If you or a loved one is seriously injured in an accident, you should seek prompt medical attention from a licensed professional before doing anything else.

After an accident and any immediate medical treatment, you will probably have a lot of questions. If you contact us at GJEL Accident Attorneys for a free consultation, we will try to answer all your questions about California’s personal injury legal process. Our consultations are always free, so there is no need to worry about attorney fees up front. 

You may have questions about your specific injuries. Some injuries are more serious than others and require ongoing medical treatments or cause lifelong complications. We will do our best to give you an initial assessment of a recovery timeline and the potential future impacts of your injury.

Helping people find answers to these types of questions is exactly why Andy Gillin founded GJEL Accident Attorneys. We are an award-winning personal injury and car accident law firm. Since 1972 we have helped thousands of happy clients with a 99% success rate. We have accomplished such a high success rate by using our knowledge, resources, and experience to help our clients get the compensation and treatment they deserve after an accident. To date, we have recovered over $950 million for our clients.

TALK TO AN ATTORNEY

MEET OUR TEAM OF EXPERIENCED BERKELEY PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

Attorneys serving our Berkeley California law offices.

  • Andy Gillin

    Andy Gillin

    is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys. He is an award-winning personal injury attorney with a 99% success rate.
    Learn More
  • Ralph Jacobson

    Ralph Jacobson

    For the past 40+ years, attorney Ralph Jacobson has been helping personal injury victims. Ralph is an award winner of the prestigious Superlawyers award.
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  • Luke Ellis

    Luke Ellis

    Attorney Luke Ellis is consistently recognized as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the country. Luke received the Best Lawyers award from US News & World Report and is also a highly rated Superlawyer.
    Learn More
  • Jim Larsen

    Jim Larsen

    Jim Larsen has been helping accident victims in Northern California since 1986. He specializes in serious injury cases and maintains a 99% success rate with his cases.
    Learn More
  • Kristin Lucey

    Kristin Lucey

    Kristin Lucey has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a top 100 personal injury attorney in the United States. She received her law degree from UC Davis Law School in 1996.
    Learn More

Section Image

  • Personal Injury

    A personal injury attorney is an attorney who specializes in helping you seek damages for an accident in which you were injured.

  • Car Accidents

    Motor Vehicle accidents account for a significant portion of California’s personal injury and wrongful death claims.

  • Motorcycle Accidents

    After a motorcycle accident, you have two options for securing compensation for your injuries and other losses:

  • Wrongful Death

    The unexpected death of a loved one is a devastating event that no one prepares for. The emotional toll of such a tragedy can be difficult to bear.

  • Truck Accidents

    Motor Vehicle accidents account for a significant portion of California’s personal injury and wrongful death claims.

  • Bicycle Accidents

    Most cyclists are aware of the dangers of bike travel and take precautions to prevent accidents.

  • Brain Injuries

    Most traumatic brain injuries are the result of a vehicle accident, gunshot wound, sports trauma, or child abuse.

  • Bus Accidents

    Accidents involving public and private bus services and school buses are often extremely serious.

  • Scooter Accidents

    If you were injured in a scooter accident or on a scooter due to someone else’s negligence you should speak to an attorney right away.

  • Defective Products

    Each year there are many recalls and safety warnings issued as the result of defective or dangerous auto parts, including seatback failures.

You Don’t Have to Go It Alone

At GJEL we understand how intimidating the legal process can be. Insurance companies, medical bill collectors, and even opposing attorneys can use intimidation as an unsavory negotiating tactic to try to get you to settle for less than you are due. You don’t have to face these parties alone. Let GJEL be your advocate, and you won’t be alone.

“Our Primary Objective Is Helping You” – Managing Attorney Andy Gillin

Our purpose is to help you navigate the legal process after your injury, so you don’t have to go it alone. Suffering from an injury that isn’t your fault is trouble enough. Our Berkeley personal injury attorneys can help you get back on your feet without the headache of seeking compensation by yourself. A significant part of our job is to answer your questions. We encourage our clients to reach out to us whenever a question or issue arises.

Our Unique Approach to Personal Injury Law

At GJEL, our personal injury lawyers set ourselves apart from the competition by doing things a little differently. Our practice is founded on principles of affordability, accessibility, and dependability.

Affordability

GJEL Accident Attorneys believes that everyone should be able to afford quality legal representation. We strive to ensure that anyone can afford our legal services by working on the basis of contingency fees. You pay us only when we get compensation for you. If we don’t get a settlement or win your case, you won’t owe us a penny.

Accessibility

The only way we can do our job—working for you—is to be accessible to you. Any time you have a question or a need arises that is related to your case, you can give us a call. We never want you to feel as though you do not have adequate information or access to us when you need us most. Call a Berkeley lawyer and have the professionals at GJEL on your side.

