Many injury victims think that an attorney will be expensive. But skilled Huntington Beach car accident lawyers like those at Bisnar Chase offer a no-win, no-fee promise and can help you get the compensation you deserve.
At the law firm of Bisnar Chase, our auto collision attorneys have a 99% success rate. We have been in business for more than 46 years and have secured justice for thousands of clients.
The aftermath of a car accident can be stressful, but we can provide the legal help and guidance needed to ease the burden on you. Contact our personal injury lawyers in Huntington Beach to start proceedings. Call (949) 203-3814 or click here to email us.
- Over $850M won
- 99% success rate
- Familiar with all Orange County courts
- Seasoned trial lawyers
Award-winning Huntington Beach Injury Attorneys
Huntington Beach Car Accident Lawyer
What do I do After a California Car Accident?
The most important action after a car wreck is to ensure all the drivers and passengers involved in the accident are not severely injured. If someone has suffered a catastrophic injury, call 911 and do not move the injured person. Moving the victim, who is in critical condition, may worsen the situation.
When all car accident victims have been transferred to a hospital, you must take essential steps to begin the legal process.
Steps to take after a car accident include:
Evidence: Gathering evidence is one of the most important initial steps after an incident. You must collect information such as the driver’s insurance policy number, the license plate of the car involved, and the driver’s license number.
You must take pictures and video of any damage that has been done to your vehicle and the driver’s vehicle. This will give insurance adjusters a clear idea of what compensation they will provide you with.
File a motor vehicle accident claim: After a car accident, you must call your insurance company to file a claim and provide your statement of what occurred during the accident.
Upon your call, you will be assigned a claims specialist and claim number. Once you have spoken to your insurance company, they will contact the driver’s insurance, and from there, an offer will be produced.
Reach out to a car accident attorney if the opposing party’s insurance company does not comply: If the opposing party’s insurance company does not cooperate, is not moving on with the claim process, or made an offer that was insufficient to cover your expenses, contact an injury attorney.
Bisnar Chase has many years of experience dealing with insurance companies and negotiating on your behalf. We understand that it’s not easy to negotiate with insurance companies. When you contact our Huntington Beach car accident attorneys, you will receive a free case review. Call 949-203-3814 for a free consultation.
The Car Accident Claim Process in California
The negligent driver’s insurance claim adjuster will thoroughly investigate the car accident’s damages. Some aspects of the accident they may assess are witness accounts or the police report. Once the adjuster has investigated the injuries stated in the claim, a settlement offer will be made.
If you are sure that your claim is worth more than the claims adjuster has offered, you can file a demand letter.
A demand letter includes the amount you propose in response to the insufficient settlement offer for your car accident claim. If your demand offer is denied, contact a car accident lawyer in Huntington Beach for legal advice.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit?
California law states that personal injury victims have two years to file a claim in most cases. However, if you file a claim against a government entity, this time limit might be less.
This could be relevant if your car were involved in a crash with a form of public transit, such as a bus, and you need to file a lawsuit.
Huntington Beach Car Accident Statistics
As of 2024, Huntington Beach has experienced roughly 4,000 motor vehicle accidents. These incidents encompass a range of crash types, including single-vehicle collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, and pedestrian-involved crashes.
The most common types of traffic collisions in Huntington Beach are:
- Rear-end collisions
- Broadside collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run collisions
The most common causes of traffic collisions in Huntington Beach are:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
The most dangerous intersections in Huntington Beach are:
- Ellis Avenue and Newland Street
- Edinger Avenue and Beach Boulevard
- Warner Avenue and Beach Boulevard
- Magnolia Avenue and Beach Boulevard
- Golden West Street and Beach Boulevard
The Huntington Beach Police Department is working to reduce traffic collisions by increasing enforcement of traffic laws and educating the public about safe driving practices.
There have also been many pedestrian accidents involving vehicles in Huntington Beach. Five pedestrians died, and 44 were injured in car accidents in one year. Car wrecks killed one and injured 82 bicyclists. Motorcycle accidents injured 46 people in Huntington Beach.
According to HBPD, car collisions are also one of the top causes of bicycle accidents and cyclist injuries in Huntington Beach.
Drunk driving deaths in California continue to rise, and in Huntington Beach, California, there were three fatalities and 110 injuries to prove so.
5 Common Car Accident Injuries
When you file a car accident lawsuit in Huntington Beach, you might be able to win compensation for your injuries, among other factors. After a crash, the next step will depend on the severity of your injuries.
