San Diego Injury and Accident Lawyers

Why San Diego Chooses DK Law

San Diego may be known for its sunshine, but its roads can be unpredictable. Whether you’re on the 5 Freeway or navigating city streets, accidents can happen at any time. When they do, DK Law is here to help you recover.

We’ll help you find top local doctors and negotiate with insurance companies and medical providers. You can focus on healing while we handle the rest. We go all the way for you—until the job is done, the bills are handled, and the check is in your hands.

Dangerous Roads and Intersections in San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA, is a top tourist destination in the U.S., attracting over 35 million visitors annually. In 2021, San Diego, named the #8 most popular U.S. travel destination, has some of the busiest roads and freeways in California, including Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. 

With millions of foot traffic each year, it’s little surprise that there are also several car accidents each year. According to recent data, there were over 24,000 crashes on San Diego roads in 2021.

With such a large number of residents and tourists, driving in San Diego can be dangerous. Interstate 5 has been named one of the most dangerous highways in the U.S. and runs through the entire length of California. Some of the most car accident-prone intersections and roads include:

Do I Need an Accident Lawyer?

Going through the personal injury claims process with the insurance company after an accident is overwhelming, especially when you are not at 100% health and suffering from common injuries, such as catastrophic injury, bone fractures, meniscus injuries, rotator cuff injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and spine injuries.

Don’t wait to consult a San Diego injury attorney. The statute of limitations in California is only two years from the date of the accident. It’s crucial to secure legal representation quickly due to the short period of time available to seek compensation. Our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to resolving your case in a timely manner and achieving the best possible outcome for you.

We Have Spanish-Speaking Lawyers in San Diego, CA

Over a million of San Diego County’s 3.2 million residents (nearly 35%) are of Hispanic or Latino descent. We understand that for many Spanish-speaking accident victims in the area, they feel more at ease talking in their native language. At DK Law, you can expect to speak with a San Diego personal injury lawyer in Spanish for your free consultation.

What Are Common Injuries Sustained in Accidents?

• Lacerations and bruises: Deep cuts and bruising can result from contact with sharp objects, shattered glass, debris, or hazardous surfaces. In severe accidents, individuals may be thrown into hard surfaces or struck by flying objects, increasing the risk of serious skin and tissue damage.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A sudden blow or jolt to the head can cause traumatic brain injury. Victims may experience brain swelling, bleeding, and bruising, all of which can lead to lasting damage. TBIs are one of the leading causes of long-term disability and death among accident victims.
• Spinal cord damage and paralysis: High-impact trauma can injure the spinal cord, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. These injuries often have lifelong consequences and require extensive medical care.
• Burns: Exposure to open flames, hot surfaces, chemicals, or electrical currents can lead to severe burns. Burn injuries may cause nerve damage, infections, and permanent scarring, depending on the severity and location of the burn.
• Broken bones: Fractures and broken bones are common in many types of accidents. Whether it’s a simple break or a compound fracture, these injuries can be extremely painful and may require surgery, physical therapy, and a lengthy recovery.
• Limb Loss and amputation: In devastating accidents, limbs can be crushed or blood vessels severed, sometimes making surgical amputation necessary. This type of injury significantly alters a person’s life and may require prosthetics, rehabilitation, and long-term support.
• Soft tissue damage: This includes sprains, strains, and tears to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. While they may not seem serious at first, untreated soft tissue injuries can worsen over time and lead to chronic pain or mobility issues.
• Wrongful death: In the most tragic cases, accident-related injuries may be fatal. If a person dies due to another party’s negligence, their surviving loved ones may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim to seek justice and financial recovery.

How Fault Is Determined in Accident Cases

In a San Diego personal injury case, the party found to be at fault for causing the accident will be legally obligated to compensate the victim for damages. However, “negligence” must be proven. To prove that the liable party was negligent, the following factors must be demonstrated.

Duty of Care

Every person is responsible for their actions and for not endangering the safety of others.

Breach of Duty of Care

This is an indication of how the defendant’s actions directly caused the claimant (victim) damages.

