Santa Monica Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents are a common cause of serious injuries throughout Santa Monica, especially along heavily traveled routes such as Santa Monica Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Lincoln Boulevard, Olympic Boulevard, Pico Boulevard, and Pacific Coast Highway. If another driver caused your crash, the Santa Monica car accident lawyers at Kermani LLP can help protect your rights and pursue the compensation available to you.

Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle in Santa Monica

Not every car accident happens the same way. The type of collision, where it occurred, how the vehicles were moving, and what each driver was doing can all affect how liability is determined. Our Santa Monica car accident lawyers handle a wide range of claims and work to uncover the facts behind each crash.

We represent clients injured in accidents involving:

• Rear-End Collisions: California courts generally presume the trailing driver is at fault for following too closely, though that presumption can be challenged if the lead vehicle stopped suddenly or without cause.
• Side-Impact and T-Bone Collisions: These crashes typically happen at intersections and tend to cause more severe injuries than other collision types, since a vehicle's doors offer far less protection than its front or rear crumple zones.
• Head-On Collisions: Among the most catastrophic types of car accidents, these often result from a driver crossing the center line, whether from distraction, impairment, or an attempted pass on a narrow road.
• Rollover Accidents: Taller vehicles like SUVs and trucks are more prone to rolling over, particularly during a sharp swerve or a collision that catches a wheel on a curb or soft shoulder.
• Multi-Vehicle Crashes: When more than two vehicles are involved, sorting out fault often means reconstructing the sequence of impacts, since the driver who caused the first collision isn't always the one who caused the most damage.
• Hit-and-Run Accidents: California law requires drivers to stop and exchange information after any collision, and a driver who flees can face both criminal charges and civil liability once identified.
• Wrong-Way Driving Accidents: These crashes are frequently caused by an impaired or disoriented driver entering a freeway from an exit ramp, and the resulting head-on impact is often catastrophic given the closing speed of both vehicles.
• Intersection Collisions: Fault at an intersection usually comes down to who had the green light or the right of way, and traffic camera footage or signal timing data can be decisive evidence.
• Distracted Driving Accidents: A driver looking at a phone for even a few seconds can travel the length of a city block without seeing a stopped vehicle or a change in traffic.
• Speeding-Related Crashes: Excess speed reduces a driver's reaction time and increases stopping distance, and it's typically reconstructed after the fact from skid marks, vehicle damage, and event data recorder information.
• Drunk Driving Accidents: A driver's blood alcohol level at the time of the crash can support both criminal DUI charges and a request for punitive damages in the civil case, exposure most other car accident claims don't carry.
• Unsafe Lane Changes: These happen when a driver merges without checking a mirror or blind spot, or misjudges the space and speed of a vehicle already in the lane.
• Failure-to-Yield Accidents: Common at intersections, driveways, and merges, these crashes often turn on who actually had the right of way at the moment of impact.
• Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers: California doesn't require drivers to carry more than a state minimum policy, so a serious injury can quickly exceed what the at-fault driver's insurance will pay, making your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage a critical part of the claim.

A car accident attorney at Kermani LLP can investigate how the collision occurred, identify the parties who may be responsible, evaluate available insurance coverage, and pursue compensation for the losses connected to your injuries.

If you were injured in any type of car accident in Santa Monica, you do not have to determine the next steps on your own. Contact Kermani LLP for a free case evaluation and learn how our legal team may be able to help.

Leading Causes of Santa Monica Car Accidents

Car accidents in Santa Monica can happen for many reasons, but most collisions stem from driver behavior, road conditions, or vehicle-related issues. Certain high-traffic corridors and intersections, such as PCH and the Lincoln/Olympic area, can be especially challenging. Heavy pedestrian and tourist activity near the Third Street Promenade and the beach, along with frequent cyclists and shifting traffic patterns, can also increase the risk of a collision.

• Distracted driving, including texting, eating, or using in-car technology
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding or driving too fast for traffic conditions
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Illegal or unsafe turns
• Reckless or aggressive driving
• Unsafe lane changes
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Inexperienced or inattentive drivers
• Poor vehicle maintenance, including worn tires or faulty brakes
• Rain, high winds, or other hazardous weather conditions
• Reduced visibility during nighttime driving

In many cases, more than one factor may contribute to a collision. For example, a speeding driver may also be distracted, or poor vehicle maintenance may make it more difficult to avoid a crash.

A Santa Monica car accident lawyer can examine the circumstances surrounding the collision, review available evidence, and determine whether another driver or party may be responsible for your injuries and losses.

Car Accident Injuries Commonly Seen in Santa Monica

Even a collision that appears minor can cause injuries that require medical treatment, time away from work, or ongoing care. The force of a crash can affect nearly every part of the body, and some symptoms may not become noticeable until hours or days later.

