Car Accident Attorneys in San Diego, California

January 1, 2026 / Comments Off

1. Craig R. McClellan – The McClellan Law Firm

Practice Focus: Catastrophic personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, brain injury cases

Case Types Handled: Head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, defective vehicle cases, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, quadriplegia, paraplegia

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, product liability litigation

Background: Licensed in California since 1976. J.D. from California Western School of Law (magna cum laude), Editor-in-Chief of California Western Law Review. Former Captain in the United States Marine Corps. Over 150 verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million each. Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (former San Diego Chapter President). First and only San Diego attorney admitted to the Inner Circle of Advocates (limited to 100 members nationwide). Three-time recipient of Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award from Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. Named Super Lawyers Number One attorney in San Diego (2019). Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury and Product Liability (multiple years). AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell rating. Cases featured on 60 Minutes, 20/20, and McNeil-Lehrer Report.

Location: 1144 State Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Contact: (619) 231-0505 | [email protected] | https://www.mcclellanlaw.com

Bar Number: 71865 (Active, California State Bar)

Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)

2. Ross Adam Jurewitz – Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, dog bites, slip and fall accidents

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, T-bone crashes, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, hit-and-run accidents, rideshare accidents, catastrophic injury cases

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Licensed in California since 2000 and Florida since 2021. J.D. from Washington College of Law, American University (2000). B.A. in Political Science from University of California, San Diego (1997). Founded Jurewitz Law Group in 2007. Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Super Lawyers selection 2016-2025. Featured in Time and Newsweek magazines as a leader in personal injury law. Attorney of the Month by Attorney Journal San Diego Edition (2014). Best of the Bar by San Diego Business Journal (2017). 5.0 out of 5.0 Client Rating on Martindale-Hubbell. A+ Better Business Bureau rating.

Location: 600 B Street, Suite 1450, San Diego, CA 92101

Contact: (619) 233-5020 | [email protected] | https://www.jurewitz.com

Bar Number: 211226 (Active, California State Bar)

Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)

3. Michael A. Pines – Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, brain injuries, catastrophic injuries, workplace injuries, product liability, premises liability, medical malpractice, elder abuse

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries

Background: Licensed in California since 1988. J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of Law (1987), full scholarship recipient, Finalist for Best Written Moot Court Brief. B.A. from University of California, Irvine (1984). Former insurance defense attorney who represented Fortune 500 companies including Pepsi Cola, Arrowhead Water, and various HMOs. Over 30 years of experience. Firm has recovered tens of millions in settlements and verdicts. Consumer Attorneys of San Diego President’s Award recipient. 99% success rate. AV Preeminent peer review rating. Over 300 5-star Google reviews.

Location: 4660 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 575, San Diego, CA 92122 (also: 835 5th Avenue #302, San Diego, CA 92101)

Contact: (858) 551-2090 | https://seriousaccidents.com

Bar Number: 140602 (Active, California State Bar)

Consultation: Free initial consultation available 24/7, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)

4. Adam Joseph Hepburn – HHJ Trial Attorneys

Practice Focus: Catastrophic injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, cases valued over $1 million

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, freeway pileups, T-bone accidents, head-on collisions, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injuries

Background: Licensed in California. J.D. from California Western School of Law, ranked in top 5% of class, Law Review member. B.A. from University of California, Berkeley. Graduate of The Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Dubois, Wyoming. Former San Diego Public Defender with multiple jury trial wins before bar admission. Over 100 jury trials within first five years of practice with partners. Super Lawyers selection within two years of opening firm (top 2.5% of attorneys nationwide). Voted “Best Litigation Firm” by San Diego Union-Tribune. Firm has recovered tens of millions for clients. Trial advocacy coach at California Western School of Law. Former Board of Directors member for The San Diego Freedom Ranch.

Location: 2175 Salk Avenue, Suite 180, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Contact: (760) 444-0276 | [email protected] | https://www.hhjtrialattorneys.com

Bar Number: 292736 (Active, California State Bar)

Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)

5. Gordon Ralph Levinson – Levinson Law Group

Practice Focus: Car accidents (exclusive focus), truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, Uber/Lyft accidents

Background: Licensed in California since 1996. J.D. from University of San Francisco School of Law (1996), Law Review member, Moot Court Honors Board (received perfect 100 score in national competition). B.A. in History from California State University San Marcos. Former insurance defense attorney who represented largest insurance companies in North America. Has represented nearly 5,000 clients. Appeared or submitted briefs in over 30 California State Trial Courts, three Federal District Courts, three California Courts of Appeal, and the California Supreme Court. Prevailing party representative in landmark case Scheiding v. Dinwiddie Construction Co. (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 64. Almost $100 million recovered. Advisory Board Member for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Distinguished Alumni Award from California State University San Marcos (2014). Super Lawyers selection.

