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Northern California Car Accident Lawyers

Fighting for All Northern California Residents

After a car accident, your life can change for the worse in a heartbeat. Even minor injuries can leave you facing expensive medical bills and unexpected insurance disputes. The repair bills for your car might very well be just as expensive as the medical bills. Worse, you might be injured so severely that you’re unable to work while you recover.

If this is your situation, you need an aggressive and committed Norther California car accident lawyer on your side to help you overcome the legal challenges ahead and face down insurance companies who will try to minimize your settlement. Turn to the California legal team from the Law Offices of J.Chrisp in your time of need.

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Call the Law Offices of J.Chrisp today at (415) 360-1919 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our car injury attorneys in Northern California.

Is California a No-Fault State?

The answer is no; California is a fault state. This means that if you are injured in a car accident, you may sue both the at-fault driver and their auto insurance company for compensation to cover damages.

So what happens if you are at fault in a car accident? You are responsible for the damages of anyone who was injured in the accident. The other driver has the right to file a claim to receive compensation, just as you do if you are injured in an accident is not your fault.

In most cases, your auto insurance will cover the expenses that you are responsible for as the at-fault driver, depending on your plan.

The Risks of the Road

While most Americans get into a car every day, many of us don’t fully understand the risks involved in doing so. In 2013 alone, car crashes resulted in over 2.4 million hospital visits. This included over 33,800 vehicle accident fatalities — the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States.

You can’t control what other drivers are doing. This means that even the safest drivers are at risk of being in a car accident.

From speeding to texting while driving, negligent drivers put us all in danger. Your Northern California car accident lawyer will investigate the details of your wreck and help you pinpoint precisely where the fault lies. Doing so will allow you to pursue compensation from all responsible parties.

Car accidents happen so often that it is statistically likely that you will be involved in one at some point in your lifetime. It’s best to be prepared.

No matter what type of accident you are in, if you are the driver or the passenger, at fault or not at fault, these steps are important to follow for both your safety and car accident injury claim.

Detailed below are just a few of the more common causes of car crashes:

Accidents Caused by Drunk Drivers

Over 1 million drivers are charged with driving under the influence (DUI) every year. These reckless drivers cause more than 300,000 injuries and about 10,000 accident fatalities annually. By one estimate, almost one out of every three Americans will be in an accident caused by a drunk driver during the course of his or her life.

DUI is an act of gross negligence which leaves the drunk driver responsible for your injuries and damages. You may also be able to hold the business who served the driver accountable. A knowledgeable Northern California car accident lawyer from our firm can advise you as to whether pursuing this is appropriate.

Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving

Handheld cell phone use while driving is banned in California, and all cell phone use behind the wheel is forbidden to drivers under the age of 18. Texting while driving is banned for all drivers. By some accounts, 80 percent of accidents are caused by distracted driving, and cell phone use is the number 1 cause of distracted driving today.

Finding evidence of the distraction that caused your crash can be challenging, but your motor vehicle accident lawyer will know where to look. Whether through cell phone records or witness testimony, we can find it and present it in your case.

Accidents Caused by Speeding

Speeding is another form of driver negligence, and it causes some of the most destructive crashes. Getting injured because someone was in a hurry or looking for an adrenaline rush can be an overwhelmingly frustrating experience — one that could leave you disabled and in debt.

By working with a Northern California motor vehicle accident lawyer from our office, we’ll make sure the speeding driver who hit you accounts for his or her actions.

Call the Law Offices of J.Chrisp today at (415) 360-1919 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our car injury attorneys in Northern California.

Know Your Rights after a Car Crash

The goal of any insurance adjuster will be to minimize your financial settlement. Obviously, this goes against your best interests, and things can get even more difficult if opposing attorneys get involved.

After an accident, you should always immediately speak with a car crash lawyer from our office.

To protect your claim, always bear the following in mind:
  • Never offer to settle immediately, for any amount. We can review any offer you receive and advise you on whether it is fair.
  • Never accept medical advice from the insurance company. Always see your own doctor for a true evaluation of your injuries.
  • Never give a recorded statement to the insurance company. Let us handle these communications on your behalf.
  • Never give the auto insurer access to your private medical history.

Should I Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Wasn’t My Fault?

Yes, you should get a lawyer if you were involved in a car accident, even if it was not your fault. Even if you did not cause the accident, you cannot assume that things will work out in your favor — you will need to prove that you did not do anything wrong.

An experienced Lake County car accident lawyer can help ensure that the liable party pays for damages that you may have suffered. They can also guide you throughout the process — if the other driver was at fault, their insurance company may come after you and try to trick you into making statements that will lower the value of your claim.

They may also try to settle for less than the full amount of your damages. An attorney by your side can stop this from happening.

