Put your health first
Get emergency or follow-up medical care when you need it. Keep the discharge papers, visit summaries, bills, and instructions you receive. Injuries are not always obvious at the scene.
Free case review
California car accident lawyers for serious injuries
Get answers in one free call before you sign or settle with an insurer. Talk with a GJEL lawyer about your options.
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- Free case review
- Home and hospital visits
- No fee unless and until we win
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Thank you
A lawyer will personally review your case and call you shortly.
We’ll call from a local number and tell you when to expect us.
When a lawyer can help after a car accident
You do not have to know whether you have a case before you call. A free review can help you understand the next step, especially when the crash involves:
- A serious injury, surgery, a brain injury, a spinal injury, or a family member who died.
- Disputed fault, a police report that does not tell the whole story, or an insurer blaming you.
- A hit-and-run driver, no insurance, or insurance that may not cover the harm.
- A rideshare, delivery vehicle, commercial vehicle, public agency, or dangerous road.
Some facts and records can be harder to obtain as time passes. A GJEL lawyer can listen to what happened and tell you honestly whether the firm can help.
What to do now
Save what can explain the crash
Keep photos, video, the other driver’s information, witness names, the police or CHP report number, and letters from insurers. Do not repair or dispose of important evidence until you understand what may be needed.
Get advice before you sign
An early offer or release can end a claim before the full effect of an injury is known. You can ask a lawyer what the paperwork means before you agree to anything.
A clear conversation comes first
What it costs to speak with GJEL
Your case review is free and there is no obligation. GJEL works on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no fee unless and until we win. If the firm offers representation, the fee agreement explains the percentage, case costs, and how they are handled before you decide.
Since 1972
Why people turn to GJEL
GJEL has represented injured Californians since 1972. The firm has recovered more than $980 million for injured Californians and has a 99% success rate across the cases it takes on.
Our lawyers and staff build the record an insurer must answer. That may include preserving vehicle and video evidence, reviewing police reports, identifying available insurance, documenting the effect of an injury, and preparing a case for negotiation or litigation when appropriate. You should be able to ask who will handle your case and who will return your calls.
GJEL has 17 offices across the Bay Area, Northern California, and the Central Valley. We handle eligible cases statewide and can meet at home or in the hospital when needed.
Published car accident results
Every case is different. The following are published examples from cases GJEL handled, not a promise about your case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
$1 million settlement after a Dublin multi-car crash
In a published I-680 case, a couple’s vehicle was rear-ended and pushed into other vehicles during rush-hour traffic in Dublin. The case involved serious injuries, multiple insurance carriers, and an out-of-state dissolved employer. GJEL’s published case study reports a $1,000,000 settlement after three years.
Read the published result$300,000 Oakland car accident settlement
After a Highway 24 crash in Oakland, the insurer questioned whether the impact caused the client’s concussion symptoms. GJEL’s published case study describes investigation and accident-reconstruction work before a $300,000 settlement.
Read the published result$275,000 Fremont three-car crash settlement
In a published Fremont case, two vehicles entered the client’s lane on I-680. The insurer initially questioned the injuries and made an early offer. The published case study reports a $275,000 settlement after evidence and treatment information were developed.
Read the published resultKnow the timing
California rules that can change the next step
Fault can be shared
You may still be able to recover compensation if you were partly responsible for a crash. In California, damages are generally reduced by a person’s share of fault. The facts and available evidence matter.
Deadlines can be short
California law generally gives two years to file an injury lawsuit, but when that time starts and any exceptions matter. An injury claim against a city, county, transit agency, Caltrans, or another public entity generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues. Separate rules govern filing a lawsuit, so ask about the deadline that applies to your situation.
Learn about California filing deadlinesInsurance may not cover the whole loss
For private passenger vehicles, California’s current minimum liability limits are $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage. Serious injuries can exceed those amounts. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may be relevant, depending on the policy and the facts of the crash.
Meet founding partner
Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin
Andy Gillin co-founded GJEL in 1972. Learn more in his GJEL profile.
View Andrew Gillin’s profileWhere we help
Our offices are in Northern California, and GJEL handles eligible cases throughout California. For local help, start with the page that matches where the crash happened:
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer for my car accident?
Not every crash needs a lawyer. It can be useful to speak with one when you have a significant injury, uncertain fault, a commercial or public-entity issue, a coverage problem, or an insurer’s offer that does not answer your questions. The review is free.
What if I was partly at fault?
You may still have a claim. California generally reduces compensation by the share of fault assigned to you. A lawyer can review the evidence and explain how that rule may apply.
Should I take the insurance company’s first offer?
You do not have to decide on the spot. Before accepting an offer or signing a release, make sure you understand what injuries, treatment, lost income, and other losses it covers. You can ask a lawyer to review it.
What if the other driver has no insurance or leaves the scene?
Report the crash and preserve the information you have. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may help, depending on your policy. A hit-and-run investigation can also involve police reports, witnesses, video, and other evidence.
How much does a car accident lawyer cost?
GJEL offers a free case review and works on contingency. You pay no fee unless and until we win. If the firm offers representation, the written agreement explains fees and costs before you decide.
How long do I have to act?
California law generally gives two years to file an injury lawsuit, but when that time starts and any exceptions matter. An injury claim against a public entity generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues. Ask about the deadline that applies to your situation promptly.
Free, confidential, no obligation
Talk with a California car accident lawyer
Tell us what happened. A GJEL lawyer can review your situation, explain your options, and tell you honestly whether the firm can help. Free, confidential, no obligation. No fee unless and until we win.
Call Now✓
Thank you
A lawyer will personally review your case and call you shortly.
We’ll call from a local number and tell you when to expect us.