020 were due to driving while under the influence.
In the same study, the estimated cost of crash deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers totaled about $123.3 billion annually, which makes it one of the most costly causes of auto accidents.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving refers to any action that takes away a driver’s focus from the road.
This includes actions such as texting, eating, drinking, talking to passengers, and even adjusting your car’s radio.
While some of these actions may seem minor, many drivers underestimate how easily a car accident can occur if they take their focus away even for a moment.
If a driver causes an accident while distracted, they can be held liable for the accident.

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?

Due to the nature of motor vehicle accidents, there are many different types of car accidents that can occur in California. Some of these types have an increased likelihood of serious injuries or deaths, but ultimately it will depend on the speed, impact force, and surroundings. However, from what is typically seen in California, rear end collisions, T-bone accidents, and sideswipes are some of the most frequent.

Rear End Collisions

One of the most common types of car accidents.
These collisions occur when drivers follow too closely or don’t pay attention to what is in front of them.
When motorists don’t keep enough space between them and the vehicle in front of them, they might lack the space and time to brake in time when traffic suddenly stops.
Common reasons for rear end collisions include distracted driving, impaired driving and drowsy driving.
While the driver who rear ended the car in front of them is typically liable for damages, there are instances where the driver in front can be held at fault if they suddenly stop or reverse without good reason.

Visit our page on rear-end collisions to learn more.

T-Bone Collisions

T-bone collisions happen when vehicles strike other vehicles at perpendicular angles, forming a “T” shape.
These collisions often occur when drivers don’t yield, don’t stop at intersections, and disregard traffic signals and signs.
This type of collision is extremely dangerous for those who are struck on the side, because vehicle sides don’t have as much mass and material to absorb collision impacts compared to the front and rear bumpers.
Victims can suffer long-term and even fatal injuries in the event of a serious accident.

Sideswipe Collisions

Occurs when drivers don’t check their blind spots prior to changing or merging lanes and end up colliding with each other.
Considered dangerous since they can cause the vehicles to lose control and travel off of the road or into other traffic lanes.
Can very likely lead to collateral damage like other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, or objects.

Car Rollover Accidents

Car rollover accidents occur when a vehicle flips onto its side or roof, often due to sharp turns, high speeds, or collisions with other vehicles or objects.

Especially dangerous because they can lead to ejection, roof crush injuries, and multi-impact trauma.
SUVs and trucks are more prone to rollovers due to their higher center of gravity.
May result from negligent driving, hazardous road conditions, or vehicle defects.

Is There a Time Limit to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in California?

In the United States, there is a time limit to file a car accident lawsuit which is known as the statute of limitations. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you only have a certain amount of time to file a personal injury claim in order to get compensation and justice and depending on the state, certain timeframes can vary.

In California, all accident victims have two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury case as per California Civil Code 335.1.
If the car accident was caused by a government entity, then all claims must be filed within 6 months as per California Government Code 911.2.
If accident victims do not file a claim in time, they will automatically waive their right to file a claim and any attempts will be immediately dismissed in court.
There are exceptions to the rule, for instance if the victim is a minor, lives out of state, in jail, or mentally incapable, then the statute of limitations may be extended.

No matter what kind of car accident you have been involved in, it is crucial to hire an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible, because the process of filing an auto accident claim can take longer than anticipated.

What Can a California Car Accident Attorney Do for Me?

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident in California, a car accident lawyer can help you in a variety of ways.

Filing the necessary paperwork
Help gather evidence
Provide sound objective legal advice
Craft an effective legal strategy
Assess your damages
Negotiating on your behalf against insurance adjusters and opposing counsel

While car accident victims can file a claim on their own, it is generally not recommended because there are a number of factors and mistakes that can dramatically affect your claim. With that in mind, it is important to find a skilled accident lawyer who will watch out for your best interests at heart.

How Can I Protect Myself After A Car Accident?

