Best Car Accident Lawyers in Long Beach: Long Beach is the fifth largest city in California. It offers pristine beaches, abundant recreational activities, and an exciting nightlife that keeps the town thriving day and night. However, due to the multiple freeways connecting it to the greater Los Angeles area and Orange County, traffic jams are common, making car accidents almost inevitable.
If you are involved in a car collision in Long Beach, seeking the help of an attorney can help you recover your losses and get back on track. This article features 10 of the best car accident attorneys in Long Beach, CA to help you search.
10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in Long Beach
Richard G. Barone
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1980
- Law School Attended: San Fernando Valley College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Richard G. Barone has extensive experience handling various types of personal injury cases, including car accident claims, throughout his four-decade legal career. He attributes his strong work ethic and commitment to serving others to the influence of his father, who was a carpenter and member of the carpenters union. Barone dedicates his entire practice to ensuring justice for his clients through rigorous litigation. One of the many victories achieved by his firm includes a $3.9 million recovery for a plaintiff truck driver who suffered brain and orthopedic injuries in a collision with another truck driver.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Member of the American Association for Justice
- # Member of the California Consumer Lawyers
- # Member of the Los Angeles Consumer Lawyers Association
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Personal injuries
- # Unjust death
Kevin R. Boyle
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1997
- Law School Attended: University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Kevin R. Boyle specializes in handling high-profile plaintiff cases, skillfully resolving them through trial or settlement. In each case, their primary goal is to hold negligent corporations and other responsible entities accountable for their unlawful actions and force them to make necessary changes to prevent such incidents in the future. Boyle was instrumental in achieving the largest personal injury verdict ever returned against San Francisco: in this significant case, the jury awarded a total of $27.4 million to two families affected by a tragic two-car accident that resulted in the loss of life of a four-year-old girl.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Current President of the Los Angeles Commercial Trial Lawyers Association
- # Serves on the board of directors of the University of Arizona Law School Association
- # Member of the Amicus Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association
- # Ranked on the list of the best lawyers in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times
- # Member of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Catastrophic personal injuries
- # Unjust death
Jesse Creed
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2010
- Law School Attended: Columbia Law School
Why are they on our list?
Jesse Creed’s practice spans a wide range of areas, with a strong focus on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from various automobile accidents, including automobile collisions. Throughout his career, he has been involved in numerous high-risk cases. One of his biggest victories was for victims of the 2015 gas well explosion in Porter Ranch, California. Creed obtained an impressive $1.8 billion for thousands of plaintiffs in Southern California gas leak cases filed against Southern California Gas Company and Semarang Energy. He also obtained a $17.5 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit against a national trucking company.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Award winner California Lawyer of the Year
- # Recognized by California Consumer Attorneys as a Finalist for the Consumer Attorney of the Year Award
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Catastrophic personal injuries
- # Unjust death
Read More: Top 10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in Anaheim
Laura Davidson
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2000
- Law School Attended: University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Laura Davidson is a trial attorney with extensive experience representing young clients and their parents. Throughout her career, she has achieved significant victories and settlements on behalf of her clients. Among her accomplishments was obtaining a $5.1 million verdict for a client who suffered serious orthopedic injuries after his vehicle collided with a commercial truck that had illegally crossed into his lane. In one of her other cases, Davidson secured a $2.25 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered a serious spinal cord injury when a delivery driver crashed into the back of his vehicle.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Featured in Top 10 Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2020
- # Member of the Los Angeles Consumer Lawyers Association
- # Member of California Consumer Lawyers
- # Member of the UCLA Alumni Association and UCLA student mentor
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Catastrophic personal injuries
- # Unjust death
- # Slip and fall
Ilan Heimanson
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1998
- Law School Attended: Boston University School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Throughout his more than 25-year legal career, Ilan Heimanson has earned a strong reputation for providing strategic, deliberate, and aggressive representation to his clients. He approaches each case with a careful look at the big picture while ensuring he fully supports his client’s goals and needs. This approach has helped him achieve multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements through mediation and arbitration. In a construction accident injury case, in which he served as co-counsel, Heimanson obtained a $3.3 million verdict for his client. This result is in stark contrast to the pretrial offer of only $15,000, solidifying his ability to expand the compensation his clients receive with his litigation skills.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Member of the Los Angeles Consumer Lawyers Association
- # Member of the American Association for Justice
- # The Top 100 Jury Verdicts in Motorcycle Accidents in the United States, 2019
- # Trilingual in English, Russian, and Hebrew
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Personal injuries
- # Unjust death
Ian I. Herzog
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1968
- Law School Attended: University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Why are they on our list?
