Santa Rosa Car Accident Lawyer
It’s important to explore your legal rights and options after a car accident in Santa Rosa, California. As a victim, you may have the opportunity to seek compensation for your lost wages, disability, medical expenses, and suffering. However, it can be intimidating to take on a powerful insurance company and successfully obtain the monetary award you deserve. That’s where the Santa Rosa personal injury lawyers at Singleton Schreiber can help.
Singleton Schreiber is a fearless advocate for injury victims and grieving families in Santa Rosa, CA. Recognized as leaders in car accident litigation, our award-winning California trial attorneys have forced insurance companies, corporations, government agencies, and other tough adversaries to pay clients more than $2.5 billion in damages.
Don’t settle for less than your car accident case is worth. Trust our personal injury law firm to help you maximize your recovery. We offer a free consultation, so contact our Santa Rosa law office today. Call (707) 640-3365.
Why You’ll Want Singleton Schreiber Fighting For You After a Car Accident in Santa Rosa, CA
Insurance companies don’t want crash victims to hire lawyers. They’re well aware of the fact that plaintiffs who hire lawyers win their cases more often and tend to recover higher settlements.
Insurance companies in Santa Rosa definitely don’t want crash victims to turn to Singleton Schreiber for help. Our Santa Rosa personal injury lawyers are well-respected litigators with a proven ability to take on tough cases and win life-changing results.
Here are just a few of the benefits of working with our top-rated legal team after a car accident in Santa Rosa:
- We’ve successfully won billions of dollars for our clients, including countless million-dollar and multi-million-dollar awards
- Members of our team have been recognized as SuperLawyers, “Lawyer of the Year - Personal Injury Litigation” by Best Lawyers in America, "Top 100 Leaders in Law Awards” by the San Diego Journal, and “Top Lawyers” by Sacramento Magazine
- Our determined, resourceful, client-driven approach to holding the harmful accountable has earned us hundreds of positive reviews on platforms like Avvo, Google, and Martindale-Hubbell
- Our commitment to our local community goes beyond our legal representation, as evidenced by our extensive community partnerships
At Singleton Schreiber, clients work with local attorneys with access to significant national resources. This, paired with our commitment to client-centered justice, helps to set us apart from other personal injury law firms in Santa Rosa.
You don’t have to struggle with the costs and consequences of a car accident on your own. Turn to Singleton Schreiber, and our legal team will be there to support you every step of the way. We offer a free consultation, so contact our Santa Rosa, CA, law office to get started today.
Helping Clients in All Types of Car Accident Cases
Every car accident is unique. If you want to maximize your recovery, you’ll need to enlist the help of a law firm with extensive experience handling all different types of car accident cases. With experience, comes knowledge and insight about how to consistently build successful claims for crash victims like yourself.
At Singleton Schreiber, we have decades of experience representing clients in car accident cases including:
- Rollovers
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipes
- T-Bone accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Single vehicle accidents
- Multi-vehicle crashes
- Hit and run accidents
- Collisions with uninsured motorists
- Fatal car accidents
Learn more about how we’ve helped crash victims and families win million-dollar and multi-million dollar awards by contacting our Santa Rosa law office today. Members of our team are available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Santa Rosa Car Accident Statistics
Santa Rosa is the fifth-largest city in California’s Bay Area. It’s also the largest city in the state’s popular Wine Country and Redwood Coast. Not surprisingly, Santa Rosa roads see a considerable amount of traffic every year from residents and tourists, alike.
Where there’s traffic, accidents follow. According to crash data published by the University of California at Berkeley, 514 car accidents were reported in Santa Rosa in 2023.
While no fatalities were reported that year, 714 people were injured in Santa Rosa crashes.
On average, there are between one and two traffic accidents a day in Santa Rosa. About one-third of these collisions take place on state highways, like Highway 101 and Highway 12 which run straight through the heart of the city.
What Are the Top Causes of Car Accidents?
There’s a reason why negligence is the primary cause of action for car accident claims in Santa Rosa. Most car accidents happen because someone is careless, uses poor judgment, or gets aggressive behind the wheel.