The best way to protect your rights after a car accident is to document the accident scene as much and as detailed as possible and make sure the people involved get properly treated by first responders.

By doing so, you are not only gathering important information that will be useful for your personal injury lawsuit, you will also be lowering the chances of being held liable for any negligent actions, opposing counsel or insurance adjusters may try to claim.

On top of that, it is highly recommended to hire an experienced auto accident attorney to help you with your claim, because they will make sure your legal rights are protected and will work hard to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions.

For more information, read our blog post on what to do after a car accident in California.

How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?

The value of a car accident case will vary on a case by case basis, but generally speaking, the overall value will be determined by the severity and scale of the accident in question.

For example, if you have suffered severe life long injuries like full body paralysis in a car crash then you may be eligible to recover a sum around the six to seven figure range to take account of quality of life adjustments, medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

However, on the other hand, if you have sustained minor injuries with significant property damage, then the awarded sum will be based on the value of the property as well as extent of the injuries, which can be valued anywhere within the five figure range.

In order to get a better understanding and accurate estimation of your claim, it is best to speak with a car accident attorney.

What Compensation Is Available After a Car Accident in California?

As previously mentioned, the value of your claim will largely depend on the severity and scale of the car accident in question. Typically, damages in a car accident claim are a mix of economic and non-economic damages, but whether you have been involved in a minor fender bender or a a multi car pile up, it is important to understand what of damages are recoverable so you can confidently discuss it with a skilled car accident attorney.

Medical Bills

Medical bills are referred to as any past, present, and future health related expenses you had to pay out-of-pocket due to the car accident in question. This includes surgeries, physical therapy, medication, hospital stays, quality of life adjustments, and even scans and checkups. The cost of medical bills will vary depending on the severity of the car crash, but this type of damage tends to be the most pressing as medical expenses can quickly accrue, especially if you do not have health insurance.

Lost Wages/Loss of Earning Capacity

Another common form of damages, lost wages is referred to as the lost income an accident victim could not due to the injuries they have suffered in an accident. In the context of car accidents, victims may sustain injuries like traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries which leave them injured too badly to work for a period of time. Other times, accident victims need to take time off from work in order to receive medical treatments.

If your accident has left you disabled, this disability may represent a loss or reduction of your earning capacity. In cases such as this, personal injury attorneys will calculate your preinjury earnings, age, education level, and future job prospects in order to properly compensate for the loss of earning capacity.

Property Damage

Property damage is defined as the destruction and loss of personal tangible assets. In the context of car accidents, this means the vehicle, the items inside the vehicle, and any items on a property that got damaged. The calculation for this type of damage is generally straightforward as it sum of all valued items that got damaged in a car crash.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is a unique form of damages because its value is based on the subjectivity of physical and emotional suffering, which is difficult to place a strict monetary sum on. As such, this type of damage will always be different on a case by case basis and it is up to the attorney to ensure their clients are properly compensated for it.

Wrongful Death

If you lost a loved one in an automobile accident, the surviving members of the family can file a claim to recover compensation for wrongful death. While there is no amount of money that can bring your loved one back, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help recover compensation for expenses surrounding the loss of a loved one.

For example, funeral and burial costs, remaining medical bills, and loss of income are all calculable expenses that can be recovered. In addition, the victim’s family may be eligible to recover additional non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are a rare form of damages that is reserved to primarily punish the at-fault party for any actions that are deemed extremely negligent or reckless. The court may issue punitive damages to set legal precedence, deter similar behavior, and to give the affected party a sense of justice.

Call Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation

Getting involved in a car accident is a traumatic experience that puts your life on hold – but it doesn’t have to. At Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, our team of car accident lawyers are ready to give you the legal representation you need during this stressful time in your life. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay any legal fees unless we win your case.

Whether you have been injured in a head-on collision or lost a loved one in a traffic car accident, our auto accident attorneys will be there every step of the way and guide you throughout the legal process.

Call us today at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our easy online contact form for a free case consultation!