Car Accident Attorney Orange County

[Page updated 04/09/2025]

A car accident from someone’s stupid mistake can turn your life upside down. One moment you’re driving along just like you do everyday, maybe it’s on the I-5 or an intersection on Harbor Boulevard, and the next thing you know you’re sitting on the sidewalk facing painful injuries from a car accident that wasn’t your fault, and knowing that future medical bills and overwhelming stress are in your future..

Thankfully there’s car accident attorneys who specializes in legal cases involving motor vehicle collisions like this. Sadly they cannot’t make victim’s physical pain go away, but they can at least help victims seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage by negotiating with insurance companies or filing lawsuits. These lawyers handle cases involving negligence, reckless driving, and uninsured motorists.

Orange County car accident attorneys Derek Pakiz and Robert Reeves at The Reeves Law Group understand what you’re going through.

With over 30 years of experience handling accident cases, Derek Pakiz has dedicated his career to compassionately helping injured victims rebuild their lives. He is notably the only personal injury attorney in California certified in both Civil Trial and Truck Accident Law, highlighting his specialized expertise in vehicle accidents.

Car accidents in Orange County are unfortunately common, with congested highways and busy local streets contributing to thousands of crashes each year. Injuries from these collisions can range from minor whiplash to devastating brain or spinal injuries requiring lifelong care.

When facing such difficulties, compassionate and experienced legal support is critical. Auto accident injury attorneys Derek Pakiz, Robert Reeves, and the team at the Reeves Law Group are committed to helping victims recover fair compensation and guiding them through every step with empathy and personalized care.

They offer a free consultation and handle cases on a contingency fee basis—meaning clients owe nothing unless compensation is won. Contact The Reeves Law Group today!

Call (714) 550-6000
For a Free Consultation

Why Choose The Lawyers at the Reeves Law Group for Your Car Accident Case?

Selecting the right attorney after an accident is crucial. Orange County car accident attorney Derek Pakiz and founder Robert Reeves have built their reputations on compassionate, client-focused representation, backed by a successful record spanning more than three decades.

Clients choose the Orange County car accident attorneys at The Reeves Law Group because they combine deep legal expertise with genuine empathy. Understanding the emotional trauma accident victims face, Derek Pakiz ensures personalized attention, guiding each client step-by-step through the recovery and legal processes.

The firm’s extensive resources include accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and dedicated investigators to build robust claims and counter insurance company tactics.

With a proven track record of securing substantial settlements and verdicts—recovering over $250 million for injured clients—The Reeves Law Group is recognized for achieving significant results. The attorneys work strictly on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless the attorneys successfully recover compensation.

This ensures everyone has access to high-quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation, and demonstrates the firm’s commitment to justice and client wellbeing.

Link to driving directions to our OC offices

Common Types of Car Accident Cases Our Attorneys Handle in Orange County

The car accident attorneys at The Reeves Law Group have extensive experience handling a wide variety of collision scenarios. Common cases include:

Rear-End Collisions: These crashes frequently occur in Orange County’s heavy traffic, particularly on congested highways like I-5 and I-405. Victims often sustain whiplash, spinal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries.

T-Bone and Intersection Accidents: Dangerous intersections, such as Katella Avenue and Tustin Street in Orange, often become accident hotspots. Injuries from these side-impact collisions are severe due to limited protection for occupants.

Hit-and-Run Accidents: Approximately 15% of California drivers lack insurance, leading to numerous hit-and-run incidents across Orange County, particularly in busy areas like Santa Ana. Our attorneys help clients pursue compensation through uninsured motorist claims.

In addition to typical cases, attorneys Derek Pakiz and Robert Reeves handle uncommon and complex accident cases, including:

• Vehicle Defects: Cases involving faulty brakes, airbags, or tire blowouts, where manufacturers may be liable.

• Unsafe Roadway Conditions: Claims against government entities for poor road maintenance or inadequate signage, requiring adherence to strict six-month filing deadlines.

• Rideshare Accidents: Increasingly common with the popularity of Uber and Lyft, these involve unique insurance complexities.

Addressing these varied accident types is crucial because different legal strategies and expertise are necessary for securing maximum compensation. The firm’s diverse experience ensures that each client receives effective representation tailored to their specific circumstances.

What To Do After a Car Accident in Orange County?

Knowing exactly what steps to take immediately following an accident is crucial. Taking the right actions can protect your health, preserve evidence, and strengthen your legal claim.

1. Check for Injuries & Safety:
Immediately assess your own injuries and those of any passengers. If anyone is hurt, call 911. If it’s safe, move to the shoulder or away from traffic to prevent further harm.

2. Call 911 and the Police:
Even minor collisions warrant contacting police. An official report from the Orange County police or CHP documents crucial evidence and fault determinations, significantly aiding your claim.