If you were hurt in a high-impact car accident, you might need to be taken to the hospital. Even if your injuries are relatively minor, we recommend getting checked by a medical professional.
Below are the most common injuries claimed after a Huntington Beach motor vehicle accident:
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when a victim of an accident experiences a sudden back-and-forth jerking of the head. Sometimes, a victim may not initially feel the symptoms of whiplash, which can include blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, or numbness.
Whiplash symptoms are not always seen in X-rays. Seek medical attention and document your symptoms so you may provide this information to a doctor and insurance company.
Broken bones
During an accident, a driver or passenger, if they are not wearing a seatbelt, can be thrown into the steering wheel or windshield of a vehicle. This occurrence can cause multiple fractures that can take months to recover from, on top of needing physical therapy.
Bones that are frequently broken during a car crash in Huntington Beach are hip bones, pelvic bones, ribs, the skull, and the clavicle.
Note that if an area in the spine is critically injured, this can lead to a victim becoming completely or partially paralyzed.
Head injuries
There are various types of head injuries. Some include closed head injuries such as concussions and open head injuries, which can include a linear skull fracture.
Traumatic brain injuries can be life-threatening. Just because you do not feel any symptoms after a car accident does not mean you will not feel them later. Even after a minor crash, you need to see a doctor.
Some serious brain injuries that are not experienced initially can worsen over time. According to Bangor Daily News, brain injuries aren’t obvious, but they affect 13.5 million Americans.
Sprains
If a person is involved in a Huntington Beach car crash, the injury victim can acquire multiple sprains. Sprains involve the stretching or tearing of ligaments.
Not all sprains are categorized as the same, though. There are three categories of ligament sprains: grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3. The amount of time it will take for the ligament to heal depends on the amount of damage that has occurred.
Experts say that it can take 3-6 weeks for a sprain to heal.
Herniated or bulging discs
The spine is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body that can greatly be affected after a vehicle collision. One of the most typical forms of trauma after an accident is a bulging or herniated disc.
A bulging disc involves minor injuries to the spine, and this type of injury does not harm the entirety of the disc. A herniated disc is a more severe injury because it can involve an entire disc being ruptured in the spinal cord. Your medical professional ordering a series of X-rays can better determine the state of your discs after a car crash.
Other common injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal damage/bleeding
- Cuts and lacerations
- Serious chest injuries
- Facial injuries
- Psychological damage
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle crash, contact our legal team and take the next step to secure financial compensation.
A Huntington Beach car accident lawyer familiar with the roads and freeways of Orange County is best suited for a local car accident to leverage tools used daily to negotiate local accidents. Call 949-203-384 for a no obligation free consultation.
Evidence to Prove Negligence in Your California Car Crash
Negligence is a legal term that is defined as an entity failing to perform their reasonable “duty of care” which resulted in a party experiencing serious physical, emotional, and property damages. The California statute of limitations requires that the negligent party compensate the injury victim for the damages that they have caused.
Three aspects that need to be demonstrated to prove negligence include that the negligent party had a legal duty to the injured, that the negligent party breached that duty, and that breach of duty caused serious injuries to the victim.
Examples of negligence in a car accident can involve a driver:
- Being intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle
- Not adhering to traffic signals and running a red light
- Exceeding the speed limit
- Reckless driving
If you are unsure if you played a part in the car accident and not sure what comes next, contact a Huntington Beach car accident lawyer to evaluate your case. He can determine if there was comparative negligence in your case.
Comparative negligence means you hold some of the fault for the car crash but not all. You are still entitled to compensation, but it will be less than if you were not at fault.
Financial Damages You Can Recover After an Auto Accident
Car accident victims need to know that no standard amount is awarded to each client involved in a collision. A series of factors will contribute to the compensation won for a personal injury lawsuit.
California is not a no-fault state, so if you are involved in a car accident, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company to seek compensation for your damages, regardless of the severity of your injuries.
The types of financial damages you can recover in a car accident case in California include:
- Medical expenses: This includes the cost of all medical treatment you have received or are expected to receive for your injuries, such as hospital bills, doctor’s bills, physical therapy, and prescription drugs.
- Lost wages: The amount of money you have lost from missing work due to your injuries.
- Property damage: The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other damaged property in the accident.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical and emotional pain and suffering you have endured due to your injuries.
- Loss of future earning potential: Compensation for the loss of future income you are expected to experience due to your injuries.
