If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one because of a motor vehicle accident, we can help you seek compensation for your losses.
With Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices by your side, you don’t have to be alone in your case. Let a car accident injury lawyer from our firm handle your insurance claim or lawsuit so that you can focus on your recovery.
Why Choose Us
- Our lawyers have proudly served Californians in personal injury cases for more than 50 years. We have more experience and higher settlements than any of our competitors.
- We have an impressive track record of success in automotive accident cases. Our past results include $19 million for a rideshare accident and $17.5 million for a bicycle accident case.
- Our law firm is composed of lawyers, case managers and team members who make the prosecution of a car accident claim, case or lawsuit successful in the courtroom and beyond.
- We keep fees affordable for crash victims by operating on a contingency fee basis. You won’t be charged a fee for our services unless we win your car accident case in San Jose.
How Can a San Jose Car Accident Lawyer Help?
Hiring a qualified San Jose car accident attorney to represent you in the aftermath of a crash can be invaluable to your physical, emotional and financial recovery. The right car accident lawyer can connect you with health care providers that will prioritize your health and well-being. A lawyer can also help you deal with property damage repairs.
While you focus on healing, your lawyer can investigate the car accident, determine fault and liability, collect evidence, file your claim, and negotiate a fair settlement from an insurance provider. If necessary, your lawyer can represent you in court in Santa Clara County. A law firm will have connections to experts and key legal resources to strengthen your case.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Jacoby & Meyers knows personal injury law. Since 1972, we’ve provided high-quality legal representation to clients who are suffering from serious and life-changing injuries. We’ve been voted the #1 Personal Injury Firm five years in a row.
We can help if you are dealing with any type of injury from an auto accident, including:
- Catastrophic injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis (e.g., paraplegia or quadriplegia)
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severe lacerations
- Amputations
- Burn injuries
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Internal injuries or organ damage
Car accident injuries can cause a lifetime of medical expenses, disability or long-term effects, and pain and suffering. Our lawyers will help you seek the compensation you need to pay for these losses and move forward with your life.
You Can Seek Financial Compensation
If your accident injuries required medical treatment, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in health care bills. If you suffered severe injuries, emergency care may be only the beginning of your medical needs.
A lawyer from our firm can help you pursue compensation for your past and future medical costs, including:
- Hospital stays
- Medications
- Surgeries and other procedures
- Follow-up care
- Physical therapy
- Skilled nursing care
- Medical devices and mobility aids
- Doctor visits and specialist appointments
If you cannot work because of your injuries, your financial worries may only be compounded by the fact you may not have a paycheck coming in.
Your Damages Can Cover Intangible Losses
You could also seek compensation for other losses caused by the accident, including:
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Disfigurement
- Loss of limb
- Pain and suffering
- Depression and anxiety
Seeking Awards on Behalf of a Lost Loved One
Under CCP §377.60, if your loved one died because of the negligent or wrongful actions of another party, you may have the right to seek compensation. Those eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim include the deceased’s surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children. If there is no surviving spouse, partner, or direct descendants, other parties may be entitled to seek compensation.
Other forms of compensation may be available for those who lost a loved one, including damages that the deceased might have received had they survived. We can explain more about the various types of damages awarded after a motorcyclist is killed in a negligent accident.
California’s Car Accident Laws
A successful car accident claim in San Jose takes an understanding of California’s related laws and statutes. You need to understand who can be held liable, or legally responsible, for your car accident under California’s insurance laws, for example.
Our attorneys can explain the laws that may affect your car accident case, such as:
- Fault law. California uses a fault-based insurance system, where the driver or party at fault for causing the car accident is held liable for the victim’s damages. It is up to the victim to prove fault to qualify for insurance benefits.
- Insurance requirements. All drivers in California are required to maintain at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for injury/death and $15,000 for property damage insurance. This coverage should be available if another driver is at fault for your collision.
- Comparative negligence. The law in California allows multiple parties to share liability for an automobile accident. In this situation, if the plaintiff is given a percentage of fault, his or her financial recovery would be reduced by an equivalent amount.
Effectively navigating all of California’s laws that apply to your car accident case may take help from an attorney. Jacoby & Meyers has been practicing law long enough to have invented the personal injury category as we know it today. We can guide you through the legal process with personalized advice.
