You focus on getting better. We’ll deal with the insurance company.
After a crash, the calls start fast: the other driver’s insurer wants a recorded statement, the body shop needs approval, and the medical bills keep coming. Attorney Brent W. Caldwell has handled injury claims for more than 20 years, and he spent years on the insurance side before that. He knows how adjusters value a claim and how to push back when an offer is too low.
Tell us what happened. We’ll explain your options and what your next step should be.
A car crash in Orange County rarely ends at the scene. There are ER visits and follow-up appointments, a car in the shop or written off, missed work, and an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company calling to ask for a recorded statement. The Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell represents people hurt in car crashes across Orange County, so you can focus on getting better while we deal with the insurance companies.
Brent Caldwell has been licensed in California since 2003. Before he represented injured people, he worked for insurance companies and large corporate defendants. He knows how adjusters value a car accident claim, which arguments they use to cut it down, and what it takes to move a low offer. He stays personally involved in his clients’ cases, and you can reach your attorney directly.
In 2023, 17,809 people were killed or injured in crashes in Orange County, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. That year the county also had 4,062 speed-related injury crashes, 1,771 people killed or injured in alcohol-involved crashes, and 1,286 hit-and-run injury crashes. Anaheim (2,135 victims) and Santa Ana (1,972) had the most victims of the cities reviewed. See our full Orange County car accident statistics.
Many of our cases start on the county’s freeways: the 405, the 5, the 55, the 22, the 91 and the 57. Others happen on busy surface streets like Beach Boulevard, Harbor Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, at intersections, and in parking lots.
We also represent pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists hit by cars.
California car accident claims are based on negligence: showing that another driver failed to drive with reasonable care and that it caused your injuries. We gather the police report, photos and video, witness statements, vehicle damage, and medical records, and where it matters, data from the vehicles and footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras. If more than one driver or a company is responsible, we pursue every source of insurance.
If you were partly at fault, you can still recover. California reduces your compensation by your share of fault rather than barring the claim. A car accident claim can include:
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more case results.
The consultation is free, and we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee. That means there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your written fee agreement explains exactly how fees and case costs work, so there are no surprises.
We represent people hurt in car crashes throughout the county. For local information, see our car accident pages for Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, Westminster.
In California, an injury claim from a car accident generally must be filed within two years of the crash, and a property damage claim within three. If a city, the county, the state or another public agency was involved, for example a government vehicle or a dangerous road, a written claim is usually due within six months. The exact deadline depends on the facts. See California personal injury deadlines.
Do I need a lawyer after a minor car accident?
Not always. If no one was hurt and the damage is small, you can often handle it yourself. If you were injured, are still treating, or the insurer disputes fault, a free consultation will tell you whether a lawyer is worth it.
How much is my car accident case worth?
It depends on your injuries, medical bills, lost income, how the crash affects your life, and the insurance available. No honest lawyer can give you a number at the first meeting. We can explain what drives the value of your claim.
Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?
Be careful. First offers often come before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you settle, you can’t reopen the claim.
What if the other driver has no insurance or drove off?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay for your injuries. We handle these claims against your own insurer too.
Can I get paid for my car’s lost value?
Often, yes. Besides repairs or the value of a totaled car, a claim against the at-fault driver can include the drop in your car’s resale value after the repair (diminished value).
How long will my case take?
Many car accident claims settle within months of finishing medical treatment. Cases that go to litigation take longer. We’ll give you a realistic estimate once we know your injuries.