In addition to these economic damages, you may also be able to recover punitive damages in some cases. Punitive damages are awarded to punish the at-fault driver for reckless or willful misconduct.
The advice of a seasoned car accident lawyer in Huntington Beach will warn against settling your case without skilled legal counsel. They know that insurance companies often won’t give an inch unless “their feet are held to the fire” by a strong advocate on the other side.
They also know that insurance investigators, adjusters, and insurance company attorneys are constantly pressed to keep costs down. In other words, to give you the absolute least in dollar compensation for your losses.
Studies have shown that when you hire a personal injury lawyer, you receive about 25% more than if you handled the injury claim yourself.
Negotiating Car Accident Settlements
The best Huntington Beach car accident attorneys will make sure you are compensated for your suffering and car accident-related expenses. The lawyers will handle the forms and paperwork, court motions, and other legal actions, including depositions, research, hiring accident reconstruction experts if needed, and all other legalities of the case.
More importantly, a dedicated car accident attorney will see a case through from initial negotiations to trial and appeals. We have decades of experience negotiating complex car crash injury claims in and out of Orange County courtrooms.
Trustworthy Orange County car crash lawyers will offer free initial consultations and openly discuss your options and expectations. Their fees are usually paid on a contingency basis, so you’ll pay no fees unless the lawyer is victorious in court or settles with the insurance company.
"If you're involved in a personal injury accident, you should consult with an attorney right away. Evidence could be destroyed that needs to be preserved; the insurance companies are going to be investigating that accident the day it happens; you need to have a lawyer on your side the day it happens as well."
Cars With Auto Defects in Huntington Beach
Auto defects are a contributing factor in some car accidents. This occurs when an issue with the vehicle itself causes a crash or injury, rather than the actions of other drivers.
For instance, a tire blowout or brake failure could result in a fatal crash. The victim’s injuries could also be much more severe if their airbags did not deploy or their seat collapsed upon impact.
Older cars are particularly vulnerable to auto part failure, and there are millions of those cars on the road. Bisnar Chase has a national reputation for resolving auto defect claims. We have taken on major manufacturers and won millions of dollars for our clients. Brian Chase is a national auto defect expert with decades of experience taking on dangerous auto parts that cause car accidents.
When a product failure causes an injury, you need a Huntington Beach product liability attorney with experience with these specific claims. Bisnar Chase can help.
Types of auto defects
- Brake defects
- Steering system failure
- Airbag defects
- Seatbelt defects
- Tire separation defects
- Sudden unintended acceleration
No Win, No Fee Car Accident Attorneys
The law offices of Bisnar Chase operate on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee states that you do not have to pay if our injury lawyers do not win your case. You will never pay us directly; our fees come from the proceeds.
Our no win no fee guarantee provides breathing room for you while we handle the case. You don’t have to worry about attorney fees until we win your case. Otherwise, there is no cost to you.
Our law firm will also work to put all of your medical bills and surgery costs on a medical lien so that you can pay those after the case is settled.
We will work to reduce the total amount of your medical bills as well, so that you can put more of your settlement in your pocket.
A personal injury claim includes many factors that only a legal expert would know about. Popping policy limits usually requires the skill of a seasoned accident lawyer with extensive experience exposing policies. Call 949-203-3814 for a free consultation with a Huntington Beach car accident lawyer at Bisnar Chase.
2024 Lawyer of the Year - American Institute of Legal Professionals
Our law firm focuses on handling car accident claims, providing exceptional representation and high-caliber legal knowledge to ensure the best result for injured parties, including those involved in DUI accidents, which are frequent occurrences in Huntington Beach.
Our priority is our dedication to professionalism, clear communication, and meticulous attention to detail. We handle every portion of your case with the utmost care, giving you and your family peace of mind during distressing times.
Bisnar Chase has been representing residents of Huntington Beach since 1978. Our office is located next door in Newport Beach, conveniently located near you, and we’re available for home and hospital appointments if needed.
Our injury attorneys handle a variety of personal injury cases, and we may be able to ease your anxiety about your rights. We have experience in many practice areas, such as slip and falls, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and dog bite incidents.
Our experienced car accident lawyers provide personalized representation services tailored to each case’s unique circumstances, ensuring that all clients receive the best possible outcome and maximum recovery.
If you have experienced serious injuries due to a negligent driver or have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one, call our Huntington Beach car accident lawyers at (949) 203-3814 to schedule a free case analysis or to seek representation.
