California Sideswipe Accident Lawyers

A sideswipe comes as a complete shock for an unsuspecting victim. You’re simply driving along in traffic when another vehicle slides into the side of your car and sets off a terrifying traffic collision.

Sideswipe auto accidents range from minor bumps with minimal damage to severe crashes that involve complex chain-reaction collisions. On a busy California freeway, a sideswipe can lead to a major multi-vehicle collision that leaves people seriously injured and closes the freeway.

Did someone sideswipe you in traffic and hurt you? Stand up for your rights and seek the compensation you deserve.

Severe sideswipes are somewhat rare, but they’re life-changing for injured victims. California has about 190,000 fatal and injury-causing crashes every year and about 2.7% of sideswipes are fatal. A much larger percentage of these crashes involve surviving injured people who need accident compensation from the drivers who hurt them.

In a situation like this, you’ll need the experienced car accident team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers to help you pursue the level of accident compensation you deserve for a full recovery. A sideswipe accident claim helps cover your medical bills and much more.

Your california sideswipe accident lawyer helps you pursue the maximum possible value of your claim, probably without ever going to court. To learn more, ask for a free case evaluation from our legal team and read the information below about sideswipe accident claims.

Important Things to Do After a Sideswipe Accident

Many people don’t realize that accident compensation isn’t automatic after a California sideswipe. As an injured victim, it’s your burden to fight for the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

Your next steps after a car crash will strongly impact whether you can successfully claim accident compensation. Below are some of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and preserve the value of your accident claim.

Your Medical Treatment and Bills

Sideswipes often send injured victims to one of our many major hospitals in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other California cities. Whether you travel by ambulance to a hospital immediately or drive yourself to the doctor later, seek urgent medical care and save your bills.

Most accident claims are built based on medical bills because they prove a connection to your sideswipe accident and establish the basics of your injuries. These bills, along with other evidence like the police report and witness statements, will help support your case.

Never delay seeking medical assistance because it could harm your accident claim. Follow your doctor’s orders and make your health a priority after the sideswipe accident.

How to Gather Additional Evidence

It’s essential to be proactive about gathering car accident evidence regarding your sideswipe accident. Your lawyer can help guide this process. Take photos and videos showing your car damage, any nearby debris, road signs in the area, skid marks from the crash, and so forth.

In California, it’s expected that drivers in accidents will exchange basic contact and insurance information, plus interact with the police at the scene of the accident. Afterward, you should contact the police department to obtain a copy of the police report.

Photos and videos of your injuries will also be key to your case, so take them as soon as possible after the crash. Include any bandages or scarring you may have, plus the treatment the doctor has recommended. Keep a journal that documents your emotional injuries and how much the accident is changing your life.

Minimize Your Statements About the Sideswipe

The insurance company will likely contact you soon after your accident, eager to settle your claim with a lowball offer. Beware of accepting an offer too quickly before you speak to a sideswipe accident attorneys. The first offer is rarely adequate.

Insurance companies use victims’ own words against them to minimize payouts. This is why lawyers often caution their clients about the following issues.

Don’t allow anyone to take a recording of your conversation without your permission, which is your right under California law.
Don’t give out your social security number or other personal details and data until you talk to a lawyer about whether it’s in your best interests.
Avoid using social media to discuss your sideswipe accident because even an innocent comment can be twisted to mean something else you didn’t intend.
Be aware that insurance companies look through the internet for things like photos, social media posts, comments, and other things they can use against you.

Why Do Sideswipes Happen in California?

A free case evaluation could help you understand the details of your sideswipe accident and clarify your legal options. In a more general sense, sideswipes happen for many reasons which are outlined below.

Unsafe Lane Changes

When someone fails to signal or check their blind spot before changing lanes, they can easily sideswipe another car in the blink of an eye. Someone who makes an unsafe lane change can be held responsible for a California sideswipe accident.

Merging Errors

One of the most common spots for sideswipes is at merge points on and off California freeways. As cars come together in merge lanes, some drivers fail to make the merge successfully and sideswipe other vehicles.

Hitting Parked Cars

Wherever there are parked cars along the side of the street, there’s a risk of sideswipes. A passing vehicle might veer slightly and sideswipe a single vehicle or even a whole line of parked cars. These accidents are particularly common on the congested streets of San Francisco and Los Angeles, but they can happen anywhere.

Speeding

Was someone speeding when they sideswiped you? Speeding reduces a driver’s available reaction time, meaning it’s much more difficult for them to avoid an impending accident. Speeding is such a problem, it’s a factor in one-third of all fatal crashes.

