Hurt in a car accident? Talk with Colvin Accident Lawyers.

Arvin Car Accident Lawyers | Kern County, CA

Hurt in a car accident in Kern County? A car accident lawyer investigates the crash, finds who may be responsible, and handles the insurance claim. If talks stall, the lawyer can file a lawsuit. Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California, and serves Kern County, which includes Arvin. This page explains how these claims work, from fault rules to deadlines.

What a Car Accident Lawyer Does for Injured Drivers and Families

A car accident lawyer represents an injured person, or a family after a fatal crash, in a claim against the people who may be responsible. The work includes investigating the crash, dealing with insurers, and filing a lawsuit when needed.

The firm helps people who were hurt as:

• Drivers and passengers in a car or truck
• Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians hit by a vehicle
• Family members of someone killed in a crash

Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California. Its stated service areas include Kern County, Fresno, Visalia, Lancaster, Palmdale, Delano, and Tehachapi. The firm’s car accident work sits alongside its truck, motorcycle, bus, and wrongful death practice areas.

Types of Car Accidents the Firm Handles

Most car crash claims fall into a few patterns, and each one raises different fault questions.

• Rear-end crashes. Sudden stops, distraction, and following too closely cause many of these. Whether that happened depends on the facts.
• T-bone (side-impact) crashes. These often happen at intersections. Right-of-way and red-light or stop-sign violations often decide much of the fault.
• Head-on crashes. Wrong-way driving, lane departures, and unsafe passing cause these. They often involve serious injuries.
• Impaired-driving crashes. It is unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or with 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in the blood (0.04 percent when driving a commercial motor vehicle, or any motor vehicle carrying a passenger for hire) (Veh. Code § 23152). Impaired driving can support claims against the driver, as explained below.
• Hit-and-run crashes. A driver in a crash that causes injury must immediately stop at the scene (Veh. Code § 20001). Leaving the scene can make the other driver harder to identify, so write down every detail you can.

Who Can Be Responsible in a Car Accident Claim

The at-fault driver is the starting point. Other parties may share responsibility, depending on the facts.

• The at-fault driver and their insurer. Auto liability coverage often pays injury claims, subject to policy limits.
• An employer. When a driver was working, the employer may also be responsible. Whether the driver was on the job depends on the facts.
• A vehicle owner or social host. California generally does not hold a social host liable for a guest’s drinking. An adult who knowingly serves alcohol at home to someone the adult knows or should have known is under 21 may be liable (Civ. Code § 1714).
• Road or vehicle defects. A defective part or a dangerous road condition can add a party. Investigation can reveal these.

Injuries and Damages Recoverable After a Car Crash

Recoverable damages fall into two groups. Economic losses come with bills and receipts. Non-economic losses cover harm such as pain.

Injuries that often follow crashes include:

• Whiplash and soft-tissue injuries
• Fractures and internal injuries
• Traumatic brain injury, an injury from blows or jolts to the head
• Spinal cord injury, which can cause permanent loss of movement, function, or sensation

Damage rules that apply:

• Economic damages: objectively verifiable losses, such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and repair costs (Civ. Code § 1431.2).
• Non-economic damages: pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship (Civ. Code § 1431.2). Each at-fault defendant pays these in proportion to its share of fault.
• Wrongful death: Certain family members may bring the claim, including a surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children (Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60). Pain and suffering is generally not recoverable in the survival claim, with narrow exceptions (Code Civ. Proc. § 377.34).

No lawyer can say in advance what a claim is worth. The value depends on the facts of each case, including medical costs, lost income, and fault.

How a Car Accident Claim Works: Step by Step

A claim usually moves through medical care, evidence gathering, insurance talks, and then a lawsuit if needed.

1. Get medical care and keep records. Track every visit, bill, prescription, and missed workday.
2. Report the crash. A driver in a crash causing injury or death, or property damage to any one person over $1,000, must report it to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days. The report can be made personally or through an insurance agent, broker, or legal representative (Veh. Code § 16000).
3. Think before giving recorded statements. Insurers can use early statements to reduce a claim. Talk with a lawyer before giving one.
4. Gather evidence. Photos, witness names, vehicle damage, and medical records build the record.
5. Demand and negotiate. The claim goes to the insurer for a response.
6. File suit if needed. If a fair resolution is not reached, a lawsuit may follow.

California generally gives two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). The same section covers actions for death caused by another’s wrongful act. A claim against a public entity, such as a city or county, must be presented within six months for injury or death (Gov. Code § 911.2). Case length varies with the injuries and how insurers respond.

Why Work With Colvin Accident Lawyers

Colvin Accident Lawyers is a personal injury firm based in Bakersfield, California. Donald Norman Colvin is the responsible lawyer for this site.

• Location: Bakersfield, California, with Kern County among the stated service areas.
• People: The firm has assistants and office staff. Our team supports each file alongside the lawyers.
• Practice areas: Car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, bus, dog bite, premises liability, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases.
• Service areas: Kern County, Fresno, Visalia, Lancaster, Palmdale, Delano, and Tehachapi.

Each plan starts with the facts of your crash and your injuries.

Common Questions About Car Accident Lawyers in Kern County

Most readers ask about money, insurers, and court. Short answers follow.

Talk With Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Crash

If a crash left you hurt, or a family member gone, and you’re weighing a claim, start with a conversation about the facts. The talk covers how the crash happened, your medical care, and the insurance information you have. To reach Colvin Accident Lawyers, contact the firm or call the office.

Donald Norman Colvin, Colvin Accident Lawyers, Bakersfield, California — responsible for this site.