Car Accident Attorneys in Bakersfield, California

1. The Law Offices of Mickey Fine

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, premises liability, drunk driving accidents, dog bites, brain injuries, wrongful death.

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, commercial truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, rollover accidents, highway accidents on Highway 99.

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical provider referrals, medical care coordination, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, future diminished earning capacity claims.

Background: Mickey Fine has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years throughout California. He personally oversees every aspect of each case from initial consultation through conclusion. Cases are never passed to less experienced associates or paralegals. The firm has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, including $3.5 million (confidential wrongful death), $2.5 million (wrongful death), $2.5 million (semi-truck v. automobile), and $1.2 million (U-turn on Pacific Coast Highway).

Location: 930 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 110, Bakersfield, CA 93301; additional office in El Segundo

Contact: (661) 333-3333 | https://www.personalinjurybakersfield.com

Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis: no upfront costs, no fee unless recovery is obtained. 24-hour response time guaranteed.

2. Chain | Cohn | Clark

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, elder abuse, workers’ compensation, premises liability, oilfield accidents, dog bites.

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation with retained experts, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, property damage claims.

Background: Chain | Cohn | Clark was founded in Bakersfield in 1934 (over 90 years of operation). The firm has recovered nearly one billion dollars for clients and has garnered more multimillion-dollar personal injury case results than any other law firm in Kern County. In a 2024 readers’ choice poll conducted by The Bakersfield Californian, Chain | Cohn | Clark was voted “Best Law Firm” and “Best Personal Injury Lawyer.” Multiple attorneys in the firm have been selected to the 2026 “Best Lawyers in America” rankings. Notable results include $3.7 million (traumatic brain injury from car crash), $3.25 million (high-speed rear-end on Highway 46), $2.4 million (truck rear-end collision), and $22.1 million (pedestrian accident). The firm’s offices are at 1731 Chester Avenue, a five-minute walk from the Kern County courthouse.

Location: 1731 Chester Avenue, Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 93301-5220

Contact: (661) 616-9829 | Toll Free: (800) 322-4529 | https://www.chainlaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis: payment is a predetermined percentage of final settlement or jury award; no payment taken upfront.

3. Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries.

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, commercial truck accidents, highway accidents along Highway 99, pedestrian accidents in East Bakersfield, construction injuries near oilfields, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries.

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

Background: Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers has over 35 years of experience representing personal injury clients. The firm has recovered over $750,000,000 in financial compensation for clients. All attorneys are local lawyers who understand the Bakersfield community and the local court system. The firm handles cases throughout Kern County, including neighborhoods such as Seven Oaks, Oildale, Riviera-Westchester, and Amberton.

Location: Bakersfield, CA (Downtown Bakersfield office)

Contact: (661) 371-3588 | https://personalinjurylawcal.com/bakersfield/

Consultation: Free case review offered. Contingency fee basis: no fee charged until the firm recovers money for the client.

4. Klein DeNatale Goldner

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, personal injury, business litigation, real estate, employment law.

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, fog-related accidents, dust storm accidents, intersection collisions throughout Kern County, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries.

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation with traffic safety analysis, medical expense recovery, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, property damage claims.

Background: Klein DeNatale Goldner is a full-service law firm with offices in Bakersfield and Fresno. The firm’s car accident attorneys conduct thorough investigations into every accident, analyzing factors such as roadway design, traffic signal operation, and recent patterns of crashes at specific intersections throughout Kern County. The attorneys monitor local ordinances and city safety initiatives to incorporate the most current developments in traffic safety into case strategies. The firm works with local law enforcement including the Bakersfield Police Department and California Highway Patrol to gather evidence.

Location: Bakersfield, CA

Contact: (661) 485-2100 | https://www.kleinlaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contact firm for fee arrangement details.

5. Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, construction accidents, dog bites, sexual abuse cases, wrongful death.

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, commercial truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, scaffolding collapses, electrocution accidents, falling object accidents, catastrophic injury cases.

Background: Karns & Karns was founded by brothers Mike and Bill Karns on a foundation of service and integrity. The firm has accumulated over 2,500 five-star reviews. Karns & Karns operates multiple offices throughout California. The firm provides client-centric representation and has earned a reputation for obtaining substantial compensation for clients. Notable testimonials reference successful outcomes in truck accidents, commercial vehicle cases, slip and fall cases, and other personal injury matters.

Location: Bakersfield, CA (Contact firm for specific address)

Contact: (888) 779-1180 | https://www.karnsandkarns.com/locations/bakersfield/

Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis: no fee unless compensation is secured.

Highway Speed, Seat Belts and Fatal Crash Rules for Bakersfield Car Claims

For a Bakersfield crash on a highway or rural road, California’s basic speed law and seat belt statute bear on each driver’s conduct. When the crash is fatal, separate statutes govern the scene report and who may sue.

The Basic Speed Law

Vehicle Code § 22350 bars driving on a highway faster than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, traffic and the surface and width of the highway, and in no event at a speed that endangers persons or property.

Seat Belts

Vehicle Code § 27315(d)(1) bars operating a motor vehicle on a highway unless the driver and all passengers 16 or older are properly restrained by a safety belt; the paragraph does not apply to a taxicab driver carrying a fare-paying passenger on a city street.

A Fatal Crash

Under Vehicle Code § 20004, when a crash results in death and no traffic or police officer is at the scene, a driver involved must report it without delay to the nearest California Highway Patrol office or police authority with the information § 20003 requires. Under § 20001(b)(2), leaving the scene of a crash that results in death or permanent, serious injury is punishable by two, three or four years in state prison, 90 days to one year in county jail, a fine of $1,000 to $10,000, or both.

Who May Sue for a Death

Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 gives the claim to the surviving spouse, domestic partner, children and issue of deceased children, or, if there are none, those entitled to the estate by intestate succession, and also to listed dependents; the personal representative may assert it on their behalf.

Bakersfield Car Accident Questions

How long do I have to file?

Two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 for injury to, or the death of, an individual caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect. A claim against a public entity must first be presented within six months after accrual under Government Code § 911.2.

Can I recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) adopted pure comparative negligence. For example, imagine $100,000 in damages and 20 percent of the fault on the injured driver: the recovery would be $80,000.

When does a driver have to report the crash to the DMV?

Under Vehicle Code § 16000(a), the driver reports within 10 days when the crash causes more than $1,000 in property damage to any one person, or any injury or death, unless subdivision (b) applies because the vehicle was owned or leased by, or under the direction of, a government.