Long Beach’s Distinguished Traffic and Car Accident Lawyer
[Page updated 11/25/2025]
Long Beach car accident attorney Derek Pakiz at the Reeves Law Group understands the emotional and financial strain that follows a serious injury. As the only personal injury attorney in California certified in both Civil Trial Advocacy and Truck Accident Law, he brings unmatched experience to every case he handles.
Attorney Derek Pakiz, Robert Reeves and the auto accident attorneys at The Reeves Law Group law firm support this mission every day. Based locally at 1 World Trade Center, #800, the team serves injured victims across Long Beach, from Belmont Shore and Signal Hill to the 710 and 405 freeways and beyond.
The Reeves Law Group can help you obtain maximum compensation for your loss and get you the financial recovery you deserve. (800) 644-8000 or contact us today for a free case evaluation.
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What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
Taking the following steps after an unexpected car accident can help you and your personal injury attorney with your case.
Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
After a major car crash that caused severe vehicle damage, if you are awake and aware of your surroundings, assess your physical state and then of every passenger in the car.
If you or a passenger suffered injuries that need medical attention, call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical help.
Give a detailed account of your condition to emergency responders, including any symptoms you may be experiencing as a result of the car accident.
Visit your doctor as soon as you can and request a full examination. If medical treatment is recommended by your doctor, make sure to follow it.
Get A Copy of The Police Report
In California, if a person suffered serious injuries or a fatality occurred as a result of an accident, law enforcement must be notified within 24 hours. When the police arrive at the scene of the accident, if the accident resulted in serious injuries or fatality, they will make a written report of the incident and typically provide a receipt for their police report. Request one if they do not. You may need the receipt to obtain a copy of the police report from the local law enforcement agency.
This report may provide crucial details surrounding the accident that may prove useful for your car accident lawyer in preparing your claim.
Collecting Evidence
While waiting for the police to show up at the scene of the accident, of which they might not show up at all, make sure you do your due diligence and gather as much information as you can.
Collect all necessary contact information from other drivers involved in the accident including names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, vehicle VINs, and insurance information.
Remember to use your phone’s camera to take photos and record videos to document the scene of the accident including location and where the car crash occurred, and all visible damages to the vehicles.
If there were any witnesses to the accident, ask to record their statements as well.
Do Not Admit Fault or Discuss Your Injuries
Regardless of your condition or who the negligent party is after a car accident, do not admit fault or offer any opinion about it to anyone involved in the collision, or to any witnesses or bystanders, or to your insurance agents when you report the accident to your insurance company.
Do not suggest that you are free of any injuries after the crash. Admitting fault or divulging too much information pertaining to the accident may negatively impact your ability to file a claim or will limit your options for recovering damages.
Report The Accident to Your Insurance Company
In order to avoid allowing other drivers involved in the accident the potential opportunity to make false claims against you, it is in your best interests to notify your auto insurer as soon as possible (best within 24 hours) to inform them of the accident.
Insurance companies have policy guidelines for reporting an accident. Make sure you follow them; however, avoid discussing fault or your injuries during the initial call.
Inform them that you will provide a more detailed account of the accident after the preliminary investigation.
Consult With a Long Beach Car Accident Lawyer
It is advisable that you may want to consider the services of a professional personal injury lawyer to handle your car accident claim, especially when the accident involves serious or catastrophic injuries or a fatality.
After an auto accident, if the other driver already notified their insurer about the incident, you may receive a call from the other driver’s insurance company regarding the incident. You are not legally required nor would it be recommended to speak with the other driver’s insurance agent. Know that they do not have your best interests in mind, preferring to offer a quick settlement for as low an amount as possible, or make an attempt to deny liability for the accident.
Speaking with the other insurer could also potentially hurt your own claim against them, which is why allowing a personal injury lawyer to handle all communications with an insurance adjuster is an assurance that you will get the maximum compensation for your accident claim.
Many law firms, including our own, offer a free consultation with their personal injury attorneys for victims of accidents. Take advantage of those free no-obligation case reviews to at least find out what you could potentially recover from your accident and injuries.
Our firm will not charge a fee or seek reimbursement for costs advanced unless your case is won.
What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents?
In most major cities in Southern California where traffic congestion is a daily problem, car accidents tend to be a more prevalent problem and Long Beach is no exception. Some of the leading causes of preventable traffic accidents include distracted driving, speeding, and drunk driving.
The most frequently cited sources of driver inattentiveness, ranked in order of how often the activities cause a car crash, include:
- Being distracted by the radio or CD player
- Using a handheld cellular telephone
- Manipulating electronic equipment, such as GPS devices
- Being distracted by children
- Eating
- Being distracted by an animal
- Using a hands-free cell phone
- Reading
- Engaging in hygiene rituals, such as applying makeup, shaving, or brushing or flossing one’s teeth
Common Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Accidents involving motor vehicles range from minor fender benders to catastrophic crashes that can leave victims severely injured or worse. Many motor vehicle accident victims tend to underestimate the severity of their injuries (or lack thereof initially) until they manifest themselves days later.
Here are a few of the most common types of injuries that can be sustained in a car collision.
- Neck Injuries from Whiplash
- Serious Back Pain and Muscle Weakness from Spinal Cord Injuries
- Broken Bones and Fractures
- Bruises, Cuts, and Lacerations
- Head Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injuries
What If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
California follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you were awarded $100,000 but found to be 20% at fault for speeding when another driver ran a red light, you would receive $80,000.
Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto victims to reduce what they owe. They may argue you were distracted, following too closely, or failed to avoid the collision. Without legal representation, you may accept a settlement that unfairly assigns you more fault than you deserve.
