Hurt in a Fresno car crash? Talk with a lawyer who will listen to your story.

If you’re searching for a car accident lawyer Fresno families can reach, this guide explains the steps that matter most. A car accident lawyer helps an injured person or a family pursue a claim, usually against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Colvin Accident Lawyers is a personal injury law firm based in Bakersfield, California, and it represents crash victims in Fresno and Fresno County. Below you’ll find how California fault rules work, which deadlines apply, and what a first consultation looks like.

What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do for Fresno Crash Victims?

A car accident lawyer handles the injury claim against the driver who caused the crash and that driver’s insurance company. The lawyer works for the injured person or, after a fatal crash, for the family.

Donald Norman Colvin is the licensed California lawyer at Colvin Accident Lawyers. Our team of support staff handles intake, records and case paperwork. We are based in Bakersfield and serve clients in Fresno and Fresno County.

Fresno families often have questions about vehicle damage, medical bills and lost work time. A lawyer can explain how each of those pieces fits into the claim.

Be clear about one point. No lawyer can say in advance how a claim will end. Each case depends on the facts of that crash, including who was at fault, what insurance applies and what the medical records show.

What Kinds of Car Crashes Happen on Fresno-Area Roads?

Common Fresno-area crashes include rear-end collisions in slow traffic, left-turn crashes at intersections, lane-change collisions and crashes caused by distracted or impaired drivers. Each type raises different questions about who was at fault.

Drivers on Highway 99, Highway 41 and Highway 180 face fast-moving traffic and frequent merges. City streets such as Blackstone Avenue and Shaw Avenue add turning cars, signals and pedestrians to the mix.

California sets a speed rule for every highway. Vehicle Code § 22350 says no one may drive faster than is reasonable or prudent for weather, visibility, traffic and the road.

Phone use is also restricted. Vehicle Code § 23123.5 bars holding and operating a handheld device while driving, with narrow exceptions for mounted devices and a single swipe or tap.

Rideshare, delivery and commercial vehicles raise added questions. Under the federal hours-of-service rules, a driver may not drive a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty (federal hours-of-service rules). Federal rules may also require drug and alcohol testing after some crashes, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration explains.

How Is Fault Decided in a California Car Accident Claim?

California follows a pure comparative fault rule (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). An injured person’s recovery is reduced by their own percentage of fault, but it is not barred. The California Supreme Court adopted this rule for negligence claims such as car crashes in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804.

How fault is divided matters a great deal in a dispute over who started the crash.

Civil Code § 1431.2 limits how non-economic damages are split among several defendants. Each defendant pays only its own share of fault for pain, suffering and emotional distress. Medical bills, lost wages and repair costs are economic losses, which are objectively verifiable money losses.

Strong claims often rest on a police report, photos taken at the scene, witness statements, vehicle damage and medical records that tie injuries to the crash.

When the other driver has little or no insurance, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply. Fault and coverage turn on each crash’s details, and results will differ with different facts. If the other driver cannot be identified, Insurance Code § 11580.2 addresses reporting the accident to the police department of the city where it occurred within 24 hours.

Why Do Medical Records Matter After a Fresno Car Crash?

Get checked by a doctor soon after a crash, even if you feel fine at the scene. Some injuries show up hours or days later.

Neck and back pain, headaches, dizziness and numbness can appear after a crash. Common injury types include soft tissue injuries, broken bones, head and brain injuries and spinal injuries.

Spinal cord tissue has protective layers and cerebrospinal fluid that cushion it. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, an injury between the C1 and C4 spinal segments can stop breathing, since those nerves control the diaphragm.

Gaps in treatment and missing records can be used to dispute a claim. Keep every appointment record, prescription receipt and bill.

Colvin Accident Lawyers also handles catastrophic injury and wrongful death matters. Serious injuries may call for a closer review than a standard car accident claim.

What Should You Avoid Saying to an Insurance Adjuster After a Crash?

Don’t guess about speed, distance or fault, and don’t sign anything until you understand it. Adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you.

Don’t say you feel fine when symptoms are still developing. Don’t give a recorded statement or sign a release or medical authorization before you know what it covers.

Early offers may not reflect injuries that are still being evaluated. Insurance Code § 790.03 lists directly advising a claimant not to get an attorney as an unfair claims settlement practice when it is done as a general business practice.

Keep a crash journal. Take photos of the vehicles and the scene, save receipts for medical and transportation costs, and record every day of missed work.

How Much Time Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in California?

In most California injury cases, a lawsuit must be filed within two years. Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 sets that two-year period for injury caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect.

Claims against a city, county or other public entity can have much shorter deadlines. For injury to a person, Government Code § 911.2 requires the claim to be presented within six months.

A lawsuit against a public entity also has a step first. Government Code § 945.4 says no suit can be brought until the written claim has been acted on or deemed rejected.

Don’t wait while treatment continues. Evidence and witness memories fade over time.

What Happens at a First Consultation With Colvin Accident Lawyers?

The first consultation is free, confidential and carries no obligation to continue.

Bring what you have. That includes the crash report number, insurance information, photos, the names of your medical providers, letters from insurers and a short summary of how the crash happened.

The meeting is a time for your questions about the claim process. You won’t be pressured to hire the firm.

For a crash in Fresno County, the firm can explain how a claim tied to that crash would move forward. Donald Norman Colvin leads each matter, and our team handles the paperwork that follows.

Talk to Colvin Accident Lawyers About Your Fresno Crash

If an insurance adjuster has called after a Fresno crash, talk with Colvin Accident Lawyers before you sign insurer paperwork. Medical bills and forms can pile up fast, and the next step matters.

What kind of lawyer helps with car accidents?

A personal injury lawyer handles car accident claims against the at-fault driver and that driver’s insurer. Donald Norman Colvin is the licensed California lawyer at Colvin Accident Lawyers.

Can a car accident lawyer Fresno clients rely on help with a Fresno County crash?

Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield and represents clients in Fresno County. The first consultation can cover how a Fresno County crash claim would move forward.

Does California use comparative negligence?

How long do I have to file a claim?

In most California injury cases, a lawsuit must be filed within two years (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Claims against public entities have shorter deadlines.

If an adjuster has already called about your Fresno crash or medical bills are stacking up, you don’t have to sort this out alone. Contact Colvin Accident Lawyers now.

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