San Jose Car Accident Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in San Jose, you’re likely dealing with pain, medical bills, insurance calls, and uncertainty about what comes next. You don’t have to handle this alone. The Law Offices of Kenneth Chike Odiwe helps car accident victims throughout San Jose and the Bay Area recover the compensation they deserve. We handle the legal process so you can focus on healing.
Free consultation. No upfront fees. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Call us today or request a free case review.
What to Do After a Car Accident in San Jose
The moments and days after a collision can feel overwhelming. Here’s what matters most:
Get medical attention immediately – Even if you feel fine, some injuries don’t show symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor creates a medical record that documents your injuries and connects them to the accident.
Call the police – A police report provides an official record of what happened. Officers will document the scene, interview witnesses, and note important details you might miss.
Gather evidence at the scene – If you’re able, take photos of vehicle damage, the accident location, road conditions, traffic signals, and visible injuries. Get contact information from witnesses. Write down what you remember while it’s fresh.
Don’t admit fault – You may not know all the factors that caused the accident. California uses comparative fault rules, meaning responsibility can be shared. Let the investigation determine what happened.
Notify your insurance company – Report the accident, but be careful about giving recorded statements or accepting quick settlement offers before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
Avoid discussing the accident on social media – Insurance companies monitor online activity and may use your posts against your claim.
Talk to a car accident lawyer before signing anything – Insurance companies often contact victims quickly with settlement offers that seem convenient but rarely cover long-term medical needs or lost income.
The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better we can protect your rights and preserve evidence.
Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in San Jose, CA
The aftermath of a crash is overwhelming. You’re juggling hospital visits, car repairs, missed work, and calls from insurance adjusters who seem helpful but aren’t really on your side. Many people end up accepting low settlements simply because they don’t know the real value of their case. That’s where having car accident lawyers in San Jose, CA makes all the difference. Our team understands California’s personal injury laws and knows how San Jose courts handle accident claims. We gather strong medical evidence, document every detail, and make sure nothing is overlooked in your claim. With an experienced attorney by your side, you don’t just get legal guidance—you gain peace of mind knowing your future is being protected.
How Our San Jose Car Accident Lawyers Help
After an accident, insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to minimize what they pay. You deserve someone in your corner.
We investigate your accident thoroughly. Our team examines police reports, medical records, witness statements, and accident scene photos. When needed, we work with accident reconstruction experts to establish exactly how the collision occurred.
We gather the evidence that builds strong cases. This includes obtaining traffic camera footage, surveillance videos from nearby businesses, cell phone records in distracted driving cases, and toxicology reports in DUI accidents.
We handle all communication with insurance companies. You won’t have to worry about what to say or whether you’re being taken advantage of. We manage all calls, emails, and negotiations so you can focus on recovery.
We calculate the full value of your claim. Many accident victims don’t realize the true cost of their injuries until months later. We work with medical professionals to understand your future treatment needs, lost earning capacity, and long-term impacts on your quality of life.
We negotiate aggressively for fair compensation. Insurance companies know which law firms are willing to go to trial. We prepare every case as if it will go before a jury, which often leads to better settlement offers.
We take your case to court if necessary. While most car accident claims settle, we’re trial-ready when insurance companies refuse reasonable compensation. Our courtroom experience gives us leverage during negotiations.
Throughout this process, we keep you informed, answer your questions, and make sure you understand your options at every stage.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
California law allows car accident victims to recover several types of damages:
Medical expenses include emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, medical equipment, and future treatment costs. If your injuries require ongoing care, we fight for compensation that covers these long-term needs.
Lost income covers wages you’ve already missed due to injuries and recovery time. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or reduce your earning capacity, you may recover compensation for future lost earnings.
Pain and suffering recognizes the physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life caused by your injuries. California doesn’t cap these damages in most car accident cases.
Property damage covers repairs to your vehicle or its replacement value if totaled, as well as damage to personal belongings in the car.
Loss of consortium may apply if your injuries affected your relationship with your spouse.
Every case is different. The compensation you’re entitled to depends on the severity of your injuries, how they affect your daily life, the degree of fault, and the insurance coverage available. We evaluate these factors during your free consultation to give you an honest assessment of your case.