With more than five decades of experience as an attorney, Ian I. Herzog stands out as one of the veteran pillars of the legal industry. Throughout his career, his law firm has achieved numerous multi-million dollar awards for injured people in California. In one of the cases his firm represented involving a wrongful death caused by unsafe road conditions, the wife and children of an LAPD officer received an impressive $9 million in compensation. In another case, the Herzog Law Firm successfully represented an 18-year-old driver whose vehicle airbag failed to deploy in a single-vehicle off-road accident, securing a substantial $18 million in compensation for its client.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Past President of the California Trial Lawyers Association
- # Former President of The Consumer Attorneys of California
- # The Los Angeles Consumer Attorneys created the Ian Herzog Appellate Lawyer of the Year Award to honor him as its first recipient
- # Served as editor-in-chief of The Advocate, monthly magazine of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association
- # Licensed commercial pilot
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Aviation disasters
- # General Product Liability
Stanley K. Jacobs
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1960
- Law School Attended: University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Stanley K. Jacobs, a senior partner at Jacobs and Jacobs Lawyers, LLP, represents individuals and their families who have suffered serious injuries due to negligent actions, often at the hands of powerful companies or corporations. His firm specializes in handling complex, high-risk cases, and deliberately limits its workload to personally oversee all aspects of the cases it accepts.
Throughout his more than 60-year career, Jacobs has tried more than 145 jury trials and obtained numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements for his clients. Some of his successes include a $5.7 million wrongful death verdict, achieved after trial and appeal, on behalf of a single father who lost his nine-year-old son in a car versus truck accident. He also obtained a $7.35 million verdict for bad faith denial of insurance benefits following a rear-end accident.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Los Angeles Consumer Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer of the Year
- # Certificate of Recognition of California Consumer Lawyers in Trial Practice, Professional Malpractice, Product, Liability, Personal Injury and Insurance Bad Faith
- # Los Angeles Superior Court—Special Conciliation Officer
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Personal injuries
- # Unjust death
Lyssa A. Roberts
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2004
- Law School Attended: University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Lyssa A. Roberts has focused her legal practice on catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and tort cases. She is an expert in handling both single-plaintiff cases and complex cases involving thousands of plaintiffs. Her passionate advocacy for her clients has resulted in obtaining hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on their behalf. In 2019, Roberts played a crucial role as part of the legal counsel that obtained a significant $10.6 million settlement for a man who suffered catastrophic burns after an explosion caused by a gas leak. She was also instrumental in achieving a $15 million settlement for adult children whose elderly parents tragically lost their lives due to corporate negligence.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Winner of the F. Scott Baldwin Award from the American Association of Justice
- # Member of the Los Angeles Consumer Lawyers Association
- # Member of California Consumer Lawyers
- # Member of the American Association of Justice
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Catastrophic personal injuries
- # Unjust death
09. Laura Frank Sedrish
California Bar Status: Active Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1995 Law School Attended: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law
Why are they on our list? Laura F. Sedrish, partner at Jacoby and Meyers Injury Lawyers, stands out as one of the leading personal injury attorneys in California. Her exceptional attention to detail, excellent negotiation skills, extensive trial experience, and deep understanding of her client’s needs have been instrumental in achieving settlements and verdicts totaling more than $250 million for her injured clients.
Trish was awarded $4.55 million in a car vs. truck accident case and a staggering $10.75 million in a wrongful death case resulting from a truck accident. Sedrish’s commitment to educating and advocating for her clients extends beyond the courtroom. She is also an avid writer and has published numerous articles in major regional markets across the United States.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Admitted to practice in California and Nevada
- # Member of the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles Consumer Lawyers Association
- # Member of the California Board of Consumer Attorneys
- # The 100 best lawyers From the newspaper
- # Top 10 California Personal Injury Settlements
- # Founding Board Chairman and General Counsel of Greenway Arts Alliance, Inc.