3. Exchange Information:
Get the other driver’s full name, address, driver’s license number, license plate, and insurance details. Collect contact information from any eyewitnesses, as their statements can greatly impact your case.

4. Document the Scene:
Take photos or videos of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and visible injuries. Note the exact accident location—like specific intersections or freeway exits—to clarify liability.

5. Do Not Admit Fault:
Avoid apologizing or accepting blame at the scene. Statements admitting fault can negatively affect your claim, especially since California follows a comparative negligence system.

6. Seek Medical Attention:
Get medical care promptly, even if injuries seem minor. Some injuries, like concussions or internal trauma, manifest later. Immediate medical documentation links your injuries directly to the accident, strengthening your claim.

Following these steps ensures the best chance for a successful outcome in your case.

Compensation Available for Car Accident Victims in California

After suffering injuries in a car accident, victims often face significant financial, physical, and emotional burdens. Understanding the types of compensation available under California law is crucial in ensuring you receive fair and full recovery for your losses.

Medical Expenses:
Victims can recover all past and future medical bills related to their accident injuries. These include emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, follow-up doctor visits, medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and medical devices or equipment. For severe injuries requiring ongoing care—such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries—compensation covers long-term medical needs, which can quickly reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in lifetime expenses.

Lost Income and Earning Capacity:
When injuries prevent you from working, compensation includes reimbursement for wages lost during recovery. This covers regular income, overtime, bonuses, and even the use of sick days. Additionally, if your injuries impact your future ability to earn—perhaps due to permanent disability or reduced capacity—you can claim for loss of future earning potential. Experienced Orange County car accident attorneys like Derek Pakiz often work with economists or vocational experts to quantify these losses accurately.

Pain and Suffering:
California allows accident victims to claim compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life resulting from their injuries. These “non-economic damages” reflect the reality that car accidents don’t just result in tangible losses; they deeply affect victims’ emotional well-being. Examples include anxiety, depression, PTSD, chronic pain, and loss of enjoyment of activities you once loved. Skilled attorneys ensure these subjective but significant losses are fairly valued.

Property Damage:
Victims can also recover the costs of repairing or replacing their damaged vehicle, as well as any personal items lost or damaged during the collision—such as smartphones, laptops, or child safety seats. While personal injury attorneys primarily focus on injury-related compensation, they ensure property damage claims are resolved adequately through the responsible party’s insurer.

Permanent Disability or Disfigurement:
If the accident leads to permanent impairment or visible scarring, additional compensation may be warranted. Disabilities such as paralysis, severe brain injuries, or significant scarring profoundly impact victims’ lives, and the law recognizes these additional hardships by allowing increased compensation.

Loss of Consortium:
In some situations, spouses of accident victims may claim compensation for loss of consortium, which includes loss of companionship, intimacy, affection, and support due to the injuries suffered by their partner. This compensation acknowledges the profound relational and emotional impacts accidents have on family members.

Wrongful Death Damages:
If a car accident tragically results in the death of a loved one, surviving family members have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Compensation includes funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, and the profound loss of companionship, care, guidance, and affection previously provided by the deceased.

Punitive Damages (If Applicable):
In certain cases involving extreme recklessness or egregious behavior—such as accidents caused by drunk driving or intentional misconduct—California law allows punitive damages. These damages serve not just to compensate victims but to punish the offender and deter similar behavior in the future. While punitive damages are less common, skilled attorneys aggressively pursue them in appropriate cases.

Every car accident case is unique, and accurately valuing your claim requires thorough investigation and careful consideration of all factors involved. The motor vehicle accident attorneys at The Reeves Law Group meticulously assess every aspect of your damages, consulting medical, economic, and vocational experts to ensure all current and future expenses are identified and claimed. Their ultimate goal is securing the maximum compensation possible, empowering victims to fully rebuild their lives after an accident.

California Car Accident Laws You Should Know

Understanding California car accident laws is critical for successfully your injury claim in Orange County or in other counties throughout the state as well. These laws impact everything from your ability to recover damages to how fault and responsibility are determined in your case.

Orange county car accident lawyer Derek Pakiz lists out these laws below:

Statute of Limitations in California:
In California, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident is generally two years from the date of the accident. This deadline is crucial because failing to file within two years usually means permanently losing your right to seek compensation. It’s important to act quickly after an accident, as delays can jeopardize critical evidence needed to support your claim.

In certain cases involving government entities, such as accidents caused by dangerous road conditions or collisions involving city-owned vehicles, the time frame is significantly shorter—typically just six months to file a claim notice. Attorneys like Derek Pakiz and Robert Reeves understand these stringent requirements and ensure all deadlines are met promptly, preserving your right to recovery.