Location: 5927 Balfour Court, Suite 201, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (also: 406 Ninth Avenue, Suite 306, San Diego, CA 92101)

Contact: (760) 827-1700 | [email protected] | https://www.levinsonlawgroup.com

Bar Number: 185649 (Active, California State Bar)

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery)

Car Accident Laws and Regulations in California

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically bars recovery of compensation.

Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Three years from the date of the accident to file a property damage claim.

Claims Against Government Entities: Must file a notice of claim within six months if the accident involves a government vehicle or entity.

Fault System: California is an at-fault state. The driver responsible for causing the accident is liable for resulting damages. Injured parties can seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance company or file a personal injury lawsuit.

Comparative Negligence Rules: California follows a pure comparative negligence system. Injured parties can recover compensation even if they share fault for the accident. However, the recovery amount is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the injured party. There is no bar to recovery regardless of the degree of fault.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (Effective January 1, 2025):

Bodily Injury Liability: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident (increased from $15,000/$30,000)
Property Damage Liability: $25,000 (increased from $5,000)
This is known as 30/60/25 coverage

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: As of January 1, 2025, UM/UIM coverage is mandatory in California. Drivers can only waive this coverage by submitting written acknowledgment to their insurer.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP): California does not require PIP coverage. It is an at-fault state, not a no-fault state.

Damage Caps: California does not impose caps on compensatory damages (economic or non-economic) in most car accident cases. However, California Proposition 213 prohibits uninsured drivers from recovering non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, regardless of fault.

Accident Reporting Requirements: Drivers must file a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) with the California Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage exceeds $1,000. Failure to report may result in driver’s license suspension.

Hit-and-Run Penalties (2025 Updates):

Property Damage Only: Fines up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail
Injury or Fatality: Felony charges with fines up to $20,000 and up to four years in prison

Dram Shop Liability: California has dram shop laws under Business and Professions Code Section 25602.1 that allow victims to sue establishments that serve alcohol to obviously intoxicated minors who then cause accidents.

Vicarious Liability: California follows the permissive use doctrine. Vehicle owners can be held liable for accidents caused by someone they gave permission to drive their vehicle.

Rental Car and Rideshare Liability: Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft must carry $1 million in liability coverage when a driver is transporting passengers. Rental car companies generally are not liable for accidents caused by renters under federal law (Graves Amendment).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I do immediately after a car accident in San Diego?

A: California law requires specific steps following an accident. First, stop your vehicle and check for injuries. Call 911 if anyone is injured or if there is significant property damage. Exchange information with other drivers including names, addresses, insurance details, and license plate numbers. Document the scene with photographs of vehicle damage, the accident location, and any visible injuries. If anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage exceeds $1,000, you must file an SR-1 report with the California DMV within 10 days. Notify your insurance company promptly. Seek medical attention even for seemingly minor injuries, as some conditions may not manifest immediately. Consider consulting with a personal injury attorney before providing recorded statements to insurance companies.

Q: How does California’s pure comparative negligence rule affect my car accident claim?

A: Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, you can recover damages even if you were partially responsible for the accident. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you suffered $100,000 in damages but were found to be 30% at fault, you would recover $70,000. Unlike modified comparative negligence states, California has no threshold that bars recovery entirely. Even if you were 90% at fault, you could still recover 10% of your damages from other at-fault parties. Insurance adjusters and courts consider evidence including police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and expert analysis when determining fault percentages.

Q: What are the new California auto insurance requirements effective January 1, 2025?

A: California Senate Bill 1107 significantly increased minimum auto insurance coverage requirements starting January 1, 2025. Bodily injury liability coverage increased from $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident to $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. Property damage liability increased from $5,000 to $25,000. Additionally, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is now mandatory, though drivers may waive this coverage by providing written acknowledgment to their insurer. These increases were implemented to provide better financial protection for accident victims given rising medical and repair costs. Failure to maintain minimum coverage can result in fines, driver’s license suspension, and personal liability for damages exceeding coverage limits.

Q: Can I file a lawsuit against a government vehicle or entity in California?

A: Yes, but special rules apply. If your accident involved a government-owned vehicle or was caused by a dangerous road condition maintained by a government entity, you must file an administrative claim with the appropriate government agency within six months of the accident date. This is much shorter than the standard two-year statute of limitations for other personal injury claims. The claim must be filed with the specific government entity responsible (city, county, or state). If the government denies your claim or fails to respond within 45 days, you then have six months to file a lawsuit. Government claims require specific documentation and procedures, and failure to comply can permanently bar your claim.

Q: What types of damages can I recover in a San Diego car accident case?

A: California law allows accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include quantifiable losses such as medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and loss of earning capacity, property damage and vehicle repair or replacement costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and rehabilitation costs. Non-economic damages compensate for subjective losses including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. In rare cases involving egregious conduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the defendant. California does not cap non-economic damages in personal injury cases, though Proposition 213 prevents uninsured drivers from recovering non-economic damages regardless of fault. The total damages recoverable depends on the severity of injuries, quality of evidence, and skill of legal representation.