Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer

Nothing upfront. Our contingency fee is 33.33 percent pre-suit and 40 percent if a lawsuit is filed. We advance all case expenses, including expert fees, deposition costs, and filing fees. If we do not recover, you owe nothing. See how much a car accident lawyer costs.

Two years from the date of the crash for most claims under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Six months to file a written government claim if a public entity is involved under Government Code section 911.2. See our full guide on California’s personal injury statute of limitations.

Soft tissue cases with clear liability and limited treatment typically settle within 6 to 12 months. Surgery cases and cases involving disputed liability or multiple defendants take 18 months to 3 years. Cases that proceed to trial in Sacramento County Superior Court generally take 2 to 4 years from filing. See how long it takes to settle a car accident claim.

Almost never. Carriers in Sacramento County typically open at the value of your billed medical specials, sometimes less, and treat your wage loss and pain claim as a negotiation discount. The first offer assumes you do not know the case is worth more, and assumes you will not call a lawyer who can prove it. Once we work the file up, identify all available coverage (including UM/UIM you may not know you have), and document the full damages picture, the recovery is typically a multiple of the pre-suit position.

California is a pure comparative negligence state. You can recover even if you were 99 percent at fault, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. We build evidence to defeat comparative-fault arguments before they reduce your case. See what happens if you are at fault in California.

Your own UM and UIM coverage steps in. With California’s $30,000 minimum policy under SB 1107 effective January 1, 2025, serious injury cases blow through the at-fault policy fast. UM/UIM is often where the real recovery comes from, and adjusters do not volunteer how to access it. We pull every household policy, identify every available source, and stack coverage where the law allows.

Under California Civil Code section 3333.4 (Proposition 213), an uninsured driver is barred from recovering non-economic damages, with limited exceptions including DUI defendants. Economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) are still recoverable. Call us to walk through your specific situation.

Most cases settle before trial, but the firms that try cases get the better settlements. We prepare every case as if it is going to a Sacramento County jury, which is exactly why most cases never have to. See when a car accident case goes to court.

Compensation for physical injuries is generally not taxable under federal law. Punitive damages and interest are taxable. Lost-wage portions can be taxable depending on structure. See our full guide on settlement taxation.

In most California cases, your health insurance, MedPay coverage, or a medical lien against the future settlement covers treatment during the case. We coordinate with providers and negotiate liens at the end of the case to maximize your net recovery. See who pays your medical bills after a car accident and how to handle medical bills.

Our Sacramento office is at 1540 River Park Dr, Suite 114A, Sacramento, CA 95815, in the River Park neighborhood near Cal Expo and the American River, just off Business 80. Free parking on site. Wheelchair accessible. Available 24/7 by phone for new client calls.