Car Accident Lawyers in California, Texas and Washington
The Ledger Law Firm handles car accident claims in California, Texas and Washington. If you or someone in your family was hurt in a crash, call or send the form, and we will tell you whether we can help.
Emery Brett LedgerFirm Founder and Attorney
Free Case Evaluation
Were you hurt in a car crash? The Ledger Law Firm was founded in 1998 by Emery Brett Ledger and has attorneys licensed in California, Texas and Washington.
A case evaluation is free. You tell us what happened, we listen, and we tell you plainly whether the firm can take the claim.
Featured On:
Our Case Results
$950,000
Car Accident
Rear-end collision settlement
$1,200,000
Car & Motorcycle Accident
Motorcyclist hit by car
$2,500,000
Head-On Collision
Settlement for catastrophic injuries
$1,750,000
Car Accident Hit From Behind
Car Hit From Behind settlement
$2,000,000
Drunk Driving Accident
Settlement for severe injuries and damages
$1,300,000
Car And Bus Accident
Passenger injury settlement
$800,000
Car With Bicycle Accident
Bicycle hit by car settlement
$1,100,000
Car With Truck Accident
Car collision with semi-truck
$1,750,000
Two Cars Rear-end collision
Personal injury case
$900,000
Car With Pedestrian Accident
Hit by a speeding car
$1,600,000
Bus Hit Car Accident
Passenger injury settlement
$1,400,000
Car Hit A Man
Personal Injury compensation case
$700,000
Car Damaged By Accident
Car collision settlement
$1,800,000
Pedestrian With Car Collision
Pedestrian vs. car settlement
$2,500,000
Car Rear Accident
Rear-end collision settlement
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Why Choose Us
The Ledger Law Firm was founded in 1998 by Emery Brett Ledger.
Our Legal Team
With more than 50 legal professionals on our team, we work on your injury and accident claim.
Client-Focused Approach
Our compassionate and personalized attention and clear communication will keep you informed about the case.
Years of Service
Founded in 1998 by Emery Brett Ledger. 28+ years licensed.
A contingency fee
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.
Integrity and Trust
We believe in honesty and ethical practice to uphold your trust while suing the at-fault party with transparency.
Efficient and Strategic Solutions
We deliver practical, efficient, and strategic legal solutions. We offer personalized legal suggestions for your car accident cases.
Meet Our Attorney
Trust Success
$100,000,000+ Collected
Emery Brett Ledger is the founder and leader of the Ledger Law Firm. Under his leadership the firm has collected $100,000,000+ for its clients. The firm has a team of 50+ legal professionals.
$100,000,000+ COLLECTED
Collected by the firm for its clients.
28+ YEARS LICENSED
Emery Brett Ledger founded the firm in 1998.
50+ LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
The team that works on the firm's cases.
THREE STATES
Attorneys licensed in California, Texas and Washington.
Awards
What they've said about us
Here's What Our Clients Say
“After a life-changing event that left me with serious medical bills and a need for long-term rehabilitation, I was in need of legal guidance in dealing with insurance issues. The team at Ledger Law immediately set my mind at ease.”
Summer Bailey
“I am embarrassed to write this review well after Sabrina won our lawsuit for my mom, but they were so good that I feel I need write something about our experience.
My mom got into a pretty bad accident last spring when someone turned left in front of her when she had the right-of-way going straight. She was injured and taken by ambulance to the local ER...”
Ji Sterling
“I 100% recommend them! I got hit at a red light. It was the first accident I had been involved in, so I had no idea what to do. I was debating if it was worth getting lawyers involved especially because I felt the accident wasn’t big enough to build a case … but I decided to call anyways...”
Itzamary Salazar
“When I was hit by a car December 7th of 2023, I didn't know what to do...
Was advised by my friends to find an attorney, this was lil' bit scary. But was immediately put at ease, in just a minute. I could tell right away that they would go above and beyond to give me the best help. Everyone I've dealt with there are so kind, thoughtful and accommodating.
But above all, they are above reproach.”
Rose Ann Stone
Our Attorneys and Staff Members
Meet our dedicated team of legal champions, ready to fight for your rights and seek the justice you deserve
How the firm handles a car accident claim
What the firm does, in order. The firm does not promise any result.
The facts and the records
It starts with a free case evaluation. You tell us what happened, and we tell you whether the firm can help. If the firm takes the claim, we collect the crash report, photos, witness statements, and your medical records and bills.
The insurers
We deal with the insurance companies for you. Talk to us before you give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer or sign a release.
The losses
We add up what the crash has cost you, such as medical bills, lost income and damage to your vehicle, and we send a written demand to the insurer.
