Why Los Angeles Residents Trust Reardon Injury Law
A sudden, serious injury can turn your world upside down. One moment you are navigating your commute on the 101 or running errands on Sepulveda, and the next you are dealing with physical pain, emotional trauma, and the overwhelming stress of medical bills and lost income. In a city as vast and fast-paced as Los Angeles, it’s easy to feel lost and alone after an accident. We want you to know that you are not alone, and your pain is real and valid.
Reardon Injury Law was founded to provide compassionate and powerful legal representation to individuals across California, including the vibrant and complex communities of Los Angeles. Our founder, John Reardon, brings a perspective that few personal injury attorneys can offer. Before dedicating his career to law, he practiced as a chiropractor for 20 years. This extensive medical background means he understands the anatomy of an injury—not just the legal arguments. He can interpret your medical records, understand the long-term physical consequences of your accident, and advocate for the full scope of your recovery with unique authority.
We know Los Angeles. We understand the relentless stop-and-go on the 405, the dangers of navigating canyon roads, and the specific procedures for dealing with the LAPD or CHP after a crash. When it comes time to file a lawsuit, we are intimately familiar with the processes at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Downtown LA. This local knowledge, combined with our deep medical insight, allows us to build the strongest possible case for you while you focus on what matters most: healing.
Accident Hotspots in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a city defined by its car culture, and with millions of vehicles on the road every day, accidents are an unfortunate reality. While a collision can happen anywhere, certain areas pose a significantly higher risk due to traffic volume, complex designs, and driver behavior.
The infamous freeway interchanges are a primary source of high-speed collisions. The convergence of the I-405 (San Diego Freeway) and the I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway) is a notorious bottleneck where constant merging, lane changes, and congestion lead to devastating rear-end and side-swipe accidents, often involving large commercial vehicles. If you were hurt in a collision with a big rig, you may have a claim for a truck accidents case.
On the surface streets, several intersections are known for their danger:
- Highland Avenue & Hollywood Boulevard: This intersection is the heart of LA’s tourist district. The combination of heavy foot traffic, distracted drivers looking for landmarks, tour buses, and rideshare vehicles creates a perfect storm for serious pedestrian accidents.
- La Brea Avenue & Sunset Boulevard: A major crossroads connecting Hollywood and West Hollywood, this area is plagued by high traffic volume at all hours, complex turning lanes, and drivers rushing to and from nearby entertainment venues. T-bone and left-turn collisions are common here.
- Wilshire Boulevard & Santa Monica Boulevard: Where Beverly Hills meets Los Angeles, these two iconic boulevards cross in a wide, confusing intersection. The sheer number of lanes and high speed of traffic flow contribute to a high rate of severe car accidents.
Beyond specific intersections, long corridors like Lincoln Boulevard through Venice and Santa Monica, and Sepulveda Boulevard through the Valley and Westside, are known for a high frequency of accidents due to their length, numerous entry/exit points from businesses, and mix of local and commuter traffic.
Types of Cases We Handle in Los Angeles
At Reardon Injury Law, we have the experience and resources to handle a wide range of personal injury claims. Our deep understanding of both medicine and law gives our clients a distinct advantage. We frequently represent Angelenos who have been injured in:
- Car Accidents: From fender-benders on residential streets in the San Fernando Valley to multi-car pile-ups on the I-5, we handle all types of auto collisions.
- Motorcycle Accidents: With its year-round riding weather, LA has many motorcyclists. Unfortunately, riders are incredibly vulnerable on congested freeways and winding canyon roads. We fight to protect the rights of injured riders in motorcycle accidents.
- Truck Accidents: LA is a major logistics hub, and freeways like the I-710 and I-10 are packed with semi-trucks. Accidents involving these massive vehicles are often catastrophic.
- Rideshare Accidents: Uber and Lyft are an integral part of LA life. Accidents involving rideshare vehicles present complex insurance challenges, but our firm is experienced in navigating claims for rideshare accidents.
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents: As LA becomes more dense and encourages alternative transportation, the risk to cyclists and pedestrians increases. We are committed to securing justice for those injured in bicycle accidents and pedestrian incidents.
If you or a loved one has been injured through someone else’s negligence, please explore our full list of practice areas to see how we can help.
What to Do After an Accident in Los Angeles
The moments after an accident are chaotic and frightening. Taking the right steps can protect your health and your legal rights.
- Prioritize Safety: If possible, move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic, especially if you are on a busy freeway like the 110 or 405. Turn on your hazard lights. Check on yourself and your passengers.
- Call 911: Report the accident immediately. The dispatcher will send police and medical help. In Los Angeles, the responding agency will typically be the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for surface streets or the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for freeways and unincorporated areas.
- Seek Medical Attention: Accept paramedic assistance and go to the emergency room if recommended. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline can mask serious injuries. Getting evaluated at a top-tier trauma center like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, or LAC+USC Medical Center is critical for your health and creates a medical record of your injuries.
- Document the Scene: If you are able, use your phone to take pictures of vehicle damage, license plates, the positions of the cars, skid marks, and any relevant street signs or traffic signals. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Exchange Information: Exchange driver’s licenses, insurance information, and contact details with the other driver(s), but do not apologize or admit fault.
- Contact an Attorney: Before you speak to an insurance adjuster, call an experienced personal injury lawyer. The insurance company’s goal is to minimize their payout. Your attorney’s goal is to protect you and maximize your recovery.
Understanding Your Rights Under California Law
Navigating the legal system after an injury can be confusing. Here are a few key California laws that may impact your case:
- Pure Comparative Negligence: California law allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault, your final compensation award will be reduced by 20%. This rule prevents insurance companies from unfairly denying your entire claim just because you may share a small amount of blame.
- Statute of Limitations: In California, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). However, a crucial exception exists for claims against government entities (e.g., an accident involving a Metro bus, a City of LA vehicle, or a dangerous road condition). In these cases, you must file a formal claim with the government agency within six months. Missing this deadline can forever bar you from seeking compensation.
- Minimum Insurance Requirements: California’s mandatory minimum liability insurance is only $15,000 per person for bodily injury, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage. These low amounts are often completely inadequate to cover the costs of a serious injury. This is why having Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is so vital for your own protection.
An experienced attorney can help you pursue compensation for medical expenses (both past and future), lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, property damage, and non-economic damages like pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
Contact Reardon Injury Law Today
You do not have to face the aftermath of a serious accident alone. At Reardon Injury Law, we are ready to listen to your story, explain your rights, and provide the medically-informed legal guidance you deserve. We handle all cases on a contingency basis—you pay nothing unless we win.
Call us today at (657) 522-7122 or visit our contact page to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. Let us put our unique combination of medical and legal expertise to work for you.