Road Markings

Sometimes a driver is confused about road signs and markings, which leads them to sideswipe another vehicle. This can happen in construction zones, where signs can be unexpected and hard to see. It can also happen anywhere there are poorly-marked lane changes or poorly-lit roadways.

Debris and Damage

Debris in the roadway can cause a driver to swerve suddenly and hit another car. Similarly, damage to the roadway like potholes and loose pavement creates a risk of erratic movements that set off sideswipe collisions.

Weather Conditions

California drivers are expected to adapt to changing road conditions, so it’s rare for someone to completely avoid responsibility for a sideswipe by blaming bad weather. However, the weather conditions could be factored into your overall case.

Intoxicated Driving

Drunk/drugged driving is illegal in California when someone is too intoxicated to drive safely. Unfortunately, about 50% of all California drivers killed in road collisions test positive for intoxicating substances. If you suspect intoxicated driving played a role in your sideswipe crash, share your concerns with your lawyer for further investigation.

Distracted Driving

Sideswipes and distracted driving are closely linked. When someone is distracted, they’re more likely to weave and swerve into other vehicles. The CDC reports that more than 2,800 deaths and 400,000 injuries are due to distracted driving from smartphones, food, music, navigation apps, passengers, and other distractions.

Equipment Failures

An unexpected equipment failure can cause a sideswipe accident. Here in California, commercial truck equipment failures are all too common. If a big rig sideswipes another vehicle, the results are likely catastrophic and could involve severe injuries. Luckily, trucking companies are required to keep detailed maintenance and driving logs that could help your case.

Common Sideswipe Accident Injuries

Below are some of the most common injuries from sideswipe accidents.

Bruises and skin damage
Broken bones
Damage to the teeth/mouth
Eye socket damage
Arm injuries
Whiplash
Neck and shoulder injuries
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Torn muscles and ligaments
Back and spinal cord injuries
Internal bleeding/organ damage
Nerve damage
Crushing injuries
Numbness and tingling
Burns and scalds
Paralysis
Chronic pain
Emotional damage

How Insurance Works After a California Sideswipe Crash

Contact Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free online evaluation of your case and an explanation about how insurance could factor into your potential compensation. Below, we’ll outline how insurance typically works in the average sideswipe accident.

Some sideswipe accidents are serious enough to involve the police/medical responders, and some aren’t. Here, we’ll focus on sideswipes that are severe enough to require urgent medical treatment and police response.

Beyond the police investigation, there will be another investigation into your accident regarding insurance and your accident compensation claim. This is conducted by the insurance company, plus your accident lawyer will be investigating your accident separately to support your side of the case.

Eventually, the insurance company will make you some type of offer. It will likely be a low offer to see if you’ll accept. A good car accident lawyer will negotiate back and forth with the insurance company, providing strong evidence that you deserve much higher compensation.

The result depends on your situation and what types of evidence you can present. Most sideswipe accident cases can be resolved through careful negotiation with the insurance company for an out-of-court settlement. In the rare instance that your case must go to court, Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers represents you with boldness and professionalism.

Assigning Fault in California Sideswipe Accidents

Accident victims are often curious about how fault will be assigned for a sideswipe and what to do if they feel partially to blame for the accident. Here are some things you should know about assigning fault and legal liability in California.

California uses the comparative fault rule for car accidents. This means the total liability is divided by percentage and each person in an accident takes a percentage of the blame. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, so you could be 0% to blame, 100% to blame, or anywhere in-between. Shared fault is quite common.

There could also be a California legal concept that shields you from blame completely and puts 100% of the blame on the other person. For example, California’s emergency doctrine releases people from liability when they are confronted by a danger they didn’t create, like another car swerving into them. Your lawyer can advise you on whether this doctrine applies to your case.

For sideswipes, it’s common to have multiple parties involved when the accident happens on a busy road or freeway. When there are multiple parties involved in your sideswipe accident, all will be assigned a proportion of liability up to a total amount of 100%. It’s a complicated situation, but your lawyer can help you sort through it all.

If you were partially at fault for the accident, this doesn’t automatically prevent you from claiming any accident compensation. Partial fault will reduce the award you might receive, but your total compensation could still be plenty to cover your medical bills and other losses.

