Best Car Accident Lawyers in Fresno: Whether you’ve been in Fresno, California, for a few months or your entire life, you’ve probably enjoyed the architecture, fresh produce, and proximity to national parks.
However, if you’ve been in a car accident, it may be difficult to enjoy Fresno’s Underground Gardens, the charming Tower District, or any of the city’s other attractions.
That’s why we list the best car accident attorneys in Fresno along with tips for your attorney search so you can get back to enjoying the city.
10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in Fresno
Stuart R. Chandler
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1979
Law School Attended: Willamette University School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Stuart R. Chandler opened his law firm in 1985 and for nearly 40 years has represented people involved in personal injury cases, wrongful death, and more. Recently, Chandler’s law firm won a $26 million jury verdict for insurance bad faith, where Chandler proved that an insurance company unfairly refused to protect its policyholder. His firm also recently won a $10 million judgment for a drunk driving incident.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Licensed in Oregon and California
- # Winner of numerous awards, including the Attorney of the Year Award from Central California Legal Services and the Fresno Trial Lawyers Association President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.
- # Volunteer experience as judge pro tempore in the Superior Court of California, Fresno County
Practice areas:
- # Car and truck accidents
- # Catastrophic personal injuries
- # Insurance Bad Faith Litigation
Also Read: How Long After Accident Can You File Claim?
Stephen R. Cornwell
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1967
Law School Attended: University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Cornwell has more than 50 years of experience in the legal field, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He was named chairman of the Defense Steering Committee in the 1994 dust storm trials, an incident considered one of the most serious automobile accidents in the United States. He has also defended judges in matters before the California Commission on Judicial Performance. His firm has won several large verdicts and settlements, including an automobile collision and defective security system case that resulted in a $4 million settlement.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- # Member of the American Board of Trial Lawyers (ABOTA) and served as president of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter.
- # Member of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Practice areas:
- # Car and truck accidents
- # Drunk Driving Accidents
- # Personal injuries
Also Read: Best all Car accident lawyers
Douglas L. Gordon
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1993
Law School Attended: University of California, Hastings School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Douglas L. Gordon is a prominent attorney with 30 years of experience in civil litigation at both the state and federal levels. In 2018, Gordon received the Blaine Petit Mentor Award from the Fresno County Young Lawyers Association and has dedicated time to helping young people explore the law by volunteering at local high schools and Fresno County’s annual Civil Rights presentations.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Bar Status in pro bono work and has represented prisoners and an unaccompanied minor.
- # Current president of the San Joaquín Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
- # Appears as an expert witness in attorney disciplinary proceedings involving personal injury cases.
Practice areas:
- # Unjust death
- # Uninsured or underinsured drivers
- # Product liability
Eric P. Oren
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1982
Law School Attended: Western State University College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Eric P. Oren has practiced law for more than 35 years and has extensive trial experience. He has tried cases in superior courts throughout the Valley and has won several large settlements, including a car accident in which a defendant crossed a double yellow line, causing a collision and resulting in a $250,000 settlement. Other settlements include a car accident caused by a commercial truck ($200,000 settlement), a minor brain injury caused by a car accident ($200,000 settlement), and more.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Member of the National Legal Organization of the American Board of Trial Lawyers (ABOTA)
- # Member of the Professional Association of Trial Lawyers (ATLA), Central California Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA), and California Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA)
- # Professor of legal seminars on trials and personal injury cases
Practice areas:
- # Personal injuries
- # Unjust death
- # Civil trial
Also Read: How Long After Accident Can You File Claim?
Warren R. Paboojian
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1987
Law School Attended: San Joaquin Law School
Why are they on our list?
Warren R. Paboojian has practiced law for more than 35 years and has won several record-setting verdicts in the United States, including a medical malpractice case and an employment case. He has also won several multimillion-dollar cases, including a $10 million personal injury car accident case. In 2008, he served as president of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of ABOTA. He has spoken at several events, including a guest lecturer on trial master’s degrees in Santa Barbara and Fresno.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Founder of Departed Angels, an organization dedicated to helping parents financially after the premature loss of a child.
- # Obtained the largest labor verdict against a public entity in the United States, totaling a win of $19.1 million
Selected Cal-ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year (2017)
Practice areas:
- # Truck and car accidents
- # Injuries to children
- # Catastrophic injuries, including paralysis
- # Pedestrian accidents
Lyndsie N. Russell
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2016
Law School Attended: The University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Lyndsie Russell was born and raised in California and is passionate about serving the community and future attorneys. She currently serves on the boards of the Fresno County Young Lawyers Association and the Fresno County Bar Association. In 2021, her firm won a $9.3 million jury verdict in Fresno County for a serious truck accident. Russell also volunteers at Fresno State Mock Trial and mentors students applying to law school. She is president of Philanthropy Inspired by the Needs of the Community (PINC).