We Can Help You File a Claim or Lawsuit
From gathering evidence of your losses to negotiating with the insurance company, we can help you with every aspect of your claim or lawsuit. Even though filing a claim may seem like a straightforward process, we can help you with any issues that may arise along the way.
We Can Determine Liability in Your Case
The majority of vehicle accidents are caused by a motorist’s driving error, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This may include actions like:
- Driving distracted
- Driving drunk
- Failing to yield
- Traveling in the wrong lane
- Speeding
- Failing to obey traffic laws
We can collect evidence of the other driver’s negligence in order to demonstrate their liability for the accident. However, even if you were partially at fault for an accident, you could still be awarded compensation. We can help determine liability and fault in your accident and can tell you how much you could expect to pursue.
Who Is Liable for Your Crash in San Jose?
Determining who is liable for your automobile accident in San Jose will take an investigation into the cause of the crash. Multiple parties could be held responsible, depending on the circumstances.
Examples of liable parties include:
- An individual driver
- A driver’s employer
- A company or business
- A product manufacturer
- A trucking company
- The government or entity in charge of road maintenance
Holding multiple parties liable for your car crash in San Jose could maximize your financial recovery by granting you access to more than one insurance policy. Let our lawyers review your case to identify the defendant(s).
We Can Negotiate on Your Behalf
In the event that an insurance company is not willing to offer you a fair settlement, we can fight for your compensation. We can handle all communication and negotiation with the insurance companies for you.
We can:
- Provide evidence of your losses, including your medical bills, pay stubs, expert testimony, and more
- Demonstrate evidence of negligence on the part of the other driver, including police reports, eyewitness statements, video from the accident scene, and more
- Take your case to court, if the insurance company will not agree to a fair offer
We can work to show the effect that the accident had on your life, demonstrating the severity of your injuries and your losses. We can also prove to the insurance company the amount you may deserve.
We Can Help You With Problems that May Arise in Your Claim
For instance, an insurance company may:
- Try to offer you a low settlement
- Put pressure on you to accept their first offer in a hurry
- Deny that their client was liable for the accident
The team at Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices understands you need money as soon as possible, and you do not have time to waste haggling with insurance companies. We can deal with insurers on your behalf and represent you during negotiations. We will fight to secure you the best possible settlement amount available in your case.
What to Do After a Car Accident in San Jose
If you get hurt in a car accident while in San Jose, California, it is in your best interest to know what steps to take to protect your rights after the crash. Taking the correct actions can make your claim easier and more successful.
Here’s what to do:
- Stay calm and pull your vehicle over in a safe location near the scene of the accident. Check yourself and others for injuries.
- If anyone is injured, call 911 to request paramedics immediately. Report the accident to law enforcement to obtain a police report.
- Get medical treatment for your injuries right away. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and keep copies of your health care records.
- Exchange information with the other driver involved in the crash, including car insurance information. Do not admit fault.
- If there are witnesses or vehicle passengers, get their information to collect statements later. Witnesses may have important details about the crash.
- Take photos of the crash scene before you leave. Look around for surveillance and traffic video cameras in the area.
- Contact your own car insurance company to report the accident as soon as possible. Provide them with details about the crash, but avoid admitting fault.
- Keep records and reports associated with your car accident, such as the police report, repair estimates, medical documentation and communications with insurers.
- File a claim with the at-fault driver’s car insurance provider. Don’t give them a recorded statement or accept the first settlement offer.
- Consult a lawyer in San Jose. If necessary, contact an attorney for assistance with issues such as a liability dispute, rejected claim or inadequate settlement offer.
You don’t have to do everything perfectly after a car accident in San Jose. As soon as you contact Jacoby & Meyers, we can take over the legal process for you at any stage to preserve your rights and seek a positive case outcome on your behalf.
Do Not Let the Statute of Limitations Expire
The insurance process can take time. While there is not a time limit on settling your claims outside of court, there is a window for how long you have to file a lawsuit. According to CCP §335.1, you have two years to take action for personal injury or wrongful death.
While we will work hard to reach a settlement with the insurance companies, we can assist you with a lawsuit, if necessary. However, we will need time to collect evidence and build your case.
Get Started With a Free Consultation with Our Attorneys
We are committed to helping our clients seek the fairest settlement possible. We have helped car accident victims across California achieve millions of dollars in awards. Let us help you, too by calling for a free consultation at (888) 522-6291.
Call or text 888-522-6291 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