Your sideswipe accident case could involve many factors, including:

Applicable federal, state, and local laws
Where and when the accident occurred
The weather and road conditions
Testimony from other drivers and witnesses
Expert testimony from crash investigators
Relevant property damage to each vehicle
Any drunk, drugged, or distracted driving
Any available video/dashcam footage
The police report

Your sideswipe accident might involve many other parties with surprising connections to your accident. For example, what if the other driver was working for the federal government at the time of the accident? Or what if they were driving for a commercial trucking company, a delivery company, or Uber? Your lawyer can help you understand how these issues could impact your case.

The Deadline for Starting a Sideswipe Accident Claim

Don’t wait too long to start your accident claim. Under California’s statute of limitations, there’s a strict deadline for filing these claims. You must start your case well before the maximum limit of two years of the date of the freeway or interstate accident.

The deadline might even be much shorter if a city, county, or state agency is involved. Generally, this deadline is just six months from the date of the accident and the clock starts counting down from the time of your accident.

Select the Right Sideswipe Accident Lawyer

This is a stressful time in your life that could impact your family’s future. If you’re uncertain about your next move, it’s worth your time to explore your legal options and at least try a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer from our experienced and caring team.

We take a personal interest in each person who becomes our client. We’ll work diligently to pursue the full value of your claim, including your medical bills, emotional damage, lost earnings, and the full impact of the accident on your suffering family. We’re here to stand up for your rights, so please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your sideswipe accident.

We Handle Your Sideswipe Accident Claim So You Can Focus on Your Life

If someone sideswipes you and hurts you in California, please contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many areas of the law, including sideswipe accidents. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering while we handle the legal details.

We care about helping California’s injured people. Contact us today for a free online case evaluation or call 877-380-8852.

Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers

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Karen johnson

2 years ago

When I got into my accident I was really not looking for an attorney, however I became frustrated with the other parties insurance company. I then went online and found Sally Morin Law and called for a free courtesy consult. Annie quickly called me back and spent 30 minutes explaining the attorney process. This made my decision easy,,, an All female attorney group certainly did not disappoint. Annie and her team (Amber) were on the case immediately, making calls, sending emails and dealing with the other party insured (or lack of insured). I’m so pleased to have had this incredible team of ladies to help me through this process. They did all their professional expertise, none of which I was capable of. They advocated for me in every way from medical bills, insurance liens, med pay, demand letters, phone calls, emails etc. All I needed to do was send receipts, and most importantly focus on getting better. Thank u team for all u have done. I am grateful for so much,,, and I can say that making that first phone call was the best decision. Keep up the great work and helping others Sincerely KJJ

Michael Basti

2 years ago

I unfortunately got injured in an auto accident and called a bunch of different attorneys with little to no help. I called Sally Morin Law and got help from Rebecca who was absolutely fantastic. She was there every step of the way to help and Isn’t just trying to make a quick buck. She took her time with me and went out of her way to help out. Thanks for all the help Rebecca!!

Reba Roseberry

2 years ago

I was t-boned by someone who ran a red light, totaling my car and sending me to the hospital with multiple breaks to my pelvis, among other smaller injuries. Once released from the hospital, I was confused, angry, and extremely anxious about what to do next. A friend encouraged me to seek legal help, and I found the team at Sally Morin. I was drawn to their all-women team, and immediately felt assured that I was in good hands. They took the reigns on handling everything, leaving me significantly more relieved to rest and heal like my body needed. With their help, the case was settled within four months of the accident, and I can now move forward with my life and leave this behind me. I would absolutely recommend the team at Sally Morin to anyone in a similar situation!

John Zientek

2 years ago

I was injured while riding my bicycle and a friend recommended Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. In my experience, they made the process transparent and smooth, allowing me to focus on recovery — they were professional, empathetic, and effective! Rebecca and Carmen made a difficult time much less stressful.

Jimmy Lu

2 years ago

My mom was in a car accident and was badly injured. We wanted her to focus on her recovery without the worries of medical bills and dealing with multiple insurance companies so we hired Sally Morin Lawyers. Fortunately we received Annie Heller who showed strong ownership of the case, dealing with all communications from medical to slow moving insurance companies. Annie and team helped us settle the case with money in my mom’s pocket, but more importantly helped all of us not worry about anything besides my mom’s recovery. thank you!

Shannon Yu

2 years ago

Carmen and team at Sally Morin are the best. Having Carmen and her team for my personal injury case is one of the lucky thing for me in 2024 Carmen is a very capable law professional. she is expert in her domain, also she is very skillful in finding the key information. Carmen is also a compassionate and kind person, she listened and also put my interests in priority. At the same time she patiently explained to me the law information. Carmen is also very good with execution, the whole process she is proactively driving it towards the satisfactory result What more can you ask for a lawyer who is capable, professional, kind, effective and efficient.

