A third of all traffic deaths in California come from DUI cases. San Diego is one of Southern California’s biggest cities and, therefore, is the epicenter for many of these accidents. Accident cases like this often result in criminal charges against the drunk driver.
Punitive damages against the drunk motorist is not The Advocates’ priority. Rather, we are personal injury attorneys who fight to get financial compensation for accident victims. Our legal team is a group of professionals who are on your side from the second you call our office to the moment we win your case.
We know how hopeless you may feel after a San Diego drunk driving injury. Allow us to bring a spark of hope to your life by giving you the legal options needed to recover on your terms.
You deserve it. Call our law office today so we can begin your road to recovery.
Immediately after your accident, check for injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Get the damage on your vehicle assessed and fixed
Seek medical treatment as soon as you can
Once you’ve completed treatment, your attorney will compile your medical records
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.
Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We don’t get paid unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.
For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.
Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.
Your attorney will gather evidence, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.
The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.
Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.
When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.
For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive fair compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you.
We can help you:
I was in an accident 3 years ago and had a very bad experience with the attorney back then I was in another accident last year and called the advocates mark and his team were amazing changed my view on accident attorneys they kept I'm touch with me every step of the way gave me authority on choices for myself I didn't have to go with what they said I could go against it and they still would have worked with me the same I had choices this time around I would always go with Mark I have even sent friends his way just cause I appreciate all the help and support the whole way threw.
My experience with the advocates was a good one. After being hit by a car on my motorcycle they helped me with a settlement with the insurance company to get the hospital bills paid. They were extremely helpful. They always answered any questions I had with in a day. Every email I sent was always responded to. If you unfortunately has to go through a injury by another person I would recommend them in helping you resolve any debt you have because if that injury. The Advocates were great to work with and help me get this unfortunate event behind me.
Steve and his crew at The Advocates were nothing short for amazing. They took my case after I was rear-ended resulting in neck surgery. Steve and company made sure all of the was taken care of and that I got the maximum compensation possible. I definitely recommend The Advocates
Mr. Brad Johnson, our lawyer; was Awesome! He was very informative, kept us up to date on my case with regular calls. He returned calls back to us within 24 hours or less. Brad Johnson is very courteous, honest, kind, and a pleasure to talk to and work with. There are very few Lawyers out there that could even come close to the high morals that Brad Johnson has and has shown towards us. We need more lawyers like Brad Johnson . If we ever needed a disability lawyer again in the future; it would be Brad Johnson and The Advocates Firm that he works at. We will definitely turn ALL of our family and friends towards this lawyer and firm; in a heartbeat!!!
I want to First say that I am truly thankful for the advocates Law Firm they have been a great service to me through this ordeal and Katie she is a tremendous lawyer someone that I would recommend she fights tooth and nail for her clients and the rest of the team they supported me to the fullest with that being said I would like to say for anyone who is trying to find an attorney to fight their case The Advocates is the way to go.
Our attorneys will pursue a civil case against the drunk driver, not a criminal one. This means our goal is not to ensure they receive a felony DUI and serve jail time. Rather, we are here to take your personal injury claim and ensure you receive a fair settlement for all the damages inflicted on you.
The foundation of any accident case is evidence. Almost all motor vehicle accidents are complex. When someone drinks alcohol, chooses to drive, and then hurts someone else, the case is a little more straightforward, given the evidence stacked up against them.
A DUI lawyer will obtain some of the following evidence in your case:
The sooner we get ahold of evidence, the faster we can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Imagine a drunk driver totaled your car on I-5. Barring serious injuries, this is a tough situation. It is quite difficult to get around San Diego County without a vehicle.
If a drunk driver totals your car, you are entitled to a fair market value for your vehicle. Suppose there is a disparity between the fair market value and the loan balance you have on the vehicle. In that case, gap insurance will cover the outstanding balance. If you do not have gap insurance, you will have to pay the remaining balance after you are paid the fair market value.
The intersection of car accidents and alcohol produces serious injuries. Your injuries are the most important aspect of a personal injury case. Cars can be replaced, but you only have one life.
Here are the most common DUI crash injuries inflicted on auto accident victims:
Should you be compensated for the psychological effects of a DUI accident?
Of course.
Accidents like this are some of the most traumatic events in a person’s life. The mental pain can last for years after the physical injuries heal, especially if a fatality occurs.
Emotional trauma is equally worthy of compensation. A personal injury lawyer can determine how much you should be compensated.
If you are injured in a DUI accident, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a claim. That may feel like a long time, but it is recommended that you move quickly with your claim.
For property damage, you have three years to file a claim.
The first few hours and days after an accident are critical for your recovery and your claim’s success.
Follow these steps to ensure you do what is necessary after an accident:
No.
They are usually presumed to be at fault, given that drinking and driving is considered negligent behavior. This means they will face DUI charges, which indicates the liability falls on them.
California uses a pure comparative negligence system, so another driver can still be partially at fault for the accident. It all depends on the evidence and circumstances of the case.
Nothing matters more to us than the attorney-client relationship. We truly want you to fully recover from your accident. This is why we recommend you hire a drunk driving accident lawyer as soon as possible.
A DUI is a serious legal matter. The influence of alcohol on car accidents is deep. The Advocates will be with you every step of the way, but we cannot begin until you reach out to us for a case evaluation.
We know how terrifying that first step will be. However, once you have a DUI attorney on your side, you no longer have to worry about the legal aspect of your case. The Advocates will take care of it, while you take care of recovering.
We are here for everyone in San Diego, Los Angeles, Chula Vista, El Cajon, and everywhere else in California. You deserve it. You deserve an Advocate.
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