Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Berkeley, CA
Living in Berkeley
There’s simply no place else like Berkeley, California! Famous for its quirky and laid-back style, Berkeley has a wide range of thriving small businesses, shops, and restaurants. It also has California’s oldest college campus in the University of California system — UC-Berkeley.
Berkeley offers a unique blend of eccentricity, economic opportunity, and breathtaking outdoor beauty. It has a full time population of about 121,200 people plus tens of thousands of annual tourists. Although the cost of living is high here, you’ll see plenty of people dressed casually, enjoying simple pleasures, and just reveling in the very best lifestyle California has to offer.
Berkeley’s Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections
Berkeley can be a dangerous place to drive, particularly around certain intersections and roads with higher than average rates of accidents. As auto accident lawyers, we see lots of accidents in the following areas.
- Downtown Berkeley
- The Channing Corridor
- Addison and Sacramento
- Allston and McKinley
- Ashby Avenue
- Ashby Tunnel and Alvarado
- Cedar and Oxford
- Claremont and Ashby
- College and Ashby
- Gilman and 6th
- Hearst and Leroy
- Martin Luther King Jr. Way
- Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Ashby
- San Pablo and Ashby
- San Pablo and Bancroft
- San Pablo and University
- San Pablo Avenue
- Shasta and Queens
- Telegraph Avenue
- University Avenue
Traffic Accidents In Berkeley
Berkeley Minivan vs. Motorcycle Crash
On a December morning just before 7 a.m., a minivan collided with a motorcycle in Berkeley, California. Although the roadway was dry, it was a foggy morning and it was still dark out according to the responding police officer.
The collision took place at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Derby Street, which is one of Berkeley’s most dangerous intersections. Although it’s usually a busy area, the officer reported minimal vehicle traffic at the time of the early morning accident.
The minivan, a 2001 Honda Odyssey, was traveling south on Telegraph Avenue and the motorcycle, a 2014 Harley-Davidson, was traveling north on the same street. The driver of the Odyssey told the officer she had the green light, slowed down to make a left turn onto Derby Street, and did not see or hear the motorcycle coming.
The Harley-Davidson rider said he had the green light and was traveling straight on Telegraph when he saw that the Odyssey was suddenly making a left turn in front of him. He couldn’t stop in time and locked his brakes, so the crash was unavoidable.
The officer concluded that the Odyssey minivan driver caused the collision and should be cited for a violation under California Vehicle Code 21801(b), failure to properly yield the right of way. The motorcyclist complained of lower middle back pain as a result of the accident.
Here at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve seen all kinds of motorcycle accidents and vehicle accidents across California. If you’ve been injured, talk to us about seeking high-dollar compensation from the negligent driver who hurt you.
We’re here for you! Contact us for a free consultation about your crash case.
Which Types of Berkeley Cases Do You Handle?
Here at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we help people in the Berkeley area with legal assistance with many types of personal injuries cases involving road accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death and more. Wondering if we’re the right lawyers for you? Here’s a look at what we do.
Berkeley is a great city for pedestrians, but beware of nearby motorists and cyclists. After a pedestrian injury, we can help you gather the evidence you need to make a persuasive insurance claim, negotiate a settlement, and hold the right person accountable.
Are you a Berkeley bicyclist? Many of us at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers are avid cyclists. If you’re severely injured in a cycling accident, we can help you start a bicycle accident claim for full and fair compensation.
After a Berkeley motorcycle accident, we can help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost work, damage to your bike, and more. With motorcycle accident cases, our law office has a long track record of positive results for our clients.
Uber customers, you can hold the driver and/or company responsible for accidents! If an Uber driver hurts you in the Berkeley area, or if you’re an Uber driver in an accident with other vehicles, reach out to our knowledgeable and compassionate accident attorneys.
Whether you drive a car, pickup truck, van, SUV, or another type of vehicle, it’s likely that we can help you. We primarily handle severe accidents with serious injuries that occur on and near roadways, including commercial and delivery vehicles. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have many years of experience achieving successful verdicts and settlements in these cases.
What if I’m Not Sure Whether I Have a Case?
We get it — you’re waiting and wondering whether or not you have a case. Well, wonder no more! We can help you understand your options and decide how to move forward. When you are injured by another individual, corporation, or government entity, you are legally entitled to collect monetary compensation in an amount suitable to cover your expenses and damages.
Of course, your compensation is never guaranteed. You’ll have to make a strong case and stand up assertively when the other side puts up a fight. That’s why you need help from a personal injury lawyer who gets results!
Generally speaking, someone from Berkeley has three options after a personal injury:
- Start a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
- File a lawsuit in court.
- Negotiate a fair, private settlement out of court.
With the experience and wisdom of your personal injury lawyer, you can demonstrate the legitimacy of your injuries, show that someone was negligent, and request reimbursement for medical costs and other hardships. The team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers will help you stand up to difficult people and demand what you deserve.
We’re here to help you maximize your compensation by making a case for your financial losses and damages related to your injuries. Sure, it’s possible to do this without a lawyer’s help, but we don’t advise it. You’re already trying to rest and heal from your injuries, so a lawyer serves the vital role of moving your case forward so you can let go of all the legal stress. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.
What Kind of Compensation Could I Recover?
Your total compensation depends on the circumstances of your accident. In terms of what kind of compensation you could get, start by looking at how you’ve been hurt and what kinds of injuries required medical care. Most injury cases only cover two categories of damages if you can prove them.
- Special damages: Your special damages may include car loss, property damage, medical bills, and lost earnings.
- General damages: Your general damages are more abstract and may include pain, inconvenience, distress, loss of hobbies, and loss of a lifestyle with your loved ones.
Make sure you talk to your lawyer about the losses you suffered that are impacting your life. The better case you can put together and the more evidence you have, the better chance you have at receiving high-value compensation.
Nearest Berkeley Emergency Services and Local California Departments
In an emergency, call 911.
Police
Berkeley Police – (510) 981-5900
Fire
Berkeley Fire Department – (510) 981-3473
Hospital
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Berkeley – (510) 981-3473
Courts
Superior Court of California, Los Angeles
Courts of Los Angeles County
Contact Us in Berkeley
At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we truly care about the people of Berkeley and California. We’re here to help you! We believe you should be able to rest and recover while we handle the legal details.
Contact us today for a free online case evaluation or call 877-380-8852.