A car accident can change your life in an instant. We understand how stressful it can be trying to recover from your injuries while also worrying about insurance companies, mounting expenses, and lost wages.
At Jacoby & Meyers Injury Lawyers, we have been protecting the rights of California injury victims for more than 50 years. With more than $2 billion in settlements and awards collected, you can trust that we know how to win big for our clients.
We want to help you get your life back on track after a car accident. Let our experienced, dedicated Oakland car accident lawyers handle your legal claim so you can focus on your recovery.
If we represent you, we will immediately begin investigating your accident and gathering evidence to support your claims. We will customize a legal strategy based on the specific facts of your case and aggressively fight to get every dollar you deserve.
Why Choose Us?
- We are experts in serious automotive cases and frequently achieve settlements over 10 times the initial automobile insurance offer. Many of our landmark case results have been auto accidents.
- Our attorneys are committed not only to helping you make a financial recovery, but helping you get the medical treatment you need and handling your property damage, as well.
- You will receive individualized attention from your attorney. Our team of seasoned lawyers and experienced litigators will personalize your legal experience for optimal results.
- At Jacoby & Meyers, we believe everyone deserves justice. We will fight to get you the settlement you need at no costs upfront. We only charge for our services if we win the case.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer in Oakland Help?
If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident in Oakland, you may assume that you will qualify for insurance coverage if you did not cause the crash. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not make it easy to get the compensation you need. Hiring a car accident lawyer in Oakland can prove invaluable during the claims process.
An accident lawyer can evaluate the details of your car crash to help you understand your rights and determine fault. A law firm can hire top experts to strengthen your claim and prove fault if needed.
A lawyer can also handle insurance companies to combat tactics that are designed to minimize your payout. If negotiations fail, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you during litigation to maximize your financial recovery.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Accept
Jacoby & Meyers is a highly experienced team of attorneys that has an in-depth understanding of California car accident law. We can use our knowledge to make the prosecution of your claim, case or lawsuit successful in the courtroom and beyond.
We accept the following types of motor vehicle accident cases in Oakland, among others:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle collisions
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Taxi accidents
- Bus and AC Transit accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Driving under the influence (DUI) accidents
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone collisions
- Rear-end accidents
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Rollovers
- Auto defect accidents
- Fatal auto accidents
It’s important to hire an attorney with experience handling your specific type of car accident case. That way, you can rest assured that your attorney understands the nuances and intricacies of your specific case and how to navigate any challenges you encounter.
Common Causes of Oakland Car Accidents
If you get involved in a car accident in Oakland, you will have to navigate California’s fault-based insurance law to recover financial compensation for your bills and losses. This means you will need to understand who or what caused your accident before you can file a car insurance claim.
Oakland car accidents can have numerous causes. Some of the most common include:
- Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents. Texting, eating, adjusting the radio, talking on the phone, or having conversations with your passengers can all distract your attention from the road and cause an accident.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol impairs judgment, reaction time, and coordination which increases the chances of having an accident.
- Speeding reduces your ability to react to road hazards making crashes more likely and increasing the severity of injuries when an accident happens.
- Reckless drivers engaging in behaviors such as tailgating, running red lights or stop signs, and aggressively weaving in and out of traffic are often the cause of Oakland car accidents.
- An inexperienced driver may not anticipate road hazards or react as quickly to dangerous conditions which may increase the chances of a crash.
- Fatigued driving can impair reaction times and abilities as much as driving under the influence.
- Vehicle defects or failures such as tire blowouts, brake failure, steering malfunctions, and more can cause car accidents.
- Wildlife running into the highway can cause a serious collision, In California there are more than 7,000 collisions involving wildlife each year. One study shows that vehicle collisions with wildlife cost California $1 billion over a 5-year period.
- Poor vehicle maintenance can cause brake, tire, and engine problems that make you more likely to have an accident.
- Dangerous road conditions such as a defective design can lead to car accidents.
Negligence is the number one cause of car accidents in Oakland. Someone is negligent if he or she fails to exercise a reasonable amount of care. Holding a negligent party responsible for an automobile accident takes evidence and proof of fault.
Common Injuries in Oakland Car Accidents
Car accidents in Oakland can result in injuries ranging from mild whiplash and bruises to life-altering injuries and even death. Some of the most common Oakland car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Amputations
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Broken and crushed bones
- Bruises, lacerations, and cuts
- Burns
- Disfigurement
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, and depression
Many times car accident victims believe they have suffered only minor injuries only to realize later that those “minor” injuries have a big impact on their mobility and often cause chronic pain.
Oakland Car Accident Statistics
Speeding is the cause of approximately 25% of deadly Oakland car collisions and 75% of severe or fatal injuries in Oakland happen at intersections.