Dee49ful

2 years ago

I was very fortunate that, by pure luck, I found Sally Morin’s firm online. It wasn’t recommended to me by anyone, but I now want to recommend them to EVERYONE, especially my fantastic attorney, Annie Heller. Annie was compassionate, honest, attentive, and responsive to my calls and emails. Throughout the entire process of my claim, I felt completely supported by her, and even after my case was successfully settled, she followed up with me. Thank you Annie, for your exceptional legal service!!

Lew Jabro (Havasu Lew)

3 years ago

Amazing! After months and months of going it alone and getting nowhere with our sons accident, and struggling...badly, we were lucky enough to get refered to Sally and Rebecca. They took over the whole case and handled everything. The whole team was very personable, professional, keeped us in the loop the entire time and cared about what was going on. They also set us up with all the right people to make sure the settlement funds were properly handled in the most efficient way for us. I just dont think we could have done all of this without them. It was a terrible time for our family, and we are very gratefull for everything they did for us! Thank you guys! ~HavasuLew

Kyle Osborn

3 years ago

Rebecca and the Sally Morin team provided invaluable support during a challenging period after our daughter was involved in a car accident. Their care, expertise, and dedication resulted in an outcome that exceeded our highest expectations. Working with them was a great experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone, without hesitation!

Alysia Lyons

3 years ago

I worked with Annie on my case and had such a pleasant experience! I felt supported and understood throughout the whole process. I highly recommend Sally Morin firm. Being injured isn't pleasant, so having a team behind you that's got your back makes the experience that much better.

Ariana D

3 years ago

I just spent the last 8 months working with a team of caring, compassionate, relatable women for my personal injury claim. Brief background: I was hit by a car while riding my bike to work. The driver pulled out of a parallel parking space without looking and was completely at fault. Initially, he and the others in the car were very concerned, but ghosted us afterwards and made up a story in order to not take on the blame. I ended up needing surgery and costs mounted, so I sought legal advice. After much research, I settled on Sally Morin Law. The team at this law firm is invested and responsive in a very personable way. I specifically worked with Carmen and Annie. Carmen took the lead and she answered every email, text, and annoying question my husband and I sent her way. She wrote a detailed demand letter that personalized my case and thoroughly explained the impact the accident had on my life, my children's lives, and my husband's life. In the end, our own insurance policy covered the claim to the fullest amount. Additionally, Carmen was able to negotiate the medical lien to $0, and my husband received a separate smaller amount for loss of consortium. We are more than happy with the results as it’s way beyond what we expected, and completely life changing. We didn't proceed with the case thinking we would have the outcome we did, and almost didn't pursue the case. However, after spending my own money on copays, days off from work, take out, uber rides, babysitters, and special equipment, it just didn't feel right not to seek help and I am so glad that I did! I highly recommend Sally Morin Law!

Simon Unge

3 years ago

Last year me and my partner was in a MC/Car accident. I was clueless on what rights we had and how to proceed with insurance claims etc. I contacted Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, who guided us through the year long process in a very pedagogical manner, a lot of support, expertise and professionalism - answering any questions we had in a timely manner. Highly recommended, they made a painful experience very manageable. Thank you, Rebecca, Carmen, and Amber!

    
 
 
       Posted on Yelp  
   
   Amy R. 
 
 
 
 Verified I can't recommend Rebecca at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers more highly. Rebecca is transparent, honest, and client-centered in a way that was completely different from the other firms I considered. Rebecca broke down what can feel like a very opaque process, and helped me understand my options in an approachable way. It was immediately clear that Rebecca's advice and guidance centered around my personal best interest, not what would make her firm the most money. Thanks Rebecca and team!
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Mike B. 
 
 
 
 Verified I unfortunately got injured in an auto accident and called a bunch of different attorneys with little to no help. I called Sally Morin Law and got help from Rebecca who was absolutely fantastic. She was there every step of the way to help and Isn't just trying to make a quick buck. She took her time with me and went out of her way to help out. Thanks for all the help Rebecca!!
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Shannon Y. 
 
 
 
 Verified Carmen and team at Sally Morin are the best. Having Carmen and her team for my personal injury case is one of the lucky thing for me in 2024
Carmen is a very capable law professional. she is expert in her domain, also she is very skillful in finding the key information. 
Carmen is also a compassionate and kind person, she listened and also put my interests in priority. At the same time she patiently explained to me the law information.
Carmen is also very good with execution, the whole process she is proactively driving it towards the satisfactory result

What more can you ask for a lawyer who is capable, professional, kind, effective and efficient.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Dinora G. 
 
