Trusted Santa Monica Car Accident Lawyers: Experienced Guidance When You Need It Most

A truck or car accident can ruin more than just your day. You likely lose hours at work, accrue high medical expenses and even experience long-term pain and suffering. If you have serious catastrophic, or life-changing injuries from a car accident in Santa Monica or Los Angeles, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention and then write up a report to the Santa Monica Police Department. Calling an attorney soon after is the next pivotal step.

At the Law Offices of Eric Hershler, we offer free consultations. We have experience in over 17,500 personal injury cases throughout California, resulting in more than $100 million in combined recovery for our clients.

The combination of our legal system knowledge and our willingness to be accessible to our clients gives us an advantage over other firms. We strive for efficiency without losing sight of effectiveness in seeking to maximize recovery, and can assist in dealing with insurance companies, which may attempt to minimize payouts.

Highlighted Case Result

 

$2.25 Million Settlement For Auto Accident

 

In 2022, our client and his passenger were driving through an intersection when the other party crossed into their lane and collided with their vehicle head-on. Our client sustained serious injuries, including a concussion,  injuries to his face, and a fractured knee. As a result, he required repeat surgeries on his knee and extensive physical therapy. We recovered a settlement of $2,250,000 for his injuries from the other party’s insurance.

Steps To Take After A Car Accident In California

To help you get a sense of what matters in your claim, here are a few tips if you or a loved one were in a car accident:

1. Prioritize your safety and health: Seek medical attention immediately, as seemingly minor pain can mask a severe, permanent injury.
2. File a report: Report the accident to the Santa Monica Police Department.
3. Gather information: Get the other driver’s information, including their name, phone number and insurance details. Take photos of the vehicles and the accident scene. If there are witnesses, get their contact information.
4. Do not discuss fault: Avoid admitting fault or discussing the details of the accident with anyone other than the police and your attorney. This includes posting on social media.
5. Call a Santa Monica car accident lawyer before talking to the insurance company: The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can guide you. We can handle all communication with the insurance company and work to build a strong case for maximum compensation.

Taking the proper steps following a car accident can make all the difference in payment for damages. Your well-being matters. We have more than 35 years of experience giving clients legal counsel in injury and accident cases.

What Not To Do After An Accident Injury

One of the most important things you can do after a car crash has more to do with what you shouldn’t do after a car accident: talk too much. Sharing the details of your accident — on social media, with friends and especially with an insurance company — may complicate things. Obviously, you will have to speak to insurance, but keeping what you say to an absolute minimum may protect you.

We guide clients through every aspect of the personal injury claims process. The sooner you call 424-432-5084, the sooner our personal injury team can begin to fight for you.

Car Crashes Involve More Than Just Cars

One of the generalizations that people make is that a car crash involves two cars. That’s not always the case. Severe injuries often result from pedestrian accidents or crashes involving commercial trucks, delivery vehicles, buses and the full range of types of vehicles.

Life-altering car accidents may involve many nuances that are specific to the individual facts of the case. Potential sources of income may include other responsible parties beyond the insurance provider for the driver, depending upon the unique circumstances.

A business, construction company or government agency may also have some responsibility for the accident. We review the details, the evidence and all the facts to provide individual strategies for motor vehicle accident claims.

Types Of Accidents Our Santa Monica Personal Injury Litigation Law Firm Handles

Our experience spans across the spectrum of California motor vehicle accident catastrophic​personal injury claims, including those involving:

• Commercial vehicle and trucking accidents: In today’s marketplace, delivery trucks seem to travel through every neighborhood on a regular basis. This may lead to a delivery vehicle accident. Similarly, construction zones and construction-industry motor vehicle accidents are commonplace. Our legal team has substantial experience pursuing meaningful outcomes for commercial vehicle and truck accident victims.
• Government vehicle accidents: The process and timelines for suing government agencies for negligence differ from non-government personal injury claims. We pursue claims against government agencies for negligence when government personnel are negligent in an injury-producing accident. Government claims involve government claim rules. These cases require a personal injury law firm with experience in government claims to pursue justice. Types of government claims may include utility vehicle accidents.
• Bus accidents: Bus accidents involving private coach vehicles and public transportation systems such as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority may affect other drivers, as well as bus passengers. Our legal team has the experience to unravel the details while fighting private bus companies or government agencies linked to bus crashes.
• Bicycle accidents: Drivers often try to blame the bicyclist when a bike rider is hit by a car. We analyze every detail to provide our clients with a position of strength in pursuing a bicycle accident injury claim.
• Impaired driving accidents: Drunk driving accidents or wrecks involving drugs are not confined to any type of vehicle, per se. However, the negligence of the driver in driving while drunk or under the influence of other substances is fact-specific. A drunk driving car accident requires legal analysis of the facts and circumstances to support and present a compelling case for justice.

