The Best Car Accident Lawyers In Bakersfield, California

The Best Car Accident Lawyers In Bakersfield, California

Located approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles, at the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield is a popular tourist spot and has been ranked as one of the best places to live in California. Music aficionados know that the birthplace of the “Bakersfield Sound” is famous for being the “Country Music Capital of the West Coast.” Country music is still alive and well in Bakersfield and you can see it up close at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace Nightclub. Foodies visiting Bakersfield are enamored with locally sourced foods from the fertile San Joaquin Valley. Sporting enthusiasts enjoy watching the Bakersfield Condors ice hockey team and participating in drag, asphalt, autocross, and even dirt racing at various parks, including Bakersfield Speedway and Kern County Raceway Park.

Living In Bakersfield

Bakersfield residents enjoy warm temperatures year-round (53 to 77 degrees), and the plethora of public parks, theaters, musical festivals, restaurants, and bike trails keep residents exploring new adventures on weekends, holidays, and every other chance they get. Families searching for quality education for their children will discover that Bakersfield has some top-rated public schools. Bakersfield is multigenerational and perfect for couples planning to raise a family or seniors looking forward to a peaceful retirement.

For potential homebuyers in Bakersfield, the median price for a home is $380,000, which is more affordable than in nearby cities like Simi Valley and Lancaster.

Intro To Car Accident Issues In California

Motor vehicle accidents, more commonly called car accidents, happen every day. In 2020, there were 35,766 car crashes in the United States, 38,824 of them resulting in deaths. Car accidents can be minor, like a fender bender at a stop sign; or major, like a multi-car pileup on a foggy interstate. It seems we Americans are always in our cars, and sometimes, mistakes get the better of us and our vehicles.

If you are in a serious car accident, you may want to consider contacting an experienced lawyer in your area who can help you through the legal process and look after your interests. Lawyers who practice in this area often specialize in certain types of accidents (like truck accidents), or in related areas like product liability (faulty car design/manufacture), or DUI/DWI.

Do I Need A Lawyer For Car Accident Issues? Are There DIY Options?

Sometimes a car accident won’t require the help of an attorney. There are lots of DIY options you can use to help you navigate this legal issue. In the case of a car accident, you can probably handle your accident case on your own if:

Damage to cars, property, or other vehicles was minor

You were not at fault and your insurance company agrees to cover your losses

There were no injuries caused by the accident

There are resources are available to help you settle a car accident claim on your own. Resources might include options like damages calculators, getting multiple repair estimates to show insurance adjusters, using Kelley Blue Book or other online sources to establish the pre-accident value of your car, and more. If the coverage doesn’t add up, or the other driver’s insurance company offers a settlement that is too low, you might want to consider getting legal help.

How Do I Know If An Attorney Is Licensed In California?

A great place to start your Bakersfield car accident attorney research is the State Bar of California website. You’ll find information about whether your attorney has an active license and when they were licensed, as well as whether that attorney has ever been disciplined or had their bar membership temporarily revoked.

How Do I Interview Car Accident Attorneys In Bakersfield?

If your accident was costly, complicated, or you or others were seriously injured, it might be a good idea to get an attorney to represent you. However, not all attorneys are the right fit for you and your case. You’ll want to consider whether the attorney is familiar with the driving conditions in your area, experienced in your type of accident, has a good track record, good reviews (either personal to you or from online sources you trust), and has a payment system you understand and can afford. There are some key questions you should make sure you know the answers to before you hire an attorney including:

What’s their experience with motor vehicle accidents? What settlements or verdicts have they won recently?

How do they communicate with clients? Do they answer questions themselves, or is it an associate or paralegal you will be communicating with? Phone, letter, email, text?

Who else in the firm will work on your case? How will it be billed? What is the bill rate for the various team members like paralegals, junior attorneys, clerks, and others?

What is the fee structure? Is this a contingency fee, hourly billable, or flat fee?

Then, make sure you feel comfortable. Can you talk openly to the person representing you? Your accident attorney will be involved in your life for a while, so make sure you can communicate constructively and honestly with them.

Driving And Transportation In Bakersfield

Bakersfield offers an array of transportation options including Interstate 5 and freeways 99 and 58. Downtown you can find Meadows Field Airport and Bakersfield’s local transportation provided by Golden Empire Bus Services which travels throughout the City of Bakersfield and adjacent unincorporated communities. If you prefer to travel via train, you can use Amtrak.

Additional Bakersfield Resources

If you ever need legal counsel, you can easily find an attorney in Bakersfield who can help. Below are some additional links to various legal resources.

Metropolitan Division Justice Building1215 Truxtun AveBakersfield, CA 93301661-868-7204 or 661-868-7205

Kern County Public Defender1315 Truxtun AveBakersfield, CA 93301661-868-4799