Car Accident Lawyers in San Jose
From the first call with insurance to the final settlement check, we handle your claim so you can focus on getting better.
You Were Hit. Now the Phone Won't Stop Ringing.
Within days of a crash, the other driver's insurer may call asking for a recorded statement — sometimes with a quick settlement offer attached. Neither is for your benefit.
We have seen insurers offer injured people a few thousand dollars before they had even finished treating — in one matter we handled, a client was offered $3,000 directly by the at-fault carrier, and after we took over, documented his injuries, and negotiated, his claim resolved for many times that amount. The early days of a claim matter, and the decisions you make before hiring a lawyer can follow your case to the end.
When you hire us, we take over all communication with the insurance companies. We help you address the totaled car or repair estimate, the rental, the medical billing, and the documentation of your lost wages — while you concentrate on treatment.
Collisions We Handle
- Rear-end collisions — at stop lights, in commute traffic, and on Bay Area freeways
- Intersection and left-turn collisions, including stop sign and red light violations
- T-bone / broadside crashes
- Crashes caused by distracted, speeding, or impaired drivers
- Multi-vehicle and chain-reaction collisions
- Crashes with uninsured or underinsured drivers
- Collisions involving rideshare vehicles and commercial vans
“Do I Need a Lawyer for a Soft-Tissue Injury?”
Insurers love the phrase “soft tissue.” It's shorthand for “pay less.” But neck and back injuries that don't show up on an X-ray can involve disc protrusions, nerve impingement, and partial tears that show up clearly on MRI — and that affect your work and sleep for years. We routinely see adjusters dismiss injuries as “degenerative” or “pre-existing” until they are confronted with objective imaging and treating physicians' findings.
Injuries we frequently handle in car accident cases include:
- Neck and back injuries, including disc herniation and nerve-root impingement
- Concussion and post-concussive symptoms — headaches, memory and concentration problems
- Shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff tears
- Fractures and injuries requiring surgery or injections
- Anxiety behind the wheel and other emotional harm after a serious crash
How Insurers Devalue Claims — and What We Do About It
- The early lowball. A fast, modest offer before your injuries are fully understood. We don't let clients settle before the medical picture is clear.
- The recorded statement. Friendly questions designed to lock in damaging answers. We handle insurer communications for you.
- “Degenerative changes.” Blaming your pain on age. We answer with objective imaging, treating doctors, and — when needed — the fact that our clients were living full, active lives before the crash.
- Hidden coverage. Carriers rarely volunteer that more insurance exists. We run policy-limit research and look for umbrella and excess coverage as a matter of routine.
- The waiting game. Slow responses, repeated “reviews.” We set deadlines, use statutory settlement offers, and file suit when insurers won't engage.
What If I Was Partly at Fault?
California follows comparative negligence: being partly at fault reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault, but it does not bar your claim. We have recovered full policy limits in cases where the defense had real comparative fault arguments — because we prepared the case to be tried, not just settled.
Car Accident Questions We Hear Every Week
Usually the at-fault driver's insurer — or your own collision coverage, with your insurer seeking reimbursement. Property damage often resolves before the injury claim, and we make sure a property damage release doesn't accidentally waive your injury claim.
Not before you understand the full extent of your injuries and coverage. Early offers rarely account for future treatment, lost earning capacity, or all available policies. A free consultation costs you nothing and may change the entire trajectory of your claim.
It depends on your treatment timeline and the insurer's posture. Some claims resolve within months of finishing treatment; cases that require litigation take longer. We don't rush you into settlement while you're still healing — and we keep you updated at every stage.
This is common — California's minimum limits are low. We collect the at-fault limits and then pursue your own underinsured motorist coverage if you have it. Learn how UM/UIM claims work.