Best Car Accident Lawyers in Santa Ana: Santa Ana, the county seat and the second most populous city in Orange County, experiences its fair share of traffic and motor vehicle accidents. Whether you are a resident or visitor to Santa Ana, you may want to seek legal advice and representation if you are injured in a traffic accident in the city.
The consequences of an accident can be stressful and overwhelming. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend days reviewing online lawyer profiles to find a good car accident lawyer. We have done the legwork and compiled a list of the top 10 car accident lawyers in Santa Ana.
10 Best Car Accident Lawyers in Santa Ana
01. Juan C. Adams, III
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1979
Law School Attended: Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Why are they on our list?
John C. Adams is a veteran attorney who has dedicated his career to representing people with serious injuries resulting from car accidents and other negligence. He frequently speaks on topics related to personal injury law and trial practice. Adams’ results include many seven-figure recoveries for victims of car and truck accidents, including a $3 million settlement for a woman who suffered serious head injuries and multiple fractures in a head-on accident with a tractor-trailer.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Member of the American Board of Trial Lawyers
# Past President of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
# Founding member of Daniel’s Inn of Court
Practice areas:
# Car and truck accidents
# Personal injuries
# Product liability
Also Read: Best all Car accident lawyers
02. Jimmy Cabral
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2013
Law School Attended: Western State University College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Before founding his law firm, Jimmy Cabral defended insurance companies against claims from injured victims. Disillusioned with how insurance companies treated the injured, he decided to work on behalf of the plaintiffs. He focuses on representing people injured due to the recklessness and negligence of others, particularly in car and other motor vehicle accidents. Cabral has recovered damages totaling more than $6 million, including $500,000 in a side collision accident and $250,000 in a rear-end accident.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Fluency in Spanish
# Member of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association
Practice areas:
# Car accidents
# Unjust death
# Dog bites
03. Steven F. Carlson
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1994
Law School Attended: Western State University College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Steven F. Carlson has nearly 30 years of experience representing plaintiffs in cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death, including car and truck accidents, tire and vehicle defects, etc. He prides himself on putting clients first and offering them a personalized, committed, and responsive legal service. Carlson has litigated numerous multimillion-dollar cases, including that of an elderly woman who was seriously injured by a negligent Budweiser truck driver, achieving a $4.5 million verdict for his client.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
# Professor, Pacific Coast University School of Law
# Member of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
Practice areas:
# Car accidents
# Facility liability
# Construction accidents
04. Robert B. Gibson
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1992
Law School Attended: University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Robert B. Gibson has a reputation for taking on any case and seeing it through to the end, all the way to trial. He began his career as a personal injury defense attorney for Jack Daniels. He now works for plaintiffs, helping them recover from car accidents, wrongful death, slips and falls, and other personal injury claims. His most notable victories include a $5.5 million recovery for the family of a 43-year-old woman who was killed in a car accident and three occupants of the vehicle were injured. In this complex case, Gibson recovered compensation from the negligent driver, his employer, and the manufacturer of the plaintiff’s vehicle. He is active in the community as a speaker and coordinator of the Constitution Rights Foundation’s high school student essay program.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Member of the American Board of Trial Lawyers
# Member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
# Member of the California Consumer Lawyers Association
Practice areas:
# Car accidents
# Facility liability
# Unjust death
Also Read: Best all Car accident lawyers
05. Brian J. McCormack
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1993
Law School Attended: Western State University College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Brian J. McCormack is an experienced trial attorney specializing in complex, high-stakes, and catastrophic injury litigation. He focuses on accidents involving traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage in particular. McCormack’s outstanding results include many seven # and eight-figure recoveries, including a $28 million verdict against a trucking company for a Huntington Beach man who was seriously injured in a car accident.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Named Trial Lawyer of the Year by Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
# Recognized as one of the top 10% personal injury lawyers in the US by Lawyers of Distinction
# Named one of the Top 100 Civil Trial Lawyers by National Trial Lawyers
Practice areas:
# Personal injuries
# Traffic accidents
# Traumatic brain and spinal cord injury
06. Phillip B. Nghiem
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2013
Law School Attended: Western State University College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Phillip B. Nghiem is dedicated to helping injured people and does not shy away from challenging and complex cases. His tenacity pays off: In 2022, he was part of a team of litigators that secured a $52.9 million verdict on behalf of a 17-year-old boy who was injured when a semi-trailer truck collided with the car he was traveling in. Nghiem recently obtained several six-figure recoveries for car accident victims, including cases where insurers had initially made low offers or refused to pay.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates
# Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Practice areas:
# Personal injuries
# Car accidents
# Truck accidents
07. Chris Purcell
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1989
Law School Attended: Santa Barbara College of Law
Why are they on our list?