Specifically, some of the most common causes of car accidents in Santa Rosa include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Road rage
- Tailgating
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal turns
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Failing to signal before turning
- Braking errors
- Running red and yellow lights
- Rolling stops
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
In some situations, factors outside of a motorist’s control - like bad weather, vehicle defects, and road defects - can contribute to accidents or cause them entirely.
Knowing exactly why and how your car accident happened will be critical to the success of your legal claim for damages. Our Santa Rosa car accident attorneys will dive into the details of your wreck and work to uncover the cause(s). Once the cause is known, we can begin to explore your options for obtaining the monetary award you need and deserve.
How Do I Get Compensation After a Santa Rosa Car Accident?
Insurance is the primary source of compensation for crash victims in California. State law requires motorists to purchase auto insurance before they can register a vehicle and hit the open road. Since California follows a fault-based system, the at-fault party’s insurance company is typically responsible for covering crash-related damages.
When you’re injured in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence, you can file a claim to obtain benefits from their car insurance policy.
You can receive up to the at-fault driver’s policy limits, which must be no less than:
- $15,000/$30,000 in bodily injury damages, and
- $5,000 in property damages.
While drivers can certainly purchase a policy with higher limits and additional coverage, many opt for the bare minimum. If you suffer severe or catastrophic injuries in a crash, there’s a good chance that available insurance benefits won’t cover the costs of your damages.
In these situations, you can reserve the right to pursue damages from anyone who is liable for your wreck, which could include a:
- Negligent motorist
- Truck driver
- Bus driver
- Transportation company
- Government agency
- Property owner
- Bicyclist
- Pedestrian
- Vehicle passenger
- Employer of a negligent party
- Vehicle manufacturer
Don’t get overwhelmed by how to obtain compensation after your motor vehicle accident in Santa Rosa. Call Singleton Schreiber and let our experienced car accident accidents handle the fight for damages on your behalf.
How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
As the victim of an auto accident in Santa Rosa, you have a unique story to tell. Your crash and your experience will be different from others. The value of your case will be unique, too. It’ll hinge on the facts and details that make your case different.
- What physical injuries did you suffer in the car accident?
- Are your injuries catastrophic?
- Has the accident kept you out of work?
- Have you experienced a change in your earning capacity or income?
- Are you temporarily or permanently disabled?
- Do you need assistance with everyday tasks, like eating or bathing?
- Are you getting blamed for the car accident?
- How old are you?
- What insurance benefits are available to you?
- Did the accident aggravate a pre-existing medical condition?
- How has the accident changed your quality of life?
- What costs have you had out of pocket?
While every factor will impact the potential value of your car accident claim, the type and severity of your injuries will tend to be the most influential. Catastrophic trauma like spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputation injuries can end up costing hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars over the course of a lifetime.
Generally speaking, the more severe your injuries, the more money you might be able to expect to get through an insurance claim or car accident lawsuit.
Working with an experienced car accident lawyer in Santa Rosa, CA, can help to ensure you put your best foot forward during litigation and increase the odds of a maximum recovery. Singleton Schreiber has helped clients win billions. Now, find out how we can help you make the most of your car accident claim, too.
What Types of Damages Can a Santa Rosa Crash Victim Recover?
You’ll have the opportunity to seek compensatory damages when you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Santa Rosa.
Compensatory damages are two-fold, including both economic and non-economic awards. Each type of award is designed to compensate you for a different type of loss.
Economic damages help you cope with the financial costs of your car accident, including things like:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Reduced earning capacity
- Funeral expenses if a Santa Rosa car accident is fatal
On the other hand, non-economic damages are intended to help you deal with suffering and life changes that are more personal, such as:
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
- Inconvenience
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
The insurance company and other defendants will not hesitate to downplay your injuries. They’ll argue that the car accident hasn’t really affected your ability to enjoy and live your life. Our Santa Rosa car accident attorneys will not allow them to set the tone of your case or dictate the terms of your recovery.