Comparative Negligence (Shared Fault):
California follows a pure comparative negligence system. This means you can still recover compensation even if you’re partially at fault for the accident, but your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if a court finds you 20% responsible because you were speeding, and the total damages were $100,000, you would still receive $80,000. Insurance companies often try to exploit this rule by overstating your fault. Skilled attorneys fight to ensure fault is accurately determined and your compensation fairly reflects your true level of responsibility.

California Is an “At-Fault” State:
Unlike some states, California operates on an “at-fault” insurance system, meaning the person responsible for causing the accident (or their insurer) must pay for the damages. This contrasts with “no-fault” states, where each party typically turns to their own insurance for medical bills regardless of who caused the collision. In California, proving the other driver’s negligence directly affects your ability to obtain full compensation.

Duty of Care and Negligence:
All drivers in California have a legal obligation—a “duty of care”—to operate their vehicles safely and responsibly. Violations of traffic laws, such as speeding, texting while driving, running stop signs, or driving under the influence, constitute breaches of this duty. To recover compensation, your attorney must demonstrate that the other driver breached their duty, directly causing your injuries. Lawyers at The Reeves Law Group gather extensive evidence such as police reports, traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, and expert analyses to prove negligence conclusively.

Insurance Requirements & Uninsured Drivers:
California law mandates that drivers maintain minimum liability insurance coverage: at least $15,000 per person injured, $30,000 per accident for bodily injuries, and $5,000 for property damage. Unfortunately, many Orange County drivers are uninsured or underinsured—approximately 15% statewide, according to recent statistics. If you are hit by such a driver, your own uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage can step in to compensate you. Experienced attorneys ensure that every available insurance resource is pursued vigorously, maximizing your opportunity for recovery.

Going through what laws the defendant might have broken can be confusing and stressful if doing it alone. The Orange County auto accident attorneys at The Reeves Law Group handle these complexities for you, safeguarding your rights at every step of the process.

How Our Orange County Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

Hiring a car accident lawyer after your accident significantly improves your chances of receiving fair compensation. Here’s how lead lawyer at the Reeves Law Group Derek Pakiz and his legal team can help:

• Free Consultation & Case Evaluation: You receive a compassionate, no-obligation review of your situation, providing clarity on your legal options.

• Accident Investigation: The attorneys conduct detailed investigations, collecting evidence such as accident reports, eyewitness statements, traffic camera footage, and expert analyses to build a robust case.

• Handling Insurance Companies: Insurance adjusters often attempt lowball settlements or shift blame unfairly. Your attorney manages all communications, protecting your claim from manipulative tactics.

• Calculating Full Damages: Your legal team accurately quantifies all losses—medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future costs—often consulting medical and financial experts to strengthen your claim.

• Negotiation & Settlement: The attorneys aggressively negotiate with insurers, leveraging their extensive experience and track record of successful settlements to secure maximum compensation.

• Litigation & Trial Representation: Although most cases settle, Derek Pakiz is fully prepared to take cases to trial. His reputation as a skilled trial attorney frequently motivates insurers to offer higher settlements.

• Personal Support & Guidance: Beyond legal advocacy, you gain personalized support, regular updates, and assistance with medical referrals, alleviating stress during your recovery.

• Contingency Fee Basis: You pay no upfront fees. The firm only gets paid if you receive compensation, ensuring quality legal representation without financial risk.

Ultimately, working with dedicated, compassionate attorneys allows you to focus on healing, knowing your legal interests are fully protected.

Call (714) 550-6000
For a Free Consultation

Contact an Local accident attorney located in Orange County Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Orange County, don’t navigate the aftermath alone. The Reeves Law Group is here to help, and we will fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve.

Our attorneys offer compassionate, experienced guidance every step of the way. We understand the stress and uncertainty that follows a serious collision, and our goal is to ease your burden, allowing you to focus fully on your recovery.

With decades of combined experience, motor vehicle accident attorneys Derek Pakiz and Robert Reeves have successfully handled countless car accident cases across Orange County—earning significant settlements and verdicts on behalf of their clients.

Call us 24/7 at (714) 550-6000 for a free, confidential consultation.

Alternatively, you can complete the quick contact form on this page, and our Orange County car accident attorneys will respond promptly. If you are unable to travel due to your injuries, our team can arrange to meet you at a convenient location or even your hospital room.

Our office is conveniently located at: 200 W Santa Ana Blvd, #630, Santa Ana, CA 92701

This central location is just blocks from the Orange County Superior Court, emphasizing our readiness to aggressively litigate your case if necessary. Serving clients throughout Orange County—including Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, and beyond—we are familiar with local roads, intersections, and traffic patterns, enabling us to build stronger, more convincing cases for our clients.

Remember, consultations are entirely free, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. There is absolutely no risk in contacting our attorneys to learn about your rights and legal options.

Let The Reeves Law Group handle the legal complexities while you concentrate on healing. Contact us today—we are ready to be your advocate.

[Written by Derek Pakiz. Page Updated 04/09/2025]