Los Angeles is one of the most dangerous driving environments in the country — high-speed freeways, aggressive lane changes, distracted drivers, rideshares weaving in and out, delivery vans rushing routes, and endless congestion that turns minor mistakes into violent impacts.

And here’s the truth most victims don’t realize until it’s too late:

The crash is only the beginning.
The insurance fight starts immediately.
And if you don’t act fast, your case gets smaller every day.

That’s why this guide is built to do three things:

1. Tell you exactly what to do right now.

2. Show you how insurance companies attack LA car accident victims.

3. Explain how to win maximum compensation — not “whatever they feel like offering.”

If you want help right away, call the Los Angeles car accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus at 818-784-8544.

Do not wait. Waiting hurts your case. The sooner you call, the sooner we can lock down evidence, protect your claim, and start building value fast.

Why Car Accident Victims in Los Angeles Need to Move Fast

Insurance companies don’t wait to protect themselves. Neither should you.

Right after a crash, evidence disappears fast:

• Skid marks fade

• Vehicles get repaired or totaled

• Witnesses become unreachable

• Surveillance video gets overwritten

• Insurance adjusters start recording statements

• The other driver hires a lawyer

• Your injuries get downplayed

Delay is the enemy of value.
Every day you wait, the defense gets stronger — and your case gets easier to attack.

Call 818-784-8544 now. We’ll take over the pressure, handle the insurance, and fight for the maximum payout you deserve.

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Los Angeles

1. Call 911 and get medical help

Even if you feel “fine,” you might not be.
Shock and adrenaline hide injuries, especially:

• head trauma

• internal bleeding

• spinal damage

• soft tissue tears

If you don’t get checked out, the insurance company will say you weren’t really hurt.

2. Make sure a police report is created

LA crash reports matter — a lot.
If the police don’t come, file a report online or go to a station.

A missing report gives the insurer room to manipulate blame.

3. Take photos and video of EVERYTHING

Use your phone like a weapon for your case:

Photograph:

• both vehicles

• damage close-up and wide

• the other driver’s plate + insurance card + license

• street signs and signals

• skid marks, debris

• weather/lighting

• your visible injuries

4. Get witness information

Witnesses win cases.

Get:

• name

• phone

• email

• short statement on video if possible

People leave fast. Don’t assume police will handle it.

5. Do NOT admit fault or apologize

Even a polite “Sorry, I didn’t see you” can be twisted into fault.

Stick to facts only.

6. Do NOT give recorded statements to insurers

They are trained to trap you.

They’ll ask:

• “Are you okay?” (to lock in a “yes”)

• “Did you see them?” (to claim shared fault)

• “Were you distracted?” (to reduce value)

Say this instead:
“I’m not giving a recorded statement. Please speak to my attorney.”

Then call us at 818-784-8544 immediately.

7. Get consistent medical care

This is critical.
Gaps in treatment are “gold” to the defense.

Follow through on:

• ER visits

• imaging

• referrals

• PT

• specialist care

If you stop treating, they say you healed.

The Most Common LA Car Accident Types (And Why They Matter)

Different crash types create different liability games. Here are the biggest ones we see in Los Angeles:

Rear-end collisions (freeways, stop-and-go traffic)

• Usually clear liability

• Insurance still tries to argue “sudden stop”

• Neck/back injuries are common

T-bone / intersection crashes

• Often catastrophic

• Usually caused by red-light running or unsafe turns

• Great cases when proven correctly

Highway multi-car pileups

• Complex chain reaction

• Multiple insurers involved

• Requires early evidence + reconstruction

Rideshare crashes (Uber/Lyft)

• Insurance depends on driver “app status”

• Big policies available when app is on

• Insurers fight hard to avoid exposure

Hit-and-run accidents

• Shockingly common in LA

• You may still recover through:

  • uninsured motorist coverage

  • third-party liability

  • vehicle-owner liability

Uninsured / underinsured driver crashes

• California still has a huge uninsured rate

• Your own UM/UIM policy may be your lifeline

• We pursue every available coverage layer

Who Is Liable in a Los Angeles Car Accident?

Liability isn’t always “the other driver.”
In Los Angeles, responsibility can spread across multiple parties.

Potential defendants include:

1. The at-fault driver

2. The vehicle owner (if different from driver)

3. Employers (if driver was working)

4. Rideshare companies (depending on status)

5. Commercial fleets (delivery, taxis, service vans)

6. Manufacturers (defect cases)

7. Government entities (dangerous road conditions)

More liable parties = more insurance = bigger recovery.

That’s why you don’t want a lawyer who just “submits a demand.”
You want a trial firm that hunts down every dollar.

Call 818-784-8544 and we’ll identify every path to compensation.

California Fault Rules That Can Make or Break Your Case

California uses pure comparative negligence.

That means:

• You can still win money even if you were partly at fault

• BUT your compensation is reduced by your fault percentage

Example:

• Case value = $500,000

• They claim you’re 20% at fault

• Your recovery becomes $400,000

Insurance companies LOVE this rule.
They weaponize it to shave your case down.

Our job is to crush that tactic.

Car Accident Injuries That Drive High-Value Settlements

Your settlement isn’t based on how scared you were.
It’s based on what the crash did to your body and your life.

