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Los Angeles Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions

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You can get clear answers about your car accident claim before you ever talk to an insurance company, at no cost. After a wreck on the 405 or a fender bender outside The Grove, the questions arrive faster than the tow truck. Our team at M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers answers them every day, with no pressure attached.

Our personal injury attorneys have recovered more than $800 million for injured people across California, so what you hear from us comes from real cases, not theory. Results may vary. Prior case outcomes do not guarantee similar results.

We give straight answers in everyday language, whether your claim is large or small.

Call 866-864-5477 to request your free case review today and get honest feedback about your collision, your claim, and your options.

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Table of Contents

How Can M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers Help You After a Los Angeles Car Accident?

Los Angeles Injury Lawyers Car Accident AttorneysWe take over every part of your claim, so the insurance company deals with us instead of you. Before representing injured people, members of our team served as legal counsel for some of the largest corporations and insurance carriers in the world.

Because of that background, we recognize the tactics adjusters rely on, and we know how to counter each one. When you hire our firm, we immediately:

  • Investigate the crash scene, the vehicles, and any nearby camera footage
  • Gather police reports, medical records, and witness statements
  • Calculate the full value of your losses, including future treatment costs
  • Handle every call, letter, and negotiation with the insurance company
  • Prepare your case for trial if the insurer refuses a fair figure

Our attorneys bring more than a century of cumulative experience to every collision claim, and a real person answers our phones 24/7. More than 1,400 clients have posted five-star reviews describing that access: fast answers, honest advice, and real results after a serious wreck.

From our offices on Wilshire Boulevard and South Figueroa Street, we serve injured drivers, riders, and pedestrians across the city, and you will never be just another file number here, because your case becomes our top priority the moment it becomes yours.

Speak with our Los Angeles attorneys today, with no obligation attached.

Frequently Asked Questions About Los Angeles Car Accidents

The frequently asked questions about Los Angeles car accidents answered on this page come straight from the injured drivers who call our Los Angeles car accident lawyer team every day, presented in plain terms so you can act on them right away.

What Steps Should I Take After a Crash in Los Angeles?

Protect your health first, then protect your claim. The scene of a collision is loud, stressful, and confusing, so almost nobody remembers everything in the moment. Work through these steps in order:

  • Step one: Call 911 and accept medical care at the scene.
  • Step two: Photograph the vehicles, plates, street signs, skid marks, and injuries.
  • Step three: Exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver.
  • Step four: Collect names and numbers from witnesses before they drive away.

Under California Vehicle Code § 16000, an SR-1 form also goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days when a wreck causes injury, death, or damage above $1,000. We file it for our clients as a matter of routine.

Keep the conversation brief and focused on exchanging contact and insurance information. Avoid discussing fault or apologizing, and save the full account of what happened for the responding officer and for our team. 

No, you should politely decline until you speak with our team. Adjusters compare every recorded word against your medical records and the police report, and even an innocent phrase like “I’m feeling better” can shrink a claim. You only owe cooperation to your own insurer, not the other driver’s carrier.

No, never sign a blanket medical authorization. A broad release lets the adjuster comb through your entire health history, hunting for old complaints to blame for your current injuries. The insurer is only entitled to records related to the crash, and we control exactly what gets shared and when.

Insurance companies review claims closely and look for reasons to limit what they pay. Knowing the common approaches helps you avoid steps that could reduce your recovery. These approaches include:

  • Delaying decisions to pressure people into settling cheaply
  • Disputing whether your treatment was reasonable or necessary
  • Monitoring social media for posts that contradict your injuries
  • Shifting blame percentages onto you to cut the payout

Recognizing the playbook is half the battle, and countering it is our job. Our experience being on the other side of the table prepares us to shield clients from these tactics.

Fault comes down to negligence, which means the failure to drive with reasonable care. Police reports, witness accounts, vehicle damage, camera footage, and traffic laws all feed into that finding. Insurers run their own investigations, too, which is why we build an independent file instead of trusting theirs.

Not sure who was at fault in your car crash? Call M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers at 866-864-5477 for a free review of your claim.

Yes, California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so partial blame reduces your recovery instead of erasing it. A jury assigns each person a share of fault, and your payout drops by your share. Carry 30% of the blame on a $100,000 claim, and you still collect $70,000.

Request it from the agency that responded. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) releases reports online or by mail, while freeway collisions usually belong to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), which accepts a CHP-190 request form. We pull the report for clients and correct any errors in it at no charge.

You can pursue two categories of damages: economic and non-economic damages. Depending on the circumstances of your case, recoverable losses include:

  • Emergency care, surgery, and future medical treatment
  • Lost paychecks and reduced ability to earn going forward
  • Vehicle repair or replacement and other out-of-pocket costs
  • Pain, anxiety, sleep problems, and loss of enjoyment of life

Economic damages are calculated from bills, invoices, and receipts. In contrast, non-economic damages don’t leave a paper trail, so we value those damages by collaborating with treating physicians, economists, and life care planners to determine the full scope of your claim, including future losses.