We never promise specific amounts or guaranteed outcomes. What we do promise is thorough preparation and determined advocacy for the maximum compensation available in your situation.
Why Insurance Companies Want to Settle Fast—and Cheap
Within days of a crash, adjusters often call with “friendly” settlement offers. It may feel like a lifeline when bills are piling up—but these quick offers almost never cover the true cost of recovery. Insurance companies don’t factor in future surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, or the emotional pain that comes with being injured. They want you to take less because it saves them money. Our lawyers know these tactics inside and out. We calculate every loss—past, present, and future—and fight back until you receive the full value of your case.
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
Car accidents happen in many ways throughout San Jose and surrounding areas. We represent clients injured in:
Rear-end collisions often occur on Highway 101, I-280, and busy intersections throughout downtown San Jose. These accidents frequently cause whiplash and back injuries, even at lower speeds.
Intersection accidents are common at San Jose’s complex intersections where drivers run red lights, fail to yield, or make unsafe left turns. T-bone collisions often result in serious injuries.
Highway and freeway accidents on routes like I-680, SR-85, and US-101 involve high speeds and can lead to catastrophic injuries or multi-vehicle pileups.
Distracted driving accidents caused by texting, phone calls, eating, or navigation systems continue to increase. California’s hands-free law prohibits handheld phone use, making violations clear evidence of negligence.
DUI accidents allow victims to pursue not only compensation but also punitive damages against intoxicated drivers who caused serious harm.
Hit-and-run accidents require specific legal strategies. We help identify uninsured motorist coverage and other compensation sources when the at-fault driver flees.
Uninsured and underinsured driver accidents are unfortunately common. We explore all available insurance policies, including your own uninsured motorist coverage, to maximize recovery.
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents involving cars often cause severe injuries. California law provides strong protections for vulnerable road users.
Rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers raise complex insurance questions. We navigate the multiple insurance layers these companies maintain.
We serve clients throughout San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Campbell, Los Gatos, and across Santa Clara County.
Common Injuries From Car Accidents
The force of a collision can cause injuries that affect every aspect of your life:
Whiplash and neck injuries occur when your head snaps forward and back suddenly. While some people recover within weeks, others experience chronic pain that affects sleep, work, and daily activities for months or years.
Back and spinal cord injuries range from herniated discs causing persistent pain to complete or partial paralysis in severe accidents. These injuries often require extensive treatment and may permanently change your ability to work or enjoy activities you once loved.
Broken bones and fractures can happen anywhere in your body during a collision. While some heal completely, others require surgery, metal plates or rods, and lengthy rehabilitation. Complications can include permanent mobility limitations.
Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries range from concussions to severe brain damage. Even “mild” concussions can cause memory problems, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and personality changes that last for months.
Soft tissue injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons may seem minor initially but often cause long-term pain and reduced range of motion that affects your ability to work or care for yourself.
Internal injuries to organs aren’t always immediately apparent but can be life-threatening without prompt treatment.
Psychological trauma including anxiety about driving, PTSD, depression, and sleep disturbances is real and compensable under California law.
The full impact of your injuries may not be clear for weeks or months. This is why we caution against accepting early settlement offers before you understand your prognosis and future needs.
Why Choose Our San Jose Car Accident Lawyers
We put clients first. You’re not a case number or a file. We take time to understand how your injuries have affected your life and what matters most to your recovery.
We communicate clearly. Legal processes can be confusing. We explain things in plain English, return calls promptly, and make sure you always know what’s happening with your case.
We know San Jose. Our familiarity with local courts, judges, opposing counsel, and insurance companies operating in Santa Clara County helps us navigate your case more effectively.
We’re experienced negotiators. Insurance companies recognize attorneys who are prepared and knowledgeable. Our track record often leads to fair settlements without the stress and delay of trial.
We’re ready for trial. When insurance companies won’t offer reasonable compensation, we don’t hesitate to take cases to court. Our litigation experience gives us credibility during negotiations.
We handle the details. From obtaining medical records to filing court documents on time, we manage every aspect of your case so you can focus on recovery.
