Best Car Accident Lawyer in Santa Monica

The more people on the road, the more the risks increase of being involved in a car accident. With traffic collisions nearly inevitable, it’s important to work with a experienced Santa Monica car accident lawyer.

Santa Monica is one of the most popular places to live and visit in all of Southern California and particularly Los Angeles County. Famous for the Santa Monica Farmers Market and Downtown Santa Monica. Santa Monica has over 3,983,540 residents in 2021, and approximately 50 million visitors in 2018. With that many people in and passing through the city every day, there are certainly a lot of cars, motorcycles, trucks, and all forms of motor vehicles on the road.

Following road rules, wearing a seatbelt, and driving safely and conscientiously will certainly help decrease the chances of you being in a motor vehicle accident.

You can get rear-ended at a stop sign, you can get sideswiped at a red light, or you could even get hit by a reckless teenage driver on an electric scooter.

Why Contact A Car Accident Lawyer in Santa Monica?

Daniel Kim is an experienced award-winning personal injury attorney in Santa Monica who has been serving the people of Santa Monica for many years. Daniel and his expert legal team have years of experience dealing with car, truck, and personal injury cases throughout the state of California.

We only handle motor vehicle accidents, therefore our knowledge base is laser-focused to give our clients the best possible representation. We know firsthand how stressful being involved in a car accident can be, and how frustrating dealing with the aftermath and insurance companies is.

The Law Offices of Daniel Kim has well over 1,000 positive reviews from previous clients on Yelp, Facebook, and Google.

We are available to contact 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Even if you don’t know where or how to get started, or if you even have a case at all, we can help.

We operate on a “no-win/no-fee” policy where we do not charge you any fees unless we win your case. That’s how confident we are in our ability to close cases.

If you or a family member have been injured in a Santa Monica car accident, please contact our personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles today for a free consultation.

Practice Areas We Specialize In

At The Law Offices of Daniel Kim, our car accident attorneys in Santa Monica exclusively handle motor vehicle accident cases. This sets us apart from other law firms that take any case just to make a quick dollar. Our outstanding attorneys focus on motor vehicle accidents. This allows us to offer the best service to our clients who want real experience and knowledge.

Motorcycle Accidents – As we all know riding a motorcycle is very dangerous, and almost all motorcycle accidents lead to severe injuries.

Truck Accidents – there are actually quite a few semi-truck accidents in the area, but our law firm knows what needs to be done to protect your legal rights.

Pedestrian Accidents – These are always bad accidents because a pedestrian has no chance against a 2,000 lb. car that runs them over.

Bike Accidents – Bike accidents always lead to a serious injury, even if you are wearing a helmet. Broken bones and road rash are common in bike accidents.

Uber Accidents – Uber and Lyft have become so popular that sometimes it seems like every other car on the road is an Uber or Lyft driver.  Uber has a unique commercial insurance policy. Uber passengers and other cars who were hit by an Uber driver can file a claim.

Car Accident Lawyer Daniel Kim – 다니엘김 교통사고 변호사
Address: 600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: (213) 839-3442

Insurance Companies VS. a Santa Monica Car Accident Lawyer

Whatever you do, don’t be fooled that the defendants’ insurance company is on your side and really worried about you.

Once you file an injury accident claim and start moving forward, the opposing insurance company has one goal which is to deny your claim or minimize it as much as possible.

The corporate insurance giants don’t want to pay out big settlements and they do anything they can to avoid it, from proving somehow you were at fault, to just stalling to prolong the process.

Daniel Kim is not intimidated by the insurance adjusters or their crazy attitudes that they display.

Once you get home from the hospital and you see medical bills piling up, the last thing you’ll want to do is argue with the insurance company as you attempt to get compensated for your injuries.

Of course, there are instances where an insurance company acts fair from day one and follows what we consider to be moral, but usually, money is a bigger factor than morality.

Do not fight the insurance companies alone, you will regret that decision.

Common Causes for Santa Monica Car Accidents

There is never one single unique reason why a car accident may occur in Santa Monica or anywhere for that matter. Occasionally, a car accident is nobody’s direct fault at all.

Bad weather or even an animal running into the street could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash. More often than not though, a car accident is always somebody’s fault.

The fault is usually determined by insurance adjusters after looking at driver and witness statements, photos and videos from the scene, damage assessments, and the police report.

Some of the primary causes of car accidents in Santa Monica but we see include:

• Speeding – This is the leading cause of car accidents throughout the United States and continues to rise yearly.
• Drunk driving – Driving under the influence or DUI of drugs or alcohol is both highly illegal and extremely dangerous.
• Distracted driving – Using your phone to make calls or text is illegal in California, but unfortunately, many people still do it. Looking at GPS, eating, and even applying makeup are all common distractions reported after an accident.
• Aggressive driving – Tailgating, reckless driving, and even street racing are all known to be the cause of serious motor vehicle accidents.
• Car malfunctions – Bad breaks, worn-out windshield wipers, and tire blowouts can all result in a sudden and unexpected car crash.
• Bad road conditions – Uneven surfaces, roadwork, and potholes can take even the most experienced driver by surprise and lead to an accident.
• Tired drivers – Drowsy driving and people falling asleep at the wheel is all too common, especially late at night.