Generally, two years from the collision date, under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, the statute of limitations puts a countdown clock on lawsuits. Miss the cutoff, and the court will almost certainly dismiss your case. Shorter deadlines apply to claims against public agencies, which we explain in a separate question on this page.

Not always, and we will tell you so honestly. A fender bender with no injuries and light vehicle damage can often be handled through a simple property damage claim on your own. Once any injury enters the picture, a free case review makes sense, because asking carries zero risk.

Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage usually becomes the main path to recovery. Promptly reported hit-and-run wrecks can qualify for UM benefits, too. Because so many drivers carry only the state minimums set by California Vehicle Code Section 16056, currently $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident, your own policy often matters more than theirs.

Your health insurance, medical payments coverage, or a treatment lien typically covers care while the claim moves forward. A lien means the provider treats you now and gets repaid from your settlement later. We connect clients with doctors who accept liens, so a lack of upfront money never blocks treatment.

You must move much faster, because claims against public agencies follow a six-month deadline. Under California Government Code § 911.2, an administrative claim goes to the government entity within six months of the wreck, long before any lawsuit begins. Metro buses, city trucks, and dangerous road conditions all fall under this rule.

Within 24 to 72 hours, even if you feel fine at the scene. Injuries are not always obvious right away, and a prompt exam creates the medical record that connects them to the wreck. Long gaps in treatment give adjusters an opening to argue that something else caused your condition.

Delayed symptoms are common and do not doom your claim. Some injuries are not obvious right after a crash and can become noticeable in the days that follow. See a doctor as soon as symptoms appear, describe the crash at that visit, and let us handle the timeline questions.

Many car accident claims settle within a few months to a year. In contrast, lawsuits often take one to two years or longer. The timeline depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, whether fault is disputed, and the insurance company’s approach to the claim.

Our Los Angeles car accident lawyers will give you a realistic assessment and advise against settling before your medical condition is fully understood, because a settlement is generally final

Probably not, since the vast majority of collision claims settle first. Still, we build every file as if a jury at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles will decide it, and that preparation is what tends to move an insurer toward a fair settlement.

Yes, injured passengers almost always have a claim, and often a simpler one than either driver. A passenger rarely shares fault, so the main question becomes which policy pays: the other driver’s, the driver of the car you rode in, or sometimes both. Coverage exists for exactly this situation, even when the at-fault driver is a friend.

Rideshare wrecks open the door to commercial insurance policies far larger than personal ones. When a driver has a passenger aboard, Uber and Lyft each carry $1 million in liability coverage. The available coverage changes depending on whether the app is on, so bring us the trip details early.

Strong claims rest on proof gathered early. Evidence in a collision frequently includes:

  • Scene photos, dashcam clips, and nearby business camera footage
  • The police report and 911 recordings
  • Medical records tying each injury to the crash
  • Witness statements and repair estimates

We preserve all of it fast, sending letters that require the other side to keep footage and data intact.

Yes, your claim survives, although the insurer will raise the seatbelt defense. That argument says your injuries would have been milder with a belt on, which can trim the recovery time to those specific injuries. The crash itself remains the other driver’s responsibility, and we fight to keep any reduction small.

Certain family members can bring a wrongful death claim, a civil case that compensates a family for losing someone through another person’s carelessness. Recovery can cover funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship. We handle these cases with patience and care, and we let your family set the pace.

Almost never, because first offers typically arrive before anyone knows what your injuries will truly cost. Insurers send early checks hoping you will sign a release, the document that permanently closes your claim. Once you sign, you cannot ask for another dollar, so bring any offer to us first, for free.

Nothing upfront, because we work on contingency: our fee comes out of the money we recover, and if we recover nothing, you owe nothing. That structure lowers the risk and expense of legal help for crash victims already juggling repair estimates and missed shifts at work.

Contact our Los Angeles car accident lawyers for a free case review, and we will explain your legal options in clear, straightforward terms. If you choose to hire us, we take over the paperwork, communications with the insurance companies, and settlement negotiations, so the pressure shifts off your shoulders the same day.

Get Real Answers From Our Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer Today

Car accident lawyerYou should get your answers from people who handle these cases every single day, and that is exactly what our team offers. Whether your collision happened on the Harbor Freeway, a Koreatown side street, or a parking lot near LAX, M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers will listen first and act fast.

You can count on our insight, our resources, and our dedication to pursue the full value your claim supports. Call 866-864-5477 to book a free consultation and get answers today. Reaching out commits you to nothing, and what you tell us stays confidential. 

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