Oakland is known for having a high rate of traffic collisions and 60% of the severe and fatal crashes in Oakland occur in just 6% of its streets. The rate of crashes is disproportionately higher in some of the poorest areas of town.
These high-injury streets are mostly in Oakland’s “Communities of Concern.” Communities of Concern is a term used to describe communities with high rates of poverty, people of color, people with disabilities, zero-car households, and English as a second language.
To address this problem, the Department of Transportation, the City Administrator’s Office, the Oakland Police Department, and the Department of Race and Equity launched the Safe Oakland Street (SOS) initiative in 2021. In addition to the SOS program, the city has recently taken several other aggressive initiatives to address the high rate of traffic collisions in Oakland
Important California Car Accident Laws
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule for personal injury cases. This means that even if you were partially at fault in your car accident, you can still recover damages from the other at-fault parties.
In many states, a car accident victim is barred from recovering damages if their fault in the accident meets a certain standard. For example, in Texas, you can not seek damages for your injuries if you were more than 51% at fault in the accident.
This is not true in California. Here, you could even be 99% at fault in the accident and still recover damages from the party who was only 1% at fault. However, your damages award will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you.
So, if you were found to be 30% at fault in an Oakland car accident and your compensation award was $100,000, you would only receive $70,000. This is because your award was reduced by 30%, which is your percentage of fault in the accident.
Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Claim in Oakland
Another important law you should be aware of is the statute of limitations for your claim. The statute of limitations sets your deadline for seeking compensation for damages. If you miss your deadline, you will most likely not be able to recover any compensation.
The statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits in California is two years. California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 states: “an action for assault, battery, or injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another” must be filed within two years.
However, there are exceptions to this rule.
When a government entity is named a defendant, you will have a shorter time to file a claim. There are also a few situations where the two-year deadline may be tolled or extended.
You must seek the advice of an experienced Oakland car accident lawyer to understand the relevant deadline for your case.
How to Prove a Car Accident Case
Although California’s fault law generally results in greater payouts than in no-fault states, the drawback is that victims must prove that another party was at fault and caused the car crash.
The burden of proof is a “preponderance of the evidence,” meaning enough evidence must be shown to prove that the accused party is at fault for the car crash with at least a 51 percent certainty.
To meet your burden of proof, you may need evidence such as:
- A police report describing the accident
- Photographs of the crash scene
- Video footage of the automotive accident
- Eyewitness statements
- Medical and crash experts
- Accident reconstruction
- Medical records
Our lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers can return to where your car accident took place, interview witnesses, hire experts and take other steps to gather evidence to help you prove your claim. We understand what is necessary to prove negligence and liability in an Oakland car accident case.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Oakland
It is important to know what steps to take after getting involved in a car accident in California. Certain actions can effectively protect your rights and ability to recover financial compensation for the crash. Your first priority should be your health and well-being.
Try to remember to take the following steps:
- Put your safety first. Assess yourself, your passengers and others involved for injuries. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, and always get prompt medical care for your injuries.
- Call the police. Dial 911 from the scene to connect with the Oakland Police Department to report the accident, especially if there are injuries, significant damage, broken laws or fault disputes.
- Document the accident by exchanging information with the others involved, taking photographs and videos while you are still at the scene, and speaking to witnesses.
- Contact your car insurance company to let them know about the car accident. Avoid admitting fault, giving them a recorded statement or accepting a fast settlement.
- Review your rights with an attorney. Call Jacoby & Meyers as soon as possible to receive advice and guidance that you can trust.
If you need help knowing what to do and taking the right steps after a car crash in Oakland, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will ensure that you are treated fairly from the very beginning of your case.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Jacoby & Meyers’ Car Accident Attorneys?
Our car accident lawyers take pride in operating on a contingency fee basis. We work for you – not an insurance company. We will not charge you any fees unless we win. If a car insurance company denies liability or coverage for your case, we will not charge you a fee for our services. We only get paid if you win.
If we successfully recover compensation for your losses, we will take our fee as a percentage of the overall amount won, rather than billing you directly. We have earned the trust of tens of thousands of clients who need compassion and representation when they are most vulnerable.
Contact an Oakland Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in a car accident, you need the guidance and representation of an experienced Oakland car accident lawyer. At Jacoby & Meyers, we have been successfully representing California car accident victims for more than 50 years.
We know all the insurance companies’ tactics and how to overcome them. We have a proven track record of recovering maximum compensation for our car accident clients and we want to do the same for you.
Call us at (866) 387-8009 or visit our contact page today to schedule a free consultation. We will evaluate your case, answer your questions, explain your options, and help you choose the right way forward to rebuild your life.
Call or text 888-522-6291 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
