There were 1,510 auto accidents in Bakersfield in 2018, leading to 2,327 injuries and 24 deaths, according to UC Berkeley data. Car accidents, unfortunately, can cause life-changing injuries with severe physical, emotional and financial consequences.
Insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible for your injuries, and they will offer you as little as possible if you don’t have experienced, aggressive Bakersfield car accident attorneys like Nadrich & Cohen on your side, as the insurance companies know you can’t take them to court over a small offer and win if you don’t have a lawyer. Nadrich & Cohen can help you obtain the most compensation possible for your medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.
Our Bakersfield accident lawyers don’t charge our clients a fee unless and until we obtain financial compensation for them. This means our representation is essentially free, as you will never owe us any money out of pocket.
Call us today at (661) 371-3588 for a free consultation, or text us from this page, if you or a loved one was injured or killed in a car accident in Bakersfield. You may qualify for financial compensation.
What Should I Do After A Car Accident?
The actions you take after your car accident can make or break your car accident claim. Taking the following steps can preserve your legal rights and give you the best chance of obtaining adequate compensation for your injuries:
Collect Evidence
Collect the contact information, insurance information and driver’s license numbers of anyone involved in the accident. Collect the contact information of any witnesses. Take plenty of photographs of the accident scene, including photos documenting the damage to all vehicles as well as the location and roadway condition of the accident scene.
Contact Law Enforcement
Not only are you mandated to call law enforcement after many car accidents, but the police report generated when you call the police can be very important and helpful when demanding compensation from the insurance companies.
Obtain Medical Attention
It is critical that you seek medical help after a car accident, as it is common for accident victims to not realize they are injured until hours, days or even weeks after an accident; adrenaline and endorphins can mask injuries after an accident. It is very important that you see a doctor and get your medical condition documented as soon as possible after an accident so insurance companies can’t claim your injuries were caused by something other than the car accident.
Contact Nadrich & Cohen
You need the insurance companies to respect you if they’re going to offer you a fair settlement to compensate you for your injuries. They won’t respect you if you don’t have strong, battle-tested lawyers like Nadrich & Cohen on your side.
Insurance companies almost always settle out of court with us for fair, just amounts because they respect our ability to beat them in court, and we can handle everything for you while you simply focus on recovering from your injuries.
What Shouldn’t I Do After A Car Accident?
There are many mistakes one can make after a car accident which can jeopardize your ability to obtain an adequate financial recovery for your injuries:
- Don’t accept an insurance company’s offer without first consulting with Nadrich & Cohen. Insurance companies’ first offers are almost always way too small. Let us negotiate the best possible settlement for you.
- Don’t talk too much at the scene of the accident, as you can accidentally admit that an accident was your fault if you talk too much. Keep conversation to the bare minimum necessary to obtain contact information, insurance information, etc., and obviously don’t admit fault for the accident to anyone.
- Don’t talk, at all, to the insurance company representing the at-fault driver. Insurance adjusters are trained to trick you into accidentally admitting fault for accidents so they don’t have to pay you for your injuries. Leave talking to the insurance companies to Nadrich & Cohen.
- Don’t neglect to attend all follow-up medical treatments. Insurance companies can argue you aren’t really hurt badly if you don’t show up to follow-up medical appointments.
What Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
Many factors determine the value of your car accident case, including:
- How obvious it is that another party is at fault for the accident
- The circumstances of the accident, such as if any laws were broken
- How badly you were hurt and how badly your vehicle was damaged
- How many expenses were created by the accident, such as medical bills, loss of income and vehicle repair costs
There are many types of damages you can be compensated for in a car accident case, including:
- Past, present and future medical bills
- Past, present and future income loss
- The cost to repair or replace your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of limb
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Punitive damages, when it is determined this is necessary to punish the at-fault party and discourage others from acting similarly
Is There A Time Limit To File A Car Accident Claim in Bakersfield CA?
You must file a car accident-related personal injury claim within two years of the date of the accident in California. Failure to do so can prevent you from obtaining compensation for your injuries.
