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Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers

At Cutter Law P.C., we’ve personally seen the devastating impact car accidents have on people’s lives. If you’ve been injured, you are likely facing a significant drain on your finances and a disruption of your day-to-day life. There is no way to turn back time, but there is a way to get the resources you need to get through this.

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If your injuries came about due to another person’s negligence, you might have a valid claim. Our Sacramento personal injury lawyers can explain the process for recovering compensation and help you understand your legal rights. 

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Why Choose The Sacramento Car Accident Attorneys at Cutter Law

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 Citrus Heights, Roseville, and Modesto.

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. 

Contact our Sacramento law office to schedule your free case evaluation to learn more about how we may be able to help.

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:

$596,000 Verdict

for a motorcyclist who was seriously injured when a car failed to yield the right of way

$678,000 Verdict

for a pedestrian whose knee and pelvis were injured as a result of being hit by a vehicle.

How to Prove Negligence in Your Sacramento Car Crash Case

California is an at-fault state regarding traffic accidents. That means that whoever was negligent and caused the accident is responsible for paying for the damages (or, rather, their insurance company must pay).

Evidence of which party is at fault would involve things like:

  • the police report
  • witness statements
  • pictures of the vehicles and the scene
  • medical reports

Insurance claims adjusters will look at these and determine who was at fault. A traffic citation to one party will go far in proving their negligence. However, suppose you dispute the findings of the insurance claims adjusters. In that case, you can also hire a personal injury attorney who will review all the evidence on your behalf to prove the other party’s negligence.

What If I Am Also at Fault for My Car Accident?

Oftentimes the injured party is deemed to be partially at fault. When this occurs in California, degrees of fault are determined for each driver, and the injured party’s compensation is reduced in proportion to their degree of fault.

Related: California’s Comparative Negligence Law

How Do I Know if I Am Eligible for Compensation?

To know if you are eligible for compensation, you must consider a few criteria. First, you must take action within two years of the accident. Second, the other party must be at fault (or mostly at fault). Consider also the extent of your injuries and the significance of other losses.

Also, consider whether the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured. You may still be able to file a claim, but you will need to be aware that it may be much more challenging to get any money from them. Generally, if it is still within the statute of limitations (2 years from the accident) and the other party is at fault, you are most likely eligible for compensation.

Time Limits to File Your Case

In California, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury claim for damages, including medical bills and property damage. After the two years have elapsed, the claim is invalid unless it falls under one of the exceptions. 

Exceptions to the statute of limitations for personal injury claims include:

Despite these exceptions, most injury claims brought after the two-year deadline are void. For this reason, it’s in your best interests to reach out to an experienced Sacramento car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to get your claim started. 

Related: California’s Car Accident Statute of Limitations

Photo of a road sign for Interstate 5 in Sacramento

Dangerous Roadways in Sacramento

Sacramento has some of the most dangerous roadways in the nation, one of which is Interstate 5. This widely traveled highway hosts accidents throughout the state. In the City of Trees, I-5 is particularly dangerous from Del Paso Road to Railyards Boulevard. Between 2017 and 2019, this 4.9-mile stretch of road produced 13 fatal accidents and 16 deaths.

Other than highways, the city of Sacramento has identified the five corridors that produce the most dangerous accidents. They are:

  • Marysville Boulevard
  • El Camino Avenue
  • Broadway/Stockton Boulevard
  • South Stockton Boulevard
  • Florin Road

Through its Vision Zero initiative, the city is tackling these and other dangerous roadways in Sacramento to produce a safer environment for drivers. Vision Zero embodies the philosophy that accidents are preventable and not an unavoidable fact of life.  

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Sacramento

Many traffic accidents are avoidable and occur due to driver negligence or mistakes. According to the City of Sacramento, these are the five most common driver errors resulting in accidents: 

Following Too Closely

Following too closely can result in a traffic violation or an auto accident. In fact, it is the leading cause of accidents in the city. According to the law, when following another vehicle, you must remain at a distance that allows you to stop safely, regardless of the situation. 

Running Red Lights

There’s no excuse for running a red light, and you’ll likely be found at fault if an accident occurs as a result. In Sacramento, failing to stop for a red light is the number two cause of accidents and often leads to serious injuries. The legislature penalizes this act with hefty fines.

Driving Under the Influence

Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol cause car crashes. They lack the reaction time necessary to avoid accidents and the control to drive responsibly. Drunk driving is one of the most preventable causes of accidents in the city.