Our award-winning California trial attorneys will work closely with experts as we build your case and evaluate your damages. During negotiations, we’ll bring expert testimony, compelling facts, and solid evidence to the table to force meaningful conversations about what your case is worth. If the defense refuses to accept responsibility, we’ll be fully prepared to bring your car accident lawsuit to a Sonoma County jury.
Can I Still Get Compensation If I’m Blamed for a Car Accident in Santa Rosa, California?
It’s possible, yes. You can recover compensation after a car accident in Santa Rosa as long as you’re not entirely at fault. However, under California’s pure comparative negligence system, your financial recovery will be subject to reduction.
Damages will be reduced based on your role in the accident. The more responsibility you share, the less money you’ll be able to get when your car accident case is resolved.
Let’s say you’re injured in a car accident at the dangerous intersection of Stony Point Road and Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa, CA. Your injuries are pretty severe, so your case is valued to be worth $1 million. However, you were speeding at the time of the collision. As a result, you’re assigned 20 percent of the blame for the wreck. As a direct result, your settlement or jury award cannot exceed $800,000.
It’s important to be prepared for the insurance company to point fingers and cast blame. If they can shift liability, they’ll be able to avoid paying you some or all of your much-needed compensation. Our car accident attorneys in Santa Rosa will anticipate these strategies and have a game plan in place to protect you. Learn more about how we’ll handle claims of contributory negligence by contacting our Santa Rosa law office today.
Car Accident Victims Can Struggle With Debilitating Injuries
Getting into a car accident can change your life forever. While factors like the type of crash you’re in, where you were sitting in the vehicle, and the speed at which the collision occurred can influence the types of injuries you suffer, any injuries can be devastating.
At Singleton Schreiber, we’re here to help you get the justice and accountability you need for all of your car accident injuries, including:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Soft tissue injury
- Whiplash
- Neck injury
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injury
- Back injury
- Chest injury
- Amputation
- Degloving injury
- Leg injury
- Burn injury
- Eye injury
- Nerve damage
- Catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Always report a car accident to the local Santa Rosa police or California Highway Patrol immediately. Not only is this required by law if a crash results in significant property damage, personal injury, or death, but it will also be crucial if you decide to pursue compensation in the future.
Once you’ve reported your accident and sought medical treatment, don’t hesitate to contact our Santa Rosa car accident lawyers to discuss your legal rights and options. We can review your situation, explain the process of seeking compensation, and help you fight for the justice you deserve.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Santa Rosa?
Choose Singleton Schreiber and you’ll pay nothing out of pocket or up front. You have enough to worry about between medical bills, lost wages, and your established day-to-day expenses. Our law firm will represent you on a contingency fee basis. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. End of story.
When we recover compensation for you through a settlement or jury award, our fee will simply come right out of your financial recovery. Typically, you can expect to pay between 33 percent and 40 percent of your award in legal fees.
Contact our law office in Santa Rosa to find out more about our legal fees and discover why you’ll want us to fight for you.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a California Car Accident Claim?
Yes, California limits the amount of time a plaintiff has to formally pursue damages from an insurance company or at-fault party.
The amount of time you’ll have will depend on the type of harm you’ve suffered:
- Personal injury: two years from the date of your car accident
- Wrongful death: two years from the date of a loved one’s death after a fatal crash
- Property damage: three years from the date of the auto accident
There may be times when the statute of limitations is different. This is most notably true in cases involving injured children (statute of limitations is tolled until the child is 18) and government tort actions (6 months to file an administrative claim).
You have to file your car accident claim before the statute of limitations expires. When the deadline passes, you will lose the right to seek damages from a liable party.
Award-Winning Santa Rosa Car Accident Lawyers Ready to Fight For You
Increase the odds of a meaningful financial recovery after a car accident in Santa Rosa, California, by calling Singleton Schreiber. Our Santa Rosa car accident lawyers are ready to be your most tenacious advocate and fight to help you get every cent you deserve.
We’re trusted by accident victims and families in Santa Rosa for a reason. Our local attorneys invest national resources and a genuine passion for justice into each and every client’s case. The results speak volumes, with over $2.5 billion in damages recovered.
Contact our Santa Rosa law office today to get started. Your initial case evaluation is free. Call (707) 640-3365.