Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
Hit by another driver in Los Angeles and not sure what to do next? The insurer for the driver who hit you is already building its case. Los Angeles County sees more traffic collisions than any other county in California. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Los Angeles consistently leads the state in traffic fatalities and serious injury crashes, with tens of thousands of collisions reported annually across the county’s freeways, surface streets, and intersections. Most victims have no idea what their case is worth until they speak with an attorney. By then, many have already said something to an adjuster that costs them real money.
Pedram Law represents car accident victims across Los Angeles County on a contingency basis. Whether the crash happened on the 405, the 10, Wilshire Boulevard, or a residential street in East LA, the legal framework is the same and the insurer’s playbook is the same. Free case evaluation. No fees unless we win.
Why Car Accident Cases in Los Angeles Are Different
Los Angeles is not just a high-volume market. It is a market where insurance carriers have dedicated local defense teams, where the Stanley Mosk Courthouse civil docket pushes trial dates out years, and where unrepresented claimants face professional adjusters who handle hundreds of claims at a time. The defense bar in LA is among the most sophisticated in California.
That dynamic cuts two ways. Victims without representation get worn down by delay and accept low offers. Victims with a firm willing to file and try cases at Stanley Mosk get the full value LA juries actually award. Pedram Law prepares every Los Angeles car accident case as if it is headed to trial, because in serious cases, it often is.
Los Angeles also has specific complications that do not appear in other markets. LA Metro buses and rail vehicles, LADOT vehicles, and city and county fleet vehicles are all government-owned. If a government vehicle contributed to your crash, you have six months to file an administrative claim under the Government Claims Act, not the standard two years. Many LA crash victims do not realize a government vehicle was involved until an attorney identifies the issue.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Los Angeles
- Call 911. An LAPD or CHP report creates the official record. Without a report, the other driver can later dispute what happened.
- Get medical attention the same day. Whiplash, concussion, and spinal symptoms often appear 24 to 72 hours after impact. A delay between the crash and your first medical visit gives the insurer ammunition to argue your injuries are not serious.
- Photograph everything at the scene. All vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, intersection markings, and any visible injuries before anything is moved.
- Get witness contact information. In LA traffic, witnesses from nearby vehicles stop regularly. Get names and numbers before they leave.
- Report the crash to your own insurer factually. Time, location, basic facts. Do not speculate about fault or describe injuries in detail.
- Contact a Los Angeles car accident lawyer before giving any statement to the other driver’s insurer. You have no legal obligation to provide a recorded statement. Most victims who give one regret it.
California Laws That Apply to Your Los Angeles Car Accident
Statute of limitations. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the at-fault vehicle was a government vehicle (LAPD, LADOT, LA Metro, LA County fleet), you have six months to file an administrative claim. Missing either deadline permanently bars the case.
Pure comparative fault. California is a pure comparative fault state. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but never eliminated. If your case is worth $1,000,000 and a jury finds you 25% at fault, you still recover $750,000. LA defense teams aggressively inflate plaintiff fault percentages. An experienced attorney pushes back with evidence.
Minimum insurance requirements. California Vehicle Code Section 16000 requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $5,000 for property damage. These minimums are routinely insufficient for serious LA crash injuries.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 requires auto insurers to offer UM and UIM coverage with every policy. If you were hit by an uninsured driver or a driver with insufficient coverage, your own UM or UIM policy may apply. Hit-and-run accidents in Los Angeles are frequently covered under UM policies.
For a full breakdown of the legal framework, evidence requirements, and damages analysis that applies to every California car accident case, attorneys who handle car accident cases across California identify every coverage source and liable party from day one.
Why Los Angeles Injury Victims Choose Pedram Law
Nima Pedram founded Pedram Law after being injured by a negligent driver. He went through the same medical recovery, insurance dispute, and legal process his clients now face. Nima earned his JD from Loyola Law School while serving as a Vice President at JPMorgan and is admitted to the California State Bar, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Silvia Gonzalez leads litigation alongside Nima. She holds a Stanford undergraduate degree, a Harvard master’s degree, and a Loyola Law School JD. She represents Spanish-speaking clients regularly and brings specific strength to cases involving insurance disputes and first-time navigation of the California court system.
Pedram Law has recovered $600,000 for a car accident victim, $287,000 in a separate auto matter, $1,000,000 in a slip and fall, and $500,000 in a wrongful death case. The firm represents Los Angeles car accident victims on contingency. No fees unless we win. Free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Los Angeles?
Two years from the date of the crash under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 for accidents involving private parties. Six months if a government vehicle was involved, including LAPD, LADOT, LA Metro, or any city or county fleet vehicle. Missing the six-month deadline on a government claim permanently bars that portion of the case.
What if the other driver was uninsured?
Los Angeles has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in California. Your own uninsured motorist coverage under California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 may apply. Hit-and-run accidents are frequently covered under UM policies as well. Pedram Law identifies every available source of recovery including UM and UIM coverage on every case.
What if an LA Metro bus or city vehicle hit me?
You have six months to file an administrative claim with the responsible government entity under the Government Claims Act, not the standard two years. LA Metro, LADOT, LAPD, and LA County fleet vehicles all trigger this shorter deadline. Many victims do not realize a government vehicle was involved until an attorney reviews the facts. Call quickly if any government vehicle played a role.
How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer at Pedram Law?
Nothing upfront. Pedram Law handles Los Angeles car accident cases on contingency. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your initial case evaluation is free.
Will my case go to trial in Los Angeles?
Most cases settle before trial. Pedram Law prepares every LA car accident case as if it will go before a Stanley Mosk Courthouse jury, which is why insurers take our demands seriously. If the carrier refuses fair value, we file and try the case.
Serving Car Accident Victims Across Los Angeles
Pedram Law represents car accident victims throughout Los Angeles County, including Downtown LA, Hollywood, Silver Lake, East Los Angeles, Koreatown, Westwood, Culver City, Inglewood, Compton, and the San Fernando Valley.
Pedram Law, PC
8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1024
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(844) 344-4444
If you were injured in a car accident anywhere in Los Angeles County, Pedram Law is ready to evaluate your case at no cost. Free case evaluation. No fees unless we win.
This content has been reviewed by the attorneys at Pedram Law, PC, licensed to practice law in the State of California.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.
