Orange County Car Accident Lawyer

Not always. Claims for vehicle damage alone are often handled directly with the insurer. A lawyer can help when you were injured, fault is disputed, the other driver was uninsured, or a commercial or public vehicle was involved. A signed release usually ends the claim for good, so a free consultation before you sign can help you decide.

Generally two years from the crash to file a lawsuit, under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If a public agency is involved, such as a city vehicle or a public transit bus, a written government claim is generally due within six months under Government Code § 911.2. The DMV SR-1 report is due within 10 days (Vehicle Code § 16000). Exceptions exist, so confirm your dates early.

Ask the agency that responded. The California Highway Patrol handles freeways and toll roads, and you can request its report through the CHP Crash Portal or with a CHP 190 form. On city streets, the city’s police department writes the report, or the Sheriff’s Department in the cities it patrols. Have the report number you were given at the scene.

You can report the claim, but no California law requires you to give the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement or sign a medical authorization, and both can affect your claim. Your own policy is different: it generally requires you to report the crash and cooperate. Get advice before giving a detailed statement to anyone or signing a release.

Your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay for your injuries. For a hit-and-run, Insurance Code § 11580.2 generally requires physical contact, a police report within 24 hours, and a sworn statement to your insurer within 30 days. If the at-fault driver’s limits are too low, underinsured motorist coverage may help once those limits are paid.

Yes. Under California’s pure comparative fault rule, your damages are reduced by your share of fault rather than barred (CACI No. 405). If you are found 20% at fault, your damages are reduced by 20%. Separately, Civil Code § 3333.4 generally bars pain-and-suffering damages for someone who drove uninsured or was convicted of DUI for the crash.

The driver’s app status at the moment of the crash decides which insurance applies. From the time a driver accepts a ride until the trip ends, Public Utilities Code § 5433 requires $1,000,000 in primary coverage, and lower limits apply while the driver waits for a request. Since January 1, 2026, the company’s uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for passengers is $60,000 per person. Save the trip receipt.

No one can responsibly name a figure before the injuries, treatment, and insurance are known. Value generally depends on medical expenses, lost earnings, future care, the effect on daily life, how clearly fault can be proven, any shared fault, and the insurance limits available. Two crashes that look alike can resolve very differently. A free consultation can identify the factors in yours.