1. Callahan & Blaine

Practice Focus: Personal injury litigation, car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, wrongful death claims, insurance disputes, and complex civil litigation.

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death cases arising from motor vehicle collisions.

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, discovery and depositions, expert witness coordination, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, and punitive damage claims.

Background: Founded in 1984, the firm has over 700 years of combined trial experience among its attorneys. Daniel J. Callahan graduated magna cum laude from Western Illinois University in 1976 and with honors from UC Davis School of Law in 1979, where he served as Editor of the Law Review. The firm has recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including a $934 million jury verdict (largest in Orange County history) and a $50 million personal injury settlement. The firm maintains AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Managing Partner Edward Susolik has been named to Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers annually from 2010-2025.

Location: 3 Hutton Centre Drive, 9th Floor, Santa Ana, CA 92707

Contact: (714) 241-4444 | https://www.callahan-law.com

Consultation: Free initial consultation available. The firm works on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases.

2. Crockett Law Group (Kevin Crockett)

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, rideshare accidents, wrongful death claims, and catastrophic injury cases.

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, highway collisions, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, hit-and-run cases, Uber and Lyft accidents, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, and spinal cord injury cases.

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

Background: Kevin Crockett holds California State Bar Number 314485. He graduated summa cum laude from UC Irvine with a B.A. in Philosophy and earned his J.D. from UCI Law. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and was named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in 2021. The firm focuses exclusively on personal injury representation.

Location: 7700 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 400, Irvine, CA 92618

Contact: (714) 714-7100 | https://www.crockettlawgroup.com

Consultation: Free case evaluation available. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis with no upfront costs.

3. RMD Law

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, rideshare accidents, insurance bad faith claims, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury cases.

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial truck accidents, hit-and-run cases, and uninsured motorist claims.

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, insurance bad faith litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, and punitive damage claims.

Background: Aria Miran holds California State Bar Number 285032 (admitted 2012). He has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The firm has obtained significant verdicts including a $5.1 million insurance bad faith verdict. Nicole Dolle graduated from Chapman University Fowler School of Law in 2013, has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and has secured verdicts including $2.22 million in 2020 and $1.165 million in 2023. John Rajaee is also a partner at the firm.

Location: 19700 Fairchild Road, Suite 350, Irvine, CA 92612

Contact: (949) 326-5000 | https://www.rmdlaw.com

Consultation: Free initial consultation available. The firm works on a contingency fee arrangement.

4. Kubota & Craig

Practice Focus: Personal injury litigation, car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, insurance disputes, and catastrophic injury cases.

Case Types Handled: Multi-vehicle collisions, rear-end accidents, intersection crashes, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death cases.

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, discovery and depositions, expert witness coordination, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, and pain and suffering claims.

Background: Yoshiaki Kubota holds California State Bar Number 175555. The founding partners Yoshiaki Kubota and Cynthia Craig have over 50 years of combined experience and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients. The firm has been recognized in Best Lawyers 2025, Super Lawyers, and attorneys are members of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). The firm has extensive trial experience and handles cases throughout Orange County.

Location: 16530 Bake Parkway, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92618

Contact: (949) 218-5676 | https://www.kubotacraig.com

Consultation: Free case evaluation available. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis.

5. Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, rideshare accidents, product liability related to vehicle defects, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury cases.

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial truck accidents, defective vehicle component cases, and hit-and-run cases.

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

Background: The firm was founded in 1978 and has over 45 years of experience handling personal injury cases in Orange County. The firm has recovered over $800 million for clients and maintains a 99% success rate. Attorneys have been recognized in Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. The firm has extensive trial experience and has handled numerous high-profile cases involving vehicle defects and catastrophic injuries.

Location: 1301 Dove Street, Suite 120, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (serving Irvine)

Contact: (949) 203-3814 | https://www.bestattorney.com

Consultation: Free case evaluation available. The firm works on a contingency fee basis with no fees unless recovery is obtained.

Car Accident Laws and Regulations in California

Statute of Limitations: California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from car accidents. The deadline runs from the date of the accident. For property damage claims, California allows three years from the date of the accident under Code of Civil Procedure Section 338.

Fault System: California is an at-fault (tort) state, meaning the driver who caused the accident is responsible for damages. Injured parties can file claims against the at-fault driver’s insurance, file a claim with their own insurance, or pursue a lawsuit in civil court.

Comparative Negligence: California follows the pure comparative negligence rule under Civil Code Section 1431.2. An injured party can recover damages even if they are partially at fault, but the recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if a plaintiff is found 30% at fault and damages total $100,000, recovery would be $70,000.

Minimum Insurance Requirements: California Vehicle Code Section 16056 requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $15,000 for bodily injury or death per person, $30,000 for bodily injury or death per accident, and $5,000 for property damage. These are often referred to as 15/30/5 coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: California law requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, though drivers may decline in writing. If coverage is maintained, minimum limits must match liability coverage limits.

Reporting Requirements: California Vehicle Code Section 16000 requires drivers to report accidents to the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage exceeds $1,000. Failure to report can result in license suspension.

Damage Caps: California does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in personal injury cases. However, punitive damages must be proportional to compensatory damages, and Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) caps non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases at $250,000 (with scheduled increases through 2034).

Dram Shop Liability: California generally does not hold bars or restaurants liable for serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated adults who later cause accidents. However, under Business and Professions Code Section 25602.1, liability exists for furnishing alcohol to minors who subsequently cause injury.

Vicarious Liability: Under the Graves Amendment (49 U.S.C. § 30106), rental car companies are generally not vicariously liable for accidents caused by renters. However, vehicle owners may be liable for permissive use accidents in certain circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for filing a car accident lawsuit in California?

In California, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. For property damage claims, the statute of limitations is three years. If you are suing a government entity (such as a city or county vehicle), you must file an administrative claim within six months of the accident under the California Tort Claims Act. Missing these deadlines typically results in permanent loss of your right to pursue compensation through the courts.

How does California’s pure comparative negligence rule affect my compensation?

California’s pure comparative negligence system allows you to recover damages even if you were partially responsible for the accident. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if a jury determines you suffered $200,000 in damages but were 25% responsible for the collision, you would receive $150,000. Unlike modified comparative negligence states, California has no threshold that bars recovery, meaning you can recover damages even if found 99% at fault, though the award would be reduced accordingly.

What are the minimum insurance requirements for drivers in California?

California mandates minimum liability coverage of $15,000 per person for bodily injury, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury when multiple people are injured, and $5,000 for property damage (commonly written as 15/30/5). These minimums are among the lowest in the nation and may be insufficient to cover serious accidents. Drivers may also choose to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and collision/comprehensive coverage, though these are not legally required.

What damages can I recover in a California car accident case?

California allows recovery of both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket costs related to the accident. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. In cases involving extreme negligence such as drunk driving, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct.

How do I file a claim against a government vehicle or entity in California?

Claims against government entities in California require strict compliance with the California Tort Claims Act (Government Code Sections 900-935.6). You must file a written administrative claim with the appropriate government agency within six months of the accident. The claim must include specific information about the incident, injuries, and damages sought. If the claim is denied or not acted upon within 45 days, you have six months to file a lawsuit. Failure to file the administrative claim within the six-month deadline typically bars any subsequent lawsuit.