{"id":6955,"date":"2026-11-08T09:14:47","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T09:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/motorcycle-accident-lawyer\/what-type-of-lawyers-deal-with-car-accidents\/"},"modified":"2026-11-08T09:14:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T09:14:54","slug":"what-type-of-lawyers-deal-with-car-accidents","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/colvinaccidentlawyers.com\/resources\/motorcycle-accident-lawyer\/what-type-of-lawyers-deal-with-car-accidents\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Accident Lawyer in California: Who Handles What"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Car Accident Lawyers | Bakersfield and Kern County, California<\/p>

Hurt in a Car Accident? Here's Who Handles What<\/h1>

Colvin Accident Lawyers represents injured drivers, passengers and families in Kern County, Fresno, Visalia, Lancaster, Palmdale, Delano and Tehachapi. Your first consultation is free, confidential and comes with no obligation to continue.<\/p>

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By Donald Norman Colvin \u00b7 Published November 8, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Accident lawyers and personal injury lawyers handle car accident claims<\/h2>\n

Lawyers who handle car accident claims are usually called accident lawyers or personal injury lawyers. Both terms describe lawyers who represent people hurt because someone else acted carelessly.<\/p>\n

So, what type of lawyers deal with car accidents? Accident and personal injury lawyers do. The title matters less than whether the lawyer handles the kind of crash and injury you’re dealing with.<\/p>\n

These claims are usually about compensation, not criminal charges. The injured person, or certain family members after a death (such as a surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children), seeks money for losses caused by the crash. A criminal case against a driver is a separate matter.<\/p>\n

The core idea is simple.<\/p>\n

A car accident lawyer is one type within a wider group. Colvin Accident Lawyers, based in Bakersfield, California, handles car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, bus, dog bite, premises liability, wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims.<\/p>\n\n

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If you were hurt in a crash, or you're helping someone who was, you don't have to sort this out alone. Call Colvin Accident Lawyers to talk through what happened. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

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Matching the lawyer to the vehicle involved<\/h2>\n

A car accident lawyer handles crashes between passenger vehicles. Other accident lawyers focus on trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians and buses.<\/p>\n

Car crashes often involve rear-end, intersection or lane-change collisions. California law says a driver shall not follow another vehicle more closely<\/a> than is reasonable and prudent. Speed rules work the same way, under Vehicle Code \u00a7 22350<\/a>. Rear-end cases often turn on following distance. Fault still depends on the facts of each crash.<\/p>\n

Truck crashes involve commercial vehicles. More than one company or driver may be involved, so the claim can be more complex. The lawyer may need to look past the driver to the other parties.<\/p>\n

Motorcycle riders have less protection than people in a car. Their injuries are often more serious, so these claims call for careful medical documentation.<\/p>\n

Bicycle and pedestrian claims follow specific rules. But Vehicle Code \u00a7 21954<\/a> says drivers still owe due care to pedestrians.<\/p>\n

Bus accidents can hurt passengers and other road users. The claim may involve the bus operator, the company that runs the bus, or other drivers.<\/p>\n

When the injuries are catastrophic or a death occurred<\/h2>\n

Catastrophic injury lawyers handle severe, long-term injuries. Examples include brain injury, spinal cord injury and amputation. These cases often need detailed medical records and plans for future care.<\/p>\n

Wrongful death lawyers handle claims after a crash causes a death. Code of Civil Procedure \u00a7 377.60<\/a> says the claim may be brought by certain family members. These include a surviving spouse, registered domestic partner, children and children of deceased children. If there are no surviving children or descendants, the people who would inherit under intestate succession may bring the claim. Some dependent relatives may also bring it. The decedent’s personal representative can file on their behalf.<\/p>\n

Families often face hard decisions sooner than they expect. Funeral plans, medical bills and insurance calls can arrive at the same time. A lawyer can help you sort out which claims exist and who may bring them.<\/p>\n

Catastrophic and death cases also raise time limits. Acting early helps protect the claim.<\/p>\n

What a car accident lawyer does with a claim<\/h2>\n

A car accident lawyer investigates the crash and gathers the records. The lawyer also handles the insurance side, so the injured person can focus on recovery.<\/p>\n

In most cases, the work includes these steps:<\/p>\n