Fresno Car Accident Lawyer Fighting for Car Accident Victims
Everything gets disrupted after a car crash. Plans fall apart. You’re trying to figure out transportation, deal with pain you didn’t expect, and make decisions while barely sleeping. If someone else caused it, that adds a whole other layer—especially when their insurance company is already asking questions and hinting at blame. Car accident cases can be more complicated than they appear, especially when injuries don’t fully show up until days later or fault is disputed.
If you’ve been seriously hurt in a car accident in the Central Valley and need answers, call Fresno car accident attorney Tim Mazzela at (866) 570-6611—he’s handled high-stakes cases like yours for decades and the firm takes calls 24/7.
Types of Car Accidents That We Can Help With
- Head-on Collisions
- Vehicle Rollovers
- Single Car Accidents
- Rear-End Collisions
- Side Impact “T-Bone”
- Sideswipe Collisions
- Hit-and-run Accidents
- Multi-vehicle pile-ups
- Ridesharing Accidents
- Uber Accidents
- Lyft Accidents
- Street Racing Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Driving While High
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
How to Protect Your Health and Your Case After a Crash
In the first few minutes after a car crash, it’s hard to think clearly. You might be in pain, disoriented, or just trying to get your bearings. But the steps you take—or skip—can affect both your recovery and any personal injury claim you may need to file later.
Here’s what to do if you’re able to move safely:
- Take photos of everything. Capture all vehicle damage, license plates, debris on the road, skid marks, and anything else that helps tell the story. If possible, include wider shots of the intersection, traffic signs, and surrounding area.
- Get witness contact information. Don’t count on them waiting for police to arrive. Take a photo of the other party’s driver’s license and proof of insurance/vehicle registration. Ask for names and phone numbers—these statements can make a big difference if fault is later disputed.
- Request a police report. Even if the crash seems minor, having an official record adds weight to your claim. If no officer responds, file a report yourself as soon as possible.
- Seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms don’t always show up right away. Getting checked out early protects your health and strengthens your medical records if you later pursue compensation.
- Document everything you remember. Use your phone to jot down notes or record a voice memo. Details fade fast, and even small observations like the other driver’s behavior or weather conditions can become important.
Early action gives you a stronger position later, especially when the other driver’s insurance company tries to shift blame or question what happened.
What If You’re Not Sure Whether You Need a Lawyer?
Not every car accident leads to a lawsuit. But waiting too long to get legal guidance can quietly damage your case, especially when injuries develop slowly or fault isn’t clear-cut.
A few concerns come up again and again:
- “I feel okay—do I still need to get checked out?”
Yes. Even if you’re not in pain at the scene, adrenaline can mask injuries. Whiplash, internal trauma, and head injuries sometimes don’t show symptoms for days. A medical record created soon after the crash gives you a foundation to work from if those symptoms worsen—and it’s harder for the other driver’s insurance company to argue you weren’t really hurt. - “The crash might have been partly my fault. Do I still have a case?”
In many Fresno personal injury cases, fault isn’t black and white. California law allows injured people to recover compensation even if they were partially responsible. If a negligent driver shares the blame, the law adjusts the compensation—not erases it. - “I don’t have the money for a lawyer. What are my options?”
You don’t need to pay anything upfront. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless we recover money for you. That includes free consultation and no out-of-pocket legal bills along the way.
Deciding whether to call an attorney shouldn’t add more stress to an already stressful situation. If you’re unsure, a short conversation can help you understand where you stand—and whether you actually need representation at all.
How Fresno Car Accident Claims Really Work
Most people don’t call a lawyer because they’re eager to sue someone. They call because the bills are piling up, the insurance company isn’t helping, and they’re not sure what else to do. If that’s where you are, here’s how the process works—plain and simple.
First Contact
When you call, you’re not getting transferred to a chain of intake reps. Someone here will ask what happened, how you’re doing, and what you’ve already dealt with. If it sounds like a case we can help you with, we can make an appointment to come in and meet with the attorney.
Getting the Case Moving
Right away, we start tracking down what matters: crash reports, photos, body shop records, video if it’s available, and your medical information. If fault is being argued or the injuries are serious, we may retain outside professionals to help prove what really happened. The sooner we start, the more we can lock in the facts to support your case.
You Don’t Talk to the Insurance Company Again
After we’re involved, everything goes through us. That includes the calls, the paperwork, and the strategy. You won’t be be harassed by insurance companies or have to explain yourself again to a claims adjuster who’s taking notes and watching for anything they can use against you later. We keep the pressure where it belongs—on them.
Some Settle, Some Don’t
Plenty of cases are resolved through negotiation and do not require litigation. Others take more work. If we don’t get a reasonable offer, we do move your claim into the litigation process. Filing a lawsuit doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll spend months in a courtroom. It just means we’re no longer playing on the insurance company’s timeline.
Timelines Are Never the Same
Some claims move quickly. Others don’t. If you’re still going through treatment, or if the other side keeps stalling, things can drag out. It’s not ideal—but we’ll keep it moving and let you know what’s happening. That’s part of the job.
The Hidden Tactics Insurance Companies Use
The first call from the other driver’s insurance company might sound polite. That’s the point. They want you relaxed, casual, and unprepared—because it makes their job easier later.
Some of the most common tactics include:
- Asking for a recorded statement early on
They say it’s routine. They say it won’t be used against you. But it usually is. Even saying “I’m okay” or “I think I’m fine” can be turned into evidence that you weren’t really injured. - Steering the conversation into fault
Adjusters may ask how fast you were going, what you were doing right before the crash, or if you “saw it coming.” They’re not just gathering facts—they’re testing for ways to shift blame. - Pushing early settlements
You may get an offer before you’ve even finished treatment. They’re hoping you’ll accept before the full costs hit, especially if you’ve missed work or haven’t seen a specialist yet. - Calling directly instead of going through your attorney
You’re not required to explain anything to the other driver’s insurer. If they reach out, say nothing and forward it to your attorney. You don’t owe them a conversation.
