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Car Accident & Crash Injuries
Are You Injured In A Car Accident And Unsure What To Do Next?
Our Attorneys Help Guide You Through The Process Step By Step
You did not plan for this day. One moment you were driving to work, to pick up the kids, to meet a friend for lunch. The next, everything changed. The crash happened in seconds. What follows can feel simply overwhelming for months.
At Cohn & Swartzon LLP we have sat with thousands of people in exactly this moment. People who do not know who to call first, whether their injuries are serious enough to pursue, or how to deal with an insurance company that is already making them feel like their case does not matter.
We are here to tell you that it does. And we are here to handle everything you should not have to handle alone.
What You Can Expect With The Team At Cohn & Swartzon LLP
From the moment you call us, you speak directly with an attorney. Not a case manager. Not an intake coordinator. An attorney who will listen to what happened, evaluate your situation honestly, and tell you exactly where things stand.
Here is what that looks like in practice.
A clear explanation of how responsibility and insurance apply to your situation.
In California, multiple parties can share responsibility for an accident and the way that responsibility is apportioned can directly affect what you are able to recover. When there are potentially multiple parties at fault — other drivers, employers, property owners, manufacturers — we identify every avenue available and explain clearly what your position looks like. No jargon. No vague timelines. Just a straight answer about where things stand.
We take over all communication with insurance adjusters.
The insurance company representing the other driver is not working for you. Their adjusters are trained to gather information that limits what they pay. From the moment we are retained, we handle every call, every letter, and every claim submission so that nothing you say can be used against your case. You stop taking those calls. We take them for you.
Help navigating medical treatment when you do not have health insurance or your coverage is limited.
Not everyone has great health insurance — whether it be excellent coverage or affordable deductibles. Some clients have none at all. We can help connect you with paths to obtain the medical treatment you need — including providers who work on a lien basis, meaning they treat you now and are compensated when your case resolves. You should not have to go without care because of an insurance gap.
Claim paperwork handled completely.
From accident reports to medical record requests to insurance submissions — we manage the paperwork so you can focus on your life. Every document that leaves this office related to your case goes through our highly trained team first.
A strategy built around the facts of your specific case.
No two accidents are the same. The speed of the collision, the number of vehicles involved, the nature of your injuries, the insurance coverage on both sides — all of it shapes the approach. We do not apply a formula. We build a strategy from the actual facts of what happened to you.
You will always know who is handling your case and what the next step is.
That is not a marketing line. It is how this firm operates. You have direct access to your attorney from the first conversation through the final resolution.
We cannot guarantee the outcome of any case. What we can guarantee is how we handle yours with clarity, consistency, and a personal commitment that does not end when you hang up the phone.
The Injuries You May Not Feel Right Away
After a car accident some injuries announce themselves immediately. Others take hours, days, or even weeks to fully surface. This is one of the most important things to understand in the aftermath of a collision — and one of the most commonly misunderstood.
Adrenaline is powerful. In the minutes and hours after a crash your body is flooded with it. It suppresses pain signals. It creates a false sense of stability. People walk away from accidents feeling relatively fine and discover days later that something is genuinely wrong.
Here are the injuries most commonly seen in car accident cases — including those that develop after the initial shock has passed.
| Car Accident Injury Type | Description |
| Whiplash and Sprains, Strains, or Contusions | The sudden back-and-forth motion of a collision places enormous stress on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the neck and upper back. Whiplash is the most common car accident injury and one of the most frequently underestimated. Pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion can develop hours after the crash and persist for weeks or months without proper evaluation and documentation. |
| Neck and Back Injuries | Beyond whiplash, the spine itself can sustain significant damage in a collision. Herniated discs — where the cushioning material between vertebrae is forced out of position and presses on surrounding nerves — are a common result of both high-speed and low-speed impacts. Symptoms include radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness that can extend into the arms or legs. |
| Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries | A blow to the head — or even the violent movement of the head without direct impact — can cause a concussion or more serious traumatic brain injury. These injuries do not always produce obvious symptoms immediately. Headaches, cognitive fog, difficulty concentrating, personality changes, and sleep disruption can emerge days after the accident and are frequently attributed to stress rather than brain trauma. If you experienced any head movement or impact in a collision, a medical evaluation is critical. |
| Shoulder Injuries | The shoulder joint is particularly vulnerable in a collision — whether from the seatbelt restraining the body, the airbag deploying, or bracing against the steering wheel at impact. Rotator cuff tears, labral damage, and AC joint injuries can significantly limit mobility and require extensive treatment. |
| Nerve Damage | Nerve injury from spinal compression or direct trauma can produce symptoms that are diffuse, difficult to describe, and slow to appear. Numbness, burning, tingling, and weakness in the extremities — often dismissed as unrelated — can signal underlying nerve damage that requires specialized evaluation to properly document and treat. |
| Psychological and Emotional Impact | The aftermath of a serious collision is not only physical. Anxiety about driving, intrusive memories of the crash, sleep disruption, and avoidance behaviors are recognized psychological responses to traumatic accidents. These are real, documented, and compensable damages under California law. They deserve to be named and included in any evaluation of the full impact the accident has had on your life. |
Even low-speed crashes can place sudden and significant force on the body. Do not let anyone including an insurance adjuster tell you that the speed of the impact determines the severity of your injuries. It does not.
What the Insurance Company Is Already Doing
Here is something most people do not realize until it is too late.
