How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Los Angeles?

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Different deadlines can apply, including shorter ones if a government vehicle or public entity is involved, so it is best to speak with a lawyer quickly.

How much is my Los Angeles car accident case worth?

There is no set figure. Value depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, the cost of past and future medical care, lost income, how clearly the other driver was at fault, and the available insurance coverage. We can give you a realistic assessment after reviewing your case, but no honest lawyer can guarantee a result.

What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?

California has a high rate of uninsured and underinsured drivers. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply, and coverage on a resident relative's policy can sometimes help too. We review every applicable policy to find a source of recovery.

Do I have to go to court for my car accident case?

Most car accident claims settle without a trial. We prepare every case as if it will go before a jury, which strengthens your negotiating position, but many resolve through settlement. If trial becomes necessary, we are ready to take it there.

How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer?

We work on a contingency fee, meaning there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we recover money for you. The consultation is free, and our fee comes as a percentage of the recovery we obtain.

Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer

A car crash on the 405 or Wilshire can upend your life in seconds, and the at-fault driver's insurer is already working to pay you as little as possible. MMG Law Firm helps Los Angeles drivers and passengers hold negligent motorists accountable and recover for medical bills, lost income, and pain. Your consultation is free, and you owe nothing unless we win.

Car Accidents matters in Los Angeles

Few places test a driver like Los Angeles. The Sepulveda Pass on the 405, the four-level interchange where the 110 meets the 101, and the daily crawl on the 10 through the Westside concentrate millions of vehicles into corridors that punish a single moment of inattention. Add distracted drivers on Wilshire, Sunset, and Ventura Boulevard, plus one of the highest uninsured-motorist rates in the country, and a routine commute can become a serious collision.

MMG Law Firm represents people hurt in these crashes. We dig into how the wreck actually happened, who is responsible, and what coverage exists, then we deal with the insurance companies so you can focus on healing.

Why LA Car Crashes Happen Here

Geography drives the risk. Some recurring patterns we see:

Rear-end and chain-reaction crashes in stop-and-go traffic on the 5, 101, and 110
High-speed merges and lane changes through the 405 Sepulveda Pass and the 134 interchange
Left-turn and red-light collisions on wide surface streets like Vermont, Western, and Figueroa
Distracted and impaired driving on nightlife corridors in Hollywood and DTLA

The California Law That Decides Fault

California is an at-fault state, so the driver who caused the crash (and that driver's insurer) is responsible for the harm. California also follows pure comparative negligence: if you are found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are never barred from recovering. Insurers exploit this rule to shift blame onto you, which is exactly why early legal help matters.

Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Because so many LA drivers carry no insurance or minimal limits, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is often the difference between a real recovery and an empty judgment. We review every applicable policy, including UM/UIM on your own auto policy and resident relatives' policies, and we handle these claims against your insurer when the at-fault driver cannot pay.

Injuries, Medical Liens & Compensation

Car crashes produce whiplash and neck injuries, herniated discs, fractures, concussions and other traumatic brain injuries, and lasting soft-tissue damage. Many clients treat on medical liens when health coverage is unavailable; we coordinate that care and negotiate those liens down at settlement so more money stays with you.

Through an injury claim you may pursue:

Economic damages such as medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity
Non-economic damages such as pain, suffering, and loss of normal life
Property damage for your vehicle and its contents

Every case is different, and no result is ever guaranteed.

Deadlines & Where Your Case Is Heard

Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Miss it and your claim is usually lost forever. Most Los Angeles auto cases are litigated in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with many civil matters centered at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown LA.

How MMG Law Firm Helps

Our office sits in Glendale, a short drive up the I-5 from downtown and the Eastside, so we know these roads and these courts. We offer free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, work on contingency (no fee unless we win), and counter insurer lowball tactics with documented evidence of your losses. Call today to learn what your options are.

How Mihran M. Ghazaryan helps with car accidents

When you hire MMG Law Firm, attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan handles your case personally — not a case manager you never meet. He reviews the police report and your medical records himself, takes over every call with the adjuster, and looks for coverage others miss, including your own uninsured/underinsured-motorist policy. He also manages the medical liens that can quietly eat into a recovery, so more of any settlement stays with you.

Types of car accidents we handle

Rear-end and stop-light collisions

Often clearer on liability, but insurers still routinely dispute injury causation in low-speed impacts. We pair the medical record with biomechanical context to defeat that argument.

Intersection and left-turn crashes

Disputed-fault claims where the right-of-way analysis matters. Reconstruction, signal timing, and witness statements drive the result.

Hit-and-run and uninsured-motorist

We work directly with your own UM/UIM coverage when the at-fault driver flees or has no insurance, and we make sure your insurer treats you as the customer, not the adversary.

What compensation can cover

Every car accident claim is different, but California law allows injured plaintiffs to seek several categories of damages. We build each one with documentation — medical records, wage statements, expert opinions — so nothing is left on the table.

Medical expenses

Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and the future treatment your providers say you'll need.

Lost wages

Income you lost while recovering — and, where the injury affects your ability to work, diminished future earning capacity.

Pain and suffering

Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed how you live day to day.

Property damage

Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other property damaged in the incident.

Out-of-pocket costs

Transportation to appointments, medical equipment, household help, and the other expenses an injury forces on you.

How we work

Free, no-pressure consultation

We listen first. We answer your questions. There is no fee for the initial conversation — and you decide whether to engage us at the end of it.

Investigation and evidence preservation

Police reports, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle data, surveillance video, medical records. The earlier we collect, the harder it is for the other side to reshape the story later.

Treatment, demand, and negotiation

We coordinate with your providers, document the full extent of damages — medical, lost income, pain — and present a demand backed by evidence. We push back firmly when an insurer lowballs.

Litigation when necessary

Most matters settle. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we file. Preparing every case as if it will be tried is what makes the settlement number move.

What to do right away

Get medical attention even if you feel okay — adrenaline masks injury for hours.

Document the scene with photos before anyone moves the vehicles, if it is safe.

Get the other driver's name, license, plate, and insurance info.

Write down what witnesses saw and how to reach them.

File a report with the responding agency (or, for minor crashes, with DMV via SR-1 within 10 days).

Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance before talking to a lawyer.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.