Causation

All of the losses that the claimant sustained as a result of the personal injury accident are presented.

Damages

All of the losses that the claimant sustained as a result of the personal injury accident are presented.

If all of these factors can be proven, the next step is for the personal injury attorney to negotiate a settlement. However, if both parties cannot come to a settlement agreement, personal injury lawsuits can be filed. The dispute can be settled out of court in litigation with a mediator or in court, where the verdict is determined by a judge and jury. Legal action against the insurance company will require the knowledge and resources of a San Diego personal injury attorney.

Comparative Negligence: What to Know

California is an at-fault state. This means anyone guilty of negligence in a personal injury accident can be held liable for damages, including the claimant.

Per California’s comparative negligence laws, every party will be responsible for their percentage of fault in an accident. The percentage of fault the claimant is found liable for will be deducted from the overall settlement. 

For example, if the claimant ran a stop sign and was hit by a drunk driver, the claimant may be found 30% responsible for the accident. Therefore, they would be able to collect only 70% of the final settlement.

What Compensation Can I Recover?

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for both the financial and emotional impact it has had on your life.

The purpose of this compensation is to help you move forward and feel whole again. These payments usually fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover your financial losses due to the accident. That includes medical bills, future medical treatment, property damage, and other out-of-pocket expenses. If you’ve had to miss work because of your injury, you may also be able to recover lost wages.

Non-Economic Damages

Some damages aren’t tied to a bill or invoice. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the strain the accident may have placed on your relationships. These are more difficult to measure but are a critical part of your recovery.

Generally, the more serious the injury and its impact on your life, the higher the value of your case.

When you schedule a free consultation with DK Law, we’ll take the time to understand what happened, explain your options, and give you an honest idea of what your case may be worth.

Focus on Healing, Not the Insurance Company

During this difficult time in your life, your priority should be recovery, not negotiating with an insurance company.

Insurance adjusters are trained to use tactics that may downplay your injuries, shift blame, or justify a low settlement offer. Insurance companies are not focused on protecting injury victims. They are focused on minimizing payouts and may try to pressure you into accepting less than you deserve.

Our experienced injury attorneys are ready to stand up to the insurance companies and advocate for your rights. If your case goes to trial, our skilled litigators will fight tirelessly to help you pursue the maximum compensation available.

Steps to Take After an Accident

If you’ve just been in an accident, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But taking the right steps early on can make a big difference in protecting your health and legal rights. Here’s what to do:

1. Get to a Safe Spot

If you can, move yourself and anyone involved out of immediate danger. If someone is injured, call for an ambulance right away.

2. Call 911

It’s important to report the accident to the police. When they arrive, they’ll create an official report. Ensure you obtain a police report for your records.

3. Exchange Information

Share your name, contact details, and insurance information with the other parties involved. If your personal property was damaged, be sure to include any registration or ownership information as well.

4. Document the Scene

Take photos or videos if it’s safe to do so. Capture any injuries, property damage, or anything else that helps tell the story, like skid marks, debris, or surrounding conditions.

5. Talk to Witnesses

If anyone saw what happened, try to get their contact info and ask if they’d be willing to provide a witness statement.

6. Get Checked by a Doctor

Even if you don’t feel badly hurt, it’s best to get a medical evaluation. Some injuries aren’t apparent immediately, and having a medical record helps connect your condition to the accident.

7. Consider Speaking with a Lawyer

An experienced personal injury attorney can guide you through the next steps. They can help you gather evidence, deal with insurance companies, and make sure the insurance company doesn’t offer a lowball settlement.

The DK Law Difference

In San Diego, we know that insurance companies don’t always play fair, so we don’t play along. At DK Law, we treat every case like it’s going to trial from the very start. While some firms rush to settle, we build a strong foundation early so we’re ready to go all the way for you.

Our in-house litigators aren’t afraid of the courtroom, and if the insurance company won’t make a fair offer, we’ll take your case to court to fight for the full compensation you deserve.