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # An active member of the leadership of the Insurance Practice and Tort Trial Section of the American Bar Association.
- # Named one of the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association
- # Experience in all stages of the litigation process, including motion practice, jury trials, mediation, and appeals.
Practice areas:
- # Uninsured or underinsured drivers
- # Catastrophic injuries and wrongful death
- # Product liability
Vivian Valdez Saldaña
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2002
Law School Attended: Central California College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Fresno native Vivian Valdez Saldana has extensive experience handling high-value cases. She also has experience working as a Spanish interpreter for the Foreign Commercial Service of the United States Embassy in Spain. She frequently gives speeches on workers’ rights, including her talk “Home Health Workers and Workers’ Compensation: What You Need to Know” at the Celebrating the Caregiver Conference (2022). Her firm has won several multimillion-dollar verdicts, including a $4 million wrongful death case involving a catastrophic vehicle collision.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Fluent in English and Spanish.
- # Member of the Executive Committee of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the State Bar of California
- # Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum–Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Practice areas:
- # Personal injuries
- # Truck and car accidents
- # Unjust death
René Turner Sample
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1998
Law School Attended: San Joaquin Law School
Why are they on our list?
René Turner Sample has practiced law for more than 30 years and has even taught many of the Valley’s litigators. As an adjunct professor at San Joaquin College of Law, she has taught Civil Trial Advocacy for 15 years. Before focusing solely on individuals and families dealing with injuries, she spent 12 years representing insurance companies and used her knowledge of their inner workings to help her clients. Her firm has won several million-dollar cases, including a $4 million case involving a defective automobile security system and a $2.19 million case involving a death in a car accident.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # First female member of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the American Board of Trial Lawyers
- # Past President of the Central California Trial Lawyers Association
# Bar Status member of the board of directors of the California Consumer Attorneys
Practice areas:
- # Truck and car accidents
- # Personal injuries
- # Drunk Driving Accidents
Nicolas Wagner
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1983
Law School Attended: University of Notre Dame Law School
Why are they on our list?
Nicholas Wagner has practiced personal injury law for almost 40 years. Wagner is a trial attorney and has achieved multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, including a $75 million verdict against Walmart for the wrongful death of an employee. In 2015, he was named president of the American Board of Trial Lawyers, San Joaquin Valley Chapter. He also teaches civil trial practice at San Joaquin College of Law.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Appointed to the Federal Court’s Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession.
- # Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Board of Trial Lawyers.
- # Represented several members of the California State Legislature.
Practice areas:
- # Catastrophic injuries and wrongful death
- # Brain and spinal cord injuries
- # Truck and car accidents
Also Read: How Long After Accident Can You File Claim?
Robert G. Wilkinson
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1985
Law School Attended: San Joaquin College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Robert G. Wilkinson, the founder of Wilkinson Law Firm, has practiced law for more than 35 years and has extensive experience in the insurance industry. Wilkinson is a past president of the Fresno County Bar Association and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has won several million-dollar cases, including a $2.8 million verdict for a family that lost a loved one in a truck accident and a $2.1 million settlement for a catastrophic car accident. He has also authored articles for publications like California Lawyer.
Notable facts and recognitions:
- # Author of several legal articles on topics such as personal injury and insurance law.
- # Guest speaker at several events and seminars, including the Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention.
- # Member of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates
Practice areas:
- # Car and truck accidents
- # Unjust death
- # Personal injuries
How to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in California
If you have recently been in a traffic accident in California, you probably have a lot on your mind. If you are considering filing a lawsuit, you must know the process, deadlines, and relevant laws that may apply to your situation.
Most California car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay them if they reach a settlement or verdict. This means that there is very little risk in filing a case if you believe you may be entitled to financial compensation. Keep in mind that you will still have to pay filing fees and that attorneys will only want to present your case if they believe you have a good chance of receiving a settlement or verdict.
Our advice is a good starting point on your legal journey, but we strongly recommend consulting with an attorney to discuss the details of your case.
California Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the time between the time an incident occurs and the time the case can be brought to court. After the statute of limitations has passed, it can be difficult to recover evidence and for witnesses to remember crucial information.
In California, the statute of limitations for personal injuries is two years from the date of the incident. For example, if you were injured in a traffic accident on June 1, 2022, you will have until June 1, 2024 to file your case in court. Some cases are not resolved immediately (in complex cases that go to trial, it can even take years), but the process must be started before the statute of limitations ends.
If you wish to file a claim for property damage, you have a little more time. The statute of limitations for property damage in California is three years, meaning if you were in a car accident on June 1, 2022, you would have until June 1, 2025, to file a property damage lawsuit.
There are exceptions to the statute of limitations, although they only apply in very specific circumstances. In particular, if the persons involved are under 18 years of age, the limitation period may be suspended until they turn 18 years of age.