You have three years to file property damage claims in California after an accident, and you have only six months to file an accident-related personal injury claim involving any governmental entity.
What If I’m Partially At Fault For A Car Accident?
You can still obtain damages for your car accident injuries if you were partially at fault for an accident in California, as California is a comparative fault state.
The way this works is this: if you are found to be 20% at fault for an accident, your award will be reduced by 20%. Thus, if you suffered $10,000 in damages in an accident you were 20% at fault for, you will be eligible to be awarded $8,000.
What If The At-Fault Driver Is Uninsured?
There are still ways you can recover damages when the at-fault driver in a car accident is uninsured.
One way is uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. If your insurance policy includes this coverage, your insurance company should compensate you for any damages, up to your liability limit.
Even if you don’t have UM/UIM coverage, Nadrich & Cohen can investigate the at-fault driver to find out if they have money or assets, and we can sue them for the money or assets if we find them.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Accidents In Bakersfield?
The following were the most common types of accidents in Bakersfield in 2018, according to UC Berkeley data:
Broadside Accidents
Bakersfield saw 540 broadside accidents in 2018.
Broadside accidents, also known as T-bone accidents, are when one vehicle’s front end slams into the side of another vehicle. These car accidents can be very dangerous – even deadly – for those involved, especially those sitting in the car that gets broadsided, on the side that gets impacted. These accidents frequently cause head injuries because they cause occupants’ heads to whip side-to-side, often impacting the door or windows.
Rear End Accidents
Bakersfield saw 477 rear end accidents in 2018.
Rear end accidents are when one vehicle’s front end slams into another vehicle’s rear end. Neck, back and head injuries are common in rear end accidents, and more severe rear end accidents can cause herniation.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Accidents In Bakersfield?
The following were the most common primary collision factors in Bakersfield in 2018, according to UC Berkeley data:
Speeding
410 accidents were caused by speeding in Bakersfield in 2018. Speeding is a particularly dangerous cause of accidents since higher speeds generally result in more severe injuries.
Drivers Not Yielding The Right Of Way
252 accidents were caused by automobiles not properly yielding the right of way to others in Bakersfield in 2018.
Failure To Obey Signals And Signs
248 accidents were caused by drivers failing to obey traffic signals and signs in Bakersfield in 2018.
Improper Turning
186 accidents were caused by drivers turning improperly in Bakersfield in 2018.
Driving Or Bicycling Under The Influence Of Drugs Or Alcohol
166 accidents were caused by driving or bicycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Bakersfield in 2018.
What Are The Most Dangerous Intersections In Bakersfield?
The following intersections saw the most auto accidents in Bakersfield in 2018, according to UC Berkeley data:
- 34th St & Q St – 9 collisions
- H St & Ming Ave – 8 collisions
- Wible Rd & Wilson Rd – 8 collisions
- 34th St & Union Ave – 7 collisions
- Brundage Ln & Chester Ave – 7 collisions
- California Ave & Oak St – 7 collisions
- Panama Ln & Stine Rd – 7 collisions
- Alpine St & California Ave – 6 collisions
- Baker St & California Ave – 6 collisions
- Ming Ave & Stine Rd – 6 collisions
Contact Our Experienced Bakersfield Car Accident Attorneys Today
You won’t be able to obtain full compensation for your injuries without lawyers. You need strong, experienced lawyers on your side if you’ve been injured in an accident in Bakersfield; you need Nadrich & Cohen.
We’ve developed relationships with the best doctors in Kern County. These doctors know we get our clients great results, so they agree to not charge our clients until their cases are over. This means we can get you the best treatment for your injuries and you won’t have to pay them until your case ends.
Speaking of pay, you won’t have to pay us anything out of your own pocket, ever. The only fee we charge is a percentage of any recovery we obtain for you. We won’t charge you if we don’t obtain a recovery.
Call us today at (661) 371-3588 or text us from this page for a free consultation if you or a loved one was injured or killed in a car accident in Bakersfield. You may be eligible for a financial recovery.
