Burbank Car Accident Lawyer

OTS crash rankings recorded 596 people killed or injured in Burbank traffic collisions in 2022, and the city ranked fourth among 61 similar-sized California cities for pedestrian victims that year. Commuter traffic through the Media District, airport traffic on Hollywood Way, and the merge where the 134 meets the 5 all contribute to those numbers.

Our Burbank car accident attorney represents people injured by another driver’s negligence and pursues compensation from the at-fault party’s insurer or, when the insurer will not pay, through a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court. That work includes investigating the crash, documenting injuries, valuing the claim, negotiating with adjusters, and trying the case if it comes to that. Most claims settle, but the ones that don’t settle fairly get filed.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Burbank

Car crashes vary widely in cause, severity, and the parties involved. Some claims resolve with a single insurer within months. Others require litigation against multiple defendants. Types of cases our Burbank car accident lawyers handle include:

• Rear-end collisions. Stop-and-go traffic on Olive Avenue and the 5 produces frequent rear-end crashes. Fault is often clear, but insurers still dispute injury severity, particularly for whiplash and soft tissue claims. We document the injury early, before the adjuster questions it.

• Intersection and left-turn crashes. Left-turn collisions at signals along Victory Boulevard and Buena Vista Street often come down to conflicting accounts of who had the arrow. We pull traffic camera footage, signal timing records, and witness statements to determine fault.

• Distracted driving accidents. NHTSA distracted driving data attributes 3,208 deaths nationwide in 2024 to drivers who were not paying attention. Phone records and vehicle data can establish distraction, and we subpoena them when the facts support it.

• Drunk and impaired driving crashes. A driver who causes a crash while impaired faces criminal charges and civil liability. We track the criminal case and pursue the full civil claim, including punitive damages where the conduct justifies it.

• Hit-and-run accidents. Burbank recorded 42 injury or fatal hit-and-run collisions in 2022. When the driver is never identified, the claim proceeds under your own uninsured motorist coverage. We handle that claim against your insurer with the same preparation as a claim against a third party.

• Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. Many drivers in Los Angeles County carry minimum coverage or none at all. Recovering from an uninsured driver depends on your own policy, and underinsured motorist coverage fills the gap when the at-fault driver’s limits fall short of your damages.

• Rideshare accidents. Uber and Lyft trips to and from Hollywood Burbank Airport raise coverage questions that depend on whether the driver was logged in, en route, or carrying a passenger. We identify the policy that applies and pursue it.

• Truck accidents. Commercial vehicles on the 5 cause disproportionate harm. These cases involve federal regulations, driver logs, and corporate defendants with their own legal departments.

• Pedestrian accidents. Burbank ranked second among comparable cities for pedestrian victims age 65 and older in 2022. We handle crosswalk and sidewalk collisions alongside vehicle occupant claims.

• Multi-vehicle freeway crashes. Chain-reaction collisions on the 134 require reconstruction to sort out which driver bears which share of responsibility. We retain accident reconstruction specialists when liability is contested.

Why Choose Seber Bulger Law as my Car Accident Lawyer in Burbank, CA?

Plaintiff-Side Trial Attorneys With California Credentials

Jonathan Seber and Jim Bulger founded the firm to represent injured people. Neither attorney accepts defense work for insurers or corporations. Jonathan holds a law degree from Fordham Law School, is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year from 2017 through 2025. He was also selected to The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.

Jim earned his law degree from Fordham in 2003 and is licensed in California and New York, with federal court admissions in both states. Super Lawyers has selected him every year since 2020. Both attorneys belong to the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. That plaintiff-only background is exactly what you want from a personal injury lawyer in Burbank, CA.

Results Without Upfront Cost

Our Burbank car accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients through settlements and verdicts. We accept Burbank car accident cases on contingency. You pay nothing to start, and no attorney fees are owed unless we recover compensation. Insurers know which firms will try a case and which will not, and we prepare each claim as though it will reach a jury.

