Car Accident Lawyers

Car accidents happen — even to the safest, most careful drivers on the road. If you’ve been seriously injured in a major car accident at the fault of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.

As an accomplished personal injury group, The Barnes Firm has received numerous awards for their work in courts. This success has helped our firm acquire some of the most accomplished and sought-after attorneys in the state. Consult with one of our best hit and run accident lawyers today to learn more about the damages you could be entitled to.

  • Contact The Barnes Firm

    Fields marked with an * are required

The Barnes Firm Helping You Get Answers

Rear View Of Female Driver With Neck Injury Getting Out Of Car After Crash

Recover the Damages you Deserve with the Help of The Barnes Firm

The Barnes Firm is your go-to legal team when it comes to major and minor car accidents, including (but not limited to) the following common cases:

  • Rear-end
  • Side-impact
  • Head-on collision
  • Multi-vehicle collision

The Barnes firm has a proven track record of success in recovering damages for victims of major and minor car accidents. Our best car accident attorneys work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.

How We Can Help

The Barnes Firm will immediately launch a legal investigation into your case and the circumstances leading up to the crash. This investigation will build a strong case for you and your family by gathering evidence such as driving records, eye-witness statements, media reports, photos or video, and a complete analysis of the road conditions and potential infrastructure problems, which may have contributed to the car accident.

car accident injury lawyer opening a briefcase
car accident injury lawyer opening a briefcase

How We Can Help

The Barnes Firm will immediately launch a legal investigation into your case and the circumstances leading up to the crash. This investigation will build a strong case for you and your family by gathering evidence such as driving records, eye-witness statements, media reports, photos or video, and a complete analysis of the road conditions and potential infrastructure problems, which may have contributed to the car accident.

Different Kinds of Car Accidents

Auto accidents can take a variety of forms that include the following:

  • Road Rage. In cases of “road rage,” drivers use their vehicle as a weapon. Such drivers often face serious criminal charges.
  • High Speed Crashes. Recent statistics have found that speeding was cited as a factor in 30 percent of all deadly auto accidents in the U.S., and that number is likely a conservative estimate.
  • Texting And Driving. Most states have implemented bans on texting and driving. Ignoring these laws could cost drivers a hefty fine, but it still pales in comparison to the costs associated with major car accidents.
  • Drunk Driving Accidents. Thanks to public awareness campaigns over the past several decades, the number of alcohol-fueled crashes has decreased, but they still remain a serious problem across the country.
  • Rollover Accidents. These are often extremely serious crashes, and a vehicle defect or poor road conditions can sometimes be factors. To prove there was a defect in your vehicle or the road, street, or highway that contributed to a rollover crash, you’ll need an experienced attorney.

Reach out to one of The Barnes Firm’s rear-end collision attorneys to learn more about the different kinds of car accidents.

How Long Should You Be Sore After a Car Accident?

Male driver taking a picture of his car damage after being in a car accident for his insurance claim, with a witness in the background

There are over six million car accidents that occur across the United States each year. Even though car accidents occur relatively frequently, that knowledge doesn’t diminish the shock a victim feels when they are involved in a crash. When another person’s negligence causes a car accident, the victims may be left with extensive injuries that may persist past the weeks following the incident.

The Barnes Firm is a team of national car accident lawyers with experience helping clients who have been injured build strong claims. While car accident injuries may vary from person to person, if you are experiencing soreness following an accident, it is essential to be aware of approximately how long that symptom should last.

How Long Should Your Soreness Last After a Car Accident?

Experiencing some soreness after a car accident is normal and expected for most victims. After a minor car accident, you may expect to be sore for a few hours or even a few days after the accident. However, if you’re involved in a more severe car accident, you may be experiencing soreness for several weeks or months after the incident.

In most cases, you may experience soreness or residual pain due to bruising or stiffness for up to six weeks. If you were in a minor car accident or fender bender and continue to feel sore past six weeks, you may have a more severe injury and should consult a doctor and a car crash injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Injured woman feeling neck pain from whiplash after being in a car crash
Injured woman feeling neck pain from whiplash after being in a car crash

How Long Should Your Soreness Last After a Car Accident?

Experiencing some soreness after a car accident is normal and expected for most victims. After a minor car accident, you may expect to be sore for a few hours or even a few days after the accident. However, if you’re involved in a more severe car accident, you may be experiencing soreness for several weeks or months after the incident.

In most cases, you may experience soreness or residual pain due to bruising or stiffness for up to six weeks. If you were in a minor car accident or fender bender and continue to feel sore past six weeks, you may have a more severe injury and should consult a doctor and a car crash injury lawyer as soon as possible.

woman wearing a neck brace and wincing in pain while reading a letter from her car insurance

When Could Soreness Be More Serious After a Car Accident?

