Personal Injury Lawyer in Fresno, California

Why Fresno Residents Trust Reardon Injury Law

A sudden accident on a busy Fresno road like SR-99 or a chaotic intersection on Blackstone Avenue can change your life in an instant. In one moment, you are commuting to work or running errands; in the next, you are dealing with physical pain, emotional trauma, and the overwhelming stress of medical bills and lost income. We understand that the aftermath of an injury is a confusing and difficult time. Your focus should be on healing, not on fighting with insurance companies who are trained to minimize your claim.

At Reardon Injury Law, we provide compassionate and authoritative legal guidance to accident victims throughout California, including the Fresno community. We believe that to effectively represent you, we must first understand the full impact of your injuries. This is where our firm offers a unique and powerful advantage. Our founding attorney, John Reardon, practiced as a chiropractor for 20 years before becoming a lawyer. This extensive medical background gives him an unparalleled insight into the complexities of personal injuries, from whiplash and soft tissue damage to catastrophic spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. He can decipher medical records, understand long-term prognoses, and effectively communicate the true extent of your suffering to insurance adjusters, judges, and juries.

We are dedicated to leveling the playing field for our clients. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay absolutely no attorney’s fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is always free, providing you with a no-risk opportunity to understand your legal rights and options.

Accident Hotspots in Fresno

With a population of over half a million people and major arteries like SR-41 and SR-180 crisscrossing the city, Fresno’s roads can be hazardous. Data shows that Fresno County has a high rate of fatal and serious injuries from red-light running, and major arterial roads account for the vast majority of crashes. Drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians must be especially cautious at several known high-risk locations.

Some of the most dangerous intersections and roadways in Fresno include:

• Friant Road & Shepherd Avenue: Widely considered Fresno’s most dangerous intersection, this area has been nicknamed “Death Row” due to its high number of collisions. The combination of high speeds on wide lanes and difficult left turns makes it a frequent site for serious car accidents.
• Blackstone Avenue Corridor: This major commercial artery is home to several dangerous intersections.
• Blackstone & Herndon Avenue: Located in a bustling shopping district, this intersection sees heavy traffic, frequent turning maneuvers, and significant interaction between vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
• Blackstone & Ashlan Avenue: Heavy commuter traffic and proximity to schools increase the risk of pedestrian accidents and collisions, particularly during peak hours.
• Blackstone & Shaw/Dakota Avenues: Congestion, constant entry and exit from commercial driveways, and poor signal timing contribute to a high number of serious injury crashes along these stretches.

Accidents on these roads and other major routes like SR-99, with its heavy flow of commercial trucks, often result in devastating consequences. If you were injured in one of these hotspots, you are not alone.

Types of Cases We Handle in Fresno

Our firm has the experience and resources to handle a wide range of personal injury claims. We are prepared to advocate for Fresno residents who have been harmed by another’s negligence in cases involving:

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Rideshare Accidents (Uber & Lyft)
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Wrongful Death

Given the traffic patterns in the Central Valley, we frequently represent clients injured in high-speed freeway collisions and complex truck accidents on SR-99. We also see a significant number of vulnerable road user cases, fighting for the rights of victims in bicycle accidents and pedestrian incidents on busy streets like Blackstone and Shaw. For a complete overview of our services, please see our practice areas page.

What to Do After an Accident in Fresno

The steps you take immediately following an accident are critical for protecting your health and your legal rights.

1. Ensure Your Safety: If possible, move your vehicle to the side of the road to avoid further collisions. Turn on your hazard lights.
2. Call 911: Report the accident to emergency services. The Fresno Police Department will likely respond to crashes on city streets, while the California Highway Patrol (CHP) handles incidents on freeways like SR-41 and SR-99. An official police report is a vital piece of evidence.
3. Seek Medical Attention: Your health is the top priority. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline can mask serious injuries. It is crucial to be evaluated by a medical professional at a local hospital like Community Regional Medical Center, Saint Agnes Medical Center, or Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center. This creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident.
4. Document the Scene: If you are able, use your phone to take pictures and videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and your visible injuries.
5. Gather Information: Politely collect the names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, and insurance details from all other parties involved. Also, get contact information for any witnesses. Do not admit fault or apologize.
6. Contact an Attorney: Before you speak with an insurance adjuster—even your own—it is wise to consult with a personal injury lawyer. The insurance company’s goal is to pay as little as possible. An attorney’s job is to protect your rights and ensure you are fairly compensated.

Understanding Your Rights Under California Law

Navigating a personal injury claim requires an understanding of California’s specific laws. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process, but here are some key principles that may apply to your Fresno injury case.

• Pure Comparative Negligence: California follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. Your total compensation will simply be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault, you can still collect 80% of the total damages.
• Statute of Limitations: There is a strict time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. However, a critical exception applies if your claim is against a government entity (e.g., a city bus, a poorly maintained public road). In these cases, you must file a formal claim with the government agency within just six months of the incident. Missing this deadline can permanently bar you from seeking compensation.
• California’s Minimum Insurance: The state’s minimum liability insurance requirements are just $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $5,000 for property damage. In any serious accident, these amounts are often woefully inadequate to cover medical bills and other losses. We can help you explore all avenues for recovery, including your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage.
• Recoverable Damages: A successful personal injury claim can provide compensation for economic and non-economic losses, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering.

All civil personal injury lawsuits for incidents occurring in Fresno are filed at the Fresno County Superior Court - B.F. Sisk Courthouse. Our firm is prepared to litigate your case there if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

Contact Reardon Injury Law Today

You do not have to face the aftermath of a serious injury alone. Let us put our unique combination of medical and legal expertise to work for you. Reardon Injury Law is here to listen to your story, answer your questions, and provide the dedicated advocacy you need to secure justice and rebuild your life.

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, there is never a fee unless we win. Call us today at (657) 522-7122 or visit our contact page to send us a message and get started.