Dependability

Our clients should always feel as though they can depend on us for the best legal representation possible. Our contingency fee payment arrangement means that our success depends on yours. If you don’t recover your damages, we don’t make money. With that in mind, you can depend on us to give your case the effort and attention it deserves.

Don’t Wait to Start the Legal Process—Contact Our Law Firm Today

One of the sneaky tactics that opposing parties and insurance companies use in personal injury cases is dragging the settlement process on and on. They may tell you to wait to hire an attorney and see if you can work things out on your own. After that, they can ask you for form after form, tell you to go see different doctors, and otherwise drag out the legal process as long as they can.

If they successfully stave off a settlement for two years, you may be out of luck. According to California law, two years after an accident you can no longer file a lawsuit. Don’t fall victim to this sneaky negotiation tactic. Contact us as soon after your accident as you can, and let us do the negotiating for you.

What to learn more about us and read reviews from our past clients? Check out our website on Google.

What Types of Damages Can I Recover After an Injury?

Every accident is unique. As a result, the types of damages you can recover after an accident and injury are also unique. Our team of accident lawyers will help you figure out what types of damages you have suffered and how you can recover those damages.

In California, damages are split between two main categories: economic and noneconomic damages. On one hand, economic damages are the types of damages that are tangible and quantifiable losses. Calculating economic damages is an objective process that is difficult for opposing counsel to oppose. Economic damages include things like lost wages, medical care costs, emergency costs, and property damages. There are many other types of economic damages. Our attorneys will help you identify and recover them.

On the other hand, noneconomic damages are less tangible. They are just as real as economic damages but are often more difficult to identify. Noneconomic damages can also be difficult to quantify. Noneconomic damages include things like the loss of a loved one, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement. These types of damages don’t come with a set price tag, but we will help you recover them nonetheless.

Whatever damages you suffer, GJEL’s Berkeley accident attorneys can help you out. Our attorneys will help you identify, quantify, and prove the damages you suffered so that you can recover them. After all, you deserve to recover any damages you incur.

What Types of Cases Do GJEL Accident Attorneys Take?

GJEL’s Berkely personal injury lawyers take all types of personal injury cases. Our attorneys at GJEL Accident Attorneys in Berkeley wear many hats. We aren’t just car accident lawyers. We are:

Even if you don’t see the type of accident you had included in this list, don’t worry. GJEL’s Berkeley accident lawyers can handle any sort of injury that comes our way. Our team of attorneys has the experience and the resources necessary to help you out. 

The best way to figure out if we can help you is to reach out to us as soon as possible. So don’t hesitate—reach out to us today for a risk-free consultation.

Common Accidents Types in Berkeley

Berkeley, California is a town of approximately 121,240 people according to 2016 census data. Berkeley is an active city and a common place for those working anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area to live. In addition to this, the city also has a high percentage of active people who are biking on city streets. This along with the public transportation from AC Transit and Bart make for a dangerous city where collisions happen daily.

According to the Transportation Injury Mapping System, in 2014 Berkeley saw 607 total collisions that resulted in 3 people killed and 738  people injured. Most of these injuries resulted from drivers not yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

We have helped people with a multitude of different accident types in Berkeley. However, we see some types of accidents more than others. The most common types of accidents we have helped clients with in Berkeley are:

  • Car Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Dog Bite Attacks
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Electric Scooter Accidents
  • Bicycle Accidents

Typically major incidents such as these result in severe injuries. We have handled many cases in the Berkeley area where our clients were seriously injured. Some of these injuries include:

  • Wrongful Death
  • Broken Bones
  • Lacerations
  • Head Injuries
  • Brain Injuries

We have contacts in the medical field that can help treat your injury no matter what it is. If you need continuing care, we can help you out. If you need in-home assistance, we can help you out. If you need a reference to a trauma counselor, we can help you out. No matter what you need, GJEL Accident Attorneys in Berkeley can help you out.

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Common Questions We are Asked

Who Will Cover My Medical Bills?

In the short-term, you and your insurance company will have to cover your medical bills. However, if someone else's negligence caused your injury, they are liable for the related medical bills. Our accident attorneys will help you document your medical bills as part of the economic damages the responsible party owes you. If you require continuing care or rehabilitation, we will also include those medical services as part of any settlement. When your case settles or finishes in court, you should recover the full amount of your medical bills.

How Will I Make up Money from Lost Work?

If you are unable to work for a period of time due to your injury, you will be able to recover the lost wages in a settlement or final judgment. California courts regularly consider lost wages as part of the economic damages that an injured individual can recover. As with your medical bills, the person who caused you injury is liable to compensate you for lost wages. If your injury causes you to miss work in the future, we will also factor those future wages into any settlement.

How Can I Afford Ongoing Treatment?