If your soreness has persisted past six weeks and occurs in any of the following areas, you should seek medical attention as it may be a symptom of a much more severe injury:

  • Head: If you are sore on or around your head, you could be experiencing the symptom of a serious injury like a concussion or traumatic brain injury. Even if you can only physically see a small cut or bruise, you should be seen by a medical professional if you feel sore in this area.
  • Back: While it is not uncommon to feel some soreness or stiffness in your back after an accident, you may have a more severe injury if it persists past six weeks.
  • Ribs: While a bruised rib is not fatal, you should see a doctor to ensure you have not broken a rib if you have continued soreness around your ribs.
  • Neck: Neck injuries such as whiplash are common in even the most minor of car accident cases, but if your soreness continues past the maximum time limit of six weeks, it is vital that you seek medical help.
  • Spine: If you are experiencing continued soreness or stiffness along the spine, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. If you have a more serious injury that you are unaware of, leaving a spinal cord injury untreated can be dangerous for car accident victims.

If you’ve been injured as a result of a negligent driver, an attorney for car accident may be able to help you build a strong claim.

Ready to Lawyer up?

After a car accident, victims may be left with many injuries, including soreness. If you or a loved one has suffered due to a negligent driver, get help from our best attorneys for an auto accident.

The Barnes Firm’s experienced and highly trained lawyers are experts in handling cases involving auto accidents. But don’t take it from us; we let our results speak for us.

If you’ve suffered traumatic injuries as a result of a major car accident, you must hold the responsible parties liable — let us help you. With the right legal representation, you could receive a large settlement as compensation for your pain and suffering. The sooner your act, the stronger your case will be.

Contact us today for a free, no-risk consultation with our accomplished legal team.

FAQs about Car Insurance

Medical costs are expensive, and if you are not at fault for a car crash, you could be entitled to significant compensation from the responsible party’s auto insurance. If you caused the accident, your insurance company will pay the other driver for damage to their vehicle and any injuries covered under your policy’s limits.

Your insurance company should be assigning an attorney to handle your case, and you may need to testify or clarify the events of the crash. In some cases, you may be sued for more money than your insurance policy will cover. In this case, you may need your own attorney.

When another driver is responsible for a car crash and injuries to you or your family, you could receive compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, car damage and other expenses, such as lost wages or household help after the crash. The Barnes Firm can immediately build a case and make a claim with the other driver’s insurance company. Some insurance companies may not be willing to pay you fair compensation – and that’s why having your own legal advocate is so important. Our car accident lawyers will try to negotiate a fair settlement offer, and if the insurance company is being unreasonable, our attorneys are prepared to take your case to trial. There are time limits for filing some types of claims, so it is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

Although these are rare cases, you do have some options if you are injured and the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. In most cases, your own policy will pay for your injuries. If the other driver’s insurance is not enough to pay for your medical costs, your own insurance could pay the difference. If you have collision insurance, it will pay for damage to your car, no matter who is at fault.

The Barnes Firm takes car accident cases on what’s called a ‘contingent fee basis.’ This means our clients will won’t pay a fee unless we win your case. A written contract should explain what percentage your lawyer will get if you win. It should also state who will pay for any costs associated with filing your claim, such as court fees. In most cases, The Barnes Firm will advance these costs, but state law may require the client to pay for some litigation expenses.

Whiplash FAQs

In simple terms, whiplash is a sprain to the neck. It results from the sudden movement of being thrown forward and backward – one of our best car accident lawyers says this often happens when your car gets rear-ended.  The abrupt shift overextends the soft tissues of your neck beyond their standard range of motion, leading to a sprain.

Whiplash is an injury that’s generally associated with car crashes. The jerking motion of the car jolting forward and back after a sudden impact results in this type of stiff neck injury. Many times, victims of a car crash don’t realize they’re injured because of the adrenaline rush that comes on after a sudden car crash, but this is not an injury that should be left untreated. This injury can also result from hard contact sports, such as football and hockey, but in most cases, the cause is from an auto accident.

If you’ve been in a car accident, you may want to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer at The Barnes Firm, as many of the expenses associated with whiplash can be recovered in the form of financial compensation.

Whiplash symptoms always include stiffness and a sore neck – which can lead to stiff and sore shoulders as well. Typically, you’ll find that you can’t move your neck as freely as you would be able to if you were injury-free. Other, more severe, symptoms include the following:

  • Blurry vision
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Dizziness
  • Memory Issues
  • Depression

It may take some time for you to feel the full effect of this injury, so one of our experienced car accident attorneys says it’s always a good idea to seek medical attention after a car crash to be certain your injuries are not worse than you might initially have assumed.

Victims of a car crash should always seek medical attention. Many times, the after-effects of a car crash won’t be felt for hours, sometimes days, after a car crash. If your injuries are minimal or not visible following a car crash, an Oakland car accident lawyer suggests going to an urgent care office as soon as possible to receive a clear diagnosis. Most medical care providers, like urgent care or internal medicine provider, can treat whiplash. If symptoms steadily grow worse or if you experience a loss of consciousness, that’s when you should visit an emergency room.