The insurance company representing the driver who hit you began working on your case the same day as the accident. They have adjusters whose entire job is to evaluate claims, identify weaknesses, and move toward the lowest possible settlement before you fully understand what your case is worth.
They will call you. They will sound sympathetic. They will ask questions that seem routine. And every answer you give goes into a file designed to limit what they pay you.
This is not speculation. The attorneys at Cohn & Swartzon LLP have been on both sides of this process. We know exactly how these evaluations work. We know what adjusters are trained to look for, what gaps in documentation they exploit, and what statements they use to minimize claims.
From the moment we are retained, we step between you and that process. You stop dealing with insurance companies. We deal with them for you. Every call. Every letter. Every negotiation. Every strategy decision made with the full picture of your case — not with the incomplete information an adjuster hopes to gather before you have an attorney.
Do not give a recorded statement before speaking with us.
- Do not sign any document the other driver’s insurance company sends you.
- Do not accept any settlement offer before understanding what your case is actually worth.
- All three of those things happen before most people think to call an attorney. All three of them can permanently limit your recovery.
“Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the US. Deaths from crashes in 2022 resulted in over $470 billion in total costs—including medical costs and cost estimates for lives lost.”
— CDC
“In 2023, over 42,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States.”
— National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
Cohn & Swartzon LLP represents seriously injured Californians across every type of car accident case. Each type presents its own legal and evidentiary challenges — and each deserves an attorney who understands those specific dynamics.
Car Accident FAQ — the questions every accident victim asks, answered directly
Uninsured Motorist Claims — what to do when the other driver had no insurance
Underinsured Motorist Claims — when the other driver’s coverage is not enough
Rollover Accidents — one of the most dangerous collision types, often involving multiple parties
Rear-End Accidents — the most common collision type and the most frequently minimized by insurers
Multiple Vehicle Accidents — complex cases involving more than two parties
Intersection Accidents — evidence is critical and time-sensitive in these cases
Hit and Run Accidents — options for recovery even when the other driver cannot be found
Head-On Accidents — among the most catastrophic collision types with the most complex injury profiles
Freeway Accidents — high-speed collisions requiring immediate evidence preservation
Failure to Yield Accidents — establishing responsibility and pursuing full accountability
Car Insurance Claims — navigating the claim process without compromising your recovery
Distracted Driving Accidents — proving responsibility when a driver was not paying attention
Car Accident Q&A
After a car accident, some injuries are obvious immediately, while others may take hours or even days to fully develop. It’s common for adrenaline to temporarily mask pain and symptoms. Some of the most common delayed injuries after a collision include whiplash, neck and back injuries, damage, concussions, headaches, herniated discs, shoulder injuries, and nerve pain. Even low-speed crashes can place sudden force on the body and lead to lingering discomfort or mobility issues later on.
Early guidance can help preserve important evidence, clarify what steps to take next, and prevent mistakes that could affect a future claim. Speaking directly with an attorney can help you better evaluate your options and avoid feeling pressured into making a decision too quickly. Every case is different, but having direct communication with the attorney handling your case from the beginning can help provide clarity during a stressful and uncertain time.
Insurance companies sometimes move quickly after a crash, especially when injuries may not yet be fully understood. An early settlement offer may not always account for future medical treatment, ongoing pain, missed work, or the long-term impact an injury can have on daily life.
Even injuries initially described as “minor” can become more serious over time. Neck pain, back injuries, concussions, and damage may worsen in the days or weeks following a collision. Once a settlement is accepted, it may be difficult or impossible to pursue additional compensation later. Before agreeing to anything, it’s important to fully understand the nature of your injuries, your treatment needs, and what recovery may realistically involve.
For more information, visit these related pages:
🔗 What to Do After a Car Accident in California — step by step guidance for the hours immediately following a crash
🔗 Car Accident FAQ — answers to the most common questions from car accident victims in California
🔗 Traumatic Brain Injury — if your accident involved a head injury, this page explains your rights and your options
🔗 Uninsured Motorist Claims — what to do if the driver who hit you had no insurance
🔗 Meet Our Attorneys — the attorneys at Cohn & Swartzon LLP who handle car accident cases across California
Cohn & Swartzon LLP Gets Results
Thousands of clients served throughout California
$150 million or more in verdicts, judgments, and settlements throughout their combined careers
90 or more years of combined legal experience
Direct attorney access from the first call through case resolution
Make the Call
The consultation is always free. You speak directly with an attorney — not a coordinator, not a case manager. Our team is available by phone 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There are no upfront fees and no fee unless we recover for you. Services are available in English and Spanish.
Call us at 888-480-3883.
Your job is to recover. Our job is to get you justice.
Table of contents
- Are You Injured In A Car Accident And Unsure What To Do Next?
- What You Can Expect W ith The Team At Cohn & Swartzon LLP
- The Injuries You May Not Feel Right Away
- What the Insurance Company Is Already Doing
- Do not give a recorded statement before speaking with us.
- Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
- Car Accident Q&A
- For more information, visit these related pages:
- Cohn & Swartzon LLP Gets Results
- Make the Call
- Call us at 888-480-3883.
- Your job is to recover. Our job is to get you justice.
Cohn & Swartzon Car Accident & Crash Injuries Practice Areas
Cohn & Swartzon LLP Gets Results in Car Accident & Crash Injuries
1000s of clients served throughout California
$150 million+ in verdicts, judgments, & settlements
90+ years of combined legal experience
