San Diego Car Accident Lawyer

What to do after a car accident in San Diego

This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case:

1. Get medical care right away — for your health, and because prompt records strengthen your claim.
2. Call the police and get a copy of the crash report.
3. Document the scene — photos of vehicles, damage, the road, and your injuries; witness names and numbers.
4. Don’t admit fault or downplay injuries at the scene.
5. Be cautious with the insurance company — you don’t have to give a recorded statement or accept the first offer.
6. Call a lawyer before you settle — a free consultation tells you what your claim may really be worth.

Who pays — and what your claim may be worth

California is an at-fault state, so the driver who caused the crash (through their insurer) is generally responsible. Even if you were partly at fault, California’s comparative-negligence rule means you may still recover — your award is just reduced by your share.

Compensation typically includes:

• Economic damages — medical bills (current and future), lost wages, lost earning capacity, vehicle damage.
• Non-economic damages — pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive damages — in rare cases of especially reckless conduct (e.g., extreme DUI).

No honest lawyer can promise a number. What we can do is build the case to pursue the full value of your losses — and refuse to let the insurer lowball you.

How long do you have to file?

In California, the deadline for most car accident injury lawsuits is generally two years from the date of the crash (and claims against a government entity often must be filed much sooner). Missing it can end your case — so it’s best to talk to an attorney early. Confirm the deadline for your situation with a lawyer.

How your case works with Mova Law Group

1. Free consultation, 24/7 — tell us what happened.
2. Investigation — we gather the report, evidence, medical records, and experts.
3. Negotiation — we handle the insurer and push for full value.
4. Litigation if needed — we’re prepared to go to trial; many firms aren’t.
5. You get paid — our fee comes only from a successful recovery.

Results & reviews

$1.5 Million
Pedestrian Accident Case

Our client was walking in downtown San Diego when she was hit by a company vehicle driven by the owner. Client was diagnosed with a concussion and released from the hospital within 5 hours. Over the period of the next 3 years, our client continued to have neck and back pain. She finally had her own health insurance doctor perform lumbar spine fusion. The insurance company’s initial offer was less than $50,000. They ended up paying 30 times their initial offer a few weeks before trial.

$1.1 Million Motorcycle Accident Case

Southern California (San Diego) – Car vs. Motorcycle Rideshare accident that resulted in a unique elbow injury and cervical spine injury. Our client tried to negotiate with the rideshare company for over 1.5 years without a lawyer and was only offered $15,000. 1 year after hiring our firm and seeking appropriate medical care through our network of doctors, Chris Mova secured a full value of the policy limit plus an extra $100,000 from another party.

Read more case settlements

Your attorney: Chris Mova

California-licensed attorney (State Bar #303979) who trains other personal injury lawyers nationally on serious-injury cases. [More about Chris →]