Westwood Car Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in a car accident in Westwood? 

Schedule a free consultation with an experienced Westwood car accident lawyer today.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Westwood, a qualified attorney can help you hold the at-fault driver and their insurance company accountable for your losses. Our Westwood, CA car accident lawyer at Cohen Injury Law Group is led by founding attorney Wayne R. Cohen, who has represented car accident victims since 1991. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis, and consultations are always free. Contact our office to discuss your claim.

Car Accident Lawyer Westwood, CA

A car accident case involves a personal injury claim brought by someone who was injured in a motor vehicle collision caused by another driver’s negligence. The person at fault, or their insurer, is responsible for covering the injured party’s medical bills, lost income, and other losses that resulted from the crash. California law gives injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians the right to pursue that compensation through an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit.

Westwood sits between the I-405 corridor and major surface streets like Wilshire Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, and Westwood Boulevard. Traffic in and around the UCLA campus is heavy during morning and evening commutes, and the mix of student drivers, rideshare vehicles, buses, and pedestrians makes collisions a regular occurrence. Building a strong car accident claim in this area requires an understanding of California liability law and how local conditions factor into each case.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Westwood

The volume and variety of traffic flowing through Westwood creates conditions for many different kinds of collisions. Whether a crash happens on a residential street near campus or during a merge onto the 405, we handle car accident claims across the area, including:

• Rear-end collisions. Stop-and-go traffic along Wilshire and at major intersections around Westwood Village leads to frequent rear-end crashes. These often cause whiplash, back injuries, and herniated discs that may not present symptoms for several days.
• Head-on collisions. When a driver crosses the center line or enters a road traveling the wrong direction, the resulting crash is often catastrophic. Head-on collisions carry some of the highest fatality and serious injury rates of any accident type.
• Sideswipe accidents. Lane changes on multi-lane roads like Wilshire Boulevard and along 405 on-ramps are a common source of sideswipe crashes. Drivers who fail to check blind spots or signal before merging put adjacent vehicles at risk.
• Hit-and-run accidents. A driver who causes a crash and leaves the scene creates an additional layer of difficulty for the injured person. California law still provides options for recovering damages in these situations, including uninsured motorist coverage and, in some cases, civil claims.
• Multi-vehicle pileups. Chain-reaction crashes on the I-405 or at congested intersections involve multiple drivers, multiple insurance carriers, and disputed questions of fault. These cases are among the most factually complex we handle.
• Rideshare accidents. Collisions involving Uber and Lyft vehicles are common near UCLA and the commercial areas of Westwood Village. Liability in these cases depends on whether the driver was logged into the app, actively carrying a passenger, or en route to a pickup.
• DUI accidents. A driver impaired by alcohol or drugs who causes a crash may face both criminal charges and a civil liability claim from the injured party. According to NHTSA data, alcohol-impaired driving accounts for roughly 30% of all traffic fatalities in the United States.
• Distracted driving accidents. Texting, phone use, and other driver distractions are a leading contributor to crashes nationwide. NHTSA reports that over 3,200 people were killed in distraction-related crashes in 2024 alone. These cases often turn on cell phone records, dashcam footage, and witness statements.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as My Car Accident Lawyer in Westwood, CA?

More Than Three Decades of Car Accident Representation

Attorney Wayne R. Cohen has represented car accident victims since 1991. He founded Cohen Injury Law Group and has spent more than 35 years building and trying personal injury cases on the plaintiff side. Wayne graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan and cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. He teaches as a Professorial Lecturer at GWU Law School, and his legal commentary has appeared in outlets including CNBC, the ABA Journal, the LA Times, and USA Today. Over the course of his career, attorney Wayne Cohen has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients.

Managing Partner Nicholas E. Cohen oversees firm operations and client strategy. He earned his undergraduate degree from USC and his law degree from Loyola Law School Los Angeles, and he applies both legal and business training to the management of the firm’s caseload.

Cohen Injury Law Group is a plaintiff-only firm. If you need a personal injury lawyer in Westwood, CA, we handle every car accident case on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

What Is Important to Understand About a Car Accident Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Car Accident Cases

Car accident victims in California can pursue two categories of damages. Economic damages include the costs you can document with bills and records: hospital charges, surgical costs, rehabilitation, prescription medication, wages lost during recovery, and any reduction in your future earning capacity. Noneconomic damages cover losses that are harder to quantify, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of activities you could do before the accident.

Liability often falls on the driver who caused the crash, but it can extend to other parties. An employer whose driver caused the accident while on the job, a vehicle manufacturer whose defective part contributed to the crash, or a government entity that failed to maintain a road could each share responsibility. California follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means you can recover damages even if you bear some percentage of the blame.

What Are Important Aspects of a Car Accident Case?

Several factors carry weight in a car accident claim, and getting them right early in the process matters.

• A police report filed at the scene creates an official record of the crash, including the responding officer’s observations and any citations issued. It is one of the most important pieces of evidence in any car accident case.
• Prompt medical treatment documents the connection between the accident and your injuries. Gaps in care give insurers a reason to argue your injuries came from something else.
• Photographs of the vehicles, the scene, traffic signals, skid marks, and your visible injuries preserve details that fade with time.
• California gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline means losing the right to bring a claim.

What Is the Car Accident Case Timeline?

No two car accident cases follow the same timeline. Straightforward claims with clear liability sometimes settle in a matter of months. Cases involving disputed fault, severe injuries, or multiple parties can take a year or longer. That said, most follow a general sequence.

• Your attorney reviews the facts of the crash, gathers police reports and medical records, and identifies the responsible parties and their insurance coverage.
• Medical treatment continues until you reach maximum medical improvement. Settling before that point risks leaving future medical costs uncovered.
• Once the full scope of damages is known, your attorney sends a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurer. Negotiations begin from there.
• Many car accident cases resolve at this stage. If the insurer’s offer is not reasonable, your attorney files a lawsuit. Discovery, depositions, and potential trial follow.
• Under CCP § 335.1, the filing deadline is two years from the date of the accident.

What Should You Bring to Your Car Accident Consultation?

Organizing your materials before the initial meeting allows your attorney to evaluate your case right away.

• The police report or any incident report from the scene
• Photos of vehicle damage, the accident location, and your injuries
• All medical records and bills related to the crash
• Proof of lost wages, such as pay stubs or a letter from your employer
• Any correspondence from insurance companies, including the first settlement offer if one has been made

Your attorney will review what you bring, explain how California law applies, and outline a path forward based on the specifics of your case.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Car Accident Cases?

California has statutes addressing the statute of limitations, negligence, and damages that apply directly to car accident claims. These resources can help you locate the relevant law.

• Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 sets the statute of limitations for personal injury claims at two years from the date of the injury.
• California Civil Code § 1714 establishes the general duty of care that every person owes to others, forming the legal basis for most negligence claims.
• The California Courts Self-Help Center provides information on filing a personal injury lawsuit and what to expect during the civil litigation process.
• NHTSA publishes national data on distracted driving and impaired driving fatalities and injuries, both of which are leading contributors to car accidents in California and across the country.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

If you or a family member was injured in a car accident in Westwood, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group can help you understand your options. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Your first consultation is free. Contact us to schedule a case review.