An experienced Long Beach car accident lawyer will investigate your case, gather evidence to minimize your assigned fault, and negotiate aggressively to protect your full compensation. Even if you believe you share some responsibility, don’t assume you can’t recover—California law still protects your right to seek damages.
Why Do I Need a Long Beach Car Accident Lawyer?
After the police have been called, the incident has been reported, and you have received medical attention, it is a good idea to seek out legal counsel. An experienced Long Beach car accident lawyer will have the skills and knowledge necessary to help you receive any and all of the compensation that you are entitled to for the injuries, property damage, medical treatment, lost wages, and other losses that you suffered as a result of the other driver’s negligence.
Victims of a major car crash often have to deal with more than just serious injuries. Additional consequences include expensive medical bills from present and future medical treatment, lost wages, and loss of future earnings. At worst, an auto accident may take the life of a loved one and you as the family member of the deceased could be facing the prospect of a complicated wrongful death lawsuit. Experienced car accident attorneys can help you and your family alleviate some of those burdens.
Your Long Beach car accident lawyer can assist with the filing of a claim with your insurance company and help you satisfy the demands and requirements placed on you by the insurance adjusters. There are many steps involved in filing a claim. Often, car accident victims get pushed around, ignored or hustled by insurance companies that are fighting to avoid paying out large sums of money.
Our Long Beach car accident lawyers specialize in personal injury law and can help protect your rights as a victim. We work with our clients to make sure they receive fair compensation for their car accident injuries and losses.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive with the Help of an Injury Lawyer?
Serious and catastrophic injuries sustained from vehicle accidents can alter the everyday lives and the enjoyment of life for victims suffering from such trauma. At worse, their injuries may be fatal or cause long-term or even permanent damage to their bodies, which is why it’s important that an experienced car accident lawyer pursue accident cases with urgency in order to secure and maximize the recovery of damages owed to them.
If you ever find yourself or a loved one in this predicament, our car accident attorneys in Long Beach will help you determine whether you have a case and file a claim to recover compensation for your injuries and losses by holding the negligent party liable for your damages.
While the amount of compensation in an accident claim or lawsuit will be determined by certain factors, our car accident lawyer in Long Beach will help guide you through the legal proceedings.
Here are just a few of the damages you may be able to recover from a severe car accident:
- Medical Bills: Medical expenses from ongoing and future medical care.
- Lost Income: Loss of wages due to the inability to work including loss of future earnings.
- Pain and Suffering: The enduring effects of physical and mental pain and suffering caused by a serious injury that the victim will more than likely continue to suffer from in the future.
- Property Damage: Damages to property such as the vehicle and other personal items.
- Wrongful Death: An unintended fatality caused by another driver’s negligence.
How Long Does a Car Accident Case Take to Settle?
Most Long Beach car accident cases we’ve seen settle within 6 to 18 months, though the timeline depends on several factors. Simpler cases with clear liability and minor injuries may resolve in a few months. Complex cases involving severe injuries, disputed fault, or multiple parties can take longer.
Key factors that affect your timeline include how long it takes to reach maximum medical improvement (when your doctors can assess the full extent of your injuries), the cooperation of insurance companies, and whether litigation becomes necessary.
Insurance companies sometimes delay intentionally, hoping financial pressure will force you to accept a lower settlement. Having an attorney sends a message that you’re prepared to wait for fair compensation—or take your case to trial if needed.
We keep our clients informed throughout the process and work efficiently to resolve cases as quickly as possible without sacrificing the value of your claim. During your free consultation, we can provide a more specific estimate based on the details of your accident.
Why Hire The Reeves Law Group’s Attorneys for Your Car Accident Injury Claim?
- Over $250,000,000+ Recovered For Our Clients
- Newsweek’s 10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys
- No Fee Guarantee – No Fees Unless We Win
The aftermath of a car accident can leave you overwhelmed and uncertain. But you don’t have to navigate this process alone. Long Beach car accident and injury attorney Derek Pakiz is here to help you reclaim control—by fighting for the full compensation you deserve.
With over 30 years of experience and more than $250 million recovered for injured clients, The Reeves Law Group’s Long Beach legal team brings skill, strategy, and compassion to every case. From car accidents on the 710 freeway to slip and falls at local businesses or wrongful deaths caused by negligence, we’re ready to act—immediately.
Our law firm office is conveniently located at 1 World Trade Center, #800, right in Downtown Long Beach. We proudly serve injury victims throughout Belmont Shore, Signal Hill, Bixby Knolls, Lakewood, and surrounding communities. And if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you—at your home or in the hospital.
Why Call Now?
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The consultation is 100% free
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There are no fees unless we win
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We’re available 24/7
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Evidence and witness memories fade quickly
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California’s strict filing deadlines apply
Let us handle the legal fight while you focus on recovery. Our compassionate, dedicated attorneys will walk you through every step—answering your questions, managing paperwork, and fighting aggressively on your behalf.
Call (213) 271-9318 or fill out our contact form now to speak with an attorney. There’s no cost, no pressure—just real answers and real help, when you need it most.
[Written by Derek Pakiz. Page Updated 11/25/2025]
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A Review of Our Car Accident Attorneys
If you are in Long Beach or South Bay areas of LA county and need a law firm that will treat you fair and do an honest job, I recommend The Reeves Law Group. I was taken by ambulance to Gardena Memorial Hospital after I was t-boned by someone who ran a red light. I was in enormous pain, but The Reeves Law Group took the pain of dealing with the insurance company off my chest. Thankful to have a honest local firm to help me out.
Vianey L via Yelp
Review Rating: 5 / 5
Date Published: 09-08-2021