No matter what type of crash caused your injuries, our Santa Monica car accident lawyer is prepared to stand by your side. We focus on uncovering the truth, holding negligent parties accountable and pursuing the full compensation you deserve.

Types Of Car Accident Claims Our Santa Monica Car Accident Lawyers Can Help With

Santa Monica’s mix of beach traffic, downtown congestion and busy freeways creates accident risks in many different settings. We have extensive experience handling a wide range of motor vehicle accidents, each with its own unique challenges:

• Rear-end collisions: Often caused by distracted driving, tailgating or sudden stops, these crashes can result in whiplash, back injuries or more severe trauma.
• Side-impact collisions (T-bone crashes): Common at intersections, these collisions can cause serious injuries due to limited side protection in most vehicles.
• Vehicle rollovers: SUV and truck rollovers often lead to catastrophic injuries, requiring a thorough investigation into vehicle design, road conditions or driver negligence.
• Head-on collisions: Among the most dangerous accidents, these crashes frequently involve speeding, impairment or driving the wrong way on divided roads.
• Wrong-way driving accidents: Drivers going the wrong direction on one-way streets or freeway ramps can cause devastating impacts at high speeds.
• Multi-vehicle collisions: Pile-ups on congested freeways raise complicated questions about liability, requiring a detailed evidence review to protect your claim.
• Hit-and-run accidents: When a negligent driver flees the scene, we pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage or by identifying the at-fault driver.
• Any accident involving injury: Whether your crash seems minor or severe, if you sustained injuries, we can step in to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you need.

Whatever mishap you may be dealing with, you need a Santa Monica car accident lawyer who understands how quickly an ordinary day can be derailed by a crash. We investigate every angle of your case and fight for the maximum recovery available under California law.

Truck And Motorcycle Accident Victims Are Prone To Catastrophic Injuries

Accidents on the road can involve vehicles of all types, shapes and sizes. These crashes are also extremely complex.

Truck crashes, for example, are complex legal pursuits. The business structure of the trucking company is important in a trucking accident investigation. What many people face is the life-changing devastation a massive truck may inflict on the accident victim and the family members of the injured person. We know how to investigate these tragic accident claims.

Motorcycle-related accidents involve some of the most painful and dangerous injuries. Riders do not have the same level of protection that a car may provide to drivers and passengers. Moreover, many drivers fail to see motorcycles, leading to tragic motorcycle accidents.

With Uber And Lyft, Car Crashes Look Different In An App-Based World

The rise of rideshare apps and companies, especially in California, means that getting compensation for an accident is more complicated than ever before. Suddenly, there is a major corporation involved, with all the resources that entails.

At the Law Offices of Eric Hershler, our team understands the nuances of Uber and Lyft accidents, and we bring our substantial reputation and experience to your case.

What Happens If The Other Driver Has No Insurance?

In a busy city like Santa Monica, accidents with uninsured or underinsured drivers happen more often than many people realize. If you collide with a driver who lacks proper coverage, you may feel uncertain about who will pay for your medical bills, lost wages and vehicle repairs.

Our first step is to examine your own auto insurance policy for uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. If you carry this protection, we can help you file a claim and pursue the benefits you’re entitled to. Even if you do not have UM/UIM coverage, we explore other potential sources of compensation, such as third-party liability or employer responsibility if the driver was on the job.

Insurance companies often resist paying out these claims, but we push back. We handle communication with adjusters, collect evidence and build a strong case that protects you from being stuck with unexpected expenses. Our Santa Monica car accident lawyer knows how to handle these complex situations so you can focus on healing while we fight for your recovery.