California Car Accident Claims Guide (2025)
If you have been injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be overwhelmed by a laundry list of tasks to handle. From replacing or repairing your vehicle to trying to decide how to pay medical bills, it’s easy to see why calling a lawyer might not be in the front of your mind. At Cutter Law, we can help you during this difficult time.
Why Choose Cutter Law’s California Car Accident Attorneys
Collectively, our award-winning legal team has over 130 years of experience fighting for crash victims and families in Sacramento County and across the state. We also provide legal representation for car accident victims throughout Northern California, including those in Elk Grove, Roseville, and Arden-Arcade.
We have a history of successful settlements and verdicts because we are dedicated to providing compassionate yet aggressive legal representation for our clients. We will handle your case so you can focus on recovery.
I was involved in an accident where I was injured and sent to many months of therapy. Even though we had to wait a couple months til the therapy over, I was never abandoned or felt abandoned because John Roussas was checking in every step of the way to make sure things were going ok- either with a quick phone call or email.
Also, John kept me informed in every step of the decision making. I knew what was happening at every point. Even if there were things I didn’t understand he would patiently and politely explain them to me. If I didn’t know how to proceed, he would give me a couple options and explain those as well.
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Attorney Brooks Cutter was listed on Forbes Advisors’ Best Car Accident Lawyers Sacramento, CA Of 2025.
Car Accident Verdicts and Settlements
At Cutter Law P.C., we have a long record of successfully representing clients hurt from motor vehicle accidents in California. Below is a representative snapshot of the successful cases our law firm has handled:
for a motorcyclist who was seriously injured when a car failed to yield the right of way.
for a pedestrian whose knee and pelvis were injured as a result of being hit by a vehicle.
How Much Compensation Can I Receive?
Several factors determine the value of your car accident case. The severity of your injuries could be a factor.
Types of Compensation for a Car Accident
Two kinds of damages can be recovered in a car accident: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages in California injury cases include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Property losses
- Burial costs in wrongful death cases
Non-economic damages are harder to quantify but are just as real. They include:
- Emotional distress
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of life’s enjoyment Loss of consortium
- Permanent disability, impairment, or disfigurement
You can recover all of your medical bills, lost earnings if you’ve missed work, and pain and suffering – which is often the biggest recovery if you’re significantly hurt.
Brooks Cutter,
Founder of Cutter Law
What to Do in the Days and Weeks Following the Car Accident
Here’s what else you need to know about what to do following a car accident:
Be careful whom you talk to — Do not speak with insurance companies representing the other parties involved in your accident. If you have an attorney, they can communicate on your behalf with all insurance companies involved.
Don’t accept the first settlement offer— Your wellbeing is not the insurance company’s primary concern. Its concern is settling your claim for the least possible amount. Often this process involves making several low offers in an attempt to save money. If you accept their first offer, you will receive a fraction of what you are entitled to and you most likely will not be able to file a lawsuit later if you discover your injuries are more significant than initially believed.
Keep a file — It is important to keep a file of all of your accident-related documents and information. This should include a claim number, the claims adjuster who is handling the claim, names and phone numbers of all contacts, receipts for a rental car, and any additional expenses you may have incurred related to the accident. Keep a record of any communications you have regarding the accident and medical appointments.
Types of Auto Accidents
Learn more about the types of accidents we handle and how our team can assist you:
Time Limits to File Your Case
In California, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a car accident claim for damages, including medical bills and property damage. After the two years have elapsed, the claim is likely to be invalid.
For this reason, it’s in your best interests to reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to get your claim started.
401 Watt Avenue Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95864
1901 Harrison Street Suite 910 Oakland CA 94612
51 E St Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Settle My Claim Without a Car Accident Attorney?
You’re not required to hire a car accident attorney to handle your case. However, your settlement award will likely be far lower than if you had a dedicated attorney fighting for your rights. Remember that insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible to help preserve their bottom lines.
At Cutter Law P.C., we advise our clients to reject low-ball offers when they deserve more. We know how far financial resources can go in helping victims and their families recover. This is why we don’t let insurance companies off the hook with inadequate settlement amounts.
What If an Insurance Company Contacts Me?
If an insurance company contacts you regarding your injuries, they are likely trying to get you to accept a settlement offer. It’s important to realize that most initial settlement offers are far below what victims deserve. Therefore, you should speak with an attorney before agreeing to anything with an insurance company.
Additionally, it is not uncommon for car insurance companies to reach out to injury victims for any evidence that the victim was negligent. For this reason, you’ll want to limit what you say to insurance representatives and investigators and have a car accident lawyer take care of this for you.
Related: Should You Speak to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?
At What Point Should I Call an Attorney?
The sooner you call an attorney, the better chance you’ll have at getting the compensation you deserve. Once an injury occurs, a series of procedures are set in motion. During this time, insurance companies work diligently to minimize their payouts. You need someone working for you from the beginning.
Book a Free Case Review with Our California Car Accident Lawyers
At Cutter Law, we are your best choice for attorneys to handle your auto accident case. We have 130 years of combined legal experience, and we’ve won numerous honors for our work on behalf of our clients both locally and nationally.
Over the years, we have won over $100 million in damages for our clients in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Our commitment to our clients ensures that you will receive our best efforts at maximizing the compensation you’ll receive in your lawsuit.
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Start with a free consultation. We listen to what happened, how it’s affected your life, and what you need to move forward.
You’ll have a direct line to our attorneys. We keep communication open and ensure you always know what’s happening with your case.
From day one, we go all in—gathering evidence, negotiating with insurers, and preparing for trial if needed. You pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.
The process for filing an insurance claim boils down to getting the information that your insurance company will need to pay your benefits.
Economic damages are the losses you can measure with dollars and cents, such as your lost wages, your past medical bills, and your future medical bills.
If medical bills exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits, you can pursue compensation through other sources, such as underinsured motorist coverage.
As a family run California law firm we pride ourselves in providing every client personal attention and representation. The outstanding results we have gotten for our fire clients are a direct result of our commitment to understanding and presenting all aspects of their case.
Hear from our previous clients about the relationships we build together.
Dealing with insurance companies and third parties after a car accident is never fun, but I have to say that having this firm represent me throughout the process took a huge weight off of my shoulders and helped create a better outcome. I absolutely recommend Cutter Law!!
I found Margo and Brooks Cutter when I was looking for car accident lawyers in Sacramento to help me with my case. I am very glad I did. They were extremely professional and courteous and explained the process of recovery. They took the time to listen to my story and stayed in contact with me at every stage. If you are looking for the best Sacramento personal injury attorneys, Cutter Law is it!
Brooks has a long-established, respected reputation as a skilled trial attorney and a record of proven success.