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Personal Injury Attorney in South Pasadena, CA

Auto Accident Attorney in South Pasadena, CA

A serious car crash can upend your health, your finances, and your sense of security overnight. Auto collisions are the core of my injury practice, and I take that weight off your shoulders so you can focus on getting better.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Most crashes trace back to a driver's careless choice behind the wheel. The causes I see most often include:

  • Distracted driving, especially texting
  • Speeding and driving too fast for conditions
  • Drunk or drug-impaired driving
  • Running red lights and stop signs
  • Unsafe lane changes and failure to yield
  • Tailgating and rear-end collisions
  • Fatigued driving and poor weather conditions

Proving Who Was at Fault

California is an at-fault state, which means the driver who caused the crash, and their insurance company, is responsible for your losses. But fault is often disputed, and insurers are quick to shift blame onto you.

California also follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so even if you were partly at fault you can still recover, reduced by your share. From the moment you call, I preserve the police report, witness accounts, vehicle and phone data, and scene evidence that prove what really happened before it disappears.

The Deadline to File in California

California generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a Personal Injury lawsuit, and missing that deadline can bar your claim entirely.

There are exceptions that can shorten or change it, most importantly a six-month deadline to file a claim when a government entity is involved. Because the timeline can be unforgiving, it is best to speak with me early so evidence is preserved and no deadline slips by.

Damages You Can Recover

California law lets you recover two kinds of damages: economic damages, your concrete financial losses, and non-economic damages, the human costs that are harder to measure. I make sure every category that applies to your case is counted, not just the bills on your kitchen table.

  • Medical bills, from emergency care to future treatment and surgery
  • Medication, assistive equipment, and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
  • Property damage
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress, anxiety, and mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

What to Do After a Car Accident

The steps you take right after a crash can make or break your claim. If you are able:

  • Get medical attention, even if you feel fine at first
  • Call the police and request a copy of the report and its number
  • Photograph the vehicles, the scene, the intersection and traffic signals, and your injuries
  • Exchange insurance and policy information with the other driver
  • Collect the names and contact details of any witnesses
  • Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before calling me

How Luis Valdivia can help with your case

  • Investigate the crash and preserve police reports, witness accounts, and vehicle data.
  • Identify every source of recovery, including commercial and umbrella policies.
  • Handle all insurer communication so you don't say something that hurts your claim.
  • Calculate the true cost of your injury: future care, lost earnings, and pain.
  • Push every offer to its fair value and take the case to trial if needed.

Think I can help with your case?

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