Whatever the reason for the car accident you’re in, whether it’s listed here or not, we have the experience at The Law Office of Daniel Kim to help you get back on your feet.

Common Injuries from a Car Accident

The number of ways a person can be injured in a car accident is countless, but whether you think your injuries are minor or major, you should always get checked out by a medical professional ASAP.

After a minor collision or fender bender, accident victims may be able to walk away with light bruises and scratches. But a major accident that occurred at high speed could cause major injuries that have life-altering consequences.

Below is a list of injuries we see commonly from car accidents in Santa Monica:

• Head injury – Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), concussion, and brain bleeds are extremely serious injuries that require immediate and ongoing treatment.
• Back injuries – Ruptured, herniated, or bulging discs are all very common complaints after a high-speed collision.
• Neck injury – These could also include disk trauma, as well as whiplash, neck sprain, and other painful outcomes.
• Chest injury – This is commonly caused by either the airbag deploying, the seatbelt holding you in place, or a combination of both.
• Cuts and bruises – These are very common especially after being restrained by your seatbelt and being hit by unsecured items in the car.
• Spinal cord injuries – This is a particularly severe injury that could require years of care and even cause paralysis.
• Broken bones – Broken or fractured wrists, ribs, noses, and ankles are very common injuries reported after a motor vehicle collision.
• Death – Obviously the worst possible scenario. If a family member or loved one was killed in a Santa Monica car accident, you may have grounds for a wrongful death suit.

Any injury sustained in a car accident can potentially have long-term complications and require permanent care. But it’s not just physical injuries that can cause car accident victims to suffer.

Mental and emotional stress can be just as damaging and last for years after the crash. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can also be factored into your case.

No matter what, seeking immediate medical help is imperative for both your recovery and your case. Do not refuse transportation to the ER from the scene of the crash if offered. Following up with your regular doctor as prescribed by the emergency room physician is also important.

What to Do After a Car Accident

First and foremost, after being involved in an accident you need to seek medical care right away. We cannot stress this enough. The quicker you see a doctor or get to the ER, the faster you will be on the road to recovery, medically at least. After, you should do the following:

1. If you can while at the accident scene, take photos and videos of everything.
2. The street, damages to all vehicles involved, and any injuries sustained.
3. Get all other driver’s information such as driver’s license, registration, insurance, and contact information.
4. Also get the contact information for any witnesses, as well as the responding police officer’s name, badge number, jurisdiction, and police report information.

You may be asking yourself if you need to call your insurance company after being in an accident, even if it wasn’t your fault. The answer here is quite simply Yes, yes you do.

If you are involved in any type of car accident, especially one where you suffered injuries, then you want to contact your insurance company immediately. We all know that dealing with insurance companies is never fun.

Just trying to get questions answered about your account or monthly bill can be a real hassle. But your insurance policy more than likely has several coverages within it that you may want or need to use and to use these coverages you’ll need to contact your insurance company.

Anytime you have questions or concerns about what to do after a Santa Monica car accident, contact Santa Monica Car Accident Lawyer, Daniel Kim, and let us help you.

Santa Monica Car Accident Statistics

In 2017 nine people were killed in car accidents in Santa Monica, which the Santa Monica Police Department says is an uptick from the previous year.

Even after launching the Vision Zero program to help reduce accident injuries and deaths, according to a recent City of Santa Monica survey approximately 40% of residents feel uncomfortable driving and navigating city streets.

Los Angeles is the most dangerous county in the State for California or driving with 91,468 injuries and fatalities. There were 485,866 car accidents reported in California in 2017, with 3,898 deaths and 276,823 injuries. California accounts for 11% of all auto-related deaths in the USA.

Most Dangerous Streets and Intersections in Santa Monica

Statistically, the most dangerous street for car accidents in Santa Monica is 2nd Street and Santa Monica Blvd. In 2018 there were 34 car accidents reported here alone.

Other bad roads include:

• 4th Street (1500 Block)
• Pacific Coast Highway (1500 Block)
• Pico Blvd. and 9th Street
• Colorado Blvd. and 4th Street
• Main Street and Ocean Park Blvd.

If you’re involved in any type of car accident in Santa Monica you will need an experienced attorney on your side. Contact The Law Offices of Daniel Kim today for a free consultation.

We also serve the following Los Angeles County cities from our Los Angeles office: Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Bell, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Burbank, Calabasas, Commerce, Cudahy, Culver City, El Segundo, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Huntington Park, Inglewood, La Cañada Flintridge, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temple City, Vernon, West Hollywood, Westlake Village.