To treat whiplash, doctors usually recommend that you take it easy for the first few days following your injury to let your body rest and recover from the shock. Alternating between heat and ice therapy is also a conventional treatment for easing stiffness and pain in your neck. For more extreme cases, a doctor might also prescribe muscle relaxants or painkillers to help with the most painful days of recovery following their injury.

Going through a car accident can result in serious injury. Many people who are seriously hurt can find themselves permanently disabled due to their wounds from a car crash and in need of a Barnes Firm injury attorney.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident anywhere in California or New York, a car accident lawyer from The Barnes Firm will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

Call today or contact us online to get started on a free case consultation and evaluation.

General Car Accident FAQs

Believe it or not, the deadliest day of the year for car accidents isn’t during the cold months. The warm and sunny skies of the summertime seem to encourage people to drive faster — and more recklessly. Whereas in the winter, drivers overall tend to operate with more caution.

August 2nd is typically the day when most car crashes occur in the United States. According to data we’ve assembled from a variety of sources, August 2nd is the deadliest day to drive. More than 500 fatalities have happened on this day for drivers on U. S. roads. The entire month of August typically has the most fatal car crashes each year, with almost 16,000 people losing their lives on the road.

The sunnier weather may make drivers on the road feel more daring, but there are three significant contributing factors for so many car accidents in August. Those include factors such as:

  • Speeding up abruptly
  • Hard braking or brake-checking
  • Spending prolonged time in congested traffic – also known as idling

The break-down of these driving habits by the state show that:

  • New York and Illinois drivers are most likely to accelerate their speed suddenly;
  • Arizona, Georgia, and New York drivers are most likely to brake-check; and
  • Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and New York drivers are most likely to be stuck in congested traffic (idling) that leads frustrated drivers to make hasty decisions.

Additionally, with the summer months come summer vacations. People are spending prolonged time in their vehicles driving to their summer getaways. Drivers become fatigued behind the wheel, which can cause delayed reactions and aggressive habits as they try to reach their destination faster. People also are more likely to stay out later at the bars with the extended daylight hours in August, leading to more drinks and poor decision-making.

Everyone knows that rush hour traffic is the worst, no matter what state you live in. But according to our data, Fridays are the worst day of the week from 9:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon when it comes to aggressive driving. Aggressive driving habits, like hard braking and speeding up quickly, can lead to accidents from both road rage or simply not paying attention.

California and New York drivers experience congested traffic and aggressive attitudes on the road no matter what month of the year it is. Especially during the holidays, our roads are flooded with locals and tourists alike in a hurry to get where they need to be.

The experienced car accident attorneys at The Barnes Firm can help if you’ve been injured while driving. We’ve helped thousands of car accident victims with their personal injury claims throughout the United States.

Our No Fee Promise guarantees that you won’t pay a dollar unless we recover compensation that’s entitled to you. Speak with our best car accident lawyers for free by calling us today.

Pain and suffering occur in two ways: physical and mental.  Typically, most personal injury damages are classified as compensatory, which intend to compensate the injured party for what was lost as a result of the accident or injury from the accident.

Common compensatory damages involved in personal injury cases are:

  • Emotional Distress
  • Income
  • Medical Treatment
  • Pain and Suffering
  • PropertyLoss

Click here to read more about compensation.

Some elements of a settlement are taxable, including lost wages, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and emotional distress damages. Click here to learn more.

If you received a settlement for personal injury or sickness and did not take an itemized deduction for medical expenses related to the injury or illness, the full amount of your accident settlement is non-taxable. This means you should not include your accident settlement when declaring income. Click here to learn more.

Before determining how much compensation you should seek, there are several questions you and your attorney should consider. Answering these questions will help determine how much compensation you should seek and also prepare you for trial in case the claim ends up in court. Click here to learn more about how much a settlement should be.

It depends, but it’s essential to collect as much evidence as possible. Evidence comes in many forms – from written statements to photos, the more information you have, the more prepared you’ll be. Click here to learn more. 

One of the first things car accident victims ask themselves after a car accident is whether they should seek medical attention.  Some injured individuals may feel okay or have minimal symptoms (such as a stiff back or neck).  However, our car accident lawyers say many injuries don’t show symptoms right away after an accident, especially when adrenaline is in full gear, masking some of the pain. Click to learn more.

When it comes to car accidents, the best rule to follow is, if you’re in doubt – always call the police. Whether the accident is large or… Click here to read the full article. 

“The Barnes Firm did an excellent job on my car accident case. Jade was extremely helpful at answering all of my questions.”

Ghyar A.

“The Barnes Firm was very friendly, always quick to respond to our calls and emails. When we had any questions or concerns, they were there to walk us through everything. I would definitely recommend them to anyone that is looking for an attorney that will honestly fight for you and has your best interest in mind.”

Nichole W.

“They handled everything with my accident and got me the maximum amount of money back, more than I thought I would get! Thanks!!”

Philip F.