A settlement or a lawsuit
We bring every offer to you, and the decision to accept is yours. If no offer is acceptable to you, a lawsuit can be filed before the deadline in your state. How long a claim takes differs from one claim to the next. Our post on how long a car accident settlement takes explains what affects it.
Car accident law in California, Texas and Washington
The Ledger Law Firm handles car accident claims in these three states. Open a heading to read it.
The rules depend on the state
The deadline to sue, the effect of your own share of the fault and the insurance a driver must carry are set by state law. They are not the same in California, Texas and Washington. Each rule below is followed by the law it comes from.
California
| Deadline to sue | Generally two years to file a lawsuit for an injury caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another person. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. section 335.1. One exception is a claim against a public body, which has the earlier step in the next line. |
| A claim against a public body | A written claim for death, for injury to a person or for damage to personal property such as a vehicle must be presented to the public body not later than six months after the claim arises. Cal. Gov. Code section 911.2. |
| Shared fault | Your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and there is no cutoff. The California Supreme Court adopted this rule, which it called pure comparative negligence, in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. |
| Minimum liability insurance | $30,000 for the injury or death of one person, $60,000 for two or more people in one accident and $15,000 for damage to the property of others, for a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025. Cal. Veh. Code section 16056. |
| Reporting the crash | When anyone is hurt or killed, the driver must make a written report within 24 hours to the California Highway Patrol or, inside a city, to the Highway Patrol or the city police. Cal. Veh. Code section 20008. The driver must also report the crash to the DMV within 10 days when anyone was hurt or killed or when damage to one person's property is over $1,000. Cal. Veh. Code section 16000. The DMV calls this report form SR 1. |
| Uninsured owners and drivers | An owner whose vehicle was not insured as the law requires, and a driver who cannot show the required insurance, cannot recover damages for pain and suffering. The section has an exception for an uninsured owner who is hurt by a driver convicted of driving under the influence. Cal. Civ. Code section 3333.4, added by Proposition 213. |
Texas
| Deadline to sue | Generally two years from the day the claim arises to file a lawsuit for a personal injury. Tex. Civ. Prac. and Rem. Code section 16.003(a). A claim against a government body also needs the notice in the next line. |
| A claim against a government body | A governmental unit is entitled to notice of the claim not later than six months after the day of the incident. The same section approves notice periods set by a city's charter, so a claim against a city can have a different period. Tex. Civ. Prac. and Rem. Code section 101.101. |
| Shared fault | Your damages are reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Tex. Civ. Prac. and Rem. Code section 33.012. If that percentage is greater than 50 percent, you may not recover damages. Tex. Civ. Prac. and Rem. Code section 33.001. |
| Minimum liability insurance | $30,000 for the injury or death of one person, $60,000 for two or more people in one collision and $25,000 for damage to the property of others. Tex. Transp. Code section 601.072. |
| Reporting the crash | When a crash injures or kills someone, or leaves a vehicle that cannot be normally and safely driven, the driver must immediately notify the local police department or the sheriff's office. Tex. Transp. Code section 550.026. An officer who investigates makes a written report when the crash caused an injury, a death or damage of $1,000 or more to one person's property. Tex. Transp. Code section 550.062. |
| Coverage that comes with a policy | An auto liability policy must include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection coverage unless a named insured rejects the coverage in writing. Tex. Ins. Code sections 1952.101 and 1952.152. |
Washington
| Deadline to sue | Generally three years to file a lawsuit for an injury to the person. RCW 4.16.080(2). A claim against the state or a local government also needs the step in the next line. |
| A claim against the state or a local government | The claim must first be presented on the standard tort claim form: to the office of risk management for a claim against the state, or to the agent the local government has appointed. A lawsuit cannot be started until sixty calendar days after the claim is presented. RCW 4.92.100, RCW 4.92.110, RCW 4.96.020. |
| Shared fault | Your own fault reduces your damages in proportion but does not bar the claim. RCW 4.22.005. A separate section sets out a defense where the injured person was under the influence of alcohol or a drug, that condition was a proximate cause of the injury, and the person is found more than fifty percent at fault. RCW 5.40.060. |
| Minimum liability insurance | $25,000 for the injury or death of one person, $50,000 for two or more people in one accident and $10,000 for damage to the property of others. RCW 46.29.090. |
| Reporting the crash | Unless a law enforcement officer makes the report, the driver must make a written report within four days when the accident injures or kills someone, or does damage to one person's property of at least the amount the State Patrol sets by rule, which is $1,000. RCW 46.52.030, WAC 446-85-010. |
| Coverage that must be offered | Insurers must offer personal injury protection coverage with a new or renewed auto liability policy, and a named insured may reject it in writing. RCW 48.22.085. The minimum they must offer includes $10,000 in medical and hospital benefits. RCW 48.22.095. |
This is general information and not legal advice. Every deadline has exceptions. Ask a lawyer about the dates and rules in your own case.