Chris Purcell is a trial lawyer with extensive courtroom experience. He is committed to protecting the rights of injured people and has represented thousands of plaintiffs in Southern California during his 34-year career. Purcell focuses on helping injured people and the families of wrongful death victims. He worked on the legal team that obtained the largest wrongful death verdict in California history: $150 million for the surviving children of a family whose SUV crashed into the back of an illegally parked truck.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Member of the board of directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
# Winner of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association Top Gun Award
# Graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College
Practice areas:
# Traffic accidents
# Personal injuries
# Unjust death
08. Sarah C. Serpa
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1998
Law School Attended: Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Why are they on our list?
Sarah C. Serpa is an experienced injury attorney who has obtained numerous six # and seven-figure awards for her clients. She is responsible for achieving the largest pretrial personal injury settlement in U.S. history, $50 million in damages for two Orange County mothers who were paralyzed due to a dangerous road condition. Serpa has experience litigating against government entities in the areas of highway design and traffic engineering, making her an excellent option for people with car accident claims against the government.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Named Top One Percent in the Country by the National Association of Distinguished Lawyers
# Represented families involved in the Seal Beach massacre and victims of the Mandalay Bay shooting in Las Vegas
Practice areas:
# Personal injuries
# Car accidents
# Unjust death
09. Brandon J. Simon
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 2013
Law School Attended: Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Brandon J. Simon is a competent litigator who has been litigating personal injury cases for a decade and has obtained several seven-figure awards for car accident victims. Simon was instrumental in achieving a $16.5 million settlement against State Farm for a plaintiff who needed extensive back surgery after being injured in a low-impact rear-end car accident. He hosts the Justice Team Podcast, where he discusses topics related to current personal injury cases.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Member of the Los Angeles Consumer Lawyers Association
# Former board member of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
Practice areas:
# Personal injuries
# Car accidents
10. Edward Susolik
California Bar Status: Active
Year of Admission to the California Bar: 1990
Law School Attended: University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Why are they on our list?
Edward Susolik is a well-known and respected Southern California trial attorney who focuses on representing people with catastrophic injuries in automobile collisions, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, and other complex lawsuits. He has obtained numerous seven # and eight-figure recoveries, including a $28 million settlement for a truck accident victim. An expert in mediation, he has mediated and resolved more than 1,000 complex lawsuits.
Notable facts and recognitions:
# Teaches at the USC Law School
# Contributor to California’s Leading Book on Insurance Litigation
# Former professional golfer
Practice areas:
# Traffic accidents
# Catastrophic injuries
# Bad faith in insurance
Also Read: Best all Car accident lawyers
How to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in California
Knowing each state’s specific laws and deadlines for filing a lawsuit can be crucial to your Santa Ana car accident case. Below are some examples of California-specific laws and regulations:
California Statute of Limitations
The prescription period determines the deadline to file a lawsuit. Under California law, car accident victims typically have two years from the accident and injury to file a lawsuit. After the deadline has passed, victims generally can no longer file a lawsuit. However, there are some exceptions in which the deadline can be suspended, such as:
- The injury was not discovered immediately.
