San Diego Car Accident Lawyer

Following a car accident in San Diego, California, it’s important to explore your legal rights. As a victim, you may be entitled to compensation from an insurance company or at-fault party to help you handle medical bills, lost income, and emotional distress. The experienced San Diego car accident lawyers at Singleton Schreiber can help you take a stand and fight for the life-changing compensation you deserve.

Singleton Schreiber is a trusted advocate for crash victims and grieving families in San Diego, CA, and across the nation. We’re recognized as leaders in personal injury litigation, leading clients to billions in settlements and jury awards. When you choose our law firm to handle your car accident case, you’ll get a team of local attorneys with unmatched national resources in your corner.

We offer a free consultation. Contact our personal injury law firm in San Diego, CA, today to find out how we can help you maximize your car accident settlement. Members of our team are available to take your call 24 hours a day. Call us at (619) 377-1353.

Benefit From Singleton Schreiber’s Local Attorneys and National Resources After a Car Accident in San Diego, CA

You shouldn’t trust the insurance company to put your interests front and center after a car accident in San Diego. As a profit-motivated company, expect it to do everything possible to stand between you and a financial recovery.

Hiring a San Diego personal injury lawyer can level the playing field. Choosing the award-winning team at Singleton Schreiber can tip the scales in your favor.

At Singleton Schreiber, we’ve been recognized as top California trial attorneys by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, the San Diego Business Journal, the National Law Journal, and the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for our client-driven strategies and track record of winning results.

As we pursue compensation on your behalf, you’ll be able to count on us to:

• Promptly investigate your car accident to better understand how and why it happened
• Be available to answer your questions and help you make important decisions about the future of your case
• Subpoena cell phone records, dash cam footage, vehicle inspection and maintenance records, medical records, witness statements, witness testimony, and other evidence
• Enlist qualified expert witnesses to help us investigate your accident, build your case, and understand what your damages are likely worth
• Handle all administrative aspects of your case, including filing documents with the insurance company and/or local court, as well as serving copies on the defense
• Represent your best interests as we pursue a meaningful settlement offer during negotiations
• Argue the merits of your car accident lawsuit at trial if the defense refuses to take responsibility for your crash and resulting damages

Our car accident attorneys in San Diego understand that you have one opportunity to get compensation for your injuries. We’re here to help you make the most of it.

We offer a free consultation, so contact our fearless advocates in San Diego to get started today.

San Diego Car Accident Statistics

San Diego is the second most populated city in the state of California, home to more than 1.3 million people. The city is also one of the top tourist attractions in the nation, welcoming over 28.8 million tourists annually. Not surprisingly, this puts a serious strain on San Diego’s roads, interstates, and highways. Where there’s traffic, accidents tend to follow, and San Diego is no exception.

According to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the University of California - Berkeley, 5,522 car accidents were reported in the city of San Diego in 2022.

That’s approximately 15 traffic accidents every day.

For many, San Diego’s auto accidents are devastating. In 2022, 7,365 injuries and 124 fatalities were reported within the city’s limits. Nearly 7 percent of injuries were classified as “severe.”

What To Do After a Car Accident in San Diego

After a motor vehicle accident, the first priority is to ensure everyone's safety by checking for injuries and calling 911 for medical assistance if needed. Move to a safe location if possible and turn on hazard lights. It's important to exchange contact, insurance, and vehicle information with the other driver. Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage and road conditions. Contact the police to file an official report, even for minor accidents. Lastly, notify your insurance company and consult with a car accident attorney to understand your rights and options.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in San Diego

Having an experienced legal advocate in your corner can make a world of difference as you take on an insurance company after a car accident in San Diego.

At Singleton Schreiber, our team of top-rated California litigators have decades of experience representing clients injured in all types of car accidents, including:

• Hit and run car accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Sideswipes
• Head-on collisions
• Broadside accidents
• Vehicle and pedestrian accidents
• Vehicle and bicycle accidents
• Rollovers
• Intersection accidents
• Collisions with uninsured motorists
• Accidents involving tractor-trailers, big rigs, and other large trucks
• Highway accidents
• Single vehicle collisions
• Chain reaction collisions

Our case results speak volumes, with millions recovered for accident victims and families across the nation. Show the defense that you’re serious about maximizing your recovery by trusting our award-winning law firm after your crash. Members of our team are standing by to answer your call right now.