What Is Important to Understand About a Car Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases

California law holds every driver responsible for injuries caused by a failure to use ordinary care. Running a red light, following too closely, texting, and speeding all qualify. Liability can also reach an employer, a vehicle owner, or a public entity responsible for a dangerous roadway.

California applies comparative fault. If you were partly responsible, your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame, but you can still recover the remainder. Insurers use this rule aggressively, which is one reason lowball settlement offers arrive so early. Damages are measured as the amount that will compensate for all detriment the crash caused. In a car accident case that typically includes:

• Medical expenses, past and future, including surgery, therapy, and medication

• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity

• Property damage to your vehicle and personal items

• Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life

• Punitive damages in cases involving drunk driving or other reckless conduct

What Are Important Aspects of a Car Accident Case?

Most car accident claims are won or lost on evidence gathered in the first few weeks. Memories fade, vehicles get repaired, and camera footage gets overwritten. Our Burbank car accident lawyer can help you secure crucial evidence, which may include:

• The collision report from the Burbank Police Department, which becomes available several days after the crash

• Consistent medical treatment with no unexplained gaps

• Photographs of the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries

• Witness contact information secured before people disperse

• Careful handling of every insurer contact, especially when the claims adjuster calls asking for a recorded statement

What Is the Car Accident Case Timeline?

The two-year filing deadline for personal injury lawsuits in California runs from the date of the crash. The work begins well before that, and a typical timeline of working with our Burbank car accident attorney may include:

• Investigation (weeks 1 to 8). We collect the report, photos, medical records, and insurance information, and we send preservation letters for footage and vehicle data.

• Medical treatment (months 1 to 12). The claim cannot be valued accurately until your doctors understand the full extent of your injuries.

• Demand and negotiation (1 to 3 months after treatment stabilizes). We send a demand package to the insurer and negotiate. Many cases resolve here.

• Lawsuit and discovery (12 to 24 months). If the insurer refuses a fair number, we file in Los Angeles County Superior Court and proceed through written discovery and depositions.

• Mediation or trial. Most filed cases settle at mediation. The rest go to a jury.

What Should You Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation?

Bring any evidence you have related to the collision. Missing documents do not prevent us from evaluating your case.

• The collision report number or the report itself

• Photos from the scene and of your injuries, since photos strengthen claims considerably

• Insurance cards and any letters or emails from an adjuster

• Medical bills, discharge papers, and treatment records to date

• Contact information for witnesses and the other driver

The consultation with our Burbank car accident attorneys is free and usually lasts under an hour. We’ll tell you whether you have a viable claim and what we would do first.

Most Dangerous Locations for Car Accidents in Burbank, CA

Safer Streets Burbank, the city’s roadway safety plan, identifies nine corridors where fatal and severe-injury crashes concentrate. Between 2018 and 2022, Burbank averaged 23 such crashes per year.

Dangerous streets:

• Glenoaks Boulevard between Cypress Avenue and Olive Avenue

• Victory Boulevard from Ontario Street to Providencia Avenue

• Hollywood Way from Vanowen Street to Clark Avenue, carrying airport and studio traffic

• San Fernando Boulevard from the I-5 ramps to Cypress Avenue

• Buena Vista Street from San Fernando Boulevard to Clark Avenue

• Olive Avenue, Alameda Avenue, and Vanowen Street, each flagged for severe-injury collisions

Dangerous highways:

• Interstate 5 (Golden State Freeway), particularly the Burbank Boulevard, Olive Avenue, and Alameda Avenue interchanges

• State Route 134 (Ventura Freeway), especially the merge with the 5 near the city’s southeastern edge

Reach Out to Seber Bulger Law to Schedule a Consultation

If you were injured in a crash anywhere in Burbank, we would like to hear what happened. The consultation is free, and we handle car accident cases on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you. We respond to new inquiries promptly. Contact us to schedule a case review with our Burbank car accident attorney.