 
 
 Verified I was very fortunate, and  by pure luck, I found Sally Morin's firm on YELP.  The firm wasn't recommended to me by anyone, but I now want to recommend them to EVERYONE, especially my fantastic attorney, Annie Heller.  Annie was compassionate, honest, attentive and very responsive to my calls and emails. Throughout the entire process of my claim, I felt completely supported and even after my case successfully settled, she followed up with me. Thank you Annie for your exceptional legal service.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Phil M. 
 
 
 
 Verified Rebecca and the team at Sally Morin are awesome, plain and simple! Honestly, they were the only legal representation that didn't make me feel slimy after the first conversation. I was thrilled to work with them on my injury case after realizing it was more than I could handle dealing directly with the other party's insurance myself. They advocated for me and my family, going into incredible detail and crafting a great strategy for what to do next. The end result was a pleasant surprise, far exceeding my expectations.

Rebecca and the team definitely earn their share by providing amazing value. They're also no-pressure, which was refreshing compared to other lawyers I contacted before choosing Sally Morin. Their priority was making sure I was always informed and knew exactly what was going on, every step of the way.

If something happens again, Rebecca and Sally Morin will be my first call--and I'm sure there will be a multitude of emails to follow! :P
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Steve M. 
 
 
 
 Verified Attorneys Annie Levitt Heller and Carmen from Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers are the absolute best! They are dedicated, approachable and thorough in all their work. They provided the best possible outcome for my case (I was a pedestrian hit by a car in a crosswalk) and supportive every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers to anyone Forever grateful to them!
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   James Minh N. 
 
 
 
 Verified My sister got in a car accident, was hit badly by another driver, became unconscious, and was immediately taken to hospital emergency with an internal brain bleeding thus could not defend herself. As a result, the police report had false information from the other driver and concluded my sister at fault. While other legal firms purposed disappeared after seeing at the police report and other driver's cheap insurance policy (not easy win), Sally Morin team with great heart and "no win, no pay" written clause took on the case and successfully reversed both insurance + police reports and won the case. My family is grateful to find Sally Morin firm and great team with legal expertise, experience, and most important great heart. Thank you very much.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Tim K. 
 
 
 
 Verified Unfortunately me and my mom were hit by another driver on the freeway. We ended up with hospital bills and a long road to recovery especially for my 85 yr old mother. This was such a tragedy and uncertain times for us not knowing where to turn and what to do about mounting bills while trying to get our lives in order. I contacted Sally and her wonderful team. Carmen one of her associates worked with me and my mom and handled everything. Carmen was awesome and such a caring lawyer as well. She keeps
It real and we loved that about her. When you need a personal injury attorney that will work on handling your case in every aspect, insurance claims, potential health liens and negotiating on your behalf then Sally Morin Personal Injury law firm is the one to contact. You can count on them. Carmen explained everything so we knew what we were in for and was trustworthy and honest. There is no way to state how invaluable and priceless it is knowing the law firm you hired has your back and can be trusted. I hope no one ever needs a personal Injury attorney because being injured is one of the worst things that can happen to you; your life changes in an instant after a bad accident. But having a law firm like Sally Morin with lawyers like Carmen make that terrible experience much better knowing they are there to handle every aspect of your case and do it so well. Thanks Carmen and team. Much appreciated!
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Stephan B. 
 
 
 
 Verified I originally reached out to a different law firm to handle my personal injury case, but Sally Morin's team (Rebecca Taylor in particular) left such a good impression on me that I switched to them--and I'm glad I did! They were empathetic and professional, communicated early and often, and patiently walked me through every option. They did thorough research and handled so much on their end that I was able to focus on my recovery/work/life with minimal disruption. So I highly recommend this firm.
  
 
      Posted on Yelp  
   
   Michele H. 
 
 
 
 Verified Word cannot express the honesty from Annie at Sally Morin law . She is honest kind and to the point . If you want to get ripped off by shady humans don't hire Annie . If you want honest kind and attentive go with Annie at Sally Morin law . You will feel good about your choice  . She is a firm advocate with insurance and health care .  Annie and her team will be available to explain things all the way through . Her integrity is not matched in this field . I would hire again and again 
Thanks Annie   You made one of the most difficult times in my families life tolerable !  
Your kindness and integrity are not matched in everyday life . Much less with  personal injury lawyers thank you thank you 
Michele Hargrove