Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer

Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney

Why So Many Accidents Happen In Bakersfield

Bakersfield is the largest city within Kern County, which encompasses more than 8,100 square miles. Bakersfield is conveniently located in the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley, directly between Fresno and Los Angeles. The largest local employers are in the farming, agriculture and oil industries.

Unfortunately, this type of heavy labor can lead to a variety of personal injuries, especially trucking, farming and car accidents. The May Firm is here to help our clients get the justice they deserve. If you’ve been injured by no fault of your own, contact our office for a free consultation.

“My number one goal is to help others. When you step foot into our firm, you’ll be treated like family, period.”
Robert May, Attorney | Founder

Fortunately, many car accidents are minor fender benders that do not lead to severe injuries, if any injuries at all. However, some car accidents cause physical pain, emotional trauma, and financial hardship for victims and families. If you have recently suffered injuries in a car accident in Bakersfield or the surrounding area, you might be facing a range of challenges as a result. California law may entitle you to seek compensation for losses related to the accident and your injuries when someone else’s negligence caused you harm.

Contact the Bakersfield car accident lawyers at The May Firm if you have been injured in a car accident. We have investigated car accident claims, dealt with insurance providers, and helped clients seek compensation for preventable car accident injuries for decades. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your car accident injuries, the way they have impacted your life, and whether you have a viable Bakersfield car accident claim.

The May Firm Fights for Car Accident Victims

The compassionate legal team at The May Firm has done settlements, negotiations, and litigation of personal injury claims, including those involving car accident injuries. The firm’s commitment to client service and advocacy has led to millions of dollars in settlements and court-awarded damages for clients.

Examples of recent case results in car accident injury cases include:

• $2.3 million recovery for clients who suffered injuries after a rear-end collision involving a utility vehicle.
• $1.5 million settlement for a client who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident.
• $1.475 million recovery for a client who suffered a lower back injury during a rear-end collision.
• $1 million recovery for a client who suffered neck and lower back injuries in a car accident.
• $950,000 recovery for a client who suffered injuries when a speeder crashed into their parked vehicle.

These are examples of potential financial outcomes for Bakersfield car accident claims, but they do not guarantee results for your case. Each car accident has underlying facts and circumstances that impact the value of a claim. However, the Bakersfield car accident lawyers at The May Firm have the knowledge, resources, and dedication to diligently pursue the best outcome possible for their clients.

Negligent Drivers Cause Most Car Accidents

According to California’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), close to 1,000 traffic accidents occur in Bakersfield each year, resulting in close to 2,000 injuries and fatalities. Weather, traffic conditions, and mechanical problems often contribute to the occurrence of car accidents. However, drivers are ultimately responsible for how they drive in certain conditions and maintain their vehicles. The vast majority of car accidents occur because of negligent drivers.

Examples of common driving behaviors that can lead to severe car accidents include:

Drunk Driving

The dangers of drinking and driving are well-known. Alcohol makes it difficult for drivers to judge time and distance, significantly increasing the likelihood of losing control of their vehicle and causing a dangerous car accident. Yet, some drivers still choose to make the tragic choice to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. The OTC estimates more than 10 percent of injuries and fatalities occur in alcohol-related Bakersfield car accidents.

Distracted Driving

In a survey conducted by the OTC, more than 70 percent of respondents indicated that distracted driving is the number one problem on California’s roads and highways. Cell phones play a large part in distracted driving. Drivers take calls, text, and use apps while driving. Regardless of the exact activity, using a cell phone takes a person’s eyes away from the road, mind away from driving, and/or hands off the wheel. California prohibits all drivers from using cell phones while driving unless they use hands-free technology, such as voice dialing, to make calls.

While cell phones have brought the issue of distracted driving to the forefront of public consciousness, drivers face several other distractions that can lead to dangerous car accidents in Bakersfield and throughout the state.

Some examples include:

• Eating snacks and drinking
• Combing hair, applying makeup, and other personal grooming habits
• Reaching for a dropped item on the floor or in the backseat
• Tending to backseat occupants, especially young children
• Heavy discussions or arguments with occupants
• Daydreaming
• Watching an event outside the car
• Adjusting the radio or entering information in a GPS
• Adjusting the A/C, heat, mirror, seats, or another feature

Speeding

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that speeding plays into more than 25 percent of traffic accidents. Most think of speeding as traveling over the posted speed limit, but it also refers to traveling too fast for weather, road, or traffic conditions. Bakersfield drivers who are rushed because they are running behind schedule or do not have patience behind the wheel often choose to speed, putting others at risk for accidents and injuries.

Speeding directly causes car crashes because it makes it more difficult for drivers to control their vehicles. Additionally, it is more challenging to take swift action to avoid road hazards and other dangerous situations. However, even when speeding is not the direct cause of an accident, car crashes are more dangerous. Excessive speed increases the force of a car accident, leading to greater property damage, more severe injuries, and a higher chance of fatalities when a car accident occurs.