Speeding

Speeding causes its share of preventable accidents. Impatient drivers who fail to give themselves enough time to get to where they’re going set themselves and other drivers up for potentially deadly consequences

Photo of the Tower Bridge road in Sacramento

Left Turn Errors

Left turns can be tricky. They require drivers to make judgment calls on the speed and distance of flowing traffic. Any degree of negligence can cause a wreck. Additionally, drivers must know the rules of yielding to oncoming traffic. Too often, a driver makes a left turn and causes a crash when he or she should have yielded. 

Other Common Causes

Another reason why crashes occur is driver drowsiness. Sacramento roads are filled with motorists who commute long distances for work and other reasons. Many find themselves driving while tired and end up in accidents.

Distracted driving is also a common cause of accidents in the city. This includes any activity that takes your attention away from driving such as:

  • Texting while driving
  • Rubbernecking
  • Reaching for objects 
  • Engaging with passengers

For teens, distracted driving is one of the leading causes of death and injury. 

When these actions produce an accident, severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries can result. Many individuals who find themselves injured have to deal with having their lives turned upside down. Fortunately, these victims have a remedy: a personal injury claim. 

Although nothing can change the fact that an injury has occurred, just compensation goes a long way in helping restore victims’ lives. If you or a loved one is suffering from the effects of a car accident caused by a negligent driver, we can help you seek recovery with a car accident claim or wrongful death case.

Our Sacramento car accident attorneys have one goal: to obtain the maximum financial compensation allowable so you have the financial resources you need to cover your medical expenses and other losses, including pain and suffering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our clients often have many questions about car accidents and personal injury lawsuits, such as those listed below. We are more than happy to answer any questions our clients have.

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.

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.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Sacramento?

  1. You should first call 911 to request medical treatment and have the police respond to the scene of the accident.
  2. Then, you will want to get all drivers’ information, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and driver’s license numbers.
  3. Furthermore, you should get the vehicles’ information, such as license plates and vehicle identification numbers.
  4. Also, get the information of any passengers and witnesses (names, addresses, and telephone numbers).
  5. Take pictures of the damage and the scene of the car wreck to include traffic signs and any visual obstacles.
  6. Contact a lawyer before speaking to any insurance company and certainly before accepting any type of settlement offer. The insurance companies are not looking out for your best interests. They are looking out for their bottom line, and the way they do that is by making you the lowest settlement offer possible.

Book a Free Case Review with Our Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers

If you’ve suffered an injury, a big step toward getting your life back is realizing that you may have a viable personal injury case. 

Many injury victims have missed out on compensation simply because they didn’t know they had the right to seek financial recourse for their injuries—or they found out too late.

At Cutter Law P.C., our Sacramento car accident attorneys are ready to review your case. Your initial free consultation allows us to review the facts of your situation, determine whether you have a viable claim and explain your options if you do. 

Legally reviewed by
brooks cutter
Legally reviewed by
Brooks Cutter
Founder of Cutter Law

Brooks has a long-established, respected reputation as a skilled trial attorney and a record of proven success.

Testimonials

Daniel
Daniel
This is a high quality Law firm. This firm is top of the line and present information clearly and concisely.
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This is a family owned business and extremely friendly. The whole crew is very profession and reputable. They are highly knowledgeable in their trade and bring a top level of expertise to any inquiry. I would highly recommend this Law firm. These are wonderful people and they will help you get the justice you deserve.
Bryan H.
Bryan H.
My experience with Cutter Law has been extremely positive.
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The staff are professional, responsive, and passionate about their clients. Highly recommend this law firm.
Michael D.
Michael D.
Cutter Law is the one to call for sound legal advise and the firm to rely upon for solid support.
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There's this thing about lawyers ... they often forget the first word in their title, Counselor at Law. Well, Margo Cutter practices the full spectrum of her profession. Though she has not represented me in litigation, I have benefited from her kind support and sound counsel regarding a traumatic injury I sustained due the negligence of others and the subsequent unbearable pursuit for justice. Thank you, Margo.
Valerie
Valerie
I had the pleasure of working with the Cutter Law P.C firm recently and it was a very positive experience.
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Their people were professional, thorough, and expressed true consideration in their deliverance. I highly recommend them to anyone.
Miguel O.
Miguel O.
If aggressive, smart attorneys are what you need then look no further.
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CL took on my personal injury injury case without me needing to put in a retainer fee all while making sure I was prepared and on time for my court dates. You can always try submitting a case evaluation to see if they are the right attorneys for you before committing.
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Our Office Location

401 Watt Avenue Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95864
Phone: 916-290-9400

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