Law Offices of Mark Murad | Pasadena Office | Free Consultation, No Fee Unless We Win
A Pasadena car accident lawyer investigates your crash, proves fault, documents your losses, and negotiates with insurers or sues for compensation. At the Law Offices of Mark Murad, the first consultation is free and you pay no fee unless we win. California generally allows two years to sue for injuries, so act early.
Hurt in a Pasadena Crash? Start Here
Many Pasadena claims start the same way. A driver is rear-ended near the 134/210 interchange, and the other insurer calls within days asking for a recorded statement. That call can weaken a claim.
Our Pasadena team handles car accident claims from first call to settlement or trial. Below, you will find how claims work and what to check before hiring a car accident attorney.
What Is a Pasadena Car Accident Lawyer?
A Pasadena car accident lawyer is a personal injury attorney who represents people hurt in vehicle collisions. The lawyer gathers evidence, proves fault, values your damages, and deals with insurers for you.
Who Needs a Pasadena Car Accident Lawyer?
Consider hiring one if:
- You have any injury, even a minor one.
- Fault is disputed or shared.
- The other driver fled or has no insurance.
- A loved one died. See our Pasadena wrongful death lawyers.
- An insurer made an offer before your treatment ended.
If no one was hurt and an insured driver clearly caused minor damage, you may not need one.
Why Choose a Professional Pasadena Car Accident Lawyer?
Insurers use adjusters and defense lawyers to limit payouts. A car accident attorney answers with evidence, medical records, and a real willingness to sue. Before hiring anyone, ask:
- Who personally handles my file, and how often will I hear from them?
- Is the fee percentage in writing? California requires written contingency agreements (Bus. & Prof. Code § 6147).
- Do you prepare every case for trial?
Expert Insights: What Decides a Pasadena Crash Claim?
Delayed symptoms. Neck and back injuries often appear days later. Treatment gaps let insurers argue you were not hurt.
Illustrative example. A driver is rear-ended on Lake Avenue, skips the doctor, and accepts a quick offer. An MRI weeks later shows a herniated disc, but the signed release has closed the claim. (Hypothetical, not a past client.)
Insurance limits. California's minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage, per the DMV SR 1 form. Serious injuries can exceed that, which makes your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage important.
Public vehicles. Crashes involving a city, county, or transit vehicle generally require a written claim within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).
DMV reporting. File an SR 1 within 10 days after any injury, death, or damage over $1,000, regardless of fault. Police and insurer reports do not count.
Service Details at a Glance
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Fee | Contingency: nothing unless we recover |
First consultation | Free |
Office | 155 N. Lake Avenue, Suite 800, Pasadena, CA 91101 |
Phone | (626) 388-1521 |
Case types | Car, hit-and-run, DUI, and multi-vehicle crashes |
Injury lawsuit deadline | Generally 2 years (CCP § 335.1) |
Public entity claims | Generally 6 months |
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Car Accident Attorney?
Benefit | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
No upfront cost | Fees come from your recovery |
Early evidence | Reports, witnesses, and video pursued before they disappear |
Insurer handling | Calls and offers go through us |
Full damages review | Medical care, future care, lost wages, vehicle, pain |
Expert input | Medical experts explain realistic recovery |
Deadline control | Filing dates tracked from day one |
Court readiness | Files prepared as if headed to trial |
Which Crashes Do We Handle?
Crash Type | Why Legal Help Matters |
|---|---|
Rear-end | Delayed injuries and sudden-stop fault disputes |
Intersection T-bone | Disputed signals; witnesses and video matter |
Hit-and-run | Your uninsured motorist coverage may apply |
DUI | Intoxication can strengthen the liability case |
Multi-vehicle | Fault may be split among several drivers |
Uninsured driver | Your own policy may help |
Government vehicle | Six-month claim deadline |
Involved in a motorcycle or truck crash? See our Pasadena motorcycle accident lawyers and truck accident attorneys. Spinal or brain trauma may qualify as catastrophic injury.
How Does a Car Accident Claim Work?
Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
1. Free consultation | We review facts, injuries, and deadlines |
2. Investigation | Police report, witnesses, photos, video, repair estimates |
3. Medical documentation | Treatment records and, if needed, a medical expert |
4. Claim valuation | Bills, wage loss, future care, pain, available insurance |
5. Negotiation | We present the demand and answer insurer pushback |
6. Lawsuit, if needed | We file before the deadline when offers fall short |
7. Resolution | Settlement or verdict, with liens and costs resolved before payout |
Pasadena Car Accident Lawyer FAQs
How much does a Pasadena car accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. The consultation is free, and our fee comes only from a settlement or verdict. Ask for the percentage and cost terms in writing.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in California?
Generally two years for injuries (CCP § 335.1) and three years for property damage. Claims against government entities usually require notice within six months.
What should I do right after a Pasadena car accident?
Call 911, get medical care, photograph the scene and vehicles, and exchange insurance details. Do not admit fault. File the DMV SR 1 within 10 days if required.
Should I give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement?
You are generally not required to. Speak with an attorney first, because casual answers can be used to reduce your claim.
Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?
Yes. California's comparative fault rule reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault instead of barring it.
How much is my car accident case worth?
It depends on medical costs, future care, lost income, fault, and available insurance. No honest estimate is possible before reviewing your records.
Should I accept the first settlement offer?
Rarely before treatment ends. Early offers often ignore future care and lost income, and a signed release usually closes the claim.
What if the at-fault driver fled or has no insurance?
Report the crash to police promptly. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply, depending on your policy terms.
Do car accident cases go to trial?
Most settle before trial. We still prepare each file for court, because that readiness pushes insurers toward fairer offers.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor accident?
Not always. If you have injuries, disputed fault, or an insurer pressuring you, a free consultation helps you decide.
Final Key Takeaway
Act before evidence and deadlines slip away. Get medical care, avoid recorded statements to the other insurer, and speak with a Pasadena car accident lawyer before accepting any offer.
Talk to a Pasadena Car Accident Lawyer Today
Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Call (626) 388-1521 or request your free consultation. Meet our attorneys.
Law Offices of Mark Murad, 155 N. Lake Avenue, Suite 800, Pasadena, CA 91101
This page offers general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Sources: California DMV, Report of Traffic Accident (SR 1); California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 and Government Code § 911.2 via California Legislative Information.