Bakersfield Personal Injury Attorney

Have you been involved in an accident in Bakersfield? Did you suffer an injury as the result of another person’s negligence? Contact Citywide Law Group to find out how our Bakersfield personal injury attorneys can help you recover monetary damages.

We have over 17 years of experience handling a wide range of complex personal injury matters and know that a financial settlement or award can be instrumental in your recovery. We will fight to hold the negligent party responsible for their actions and make sure that you are fairly compensated for any harm you have suffered. Call us today to request a free consultation and to learn more.

Accidents in Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield is the ninth largest city in California and the 52nd largest city in the nation. It is home to more than 365,000 California residents and, as the Kern County Seat, welcomes millions of visitors and guests each year. It is no surprise that the city is always bustling and that its roads always seem to be overflowing with traffic. On an average day, 4.2 million miles are driven on Bakersfield’s roads and freeways. With so many vehicles sharing the road, accidents are inevitable.

Traffic Accidents on the Rise in Bakersfield

The number of injury-causing and fatal traffic accidents reported in Bakersfield has risen steadily over the past few years:

2011: 1,320
2012: 1,319
2013: 1,445
2014: 1,735
2015: 1,926.

In a five-year period, between 2011 and 2015, the number of Bakersfield traffic accidents increased by nearly 50 percent.

Victims of Bakersfield Traffic Accidents

Drivers and passengers in small cars are not the only victims of Bakersfield traffic accidents. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists are also frequently reported as victims. These victims are at a greater risk of suffering serious and fatal injuries in Bakersfield accidents. In 2015, a significant number of traffic accidents involved these less-protected victims:

Pedestrians (5 percent)
Motorcyclists (4 percent)
Bicyclists (3 percent).

Causes of Bakersfield Traffic Accidents

Why do traffic accidents happen in Bakersfield? Statistics published by the Office of Traffic Safety indicate that the most frequently cited causes of Bakersfield traffic accidents include:

Speeding (15 percent)
Alcohol (10 percent)
Driving Between 9PM and 3AM (8 percent), and
Hit and run (9 percent).

Other causes of Bakersfield traffic accidents include distracted driving, fatigued driving, and aggressive driving.

Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

When you’re injured unexpectedly your life can change in the blink of an eye. If you suffer a serious injury you may be forced to endure extensive medical treatment, suffer from chronic pain and depression, and face temporary or permanent disability. As an accident victim, you have the right to file a legal claim for damages. Hiring an attorney to handle your personal injury case will (a) give you time to get better and (b) increase the likelihood of maximizing the compensation you are awarded.

Here are the main reasons you should hire a Bakersfield personal injury attorney:

1. Your health and well-being should be your priorities.

If you are focusing your energy and attention on a legal battle, your road to recovery will take longer than it should. Personal injury cases are complex, nuanced, and time-consuming. Rather than trying to handle the case on your own, hire an attorney who is familiar with relevant laws and procedures. With your case in the hands of a skilled professional, you can focus on getting better.

2. You don’t know what your claim is worth.

How should your pain and suffering be valued? Which damages are you entitled to recover? Whose valuation should be trusted? If you don’t have an attorney handling your case you’ll likely be forced to rely on an insurance company’s assessment of your injuries, damage, and harm.

Since insurance companies are only concerned about their bottom line, you can bet that they will undervalue your claim. Hire an attorney to investigate and analyze your claim to ensure that you are fairly compensated. You will not get the money you deserve if your claim is undervalued from the start.

3. It’s important to level the playing field.

The defendant in your case and/or their insurance company will most certainly be represented by skilled attorneys. These attorneys know that they have an advantage if you decide to proceed without representation. They will take advantage of this very stressful situation and manipulate you into accepting a very low offer.

While taking money right away may be enticing, it is important to realize that this will do more harm than good in the long run. Hire an attorney to level the playing field and hold negligent parties fully responsible for their actions.

What Personal Injury Cases Do You Handle?

At Citywide Law Group, our Bakersfield attorneys have experience handling a wide range of complex personal injury matters. For over 17 years, we have been dedicated to helping accident victims hold negligent parties responsible for their actions. We have successfully recovered millions in compensation through personal injury lawsuits for:

Contact our Bakersfield personal injury attorneys today to request more information and learn about all of our personal injury practice areas.

What Damages Can I Recover From a Personal Injury Claim?

Accident victims in Bakersfield are generally allowed to recover economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are paid to help compensate for out-of-pocket financial costs you suffer because of an unexpected injury. Examples of economic damages include:

Hospitalization
Surgery
Medication
Rehabilitation
Transportation
Property damage
Lost wages, and
Disability.

Since economic damages are essentially intended to reimburse you for financial losses, they are capped at your actual financial harm.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are paid to compensate for injuries that are more subjective and difficult-to-value. Your pain and suffering is very real. Just because it’s hard to put a value on this type of injury does not mean it is any less real or harmful. Other examples of non-economic damages include:

Mental anguish
Anxiety and depression
Disfigurement
Scarring
Embarrassment
Loss of consortium, and
Loss of enjoyment of life.

Non-economic damages are generally not capped. This is why personal injury awards can vary significantly from case-to-case.

Statute of Limitations for Bakersfield Personal Injury Cases

When you are injured in Bakersfield you have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This timeframe, known as the statute of limitations, requires victims to come forward and initiate legal action within a reasonable amount of time after an accident. For most bodily injury cases, you will have two years to file a claim for damages.

There are certain times when the statute of limitations may be accelerated or extended:

Birth Injury: Birth injury claims must be filed before the injured child turns 8.
Medical Malpractice: Medical malpractice claims must be filed within three years of the accident or within one year of discovering the injury, whichever is earlier.
Workplace Injury: Employers must be notified of your intent to request workers’ compensation benefits within 30 days of an accident.
Government Liability: Government administrative claims must be filed within 180 days of an accident.
Minor Victim: The statute of limitations can be tolled if the victim was under the age of 18.
Delay of Discovery: If there is a reasonable delay in the discovery of your injury, you may have one year from the date of that discovery to file a claim.

You can make sure that your personal injury claim is filed on time by contacting the Bakersfield attorneys at Citywide Law Group immediately after an accident. Call today to schedule a free consultation.

Call Our Bakersfield Personal Injury Attorneys Today

You are more likely to recover the money you need after an accident if you hire an experienced attorney to handle your case. Call the Bakersfield personal injury attorneys at Citywide Law Group today to set up a free consultation and learn more.

We will thoroughly review your case, explain your legal options, and outline the steps involved in filing a personal injury claim for damages. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. Since you have a limited amount of time to act, it is important to call us today.