• Neck and back injuries: Sudden impact can strain muscles, ligaments, discs, and other structures in the neck and back. Whiplash, herniated discs, and persistent back pain are common concerns after a collision.
• Traumatic brain injuries: A blow or sudden movement of the head can cause a concussion or more significant brain injury. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, memory problems, confusion, and changes in concentration or mood.
• Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause weakness, loss of sensation, limited mobility, or paralysis and may require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
• Broken bones and joint injuries: Arms, legs, ribs, wrists, knees, shoulders, and hips can be fractured or damaged during the force of a crash.
• Burn injuries: Fires, explosions, hot vehicle components, or contact with chemicals can cause painful burns that may require surgery, skin grafts, or long-term treatment.
• Internal injuries: The impact of a collision can damage internal organs or cause internal bleeding, which may not always be immediately visible.
• Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and other soft tissue damage can cause significant pain and limit movement.
• Cuts, scarring, and disfigurement: Broken glass, metal, and other debris can cause lacerations and permanent scarring.

The extent of your injuries can have a major effect on the value of your claim, particularly when you require future treatment or your ability to work and enjoy daily activities has changed. A Santa Monica car accident attorney at Kermani LLP can help document the full impact of your injuries and pursue the compensation available for your medical costs, lost income, pain, and other losses.

What to Do Right After a Car Accident in Santa Monica

After a car accident, the moments that follow can feel overwhelming. The steps you take early on can help protect your health, preserve important evidence, and support a future injury claim. If you can do so safely, focus first on your well-being and the safety of those around you.

1. Check for Injuries: Assess yourself and your passengers for injuries and call 911 if anyone needs emergency medical care. Keep in mind that adrenaline can temporarily mask pain, so some symptoms may not become noticeable until later.
2. Move to a Safe Location: If your vehicle is blocking traffic or creating another danger, move it to a safer location when possible. If moving could put you at greater risk or worsen an injury, remain where you are and wait for emergency personnel.
3. Report the Accident: Contact the appropriate law enforcement agency and provide an accurate account of what happened. In Santa Monica, this may mean the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) for crashes on local streets or the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for certain collisions on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), depending on the location and jurisdiction. An official accident report can document important details about the collision and the parties involved.
4. Document the Scene: Take photos and videos of the vehicles, property damage, injuries, road conditions, traffic signs, and the surrounding area. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver and collect information from witnesses when possible.
5. Seek Medical Attention: Even if you initially feel fine, consider getting examined by a medical professional. Some car accident injuries develop gradually, and early medical care can help identify injuries and document your condition.
6. Speak With a Car Accident Lawyer: If you were injured, a Santa Monica car accident attorney can review the crash, preserve important evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and explain your options for seeking compensation.

Taking these steps can help create a clearer record of what happened and protect important evidence. If another driver caused your injuries, contact Kermani LLP to discuss your case with a car accident lawyer in Santa Monica.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Santa Monica Car Accident?

A car accident can create financial losses and personal hardships that continue long after the crash itself. If another party caused your injuries, you may be able to pursue compensation for both the measurable costs of the accident and the ways it has affected your everyday life.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover financial losses that can be calculated or documented, including:

• Medical bills and future medical care
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Vehicle repairs or replacement
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs
• Other accident-related expenses

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address losses that do not have a fixed dollar value but can still have a significant impact on your life. These may include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Mental suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Physical impairment
• Disfigurement
• Loss of consortium

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages may be available in certain cases involving particularly wrongful conduct. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, they are intended to punish the defendant and discourage similar behavior rather than compensate you for a specific loss.

The amount you may recover depends on your injuries, medical treatment, lost income, liability, available insurance coverage, and other facts surrounding the collision. A Santa Monica car accident lawyer at Kermani LLP can evaluate your losses and determine which forms of compensation may apply to your claim.

California Car Accident Laws That Can Affect Your Claim

California law can influence both how long you have to bring a car accident claim and how compensation is determined when more than one person shares responsibility. Knowing these rules early can help you avoid mistakes that may affect your ability to recover damages.

Statute of Limitations

For most personal injury lawsuits in California, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a claim in court. California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 applies these two years to actions involving injury or death caused by another person’s wrongful act or negligence. 

There can be exceptions and shorter deadlines depending on the circumstances, so waiting too long can put your claim at risk. Speaking with a Santa Monica car accident attorney early also gives your legal team more time to preserve evidence and investigate the collision.

Comparative Fault

California follows a comparative fault system. This means you may still be able to recover compensation even if you contributed to the accident. However, your damages can be reduced according to your percentage of responsibility. California’s official civil jury instructions provide that when a plaintiff’s negligence contributes to the harm, the damages are reduced based on the percentage of responsibility assigned to that plaintiff. 

For example, if your total damages were $100,000 and you were found 20% responsible for the crash, your recovery could be reduced to $80,000.

Because insurance companies may dispute fault or attempt to place more responsibility on you, a car accident lawyer at Kermani LLP can investigate the evidence, identify who contributed to the collision, and pursue the compensation available under California law. If an appropriate settlement cannot be reached, our car accident attorneys are prepared to pursue the case through litigation when necessary.

Contact Our Santa Monica Car Accident Lawyers

After a car accident, the road forward can feel uncertain. You may be facing injuries, medical treatment, missed work, vehicle repairs, and pressure from insurance companies all at once. The Santa Monica car accident lawyers at Kermani LLP can step in, protect your rights, and pursue the compensation available for your medical costs, lost income, property damage, pain, and other losses. Your case evaluation is free, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.