Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney

Bakersfield is home to some of the most heavily traveled and congested roads in California. With a highway-like infrastructure that encourages high speeds of travel and aggressive driving, it is no surprise that car accidents are fairly common in Bakersfield. If you have been injured in a Bakersfield car accident you may be entitled to compensation. The car accident attorneys at Citywide Law Group can help you get the money you deserve after your accident. Call us today to request a free consultation and to learn more.

Our Bakersfield car accidents attorneys have nearly two decades of experience handling complex personal injury matters. We know that an unexpected car accident can change your life forever, no matter how careful you are behind the wheel. When another person’s negligence is the cause of your accident, we will fight to hold them responsible for their actions and make sure that you are properly compensated for any harm you have suffered. Call today to request a free consultation with our skilled Bakersfield team. We will review the details of your case, explain your legal options, and answer the questions you have.

Car Accidents in Bakersfield

The number of car accidents reported in Bakersfield has been steadily rising over the past few years. In fact, the number of accidents has spiked by approximately 50 percent in less than a five-year period:

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

The number of accidents happening on Bakersfield roads is not a surprise. More than 365,000 people call Bakersfield home, making it one of the largest cities in the state and nation. As the seat of Kern County, hundreds of thousands of workers, visitors, and tourists travel to the city every year.

According to data reported by California’s Office of Traffic Safety, more than 4.2 Million miles are driven on Bakersfield roads each and every day. With so many cars on the road, accidents are bound to happen.

Causes of Bakersfield Car Accidents

Why are so many car accidents happening in Bakersfield? Some causes are reported more frequently than others.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Many roads in California’s most populated cities are built like highways. The way the roads are built simply encourage speeding and aggressive driving. Factor in that drivers are impatient and eager to get to their destinations, and the rate of traffic accidents skyrockets. When drivers become aggressive and exceed the speed limit, accidents are more likely to happen. The city’s roads are already jam-packed; drivers who neglect to follow the rules of the road put others in harm’s way.

According to the Office of Traffic Safety, speeding was the primary factor in 282 out of the 1,926 car accidents (approximately 15 percent) reported in 2015.

Driving at Night

Many car accidents happen at night between the hours of 9PM and 3AM. Why? Drivers are more fatigued, visibility is limited, and drivers are more likely to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, 149 of the 1,926 car accidents (approximately 8 percent) reported in 2015 happened after dark.

Drinking and Driving

Drunk driving has been a huge problem in Bakersfield in recent years. In 2014, there was a total of 1,735 injury-causing car accidents in Bakersfield. Of those accidents, 35 were fatal. Nearly one-third of those fatal car accidents were caused by drunk drivers. Just one year earlier, there were 25 fatal car accidents in Bakersfield. More than 40 percent of those fatal accidents were caused by drunk drivers.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in the country. Across the country, an average of 1,000 people are injured and another 9 people are killed every day because of distracted driving practices. According to the CDC, approximately 1 out of every 10 car accident deaths is the result of distracted driving.

Common Bakersfield Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can be responsible for causing minor to life-changing injuries. At Citywide Law Group, our Bakersfield car accident attorneys will fight to help you recover compensation for any injury that you have sustained as the result of another person’s negligence. We have successfully recovered millions in damages for clients who have suffered a wide range of injuries, including:

If you have been injured in a Bakersfield car accident do not hesitate to call the attorneys at Citywide Law Group for immediate assistance. No injury is too big or too small. We will fight to get you the compensation to which you are entitled.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Bakersfield Car Accident?

When another person is responsible for causing a car accident, you may be entitled to recover monetary compensation for any injuries that you suffer. In California, you have a small window in which you may file a legal claim for damages. In most cases, you will have two years from the date of your Bakersfield car accident to pursue legal damages. Failing to file your claim within the timeframe set by the statute of limitations will prevent you from getting the money you deserve.

However, there may be circumstances out of your control that prevent you from filing a timely claim. You may be able to toll (or extend) the statute of limitations if:

The defendant in your case is incarcerated or cannot be found
You were a minor at the time of the accident, or
There is a reasonable delay in the discovery of your accident-related injury.

You can make sure that your car accident claim is filed on time by contacting Citywide Law Group immediately after your accident. Call today to learn more.

Why Should I Hire a Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney?

If you’re thinking about filing a legal claim for damages, you should consider hiring an attorney to handle your case. Here’s why:

1. You don’t have the time.

Lawsuits are complicated, time-consuming, and stressful. If you are recovering from a serious injury, you simply do not have the time to navigate a complex legal claim. Your time and energy should be focused on your physical and emotional recoveries. Hiring an attorney to handle your legal claim will (a) give you the opportunity to get better and (b) increase the chances of maximizing the compensation you are awarded.

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

Determining the value of your legal claim will be difficult. Insurance companies will try to undervalue your harm in an effort to limit the amount of money you receive. If you do not hire an attorney to thoroughly investigate your claim and advocate on your behalf, you will be forced to accept whatever value the insurance company determines is appropriate. This means that you will not get the most out of your claim and will not receive the money you need and deserve. Your attorney will make sure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries and receive all of the damages to which you are entitled.

3. Insurance companies want you to represent yourself.

Insurance companies will be represented by skilled attorneys who know how to manipulate a very stressful time in your life. They would prefer that you do not hire an attorney and, instead, represent yourself. Their interest is in protecting their bottom line, not making sure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries. Hiring an attorney will level the playing field and help to ensure that you are not tricked into accepting a lowball offer.

Experienced Bakersfield Car Accident Attorneys

Hiring an attorney to handle your car accident claim is the single best thing you can do if you want to maximize the amount of money you recover. This will allow you to focus on getting better and put your complex legal claim in the hands of a professional. Call the Bakersfield car accident attorneys at Citywide Law Group today to learn about the benefits of filing a personal injury claim for damages.

We have over 17 years of experience handling complex personal injury matters. During this time, we have helped thousands of injured car accident victims recover the damages they need and deserve after an injury. Call today to request a free consultation and learn more.