Car Accident Attorney in California

Car Accident Attorneys in Los Angeles: Fighting for Maximum Compensation After a Crash

Car accidents are the leading cause of serious personal injuries in California, and Los Angeles is one of the most accident-prone regions in the nation. With millions of vehicles traveling the freeways and surface streets of Los Angeles every day, car accidents occur with alarming frequency — resulting in devastating injuries, significant financial losses, and profound disruptions to victims’ lives. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, Westwood Law is here to protect your rights and fight for the full compensation you deserve under California law.

Our founding partners are UCLA School of Law graduates with extensive experience handling car accident cases throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding region. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you — and we provide every client with direct access to a senior attorney from the first consultation through the resolution of their case.

How California Negligence Law Applies to Car Accidents

California car accident claims are governed by the law of negligence. To recover compensation, an injured victim must establish that the at-fault driver owed a duty of care, breached that duty — for example by speeding, running a red light, or driving while distracted — and that the breach caused the victim’s injuries and damages. California follows a pure comparative negligence standard, meaning that even if you are found to be partially at fault for an accident, you can still recover compensation — your recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault.

Insurance companies in California are well-funded, experienced, and motivated to minimize the compensation they pay to accident victims. They employ adjusters who are trained to use recorded statements, social media activity, and other evidence to assign victims an inflated share of fault and reduce their payouts. Having an experienced Westwood Law attorney on your side from the outset of your claim levels the playing field and ensures that your rights are fully protected.

Types of Car Accidents We Handle

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions are among the most common car accidents in Los Angeles, occurring most frequently in stop-and-go freeway traffic and at red lights. These accidents cause whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and other serious injuries. While rear-end accidents may appear straightforward in terms of fault, insurance companies routinely attempt to minimize the injuries sustained and argue that pre-existing conditions explain the victim’s symptoms. Westwood Law works with medical experts to fully document and prove the causal relationship between the accident and all of your injuries.

T-Bone and Intersection Accidents

Broadside or T-bone collisions at intersections are among the most dangerous types of car accidents, frequently resulting in serious side-impact injuries. These accidents often involve disputed liability, with each driver claiming the other ran the red light or failed to yield. Westwood Law investigates T-bone accidents thoroughly, including obtaining traffic camera footage, interviewing witnesses, and working with accident reconstruction experts to establish fault clearly and compellingly.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions, while less common than other accident types, are among the most fatal and most catastrophic. They frequently involve drivers who have crossed the center line due to distraction, impairment, fatigue, or a medical emergency. The injuries sustained in head-on crashes are typically severe, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple fractures. Westwood Law pursues maximum compensation for head-on collision victims, including full recovery for long-term medical care and permanent disabilities.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving — especially texting or using a handheld phone while driving — is a major cause of car accidents in California. When a driver’s attention leaves the road, even for a few seconds, the consequences can be devastating. Westwood Law investigates distracted driving accidents by subpoenaing phone records, obtaining surveillance footage, and using other available evidence to prove the driver was distracted at the time of the crash, strengthening your claim and supporting maximum recovery.

Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving accidents often result in some of the most severe injuries because impaired drivers frequently fail to brake or react before impact. In addition to compensatory damages, drunk driving cases may also support punitive damage claims — additional damages designed to punish particularly reckless behavior and deter others. Westwood Law fights aggressively for full compensation in drunk driving accident cases, including the maximum available punitive damages under California law.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents and Pile-Ups

Multi-vehicle accidents create complex liability questions when multiple drivers and insurance policies are involved. Determining the chain of causation, identifying all liable parties, and navigating competing insurance claims requires sophisticated legal analysis. Westwood Law has experience handling complex multi-vehicle accident cases and ensures that all available sources of compensation are pursued on behalf of our clients.

Compensation Available After a Los Angeles Car Accident

Car accident victims in California are entitled to recover the full economic and non-economic impact of the accident. Economic damages include all medical expenses — emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medication, physical therapy, and future medical care — as well as lost wages and diminished earning capacity. Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Where the at-fault driver’s conduct was especially egregious — such as drunk driving or reckless street racing — punitive damages may also be available.