- The accused is a minor
- The defendant is out of state or incarcerated.
Since cases, where the statute of limitations is suspended, can be complex, consider speaking with a Santa Ana car accident attorney to clarify your options and determine the best time for your claim.
Claims against the Government
People filing personal injury claims against a government agency must follow special rules and deadlines in California. For example, before you are allowed to file a claim in court, you must first file an administrative claim with the relevant agency within six months of your accident or injury.
California Laws for Car Drivers
Like other states, California has its own rules when it comes to car insurance coverage and traffic laws. Below are some examples of California laws for car drivers :
- Minimum insurance coverage. California drivers must carry a minimum of $15,000 for personal injury or death, $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, and $5,000 for property damage.
- Cell phone use while driving. In California, it is illegal to use a handheld device while driving. However, the use of a telephone or hands-free device is permitted, except for drivers under 18 years of age, who are prohibited from using a cell phone for any reason.
- Car Seat Laws. Children should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they weigh 40 pounds or more or are 40 inches or taller. All children must ride in an appropriate car seat in the back seat of the vehicle until they are eight years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
How to identify a fault in a traffic accident
In California, the determination of fault in traffic accidents is based on the principle of pure comparative negligence. When an accident occurs, liability for the crash and resulting damages are assigned based on the degree of fault of each party involved, regardless of their proportion of fault.
Why is it necessary to determine fault?
Identifying fault is necessary to ensure that innocent people injured receive adequate compensation and that those responsible are held accountable. Typically, the at-fault party’s insurance covers the other party’s losses. ¿
How is fault determined?
Fault in California car accidents is established through analysis of the accident and evidence, including:
- Eyewitness accounts
- Police reports
- Photos and videos of the accident
- Testimony of an expert witness
What is pure comparative negligence?
Pure comparative negligence allows even those partially responsible for an accident to obtain compensation for their injuries and financial losses. However, compensation is reduced depending on the percentage of fault.
How can a lawyer help you?
A Santa Ana car accident attorney can be your advocate and defend your best interests in settlement negotiations and court.
- Offer legal advice. An experienced car accident attorney knows the California traffic laws and regulations related to your case. They can explain your options, navigate the legal process on your behalf, and ensure your rights are effectively protected.
- Gather evidence to prove your case. Car accident attorneys can gather crucial evidence to support your claim, including accident reports, medical records, witness statements, and expert opinions.
- Confront the insurance company. Insurers may deny, delay, or minimize your claim in the hope of getting away with paying as little as possible or even nothing. An attorney can level the playing field and protect you from an insurer’s manipulative tactics by negotiating a fair settlement on your behalf.
- Assess your traffic accident claim. An attorney will calculate your past, present, and future damages related to the accident. It can protect you from accepting a very low settlement offer from an insurer if your case is worth much more.
- Represent him at trial. A car accident attorney can present your case before a judge and jury, question witnesses, and argue your case forcefully. With a knowledgeable attorney on your side, you can maximize your chances of obtaining a favorable verdict.
How to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in Santa Ana, CA
Before you begin your search, clarify what you are looking for in a car accident attorney. One of the main requirements should be that the lawyer has successfully handled cases like yours. For example, if you have a car accident claim, you do not want to hire an attorney who has only handled slip-and-fall cases. Below are some other points to keep in mind when searching for the best car accident lawyer in Santa Ana:
- Trial experience. Most car accident claims are settled out of court. That said, it pays to make sure your attorney has the experience and stamina to see you through if an insurance company is reluctant.
- Contingent fees. Choose an attorney who works on a contingency fee basis rather than charging hourly or up-front fees. With contingency fees, you will only have to pay the attorney’s fees when you win your case.
- Reputation. Your attorney should be a respected person in the legal community and have many positive reviews from previous clients.
- Resources. Make sure the lawyer or law firm you hire has the resources necessary to defend your case to the end, even if it is long and complex.