Call the Law Offices of J.Chrisp today at (415) 360-1919 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our car injury attorneys in Northern California.

Can I Sue If I Wasn’t Injured in a Car Accident?

If you were not injured in the car accident, you cannot file a personal injury claim; in order to have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, you must prove that the other person’s negligence or wrongful conduct led you to suffer measurable injuries and/or damages.

However, a car accident that doesn’t lead to physical injuries can still result in significant damage to your vehicle. This can cause you to face considerable financial hardship and practical challenges when it comes to commuting to work, traveling, and getting around.

If you were not injured in the crash, but your car or vehicle was damaged, you can file a claim through your own insurance provider (if you have the appropriate coverage) or against the at-faulty party’s auto insurance company.

Property damage claims are different—and often less complex—than personal injury claims. Frequently, people are able to file and resolve these claims on their own, without the help of an attorney.

How to File a Property Damage Claim

To file a property damage claim, you should do the following:

  • If the accident resulted in more than $750 of damage, you must file an SR-1 form with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days of the accident. Provide all of your complete insurance information on the form to avoid having your license suspended due to lack of insurance.
  • Contact the insurance company—yours or the other party’s—and schedule a time for the adjuster to view the damage to your vehicle. Depending on the damage and whether your car is operational, you may need to bring it to an auto repair shop for an evaluation. The insurance company may choose the auto repair shop.
  • Get several estimates on the damage from different reputable auto repair shops. Make sure to get these estimates in writing. Having several estimates can allow you to obtain a clear picture of the damage and what it will cost, which will better equip you for negotiating with the insurance adjuster.

If your vehicle was totaled in the accident, the insurance company is responsible for reimbursing you for its “fair market value.” Note that this does not mean that the insurance company has to pay you the same amount you paid for the vehicle, nor does it have to pay you for the amount you still owe (if your car is not paid off).

Rather, the insurance company must pay you an amount based on the average selling price of your vehicle, as calculated by averaging two comparable vehicles listed or sold within 90 days of the accident.
“They were very helpful in ensuring I was properly paid for all and any medical costs related to the injury.”
- Amy C. - Napa, CA
“Went the extra mile to help reduce our medical bills and we are very grateful for his efforts.”
- Keith W. - Cloverdale, CA
“The settlement was far above the offers from the insurance adjusters initial ridiculously low offer.”
- Gary L. - Ukiah, CA
“Jesse has a phenomenal balance of assertiveness and strength along with warmth and approachability (to his clients).”
- B. V. - Santa Rosa, CA
“He literally got me 11x more than what the others had tried to get me to settle for.”
- William W. - Santa Rosa, CA
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Why Choose the Law Offices of J.Chrisp?

Why should you retain a lawyer from the Law Offices of J.Chrisp to represent you? Our Lake County car accident lawyers have:

  • Experience. Our office has successfully concluded thousands of cases and obtained millions of dollars for our clients. We take pride in our ability to prepare cases for trial. Insurers will usually settle most of our cases out of court because they know we’re able to obtain justice in front of a jury.

  • Dedication. Personal injury makes up 100 percent of our firm’s cases. You can rest easy knowing that your lawyer will aggressively pursue the best financial settlement possible for your case.

  • Knowledge. We understand car crash injuries and insurance companies. As your representative, we’ll make certain you have a full understanding of the true scope of your injuries before it comes time to settle. Whether your case can settle or needs to go to court, we’ll sit down with you to explain the entire process so you can decide what to do.

  • Confidence. The aftermath of a car crash is a stressful time. You need the confidence from knowing that your lawyer will fight for you. We know insurance company tactics and understand how to present your case to a jury. We can arm you with this knowledge, giving you power over the entire process. You’ll never doubt your choice of attorney. Your case is our case, and that’s how we’ll treat it until we reach a successful conclusion.

  • Care. Our clients are more than clients. Each case is pursued with care and compassion. To us, each case exists only because of the individual behind it, and every individual motivates us to achieve justice.

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Serving Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino & Lake Counties

If you have been injured in any type of car accident, call a car accident lawyer you can depend on. At the Law Offices of J.Chrisp, our team is ready to fight for your rights. We also serve clients across Lake County, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa. Our firm provides you with decades of combined experience settling car accident claims in and out California courts.

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We leave no stones unturned in our approach. Our goal is to maximize your recovery. We have collected over $250 Million in settlements and verdicts for Northern California injury victims.
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Santa Rosa Office

3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Phone: (707) 994-0529

Lake County Office

9667 Highway 29, Lower Lake,
CA 95457

Phone: (707) 994-0529

San Francisco Office

1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D San Francisco, CA 94109

Phone: (415) 795-2000