What a claim can cover
A car accident claim can cover the losses the crash caused. The usual ones are:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Property damage, such as the cost to repair or replace your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
What a claim is worth depends on its own facts, and this page states no amounts. State law also takes part of a claim away in set cases. In California an uninsured owner or driver cannot recover pain and suffering (Cal. Civ. Code section 3333.4). In Texas a person whose percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent recovers nothing (Tex. Civ. Prac. and Rem. Code section 33.001).
Was the car leased? See a leased car accident that was not your fault.
What has to be proved
In general, the person making the claim has to show two things. First, that the careless act of another person, or a failure to act, was a cause of the crash. It does not have to be the only cause. Your own share of the fault is handled by the state rules above. Second, that the crash caused the injury or loss you claim.
Evidence that often matters:
- The police report
- Photos and video of the vehicles and the scene
- Statements from witnesses
- Medical records that tie the injury to the crash
- Bills, pay records and receipts that show the loss
Are you being blamed for a crash you did not cause? See blamed for a car accident that was not my fault.
What to do after a car accident
- Get to a safe place, and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Get medical care. Some injuries are not apparent right away, and the medical record is evidence.
- Trade names, contact details and insurance details with the other driver. Take photos of the vehicles, the road and your injuries, and get the names and phone numbers of witnesses.
- Report the crash as your state requires. The reporting rules for California, Texas and Washington are in the tables above.
- Tell your own insurance company. Talk to an attorney before you give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer or sign a release.
Where the firm meets clients
The firm's offices are in Newport Beach, California and in Dallas, Texas. In Los Angeles, Seattle and Tacoma the firm meets clients by appointment.
- Newport Beach, California, office: car accident claims in Newport Beach
- Dallas, Texas, office: car accident lawyers in Dallas
- Los Angeles, California, by appointment: car accident lawyer in Los Angeles
- Seattle, Washington, by appointment: car accident lawyer in Seattle
- Tacoma, Washington, by appointment: car accident lawyer in Tacoma
By state: California, Washington, and for Texas the Dallas personal injury page.
Other vehicle claims: motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and Uber and Lyft accidents.
Who is licensed where
The firm has attorneys licensed in California, Texas and Washington.
- California: Emery Brett Ledger and Sabrina Sabbagh
- Texas: Emery Brett Ledger and Randall L. Meredith
- Washington: Emery Brett Ledger and Bruce Cyra
The Ledger Law Firm was founded in 1998 by Emery Brett Ledger.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Why should I hire a car accident lawyer instead of handling the claim myself?
You are not required to hire a lawyer. A lawyer can gather the evidence, deal with the insurers, keep track of the deadlines in your state, and tell you what an offer does and does not cover, so the decision you make is an informed one. The first conversation with the firm is a free case evaluation.
2. When is the best time to contact a car accident lawyer after a crash?
As early as you can. Evidence is easier to collect soon after a crash, and the deadlines are already running: generally two years in California and in Texas and three years in Washington, with earlier steps when a government body is involved. The rules for each state are on this page.
3. How much does it cost to hire a car accident attorney?
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.
4. What should I bring to my consultation with a car accident lawyer?
Bring what you have: the police report or its number, photos of the scene and the vehicles, the names and phone numbers of witnesses, your medical records and bills, and any letters or messages from an insurance company. If you do not have these yet, call anyway.
5. What types of damages can I claim after a car accident?
A claim can cover medical bills, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. What applies to you depends on the facts and on the law of the state. See What a claim can cover on this page.
6. Are all car accident law firms the same?
No. Firms differ in where their attorneys are licensed, in who does the work on your claim, and in how plainly they explain their fee. Ask each firm you talk to. The attorneys of The Ledger Law Firm licensed in each state are named on this page.
Our latest news
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Get a Free Case Review Now
The Ledger Law Firm handles car accident claims in California, Texas and Washington, and has attorneys licensed in each of the three. We handle personal injury cases and cases where an accidental death may have occurred.
With your initial consultation, we will discuss the specifics of your situation. Ultimately, you will be given the legal options available. While we consult with you and give you our advice, the final choice of how to proceed is your decision. Yes, experience counts. Feel free to call us at (888) 693-4158, send an email through our contact page, or use our “Chat Now” feature on our website.
Contact Our Law Firm
Newport Beach
California 92660
5160 Birch Street, Suite 200
intake@ledgerlaw.com