We’re accessible. You can reach us by phone, email, or schedule a meeting at our office. We also offer remote consultations for clients who have difficulty traveling due to injuries.
Our approach is straightforward: thorough preparation, honest communication, and determined advocacy for the compensation you deserve.
Fees and Cost Transparency
We understand that financial stress often follows car accidents. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis.
You pay no upfront fees. There’s no cost to meet with us, discuss your case, or hire our firm.
We advance all case costs. Investigation expenses, expert fees, court filing costs, and medical record fees come from our firm initially. You don’t pay these out of pocket.
You pay only if we win. Our fee comes from the settlement or verdict we recover for you. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.
Our fee is a percentage of recovery. We’ll explain our fee structure clearly during your free consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
This arrangement aligns our interests with yours. The better we do for you, the better we do for ourselves. It also means anyone injured in a car accident can afford quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation.
There are no hidden fees or surprise bills. We provide complete transparency about costs from the beginning.
We value the trust our clients place in us and only share testimonials with permission. If you’d like to read more client experiences,
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Frequently Asked Questions
California’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. For property damage, you have three years. However, gathering evidence and building a strong case takes time. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
California follows “pure comparative negligence” rules. You can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault, you can recover 80% of your damages.
Your own uninsured motorist coverage may cover your injuries and damages. We review all available insurance policies to find compensation sources. California requires all drivers to carry insurance, but many don’t. Your policy’s uninsured motorist coverage exists for exactly this situation.
Most car accident cases settle within several months to a year. Cases involving severe injuries, disputed fault, or inadequate settlement offers may take longer. We never rush you to settle before you’ve reached maximum medical improvement and understand your long-term needs.
Early offers rarely reflect the true value of your claim. Insurance companies know that unrepresented accident victims often don’t understand what they’re entitled to. Before accepting any offer, speak with an attorney who can evaluate whether it’s fair.
Most car accident cases settle through negotiation, which is typically faster and less stressful than trial. However, if the insurance company won’t offer fair compensation, we file a lawsuit and take your case to court. Having attorneys willing to go to trial often results in better settlement offers.
Most clients never see the inside of a courtroom because cases settle. If your case does go to trial, we prepare you thoroughly for what to expect and stand beside you throughout the process.
The value depends on your specific injuries, medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, degree of fault, and available insurance coverage. We provide an honest assessment during your free consultation after reviewing the details of your accident.
Some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately. See a doctor even after minor accidents. If you did sustain injuries, you deserve compensation for medical bills, lost work time, and pain and suffering, regardless of whether the accident seemed “minor.”
Police reports are one piece of evidence, not the final word. Officers may not witness the accident or have all the facts. We investigate independently and may discover evidence that changes the fault determination.
Passengers can file claims against any at-fault driver, including the driver of the car they were riding in. Your relationship with the driver doesn’t affect your right to compensation.
You’re not legally required to hire an attorney, but insurance companies have lawyers protecting their interests. Having experienced legal representation levels the playing field and typically results in higher compensation than handling claims yourself
Bring any documents you have: police report, insurance information, medical records, photos of the accident, witness contact information, and documentation of lost wages. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything – we can obtain missing records.
Nothing. Your initial consultation is completely free, and there’s no obligation to hire us.
We represent clients throughout the Bay Area and California. The accident location matters for legal purposes, but we can work with you regardless of where you live.
Serving Car Accident Victims Throughout San Jose and the Bay Area
Our office is located in San Jose, and we’re deeply familiar with the roads, intersections, and highways where accidents commonly occur throughout Santa Clara County.
We represent clients in San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, and surrounding communities.
Whether you prefer to meet at our office or need a remote consultation due to injuries or distance, we’re here to help.
Get the Help You Deserve After a Car Accident
You’re dealing with injuries, medical appointments, insurance calls, and maybe missing work. The legal process shouldn’t add to your stress.
We handle car accident cases so you can focus on healing. Our job is to investigate what happened, deal with insurance companies, calculate fair compensation, and fight for the recovery you deserve.
Your consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Call us today or fill out our contact form to speak with an experienced San Jose car accident lawyer. You don’t have to face this alone.