The longer they can keep you talking, the more likely you are to say something they can use against you. That’s why we step in quickly—so you don’t have to deal with it at all.
Car Accident Injuries That Can Change a Life
Injuries from a crash don’t always show up right away. What seems like soreness or a mild headache can turn into something far more serious once the shock wears off. That’s why injury type plays such a major role in how we build a personal injury case.
Types of Injuries We Commonly See
Every car accident is different, but these injuries come up frequently in Fresno and throughout the Central Valley:
- Spinal cord injuries that lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, or permanent damage
- Traumatic brain injuries with effects that range from memory loss to mood changes
- Fractures that may require surgery or long-term rehab
- Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash and deep muscle strain
- Psychological injuries like PTSD, anxiety, or ongoing sleep problems
Why Injury Type Shapes the Case Strategy
The nature of the injury affects nearly every step of the case. A spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury might require consultations with neurologists, life care planners, or vocational experts. Even less visible conditions—like soft tissue injuries—need strong documentation to counter insurance arguments that they’re exaggerated or unrelated.
The steps we take on your case depend entirely on how the injury is affecting your day-to-day life, physically, emotionally, and financially.
The Risk of Delayed Treatment
If you wait too long to seek care, it becomes harder to link the injury to the accident. Insurance companies use those gaps to downplay the severity or suggest your condition came from something else. Insurance companies do this most frequently in cases involving head trauma, joint strain, or lower back injuries that don’t show up clearly in early imaging
What Damages Can You Recover After a Car Accident?
When someone refers to “damages” in a car accident case, they’re talking about the financial value of everything the crash has taken from you or forced you to deal with. That includes medical bills, missed work, property damage, long-term effects, and the personal toll it’s had on your life.
The specific damages you may be able to recover in a car accident case depend on the facts—your injuries, losses, and how the crash has affected your daily life.
Immediate and Ongoing Medical Costs
- Emergency room visits
- Surgery
- Hospital stays
- Follow-up care
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Specialist appointments
Medical expenses can add up quickly, especially if you’re still receiving treatment or don’t have full coverage through your health insurance.
Income Loss and Career Disruption
- Missed days or weeks of work
- Reduced hours because of your injury
- Lost opportunities for raises or promotions
- Long-term disability that limits future earning power
Even a relatively short recovery can leave you behind on rent, bills, or credit cards. And if you can’t return to your previous job, the financial hit may last far longer than the injury itself.
Impact on Quality of Life
- Chronic pain or physical limitations
- Emotional stress or anxiety
- Strain on family relationships or responsibilities
- Loss of mobility, hobbies, or social activity
- Need for ongoing mental health care
Some losses are harder to quantify but just as real. You can recover for those effects as well, especially when they interfere with your independence or limit what you’re able to enjoy day to day.
Getting the full value of your car accident case means looking at more than just your initial medical bills. It means building a clear picture of what this crash has cost you—now and moving forward.
Fresno Roads—Real Risks
Fresno and the Central Valley in California see their share of high-speed collisions, congested intersections, and reckless drivers cutting corners where they shouldn’t. Streets like Shaw Avenue, Blackstone, and stretches of Highway 99 carry heavy traffic day and night, and accidents on these roads tend to involve serious impact and major injuries. Most of them aren’t quiet backroads. They’re among the busiest and most dangerous stretches in the Central Valley.
One recent case stands out. Tim Mazzela represented a driver who was T-boned by a Fresno County sheriff’s deputy. The crash made local headlines, and the video below shows how fast things can unfold, even when you’ve done nothing wrong. That case involved injuries, missed work, vehicle loss, and months of recovery—all because someone else didn’t follow the rules.
Whether your crash happened on a rural road or during rush hour downtown, the impact on your life is real. And if it happened in Fresno, there’s a good chance we’ve seen something similar—and already helped someone through it.
If any of the situations below pertain to your accident, call Fresno Personal Injury Attorney, Tim Mazzela.
- If you want to get the maximum settlement
- If you want to know the value of your case
- If the insurance company is treating you unfairly
- If you need assistance settling medical treatment
- If there is significant injury from broken bones, head injury, or even fatality
- If it is unclear who was at fault
- If the accident involved other cars, pedestrians, or someone on a bicycle
- If the police report does not accurately describe the accident
- If the crash occurred in a school zone or construction area
- If you have concerns about your insurance status or liability limits
- If your insurance company connects you with their attorney
Ready to Take the Next Step? Call Tim Mazzela, APC Today
No Fees Unless We Win
You don’t pay anything up front. You don’t pay hourly. And if we don’t win your case, you don’t owe a fee at all. That’s how contingency works—and it’s how we handle every car accident claim we take on.
What You Can Expect
Your first call is free. You’ll speak with someone who knows this process, not a sales rep. We’ll ask a few questions, explain what to expect, and give you real clarity about your options. If we take your case, you’ll hear from us directly—not just when something happens, but when you need answers.
Call Today
If you’ve been injured in a Fresno crash and you’re not sure what to do next, call car accident lawyer, Tim Mazzela at (559) 297-1118. You’ll have a chance to explain what happened, get your questions answered, and talk with someone who’s handled cases like yours before. No pressure—just a straightforward conversation about what comes next and honest help when you need it most.