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Construction Accidents
- # Personal injuries
- # Unjust death
Thomas G. Stolpman
- California Bar Status: Active
- Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1976
- Law School Attended: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Thomas G. Stolpman holds a distinguished position as one of the select attorneys in the United States who have been elected members of both the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers. Throughout his legal career that began in 1976, he has achieved a long series of verdicts and six, seven, and eight-figure settlements for his clients. Some of his victories include securing a $3.5 million verdict and a $1.1 million verdict in car accident cases. Given his extensive trial experience, Stolpman is often called upon to lecture and teach in continuing legal education programs and trial schools.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # 1984 Southern California Trial Lawyer of the Year by Verdictum Juris
- # Lawyer of the Year 2001 by the Long Beach Bar Association
- # Winner of the Ted Horn Award in recognition of his contributions to the Plaintiffs’ Bar in 1992
- # Certificate of Experience from the California Trial Lawyers Association
- # Certified by the National Litigation Defense Board as a Civil Litigation Advocate
Practice areas:
- # Traffic accidents and motor vehicle accidents
- # Personal injuries
- # Unjust death
- # Bad faith in insurance
How to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in California
After a collision, you can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance and attempt to recover your losses that way. But if the injuries and damages are significant or the accident is complicated, obtaining a high compensation may require several rounds of negotiation and even litigation. If civil action becomes necessary to obtain fair compensation in your case, some California car accident laws should you kept in mind.
Limitation Period for Car Accident Lawsuits in California
It is important to note that there is a limited time frame to file a claim for damages in a personal injury case. This deadline is governed by the statute of limitations, which restricts the time you have to file a legal action in court. You must file your lawsuit before the deadline expires so you do not lose your right to hold negligent parties responsible for the accident.
The prescription period for most personal injury lawsuits in California is two years. This means that you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent parties. If you are seeking to recover expenses for damages to your car, you have three years to file a property damage lawsuit. For wrongful death lawsuits, you still have two years to bring legal action, but the two-year deadline begins from the date of the victim’s death.
Please note that the litigation and trial process may extend beyond the statute of limitations, but it is essential to take prompt action within the specified time frame to protect your rights and seek compensation for your losses.
Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations in California
The standard two-year deadline applies to most car accident claims. However, certain circumstances may delay or slightly modify this deadline:
– The victim is under 18 years old .
– The victim is legally insane.
– The victim is in prison.
– The defendant is out of state.
In these situations, the statute of limitations begins when the reason for the delay no longer applies. For example, if the victim was a minor or mentally disabled at the time of the accident, the statute of limitations will begin when the victim turns 18 or is no longer considered legally insane.
If you are unsure whether any of these exceptions apply to your case, we strongly recommend that you consult with a California car accident attorney. Seeking advice from a legal professional will help you understand your specific circumstances and ensure you take appropriate action within the appropriate timeframe.
California Laws for Car Drivers
California has strict laws that govern various aspects of driving to ensure predictable and safe traffic patterns. Below are some of the most important laws car drivers must follow when driving in the Golden State:
Car insurance requirements: Before hitting the road, all California drivers must have an insurance policy. Starting January 1, 2023, insurance companies must electronically notify the DMV of an automobile’s insurance status. Failure to provide proof of insurance may result in suspension of vehicle registration until required insurance is obtained.
The minimum insurance requirements are as follows: – $15,000 for bodily injury per person – $30,000 for bodily injuries per accident – $5,000 for property damage per accidentWhile these minimum amounts of liability insurance are required by law, we recommend purchasing additional coverage to protect yourself and your property in the event of an accident. Minimum liability insurance may not be enough to cover all losses in serious accidents, as it only covers damage caused to other drivers or pedestrians, and even that only up to a certain limit.
Additional coverage options include comprehensive and collision coverage for damage to your automobile, medical payments coverage for bodily injuries to you or your passengers, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for situations where the at-fault driver has little or no auto insurance coverage.
How to report a collision: If you are involved in a traffic accident, you must stop the vehicle and move to the side of the road or highway. Failure to stop can result in severe penalties under “hit and run” laws. Immediately call 911 to report the collision to police or the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Additionally, you must submit a police traffic accident report within 10 days of the accident if the accident caused injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000.
A police report is a crucial and unbiased document that contains essential information such as the location, date, and time of the accident, statements of the drivers involved, and details of the injuries and vehicle damage. It is a valuable document when filing a compensation claim or making an insurance claim after the accident.
Eyes on the road: California prohibits writing, texting, or reading messages while driving a vehicle. Drivers cannot use a cell phone unless it is set up for hands-free calling and listening.
