{"id":6488,"date":"2026-11-06T03:53:55","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T03:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/car-accident-lawyer\/car-accident-law-firm-fresno\/"},"modified":"2026-11-06T03:54:06","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T03:54:06","slug":"car-accident-law-firm-fresno","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/car-accident-lawyer\/car-accident-law-firm-fresno\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Accident Lawyers in Bakersfield | Colvin Accident Lawyers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Car Accident Lawyers | Bakersfield, CA<\/p>

Hurt in a Car Accident in Bakersfield? Talk to Colvin Accident Lawyers<\/h1>

Your first consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation to continue. Tell us what happened and we will explain your options in plain language.<\/p>

Get a Free Consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a Free Consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

By Donald Norman Colvin \u00b7 Published November 5, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Car Accident Law Firm Fresno | Colvin Accident Lawyers<\/h2>\n

A car accident law firm helps people hurt in a crash bring a claim against the at-fault driver and that driver’s insurer. Colvin Accident Lawyers is based in Bakersfield, California, and represents people injured in car crashes in Fresno and nearby communities. This page explains what that work involves, how a claim usually moves, and what can hurt one.<\/p>\n\n

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If another driver's carelessness left you hurt in Fresno, you may have a claim, and you don't have to deal with the insurance company alone. Contact Colvin Accident Lawyers today. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div>
Get a free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What a Car Accident Law Firm Does for Fresno Crash Victims<\/h2>\n

A car accident law firm looks into how a crash happened, records the injuries and losses, and presents the claim to the responsible party’s insurer. The work runs from the facts of the crash to a settlement or, when needed, a lawsuit.<\/p>\n

This page is for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and families in Fresno who were hurt by someone else’s carelessness. In plain terms, a careless driver can be held answerable for the harm they cause.<\/p>\n

Some crashes end in a death. If that happens, certain family members may bring a wrongful death claim. California law names who may bring one, including a surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children (Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 377.60<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Colvin Accident Lawyers serves clients in Fresno, Visalia, Delano, and Kern County from its Bakersfield base.<\/p>\n

Car Crashes and Injuries We Handle<\/h2>\n

The firm handles car accident claims, including rear-end, intersection, left-turn, lane-change, and head-on collisions. It also handles truck and bus accidents, motorcycle and bicycle crashes, pedestrian strikes, and wrongful death.<\/p>\n

Injuries vary a lot. Common ones include soft-tissue injuries, broken bones, concussions, and spinal injuries. Injuries that need surgery or long-term care often fall under catastrophic injury claims.<\/p>\n

California measures damages for the breach of an obligation not arising from contract by the amount which will compensate for all the detriment proximately caused thereby, except where otherwise expressly provided by this Code (Civil Code \u00a7 3333<\/a>). Losses fall into two groups. Economic damages include medical bills and lost earnings. Non-economic damages include pain, suffering, and emotional distress (Civil Code \u00a7 1431.2<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Insurance shapes the path to recovery. For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, the state minimums are $30,000 for one injured person, $60,000 for two or more, and $15,000 for property damage (Vehicle Code \u00a7 16056<\/a>). Cal. Veh. Code \u00a7 16056<\/a> reads: “(b) A policy or bond shall not be effective under Section 16054 with respect to any vehicle that was not registered in this state or was a vehicle that was registered elsewhere than in this state at the effective date of the policy or bond or the most recent renewal thereof, unless the insurance company or surety company issuing the policy or bond is admitted to do business in this state, or if the company is not admitted to do business in this state, unless it executes a power of attorney authorizing the department to accept service on its behalf of notice or process in any action upon the policy or bond arising out of an accident mentioned in subdivision (a).” If the at-fault driver has too little coverage, your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply. Under Insurance Code \u00a7 11580.2<\/a>, a disagreement on the amount can go to arbitration before a single neutral arbitrator.<\/p>\n

Bills paid by health plans or government programs can affect how an accident claim is handled, so it is worth raising them at your free, confidential initial consultation. The CMS recovery process<\/a> explains how this works.<\/p>\n

How a Fresno Car Accident Claim Works, Step by Step<\/h2>\n

A car accident claim usually moves through five stages, from the first talk to a resolution.<\/p>\n

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  1. Start with a conversation.<\/strong> Your first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue. You describe the crash, your injuries, and your insurance information.<\/li>\n
  2. Gather evidence.<\/strong> The firm collects the police report, photos, witness contact details, repair records, and medical records. It may send a preservation letter asking others to keep evidence.<\/li>\n
  3. Document medical care.<\/strong> Treatment is tracked from the first visit, so the link between the crash and your injuries stays clear.<\/li>\n
  4. Present the claim.<\/strong> A demand goes to the at-fault driver’s insurer, and the firm negotiates for you.<\/li>\n
  5. Resolve or sue.<\/strong> If the insurer’s offer is not fair, the firm talks through filing a lawsuit. Many claims resolve before trial. Timing varies with the injuries and the insurer’s response.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The deadline matters early. Under Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 335.1<\/a>, an action for injury or death caused by another’s wrongful act has a two-year limit. The California Courts Self Help Guide<\/a> says personal injury suits generally must be filed within two years, subject to exceptions and tolling. Insurers may not mislead a claimant about that deadline (Insurance Code \u00a7 790.03<\/a>).<\/p>\n

    Mistakes That Can Hurt a Fresno Car Accident Claim<\/h2>\n

    Several common mistakes can weaken a car accident claim.<\/p>\n