You Were Just in a Vehicle Accident. Now What?

The hours after a crash feel like a blur of pain, confusion, and phone calls. Insurance adjusters call fast, and many injured people feel pressure to settle quickly or handle everything alone.

Insurance companies protect their own profits, not your recovery. Their first offer rarely reflects what your injuries actually cost you.

This guide gives injured Los Angeles residents a plain-language roadmap through the claims process. Shawn Hakakian is a local advocate who takes each case personally, offers a free consultation, and charges no fee unless you win.

 

What Does a Los Angeles Vehicle Accident Lawyer Actually Do?

A Los Angeles vehicle accidents lawyer fights to recover the compensation you are owed after a crash. Hakakian Law Group, PC investigate the accident and gathers evidence, handles every conversation with insurance adjusters, and calculates the full value of your claim, including future medical costs. He negotiates settlements and takes cases to trial when insurers refuse to pay fairly.

Hakakian Law Group, PC works on contingency, so you pay nothing unless you win. Most victims underestimate what their claim is worth, and a lawyer keeps you from settling for less than your injuries actually cost you.

 

7 Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Los Angeles

What you do in the hours and days after a crash directly shapes what your claim is worth. These seven steps protect your health and your evidence.

 

Step 1: Call 911 and Get a Police Report

Call 911 and get an officer to the scene. The police report creates an official record and becomes key evidence for your claim. Get the report number before you leave.

Step 2: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

See a doctor right away, even if you feel fine. Whiplash and internal injuries often show no symptoms for days. Your medical records link those injuries to the crash, and any delay gives insurers a reason to deny your claim.

Step 3: Document the Scene

Photograph vehicle damage, road conditions, injuries, skid marks, and traffic signals. Collect the names and contact information of every witness before they leave.

Step 4: Exchange Information (But Don't Admit Fault)

Exchange driver's license, insurance, and plate numbers with the other driver. Never say "I'm sorry," since that phrase can be used against you later. Stick to the facts when you speak with police.

Step 5: Report to Your Insurance — Carefully

Notify your insurer, but decline to give a recorded statement on your own. Adjusters use your words to reduce your payout. Consult a lawyer before you accept any settlement offer.

Step 6: Track All Your Losses

Keep receipts for medical bills, prescriptions, and travel to appointments. Log missed workdays and lost income, and journal your pain levels and how the injuries affect daily life.

Step 7: Call a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer

Call a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. The consultation is free and reveals your options. Hakakian Law works on contingency, so you pay nothing out of pocket. The sooner you call, the stronger your evidence trail. 

 

California Fault Rules: Who Pays After a Crash?

California is an at-fault state, so the negligent driver pays for the damage they cause. Under pure comparative fault, you can still recover even when you share blame. If you are 20 percent at fault, you collect 80 percent of your damages. Insurers exploit these disputes to shrink payouts, which is why Shawn Hakakian investigates liability personally and pushes back on unfair fault assignments. You have two years from the crash date to file a California personal injury claim, so act early. 

 

What Damages Can You Recover After a Los Angeles Vehicle Accident?

Most crash victims settle for far less than their claim is worth because they only count the bills in front of them. California law lets you recover three categories of damages after a car accident.

 

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover your direct financial losses. These include past and future medical bills, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, plus property damage and rental car costs.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages compensate for harm that has no receipt. You can recover for pain and suffering, emotional distress and anxiety, and the loss of enjoyment of life.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages punish reckless conduct like drunk driving, street racing, or a hit-and-run. Courts award them less often, but they add significant value when the at-fault driver acted with gross negligence.

 

Types of Vehicle Accident Cases Hakakian Law Group, PC  Handles

Hakakian Law Group, PC represents crash victims across every accident type in the Los Angeles area.

 

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end crashes are the most common in LA, and California law usually assigns fault to the rear driver.

 

T-Bone and Intersection Crashes

Intersection and T-bone crashes often produce contested fault and severe injuries, so early investigation decides the outcome.

 

Freeway and Highway Accidents

Freeway impacts happen at high speed and cause serious injuries, and multiple parties, including other drivers or CALTRANS, may share liability.

 

Rideshare Accidents (Uber/Lyft)

Uber and Lyft crashes involve overlapping rideshare, personal, and third-party policies, and Hakakian Law handles these multi-carrier claims.

 

Hit-and-Run Accidents

Hit-and-run victims may recover through Uninsured Motorist coverage, and a lawyer files the proper UM claim under California rules.

 

Drunk or Distracted Driver Accidents

Drunk or distracted driving can support punitive damages, and police reports and toxicology records become key evidence.

 

Why Hire Hakakian Law Group, PC for Your Los Angeles Vehicle Accident Case?

Shawn Hakakian works your case personally. You won't get handed to a junior associate or a paralegal, and you can reach your attorney directly throughout the process. He knows LA courts, local insurers, and how crashes unfold across the county.

Hakakian Law Group, PC works on contingency, so you pay nothing upfront and owe no fee unless you recover. Your first consultation is free. Shawn prepares every case as if it will go to trial, which gives you leverage when insurers try to lowball a settlement.

 

Summary: Your Los Angeles Vehicle Accident Legal Guide

 

 

Call Hakakian Law for a free consultation. No fee unless you win.

 

How We Built This Guide

We built this guide from California personal injury law, the insurer tactics used against unrepresented claimants, and the questions injured LA residents ask most. It reflects Hakakian Law's actual intake process and the current two-year statute of limitations and fault rules.

 

Frequently Asked Questions: Los Angeles Vehicle Accident Lawyer

What does a vehicle accident lawyer in Los Angeles do? A lawyer investigates your crash, handles insurer communications, and fights for maximum compensation through settlement or trial.

 

How much does it cost to hire Hakakian Law? The consultation is free, and the fee is contingency, so you pay nothing unless you win.

 

How long do I have to file a claim in California? You have two years from the crash date, though claims against government vehicles carry shorter deadlines.

 

What if I was partially at fault? California uses pure comparative fault, so you can still recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. 

 

What should I not say to the adjuster? Never admit fault, avoid recorded statements without a lawyer, and don't accept the first offer before legal review.

 

• After a car accident in Los Angeles, you have legal rights and a clear path to compensation.

• Hakakian Law works on contingency, so you pay no fee unless you win.

• Shawn Hakakian handles your case personally instead of passing it to junior staff.

• This guide covers what to do after a crash, California fault rules, recoverable damages, and how a lawyer helps.

 

Disclaimer: This post is considered attorney advertising and is for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.