Drowsy Driving

Many people have demanding schedules that keep them going all day long. Whether working long days, driving many hours, or simply dealing with the stresses of everyday life, not getting adequate rest and getting behind the wheel puts others who share the road at risk for a car accident and injuries. Truck drivers, shift workers, rideshare drivers, and those who regularly work two jobs are vulnerable to drowsy driving.

However, sleep disorders, poor physical health, and some medicines can also cause drowsiness. Fatigued drivers suffer from impairment the same way that a drunk or drugged driver suffers impairment. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) warns that drivers who go without sleep for 18 hours suffer the same impairment as drivers who are legally intoxicated with a 0.08 breath or blood alcohol level.

California Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims

If you have suffered injuries in a Bakersfield car accident, you have a limited time to bring a lawsuit against the party responsible for the accident and your injuries. This time limit—referred to as the statute of limitations—varies in most states based on whom you named as the defendant in the lawsuit and whether someone died as a result of car accident injuries. However, in California, a two-year statute of limitations exists for all types of car accident injury claims.

Here is an overview of the most common car accident liability claims that victims file to recover damages.

• Claims Against Another Driver. This is the most common type of lawsuit after a car accident. Victims seek damages from another driver who struck their vehicle or caused an accident in another way because of negligent driving.
• Third-Party Liability Claims. Sometimes additional parties share liability after a car accident. Third-party liability claims are not as frequent as other claims, but some situations warrant action against other parties. For example, suppose a drunk driver hit your vehicle, or a driver in a company car hit your vehicle and caused an accident. In that case, your lawyer might advise you to sue a bar or restaurant that served the driver alcohol, or the driver’s employer, to recover damages.
• Product Liability Claims. Auto and auto part manufacturers have a legal duty to bring safe products to the market. If you suffered accident injuries because of a defective car or car parts, such as tires or brakes, you could have grounds for a product liability lawsuit against the applicable company.
• Claims Against a Government Entity. Although it is rare, you might have a claim against the City of Bakersfield or the State of California if their failure to maintain roads caused your car accident. Unrepaired potholes, sinkholes, and other road issues can cause dangerous car accidents. The same is true when signs are removed or stop lights malfunction.
• Wrongful Death Claims. If you have lost a loved one in a Bakersfield car accident, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit within the two-year statute of limitations period to recover damages related to the accident and your losses. Your lawyer can advise you on the best path for you and your family during this difficult time.

Severe Car Accident Injuries Lead to Personal Injury Claims

Minor car accident injuries typically do not lead to personal injury lawsuits, and in some cases, you might not even file an insurance claim. However, once injuries cause major physical harm and lead to financial loss, making a claim is the only way to recover some or all damages related to the accident. Severe car accident injuries can cause permanent damage, permanent functional loss, and leave emotional and physical scars.

It is easy to know the proper steps to take when you have minor or major injuries, but those that fall in between might leave you wondering whether you should contact a lawyer. It is always best to consult with an attorney to let them evaluate the viability of your claim during a free consultation.

However, here are some examples of car accident injuries that typically lead to personal injury claims:

• Head injuries, skull fractures, and brain injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones, especially those that require surgery
• Internal organ injuries
• Dislocations
• Crushed limbs/amputations
• Severe burns

Seeking Compensation After a Bakersfield Car Accident

California law permits you to bring a lawsuit against the party responsible for your car accident and injuries. If you settle with the insurance provider associated with your case or a California court rules in your favor, you might receive compensation for various losses you incurred from the car accident and your injuries.

Damages that car accident victims often receive compensation for include:

• Medical expenses including ambulance and emergency room services, surgery, hospitalization, diagnostic imaging, lab tests, follow-up doctor visits, medication, and transportation costs to and from the doctor/hospital.
• Estimated future medical treatment costs when car accident injuries cause permanent damage that requires ongoing treatment, additional surgeries, or around-the-clock care in a long-term nursing care facility.
• Costs for rehabilitation with various specialists that help car accident victims face the physical and emotional aftermath of their injuries, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and mental health professionals.
• Costs for assistive devices, such as crutches, wheelchairs, artificial limbs, and canes.
• Lost wages due to missing work from the treatment and recovery from injuries.
• Estimated future lost wages when a car accident causes injuries that make it impossible to return to work.
• Physical pain and suffering.
• Mental anguish.
• Loss of consortium.
• Reduced quality of life.
• Scarring and disfigurement.

If you have lost a loved one in a Bakersfield car accident, you might have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages related to your loss. Eligible survivors sometimes receive some of the damages listed above and money towards burial costs and funeral expenses. Your Bakersfield car accident attorney can answer any questions you have about wrongful death lawsuits and help you and your family find the best way to seek justice and receive compensation for losses related to the death of a loved one.

Injured in a Bakersfield Car Accident? Contact The May Firm Today

The dedicated legal team at The May Firm understands the challenges you face in the coming weeks and months. They can investigate the accident and gather evidence to support your injury claim while you focus on healing from your injuries.

If you live in or near Bakersfield, contact us today online or call or text (661) 244-9712 for a no-obligation free consultation to discuss the circumstances of your car accident, your injuries, and how they have affected your life. We can evaluate your claim and advise you on the best course of action for your circumstances.