What Are the Most Common Causes of San Diego Car Accidents?

While car accidents can happen for dozens of different reasons, there are some factors that contribute to wrecks more often than others.

In San Diego, leading causes of auto accidents include:

• Speeding (28.85 percent of all crashes)
• Improper turns (20.84 percent of all crashes)
• Failing to abide by traffic signals and signs (8.63 percent of crashes)
• Failing to yield the right of way (8.54 percent of crashes)
• Drunk driving (5.18 percent of all crashes)
• Unsafe lane changes (4.09 percent of all crashes)Following too closely (2.74 percent of all crashes)

Distracted driving, drowsy driving, vehicle defects, road defects, road rage, and bad weather conditions are also top contributors to car accidents in and around San Diego.

Will Insurance Cover My San Diego Car Accident Damages?

California has mandatory car insurance requirements. Under the fault-based system, you’ll be entitled to pursue benefits from another driver’s policy if they cause a car accident in which you’re injured.

Current minimum requirements include:

• $15,000/$30,000 in bodily injury benefits, and
• $5,000 in property damage benefits.

Bodily injury benefits can help to cover the costs of medical treatment, make up for a loss of income due to disability, and compensate for the suffering you experience as a crash victim. Property damage benefits can help you pay for vehicle repairs or the cost of a new car.

You can recover compensation up to the at-fault driver’s policy limits. If your injuries are severe, there’s a good chance your damages will exceed what the other driver’s insurance company will pay - especially if the driver only purchased the minimally required coverage. In these situations, you may reserve the right to seek additional compensation by suing the at-fault driver (or other liable parties) directly.

Who’s Liable For a Car Accident in San Diego?

Car accidents are, for the most part, a result of negligence. Negligence refers to a party’s failure to exercise reasonable caution which, in turn, causes another party’s injury or wrongful death.

In California, anyone whose negligent or wrongful actions contribute to a car accident can be liable - or financially responsible - for a victim’s resulting damages.

This might include a:

• Driver of a passenger car
• Motorcyclist
• Truck driver
• Bus driver
• Pedestrian
• Bicyclist
• Transportation company
• Government agency
• Negligent party’s employer
• Property owner
• Manufacturer
• Vehicle passenger

Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, liability is shared proportionately to fault. The more responsibility a person shares for causing an accident, the greater their liability for damages. So, it can be important to fully investigate a crash to identify all potentially liable parties to ensure you’re able to maximize your recovery.

What Types of Compensation Are Available to San Diego Car Accident Victims?

Crash victims in San Diego will typically have the opportunity to seek compensatory damages through a claim for insurance benefits or car accident lawsuit.

Compensatory damages include two different types of monetary awards: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages help to offset monetary losses and expenses related to your car accident, including:

• Current medical bills, including hospitalization, surgery, medical devices, and medication
• Future medical expenses, including nursing care, rehabilitation, and follow-up care
• Nursing assistance
• Disability
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of a rental car
• Funeral expenses

Non-economic damages help to offset the consequences of being a car accident victim that aren’t as easily valued, such as:

• Chronic physical pain
• Disfigurement
• Physical scarring
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Inconvenience
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering

California law also allows punitive damages in certain situations. A jury has the discretion to award these extra damages if there’s convincing evidence that a defendant’s conduct was malicious, oppressive, or fraudulent. Typically, these are reserved for when punishment is appropriate, like in crashes involving a drunk driver or hit and run motorist.

How Much Money is My San Diego Car Accident Claim Worth?

There is no average value for car accident claims. Several factors will affect how much money you might be entitled to get after an auto accident in San Diego.

• What type of car accident were you involved in?
• Are you getting blamed for the crash?
• What specific physical injuries have you suffered?
• How severe are your injuries?
• Has the accident prevented you from working?
• What changes in your income or earning capacity have you experienced?
• How old are you?
• What are the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits?
• Have you taken appropriate steps to mitigate your damages?
• How has the car accident changed your quality of life?

While every factor will be relevant in some capacity, the most compelling issue will likely be the severity of your injuries. According to the National Safety Council, the average cost of a crash causing a disabling injury was $1.016 million, compared to $17,000 when no injury is detected.

You can learn more about what your auto accident case might be worth by discussing the specifics of your situation with our trusted personal injury lawyers in San Diego. Contact us today to arrange a time for a free case evaluation.

