Car accident
Car Accident Attorneys in Fresno, California
The firms in this guide
1. Berg Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death, boat accidents, nursing home negligence, slip and fall injuries, defective products, railroad accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, commercial truck accidents, hit-and-run accidents, uninsured motorist claims, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, medical lien resolution, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, social security disability assistance
Background: Berg Injury Lawyers has served clients in Northern California since 1981 and has recovered over $1 billion for clients. The firm employs a No Fee Guarantee policy where clients pay nothing unless they win. The firm maintains offices in Fresno, Sacramento, Modesto, and Alameda. Attorneys are familiar with Highway 99 accidents and Central Valley traffic patterns.
Location: 516 W Shaw Ave Suite 200, Fresno, California 93704
Contact: (559) 228-3200 | (800) 400-2374 | https://www.berginjurylawyers.com/fresno/
Consultation: Free 24/7 consultation, contingency fee basis (no fee unless recovery is obtained)
2. Tomassian, Pimentel and Shapazian
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, rideshare accidents, uninsured motorist claims, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, construction accidents, workplace injuries
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, distracted driving accidents, speeding accidents, DUI accidents, hit-and-run cases, catastrophic injury cases, multi-vehicle collisions, pedestrian accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence gathering, medical records collection, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: The firm has been seeking justice for auto accident victims since 1992. The attorneys include Gerald M. Tomassian, Paul J. Pimentel, Larry H. Shapazian, and Christina Cardenas-Gonzalez. The firm serves Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kingsburg, and Hanford counties. Staff is fluent in Spanish and French.
Location: 3419 W Shaw Ave, Fresno, California 93711
Contact: (559) 545-0383 | https://www.tpslawfirm.com/personal-injury/car-accident/
Consultation: Free initial consultation, contingency fee basis
3. Grossman Law Offices
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, farming accidents, defective products, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, commercial vehicle accidents, agricultural equipment accidents, hit-and-run cases, uninsured motorist claims, catastrophic injury cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence gathering, medical records review, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims
Background: The firm serves Central Valley communities from Bakersfield to Sacramento and Northern California. The Fresno office provides face-to-face attention with attorneys rather than videoconferencing. The firm handles cases in both English and Spanish. Clients pay nothing unless they win their case.
Location: Fresno, California (contact for specific address)
Contact: Contact through website | https://personalinjuryattorney-fresno.com/personal-injury/car-accidents/
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis
4. GJEL Accident Attorneys
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, paralysis injuries, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Multi-vehicle pile-ups (including Highway 99 tule fog accidents), rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, commercial truck accidents, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, medical bill management, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims
Background: GJEL has spent four decades studying Fresno’s accident patterns and has built relationships with local accident reconstruction experts. The firm reports a 99% success rate and has recovered over $950 million for clients. In 2023, they secured a $2.2 million settlement for a family involved in a 27-car pile-up near the Highway 99/Highway 180 interchange during heavy fog conditions.
Location: Fresno, California (contact for specific address)
Contact: (559) 266-2244 | https://www.gjel.com/fresno
Consultation: Free case review, contingency fee basis (no payment unless case is won)
5. Fowler Helsel Vogt
Practice Focus: Personal injury, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, premises liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, commercial truck accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death from auto accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence gathering, medical records review, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims
Background: The firm has more than 40 years of combined experience handling injury cases. Each member of the firm has been recognized by inclusion in the Northern California Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers. The firm has been honored with the Fresno County Verdict of the Month on multiple occasions. Notable results include a large commercial work truck rear-end collision case resulting in cervical spine surgery.
Location: Fresno, California (contact for specific address)
Contact: (559) 900-1280 | https://www.fhvlaw.com/
Consultation: Free no-obligation consultation, contingency fee basis (no payment unless case is won)
Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Policy Limits and Public Claims in Fresno Car Crashes
In a Fresno crash where the at-fault driver carried little or no insurance, the injured driver’s recovery depends on two policies: the other driver’s liability limits and the injured driver’s own uninsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage Stays Unless Changed in Writing
Insurance Code § 11580.2(a)(1) lets the insurer and a named insured, by written agreement in the statutory form, delete uninsured motorist coverage completely, delete it when named drivers operate the vehicle, or reduce it below the required amount but not below the Vehicle Code § 16056 limits.
An Unidentified Driver
For a driver who cannot be identified, the same section requires bodily injury arising out of physical contact with the insured or the insured’s vehicle, a report within 24 hours to the city police department (or, in unincorporated territory, the county sheriff or the local California Highway Patrol headquarters), and a sworn statement filed with the insurer within 30 days.
Liability Limits by Policy Date
Vehicle Code § 16056(a)(2) requires, for a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, at least $30,000 for one person, $60,000 for two or more people and $15,000 for property damage in one crash. Earlier policies carried $15,000, $30,000 and $5,000 under paragraph (1).
Claims Against a Public Entity
Government Code § 911.2 requires a claim for death or personal injury to be presented within six months after accrual. Under § 945.6, suit is due within six months after a written rejection notice is personally delivered or mailed, or within two years from accrual if no such notice is given.
Fresno Car Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue the other driver?
Two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 for injury or death caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect.
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 40 percent of the fault on the injured driver: the recovery would be $60,000.
If two drivers caused the crash, can I collect all my pain and suffering from one of them?
No. Civil Code § 1431.2(a) makes each defendant’s liability for noneconomic damages several only, in direct proportion to that defendant’s percentage of fault.