California Laws for Car Drivers
As a driver in California, you should pay close attention to the laws that may be relevant to your case.
- # Insurance minimums. In California, all drivers must have a minimum amount of auto insurance to register their vehicle and drive. The minimums a California driver must have include: $15,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 in total bodily injury liability, and $5,000 in property damage.
- # No portable devices are allowed. In California, it is mandatory to use hands-free devices while driving. For those under 18, the law is even stricter: drivers cannot use any phones.
- # Car seats are a necessity. There are several strict rules in California regarding car seats. Children under two years old must ride rear-facing unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are more than 40 inches tall. Children under eight years old should use a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children eight years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall can use a booster seat or seat belt.
- # Click or you will receive a fine. Since 2005, California has mandated seat belt use. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that children under 16 are properly restrained and face a fine of up to $490 if they fail to do so. If someone 16 years of age or older is found not wearing a seat belt, they will be fined $162. Seat belt use may also be considered for a lawsuit; A person who chose not to take a ride can be held partially responsible for injuries they suffered in an accident, even if the accident was not their fault.
How to identify a fault in a traffic accident
California is a driver-at-fault state, meaning that a car accident victim can always claim compensation if another driver was negligent or responsible for the injuries or damages that occurred as a result of the collision.
California also applies a rule called pure comparative negligence. Under this rule, a victim can claim compensation even if he or she is partially at fault. For example, if a victim was determined to be 75% responsible for the injuries they suffered in an accident, they can still seek financial compensation for 25% of the injuries caused by the at-fault driver.
How fault is determined can depend on several factors. In some cases, it may be easy to determine fault if one party openly assumes responsibility. In more complex cases, or when fault is difficult to determine, evidence must be gathered to determine the liability of each party.
To help identify faults, it is best to gather as much information as possible as soon as possible, such as taking photographs of the damage and writing down your memories of the events.
How can a lawyer help you?
A qualified attorney can make a big difference in the outcome of a case. Insurance companies work hard to protect your assets and it can be difficult to fight them without experience in the legal world. Despite possible difficulties, it is possible to request compensation on your own. If you decide to file the lawsuit without a lawyer, you will get the entire settlement if you are successful. This may be a good option if the case is fairly simple or if the other driver admits fault.
However, there is an added advantage to hiring an attorney, as most work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay them a percentage of the settlement or verdict if you win. On average, most attorneys in California keep approximately 33% of their compensation as contingent fees. For example, if you win a $100,000 settlement, your attorney will keep approximately $33,000.
If the attorney is unable to reach a settlement or verdict, the attorney will not have to pay you. There may be additional filing fees, but these fees apply regardless of whether you decide to hire an attorney or not. While the vast majority of car accident attorneys work on commission, always check with the attorneys you are speaking with to understand what rates you can expect.
If you decide to work with an attorney, they will guide you through every part of the process and arrange for any necessary meetings. In many cases, you may not have to attend mediations or other meetings since your attorney will handle them.
After your initial consultation, they will help you file the lawsuit, work through the mediation and conciliation process, and prepare for litigation if an agreement cannot be reached. Your attorney will also help you determine what evidence is the strongest and how much compensation you may be entitled to.
The vast majority of car accident cases are resolved out of court, but this is not always the case. To be prepared for any outcome, it is smart to seek out an experienced litigation attorney in case you have to go to trial.
How to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in Fresno, California
In Fresno, many excellent attorneys can help you with your traffic accident case, but being selective can ensure the best possible outcome. Attorneys have different specialties, strengths, and workflows, so it is wise to speak candidly about your expectations with your potential attorney. As you make plans to find the best advocate for your case, keep the following in mind:
- # Are they recommended? When you first look for a car accident lawyer, check with your circle of friends and family to see who they can recommend. They will be able to offer you a personalized view of the process and if they have any regrets or advice.
- # Can the lawyer litigate? While most cases are resolved out of court, if a case is complicated or has a high value, there is always a chance it will go to trial. Not all attorneys have litigation experience, so you should ask your potential attorney about their qualifications.
- # What do they expect from you? Fully understanding your attorney’s process can save you problems in the future. Your attorney should be able to give you an estimate of how long the process may take, what will be needed from you, and a breakdown of the fees and contingency agreement.
- # Do you have experience in similar cases? All attorneys have specialties and attorneys with significant experience may have had cases very similar to yours. By looking at the results of your previous cases, you may be able to predict the outcome of your case.
Each lawyer that appears on this list has its own merits. Please note that our list relates to the legal training of these attorneys, but does not evaluate their personalities or knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
However, one thing that cannot be quantified is the relationship that is established with the lawyer. Personality is very important when working as a team with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and possible starting point in your search for the right attorney for you and your legal concerns.