Fighting to Get Compensation For All of Your San Diego Car Accident Injuries

Many different things can impact the types of injuries you suffer in a crash and how serious they are. Where in the vehicle were you sitting? What type of collision was it? How fast was your vehicle moving upon impact? Were you wearing your seatbelt? Did the airbags deploy?

No matter what injuries you’ve suffered in a recent San Diego crash, Singleton Schreiber is here to help you demand compensation to offset your costs and suffering.

We advocate for clients who’ve suffered:

• Broken bones
• Soft tissue injuries
• Bruising and contusions
• Nerve damage
• Concussion injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Whiplash injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Leg injuries
• Knee injuries
• Chest injuries
• Amputation injuries
• Eye injuries
• Catastrophic injuries
• Low-impact accident injuries
• Burn injuries
• Wrongful death of a close family member

Make sure you report your car crash to the San Diego Police and then get to the closest hospital for prompt medical care. In some cases, you might not think you’ve been badly injured. However, the rush of adrenaline you get from being in a wreck can hide signs of serious trauma. Seeking medical treatment can be critical for your health and the future success of any legal claims you decide to pursue.

Will Sharing Fault For a San Diego Car Accident Affect My Settlement?

It can, yes. California’s pure comparative fault system applies to everyone who causes a car accident - including crash victims. If you share any responsibility for a wreck, it will limit how much money you can recover from a third party.

Damages are reduced proportionately. So, sharing 25 percent of the blame for a recent car accident in San Diego will reduce your financial recovery by 25 percent. If your case was valued at $100,000, you’d be limited to a settlement or jury award of $75,000.

Our San Diego car accident attorneys will anticipate attempts to shift blame and limit your ability to obtain a full monetary award. We’ll be ready with facts, compelling legal arguments, and expert testimony to protect your rights.

What Will IT Cost to Hire a San Diego Car Accident Lawyer?

Between medical bills, a loss of income, and your everyday expenses, a car accident can be financially overwhelming. And while you may have the right to hire an attorney to help you pursue compensation, you might be fearful that you just can’t afford it. That’s not the case when you hire Singleton Schreiber.

Our car accident lawyers in San Diego represent crash victims on a contingency fee basis.

We front the costs of pursuing your car accident case. You only pay when we recover compensation on your behalf.

You can expect to pay a San Diego car accident attorney between 33 and 40 percent of your financial award, less costs and expenses. Since the fees come directly out of your financial award, there are no out-of-pocket costs or added financial stress for you.

Don’t hesitate to contact our law office in San Diego to learn more about our fees and the value of hiring our top-rated litigators to represent you.

Is There a Deadline For Filing a Car Accident Claim in California?

California has a two-year statute of limitations that applies to most personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. So, if you’ve been in a car accident in San Diego, you’ll typically have two years from the date of the crash or a loved one’s death to seek damages.

There are some exceptions, which may give you more or less time to act. For instance, the statute of limitations can be tolled when a child is injured in a collision. Typically, a child has until their 20th birthday to file a claim if a parent or guardian does not exercise that right on their behalf.

On the other hand, you’ll face an accelerated timetable if you file a government tort claim against the city of San Diego, San Diego County, or the state of California. In these situations, you’ll have a matter of months, not years, to take action.

 You must file your car accident claim before the statute of limitations expires. When the deadline passes, you will have given up the right to demand damages for your crash-related costs and suffering.

Contact Our Trusted San Diego Car Accident Lawyers For Help Today

Car accident victims across the nation choose Singleton Schreiber because we’re fearless advocates who won’t stop until our clients get the justice they deserve. When you trust Singleton Schreiber with your San Diego car accident case, you’ll benefit from a team of top-rated local personal injury attorneys with access to unrivaled national resources.

Our dedicated legal team also includes experienced Carlsbad car accident lawyers and Chula Vista car accident attorneys who are ready to fight for you, no matter where your accident occurred in San Diego County.

Our San Diego car accident lawyers will be tenacious advocates, here to help you make things right. Let us take on the insurance company and other tough adversaries while you focus on recovering.

We’ve helped clients win billions in life-changing monetary awards. Trust us to help you fight for top results, too.

Your initial case assessment is free. Contact our law office in San Diego today to get started. Call us at (619) 377-1353.