Westwood Law works with medical experts, accident reconstructionists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and economic experts to build thorough and well-documented damage analyses. We fight to ensure that every element of your losses is fully captured and that you receive the maximum compensation available under California law.

Why Westwood Law Is the Right Choice for Your Car Accident Case

At Westwood Law, our founding partners handle every case personally. You will never be passed to a junior attorney or paralegal. We bring UCLA Law academic credentials, extensive trial experience, and a deep commitment to client outcomes to every case we take. Our contingency fee model means there is no financial risk — we advance all case expenses and collect nothing unless we win. If you have been injured in a car accident in Los Angeles, Calabasas, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, or anywhere in the surrounding area, contact Westwood Law today for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions: Car Accidents in Los Angeles

What should I do immediately after a car accident in California?

After a car accident, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention, even if you feel your injuries are minor. Exchange insurance and contact information with all other drivers. Take photographs of the accident scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Gather witness contact information. Do not admit fault or make statements about the accident beyond the factual details required for the police report. Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company — including your own — before consulting with a personal injury attorney.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in California?

In California, the statute of limitations for car accident personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. For property damage claims only, the deadline is three years. If a government entity is involved — such as when a government vehicle caused the accident or when a dangerous road condition contributed — a government tort claim must be filed within six months. Missing these deadlines will permanently bar your right to pursue compensation, so it is critical to consult with an attorney promptly.

What if I was not wearing a seatbelt when the accident happened?

In California, the failure to wear a seatbelt can be raised by the defendant to argue that you contributed to the severity of your own injuries — potentially reducing your damages under the comparative negligence doctrine. However, it does not bar your recovery entirely. The other driver’s negligence in causing the accident itself remains actionable, and you can still recover for all losses not caused or exacerbated by your failure to use a seatbelt. An experienced Westwood Law attorney will analyze how seatbelt usage affects your specific claim and develop a strategy that maximizes your recovery.

The other driver’s insurance is offering me a quick settlement. Should I take it?

You should always consult with a personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement offer. Early settlement offers are almost always significantly lower than the true value of your claim, and accepting them requires signing a full release that permanently bars any future recovery — even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than initially apparent. Many serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, herniated discs, and internal injuries, are not fully apparent in the days immediately following an accident. Never accept a settlement until you understand the full extent of your injuries and the true value of your claim.

What if the at-fault driver was uninsured?

If you were injured by an uninsured driver, you may have several options for recovery. If you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy, you can file a claim against your own policy. Additionally, if anyone other than the uninsured driver contributed to the accident — such as a vehicle manufacturer who produced defective brakes, or a government entity responsible for a dangerous road condition — those parties may also be liable. Westwood Law investigates all potential sources of recovery in every uninsured motorist case to ensure you receive the maximum available compensation.

How much does it cost to hire Westwood Law for a car accident case?

Westwood Law handles car accident cases on a pure contingency fee basis, which means there is no upfront cost and no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. We also advance all litigation expenses — including court filing fees, expert witness fees, deposition costs, and investigation expenses — which are only reimbursed from the recovery. This means that injured accident victims of all economic backgrounds can access the same high-quality legal representation that Westwood Law provides.

How long will my car accident case take?

The timeline for a car accident case varies considerably based on factors including the complexity of the case, the severity of the injuries, the clarity of fault, and the willingness of the insurance company to negotiate fairly. Straightforward cases with clear liability and well-documented injuries can sometimes resolve within a few months through settlement. More complex cases involving disputed liability, severe injuries, or multiple defendants may take one to three years if they go to trial. Westwood Law keeps our clients fully informed at every stage and works efficiently to resolve cases as quickly as possible without compromising the quality of your recovery.

Contact an Westwood Law Car Accident Attorney Today

If you have been injured in a car accident in Los Angeles or the surrounding communities, do not face the insurance companies alone. Westwood Law offers free consultations, works on contingency, and fights relentlessly for the maximum compensation our clients deserve. Contact us today — the sooner we begin, the stronger your case will be.