High-value injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

• Concussions with cognitive symptoms

• Herniated discs / radiculopathy

• Spinal cord injuries

• Broken bones

• Shoulder / knee / hip tears

• Internal organ damage

• Facial fractures / dental damage

• Severe nerve injuries

• Chronic pain conditions

• Permanent scarring or disfigurement

If a doctor recommends surgery, your case value rises sharply.

Never let insurance convince you to “wait and see” while they lowball you.

Call 818-784-8544 now.
We’ll make sure your full medical future gets paid.

What Your Los Angeles Car Accident Claim Is Worth

There’s no honest “average settlement.”
Your value depends on your damages.

You can recover:

Economic damages

• ambulance / ER / hospital

• surgeries

• physical therapy

• medications

• imaging (MRI/CT/X-rays)

• future care and rehab

• lost wages

• loss of earning capacity

• property damage

• transportation + out-of-pocket costs

Non-economic damages

• pain and suffering

• emotional distress / anxiety / PTSD

• loss of enjoyment of life

• disability

• disfigurement

• loss of consortium for spouses

Punitive damages (rare but powerful)

If the driver acted with extreme recklessness, such as:

• DUI

• street racing

• fleeing the scene

• repeat safety violations

The Insurance Company’s Playbook (And How We Beat It)

Insurance companies don’t pay fairly out of kindness.
They pay when they’re cornered.

Here’s what they do:

1. They rush you with a lowball offer

They want you scared and broke.

2. They downplay your injuries

“Soft tissue.”
“Minor strain.”

Even when your MRI screams otherwise.

3. They look for gaps in treatment

A missed appointment becomes “proof you’re fine.”

4. They twist your words

Recorded statements are a trap.

5. They blame you

Comparative fault is their favorite weapon.

6. They delay

Delays push victims into desperation.

We shut this down by building trial-level cases from day one.

If they don’t pay enough, we take them to court — and they know it.

Mistakes That Destroy LA Car Accident Cases

Avoid these like poison:

1. Waiting too long to see a doctor

2. Skipping treatment or “toughing it out”

3. Posting on social media
   (They will use your photos against you.)

4. Giving a recorded statement

5. Assuming the insurer is fair

6. Taking the first offer

7. Hiring a settlement mill instead of a trial firm

8. Not calling a lawyer immediately

Don’t hand them your case for free.

Call 818-784-8544 right now.
We’ll protect you before the defense gets momentum.

How Long You Have to File a Claim in California

General rule:

You usually have 2 years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit.

BUT:

If a government entity is involved (road defect, city vehicle, bus, etc.):
You may have as little as 6 months to file a government claim.

Miss the window and your case is dead forever.

Waiting hurts your case.
Call 818-784-8544 now.

How The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus Builds Maximum-Value Cases

We don’t run “assembly line settlements.”
We build pressure.

Here’s what we do immediately:

1. Investigate the crash fast

   • scene photos

   • witness interviews

   • surveillance footage

   • traffic cams

   • vehicle downloads

2. Lock down medical proof
   We work with your doctors to document:

   • objective injury findings

   • future care needs

   • disability impacts

3. Expose all insurance coverage
   We identify:

   • driver policy

   • owner policy

   • employer/commercial policies

   • rideshare layers

   • UM/UIM coverage

   • umbrella policies

4. Build damages aggressively
   We document every way this crash has altered your life.

5. Prepare for trial
   We don’t threaten trial.
   We prepare for it — and that’s why insurers pay.

Why Los Angeles Victims Choose Us

Because when you’re injured, you don’t need “nice.”
You need results.

At The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus:

• We fight like trial lawyers — not paperwork pushers

• We take on major insurers and corporate defendants

• We don’t blink at pressure

• We don’t accept weak offers

• We stay on the case, personally

• We push for maximum compensation every time

If you want a team that treats your case like war, call 818-784-8544 now.

LA Car Accident FAQs

“What should I do if I’m hurt after a car accident in Los Angeles?”

Get medical care immediately, report the crash, preserve evidence, and call an LA car accident lawyer before speaking to insurance.

“How much is my Los Angeles car accident case worth?”

It depends on injury severity, medical care needed, lost income, future damages, and the strength of liability evidence. Serious injuries and surgery increase value sharply.

“What if I was partially at fault?”

You can still recover compensation in California. Your payout is reduced only by your share of fault.

“What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?”

You may recover through:

• your uninsured motorist coverage

• other available third-party liability

• vehicle-owner liability

“Do I really need a lawyer?”

If you’re injured, yes. Insurers don’t pay full value to unrepresented victims. A trial firm levels the playing field.

“How long does a car accident case take?”

Some settle in months. Serious injuries or disputed liability can take longer. The timeline depends on your recovery and the insurer’s behavior.

A Powerful Final Warning (Read This Twice)

Insurance companies are not your friend.
>They are not neutral.
>They are not “just trying to help.”

They are trained to pay you as little as possible.

And the longer you wait, the easier their job becomes.

If you were injured in a Los Angeles car accident — even if you think it’s “not that bad yet” — you need legal power on your side immediately.

Call The Law Offices Of Gerald L. Marcus At 818-784-8544 Right Now

• Don’t wait. Waiting hurts your case.

• The sooner you call, the sooner we can help.

• The sooner we act, the stronger your claim gets.

• The stronger your claim, the bigger your recovery.

You focus on healing.
We’ll handle the fight.

Call 818-784-8544 now for a FREE consultation.