Car Accident Claims in Newport Beach
The Ledger Law Firm represents people hurt in Newport Beach car crashes, and its head office is here.
Call (949) 377-1111
The firm works on a contingency fee: the fee is a percentage of what is recovered. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee, but you may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.
Phones are answered 24 hours a day.
What to do after a car crash in Newport Beach
- Stop and get to a safe place. The California Driver Handbook says you must stop after a collision, and it says to call 911 right away if anyone is hurt.
- Get medical care. Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, at 1 Hoag Drive, has an emergency department open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Trade information and take photos. The handbook says you must show your driver license, vehicle registration card, insurance information and current address to the other driver, to a law enforcement officer and to anyone else involved. Photograph the vehicles, the road and your injuries, and get the names and phone numbers of witnesses.
- If the Newport Beach Police Department took a report, the people involved, or someone they authorize, can ask for a copy by phone or by mail. The steps, the fee and the hours are on our Newport Beach page under Police crash reports.
- File the DMV report if it applies. The California DMV says every driver must report a crash to the DMV on form SR 1 within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if damage to property was more than $1,000. It cites Vehicle Code section 16000. The DMV says the report is required regardless of fault and in addition to any police, California Highway Patrol or insurance report. An insurance agent, broker or legal representative may file it for the driver.
- Tell your own insurance company. Talk to an attorney before you give a recorded statement to the insurer of the other driver or sign a release.
California rules that matter in a car crash claim
Injury: two years
California gives you two years to file a lawsuit for an injury caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another person. The statute is Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
Property: three years
For damage to property, such as a crashed vehicle, the California courts list three years from the date the property was damaged, under Code of Civil Procedure section 338.
Public bodies: six months
A claim against a city, a county or another public body has a shorter deadline, for an injury and for damage to your vehicle alike. You must first present a written claim to that body within six months, counted in the usual case from the day of the crash, under Government Code section 911.2.
Exceptions exist, so ask an attorney about the dates in your own case. Where a claim against the City of Newport Beach goes is on our Newport Beach page under Deadlines.
Shared fault
California uses a rule the courts call pure comparative negligence. The California Supreme Court adopted it in 1975 in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. In a negligence claim, your own share of the fault does not bar the claim. It reduces your damages in proportion. At 20 percent fault, your damages drop by 20 percent.
Minimum insurance
Since January 1, 2025, Vehicle Code section 16056 has set the lowest limits for a liability policy at $30,000 for the injury or death of one person, $60,000 for two or more people in one crash, and $15,000 for damage to the property of others.
Newport Beach roads and crash figures
The main roads through the city include Pacific Coast Highway, which is State Route 1, along with Newport Boulevard, Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard. State Route 55 and State Route 73 bring regional traffic into the city. The California Office of Traffic Safety lists 494 people killed or injured in Newport Beach crashes in 2023, the newest year in its rankings. The same table lists 149 people killed or injured in speed related crashes that year.
How The Ledger Law Firm handles a car accident claim
Here is what happens when you bring a Newport Beach car crash claim to the firm.
- Free case evaluation. You tell us what happened and we tell you whether we can help. It costs nothing.
- Evidence. We collect the crash report, photos, witness statements, and your medical records and bills.
- Insurance. We deal with the insurance companies so you do not have to.
- Demand. We add up your medical costs, lost pay and other losses, and we send a written demand to the insurer.
- Your decision. We bring every offer to you, and you decide whether to accept it. If no offer is acceptable to you, a lawsuit can be filed in a California court before the deadline.
The firm works on a contingency fee: the fee is a percentage of what is recovered. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee, but you may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses. The firm does not promise any result.
Who is licensed in California
The attorneys of the firm licensed in California are Emery Brett Ledger and Sabrina Sabbagh. The Ledger Law Firm was founded in 1998 by Emery Brett Ledger. Its head office is at 5160 Birch Street, Suite 100, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
- Personal injury claims in Newport Beach
- The main car accident page
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Truck accidents
Call The Ledger Law Firm at (949) 377-1111 for a free case evaluation. Phones are answered 24 hours a day.