Hurt in a Kern County Car Crash? Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers

If you need a car accident law firm Kern County crash victims can reach, Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California. The firm represents people hurt in car crashes and families of people killed in them. This page explains what a car accident lawyer does, what the process looks like, and the California rules that affect your claim.

Car Accident Lawyers Serving Kern County Drivers, Passengers, and Families

A car accident lawyer looks into how the crash happened, identifies who may be responsible, deals with insurers, and pursues a claim or lawsuit when needed. This page is for injured drivers and passengers, for families of people killed in crashes, and for Kern County residents who aren’t sure they have a claim. Many readers are already dealing with medical care, lost pay, and calls from insurance adjusters. Colvin Accident Lawyers offers a free, confidential first consultation with no obligation to continue.

Types of Car Accidents Colvin Accident Lawyers Handles

Colvin Accident Lawyers handles claims from many kinds of crashes on Kern County roads.

• Rear-end collisions
• Intersection and left-turn crashes
• Lane-change and sideswipe collisions
• Multi-vehicle crashes, where more than one driver may share fault
• Hit-and-run crashes, where the at-fault driver leaves the scene
• Crashes involving a borrowed or rented vehicle, which raise separate questions about who is responsible

Some crashes cause catastrophic injuries. According to NINDS spinal cord injury information, an injury to the spinal cord between the C1 and C4 segments can stop breathing. Serious injuries like this need prompt medical care, and the claim often needs a careful review from the start.

When Should You Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer?

Talk with a lawyer early if you are still treating for injuries, because the full extent of harm can take time to show. California generally requires most injury and death lawsuits to be filed within two years, under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Exceptions can apply, so don’t wait to ask about your deadline.

Consider a consultation if any of these apply:

• Fault is disputed, or the other driver’s insurer denies responsibility.
• The other driver was uninsured or underinsured.
• The crash was a hit-and-run.
• The crash caused a death.
• An insurer asks for a recorded statement or makes an early offer.

A consultation is for information and planning. You can ask questions and decide what to do next.

What Happens After You Contact Colvin Accident Lawyers?

The process usually moves through five stages, from the first conversation to a negotiated resolution or a lawsuit.

1. Consultation. You describe the crash, your injuries, your treatment, and any insurance contacts. The firm explains possible claims and next steps.
2. Investigation. The firm gathers the police report, photos, vehicle damage information, witness details, medical records, and insurance information.
3. Insurance communication. The firm handles contact with insurers, so you aren’t left negotiating while you recover.
4. Evaluation. Medical care, lost income, and other losses are documented before a claim is presented.
5. Negotiation or lawsuit. Negotiation comes first. If an insurer won’t offer a fair resolution, a lawsuit may be needed in the appropriate court.

Timelines vary. Claims with serious injuries, disputed fault, or litigation often take longer than simpler claims, and the timeline depends on the facts of each case.

Who Is Responsible After a Kern County Car Crash?

More than one party can share fault. For non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, each defendant pays only its own percentage of fault under Civil Code § 1431.2.

Borrowed cars raise a separate question. Under Vehicle Code § 17150, an owner is liable for injury caused by someone driving with the owner’s permission. Vehicle Code § 17151 limits that owner liability to $15,000 for one injured person, $30,000 for more than one, and $5,000 for property damage in one accident, when it doesn’t arise from a principal-agent or employer relationship.

In a hit-and-run, Vehicle Code § 20001 requires the driver to stop immediately at the scene. Penalties are heavier when the crash causes death or permanent, serious injury. If you’re in a hit-and-run, report it to police, write down what you remember, and collect witness names. Then check your own uninsured motorist coverage. Insurance Code § 11580.2 generally requires bodily injury auto policies in California to include uninsured motorist coverage.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Car Accident in California?

Damages are the money a court or insurer awards for losses a crash caused. Under Civil Code § 3333, damages compensate for all the detriment proximately caused by the wrong.

Economic damages are objectively verifiable costs. These include medical expenses, lost earnings, repair or replacement costs, and loss of use of property. Non-economic damages are subjective losses, such as pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. Civil Code § 1431.2 defines both terms.

Some limits apply. Civil Code § 3333.4 Under Civil Code § 3333.4, an injured person may not recover non-economic losses in three situations: when the injured person was convicted of driving under the influence (Vehicle Code § 23152 or 23153) in connection with the accident, when the injured person owned an uninsured vehicle involved in the accident, whether or not that person was driving, or when the injured person was operating a vehicle without the financial responsibility the law requires. Civil Code § 3333.4(c) provides an exception for the uninsured-owner category in paragraph (a)(2) when the defendant was convicted of driving under the influence.

For wrongful death, Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 lists who may bring the claim, including a surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, and certain dependent relatives. A decedent’s own claim is limited by Code of Civil Procedure § 377.34, which generally excludes pain and suffering. Value depends on injuries, treatment records, evidence of fault, and available insurance. No lawyer can predict a result in advance.

Why Work With Colvin Accident Lawyers in Bakersfield?

Colvin Accident Lawyers is a Bakersfield firm led by Donald Norman Colvin, a lawyer licensed to practice in California. The firm’s office is in Bakersfield, so Kern County drivers and families can reach it directly.

Our team includes assistants and office staff. They help with records, scheduling, and day-to-day communication with clients. Donald Norman Colvin is the lawyer on every matter the firm takes.

The firm handles car accident claims for people in Kern County and nearby communities. It also handles truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, bus, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury matters.

Car Accident FAQ for Kern County Readers

Here are short answers to questions people often ask after a crash.

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

California generally requires most injury and wrongful death lawsuits to be filed within two years (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Exceptions can apply.

Do I have to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer?

You can decline a recorded statement until you’ve talked with a lawyer about what to say.

What if the other driver has no insurance?

Your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply. Your policy terms and the facts of the crash decide the next step.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault? Generally, yes, but your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and some limits apply.

What happens at the first consultation?

You describe the crash, your injuries, and any insurance contacts. You can ask questions before you decide anything.

Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Kern County Crash

If you were hurt on a Kern County road, or lost someone you love in a crash, and insurers are already calling, reach out to Colvin Accident Lawyers now. Call (661) 616-1177 or send a message through our contact form to talk about your next step.

Donald Norman Colvin, Colvin Accident Lawyers, 4550 California Avenue, Suite 600, Bakersfield, California — responsible for this site.