Click or get fined: California law requires everyone age 16 or older to wear a seat belt, including rear-seat passengers. Failure to wear a seat belt can result in a fine of $162 for adults and $490 for failure to properly restrain children under 16 years of age.
How to identify a fault in a traffic accident
California, unlike other states, follows a fault system, meaning that you must establish the fault or negligent actions of the other driver to obtain compensation for your car accident.
There are two methods for proving the other driver’s fault in California: common law negligence and per se negligence.
1. Common Law Negligence: To prove common law negligence, four elements must be proven:
- Duty of care: The defendant owed you a duty of care. This is easy to prove since all drivers must drive their vehicles safely. They must follow traffic rules and laws, be aware of their surroundings when driving, and avoid injuring other people.
- Breach of duty: The accused breached the duty of care For example, speeding, running a red light, or failing to stop at a stop sign.
- Causality: The defendant’s actions directly resulted in the accident, such as a distracted driver crashing into the back of his vehicle because he was texting.
- Damage: The accident caused physical or mental injuries and other monetary losses, such as medical expenses, vehicle repair costs, lost wages, or decreased earning capacity.
2. Negligence per se: This legal doctrine applies when someone violates a specific provision of a statute designed for public safety. For example, if a drunk driver causes an accident, their actions are considered negligent because they violated DUI laws intended to prevent drunk drivers from causing harm.
In this case, the injured party would only have to prove that the drunk driver’s actions caused their injuries and inflicted compensable injuries. Other than that, it will be the defendant’s responsibility to convince the jury that he or she was not negligent.
Comparative Negligence Laws
But what happens in cases where both drivers were at fault for the accident? In situations like these, California follows the system of pure comparative negligence, in which both parties can seek compensation even if they were partially at fault in the accident. However, the amount they can recover will be reduced based on their degree of fault.
For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault in an accident that caused $40,000 in damages, you could collect $32,000 in compensation (total damages minus your degree of fault).
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You?
A car accident can cause your life to quickly change direction and be plagued with obstacles you were not prepared for. Having an attorney at this stage can reduce your stress levels, which are heightened by having to navigate an unfamiliar legal process while recovering from your injuries.
Exactly how an attorney can help depends on what happened in your accident, who is involved, how it happened, and the extent of your losses. But in general, here are some ways a car accident lawyer in California can help:
- Investigate your traffic accident: An attorney will thoroughly investigate your traffic accident and gather crucial documents, such as police reports, medical records, photographs, and traffic camera recordings, to determine what occurred. You may also interview eyewitnesses, investigators, and experts to gather additional information.
- Negotiation with insurance companies: Attorneys will work with insurers on your behalf to reach a fair settlement. Insurance companies, after all, are for-profit companies. Having an attorney handling your case ensures that your interests are always at the forefront of every decision.
- Calculate the value of your case: In addition to current expenses related to the accident, you may be entitled to recover expected future expenses. An attorney will identify all of those expenses, both present and future, to help calculate an appropriate settlement figure.
- Legal representation in court: Take your case to court if the insurer refuses to accept responsibility and offer a fair settlement.
How to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in Long Beach, CA
In Long Beach, California, there are many car accident attorneys. With so many options available, you must search strategically to find the one best qualified to handle your case:
- Ask your friends and family for recommendations: Car accidents are, unfortunately, common, especially in a congested state like California. Reach out to people in your network who have been in a car accident and ask them if they used an attorney for their case. You don’t have to hire the lawyer they recommend, but it will certainly help you narrow down your options.
- Find an Attorney Experienced in Car Accident Cases: While there are many personal injury attorneys available, it is critical to choose one with significant experience handling car accident cases. An experienced attorney will possess a comprehensive knowledge of local traffic laws and statutes and will be familiar with the tactics insurance companies employ to minimize payouts.
- Evaluate your trial experience: Many car accident cases are settled before reaching court. However, for larger cases with substantial damages or complex liability issues, litigation may be necessary. Look for an attorney with experience filing lawsuits and representing clients in court. Having trial experience is important because it demonstrates the attorney’s ability to fight for your rights and obtain the maximum compensation possible, rather than settling early for less.
Each lawyer that appears on this list has its own merits. Remember that our list relates to the legal training of these lawyers, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
However, one thing that cannot be quantified is the relationship that is established with the lawyer. Personality is very important when working as a team with an attorney, especially when faced with a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and possible starting point in your search for the right attorney for you and your legal concerns.