If your injury requires ongoing treatment, California courts treat it the same way that they treat medical bills and lost wages. Ongoing treatment is considered economic damage. As such, it is recoverable as part of your settlement. Be sure to document that your injury requires ongoing treatment, so your injury lawyers can include it in any settlement negotiations. GJEL Accident Attorneys will seek compensation for you for any ongoing treatment related to your injuries.

Will the Insurance Company Treat Me Fairly?

An insurance company may treat you fairly. However, you shouldn't count on it. An insurance company's goal is to pay out the least amount of money possible in the claims process. With this goal in mind, they sometimes engage in underhanded negotiation tactics or negotiate in bad faith. Because of the risk of unfair treatment by an insurance company, it is best to let your personal injury attorney handle any contact with them.

How Long Will the Settlement Process Take?

Just like injuries and accidents themselves, settlement processes are all unique. If the opposing party offers a fair settlement fairly quickly, the settlement process may be as short as a couple months. If the case has to go to court, however, it may take more than a year for a final settlement or judicial award to be made. There are numerous factors that can affect it. However, your attorney at GJEL will always keep you informed on where the case is at and when it might finish up.

Contact Us So We Can Answer These Questions Personally

We cannot stress enough that these general answers should not be construed as legal advice. The answer to any of these questions will ultimately depend on your specific case's facts and circumstances. To answer these and any other questions applicable to your own needs and circumstances, contact us today.

HIRING AN ATTORNEY? HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK

Contact us online now or call us toll-free at 866-293-9364 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Our passion and goal is helping our clients recover from their injuries. We have the experience, expertise, and resources necessary to ensure you have the best legal help available in Berkeley.

Find us at:

1214 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

Hours:

Our Attorneys Are Available 24/7 for a free case review

Phone:

510-841-7820 [Phone Lines Open 24/7]


If you’ve suffered a serious personal injury in Berkeley, CA or one of the surrounding neighborhoods, it’s crucial to find the right personal injury law firm to represent your rights and interests. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a personal injury law firm:

First, look for a law firm with extensive experience in personal injury matters. At GJEL Accident Attorneys, our injury attorneys have decades of experience representing individuals and businesses in a wide range of personal injury matters. We have a proven track record of success in securing substantial settlements and judgments on behalf of our clients.

Next, look for a law firm with a reputation for professionalism and integrity. Our firm is highly respected in the legal community, and we have been recognized as Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters. Our firm has also received a top rating for professionalism and ethics from Martindale-Hubbell, a trusted source for lawyer ratings and reviews.

When selecting a personal injury law firm, it’s also important to consider their expertise in the specific type of injury you’ve suffered. For example, if you’ve suffered a serious brain injury, you’ll want to work with an attorney who has experience handling these types of matters. Our attorneys are well-versed in a wide range of personal injury matters, including serious brain injuries, and we have the knowledge and expertise to help you navigate the legal process.

Finally, look for a law firm that values education and community involvement. Our attorneys regularly participate in community events and education programs, and we are committed to helping accident victims and their families understand their rights and options. We offer free consultations at our Berkeley law offices, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have about your case.

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Berkeley or the surrounding area, contact GJEL Accident Attorneys today to schedule a consultation. We’ll work tirelessly on your behalf to help you recover the benefits and compensation you’re entitled to. Please note that the above information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit our law offices in Berkeley, CA or call us at (510) 841-7820.

Resources

Berkeley, CA Car Accident Attorneys

Berkeley, CA Wrongful Death Attorneys

Berkeley Brain Injury Attorneys

GJEL Accident Attorneys is a trusted law firm in Berkeley, California, that specializes in representing clients who have suffered brain injuries as a result of accidents.

Nearby Office Locations

Walnut Creek Personal Injury Office

Oakland Personal Injury Law Office

Orinda Personal Injury Office 

San Jose Personal Injury Attorneys

Berkeley Traffic Accident Statistics

Data collected by the Berkeley Police Department illustrates the unfortunate reality of traffic-related injuries and deaths in the city in 2021. According to a report released by the department, traffic collisions in the city last year were up 34% from the previous year, with approximately 433 of them resulting in injuries – a 37% increase from 2020. This data highlights the challenges that urban cities like Berkeley are facing with an increase in traffic accidents resulting in injuries.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (USDOT FHWA) has found that urban intersections have a higher number of tragic fatalities in comparison to rural intersections. According to the statistics released by the Department of Transportation (DOT), over 6,500 people were killed at urban intersections in 2019 as opposed to less than 2,500 at rural intersections across the nation. The DOT also reports that speeding is one of the most frequent causes of traffic accidents in urban areas.

Furthermore, the city had the highest number of traffic collision-related deaths in decades. In 2021, a total of eight people were tragically killed in traffic accidents, with five of them being pedestrians.