How Long Does a Car Accident Stay on Your Record in CA?

If you’re not at fault for a car accident, the accident will stay on your record in California for three years. However, parties not at fault for car accidents can file an appeal to have accidents removed from their records before those three years pass, making it easier to reduce insurance premiums as a result.

To move forward with an effort to remove a car accident from your driving record in California, you first need to prove that you weren’t at fault for your collision.

An experienced Fresno car accident lawyer can help you make your case not only to preserve your right to remove an accident from your record but also to give you the chance to fight for accident damages.

If you have questions about how California classifies its car accidents and how one might impact your future, consider getting in touch with our team today. Fowler | Helsel | Vogt is here to answer your questions.

When Can a Car Accident Go on Your California Driving Record?

Our personal injury lawyers in Fresno know that you have an obligation to report an accident that generates more than $750 in property damage to the police within 24 hours of your collision. Likewise, if you get into an accident that results in injuries or fatalities, you have an obligation to report that accident as soon as possible.

Likewise, you need to report car accidents to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of a collision. Doing so makes it easier for you to financially recover from your losses, but it can also result in an accident staying on your record in California.

If you weren’t at fault for a car accident, that collision may remain on your driving record for up to three years. If you were at fault for a collision, an accident may stay on your record for up to 10 years. All the while, that accident can impact your insurance premiums. 

How Can You Contest Accusations of Fault After a Car Accident?

If you want to challenge accusations of fault after a car accident in California and keep an accident off your driving record, or reduce the amount of time you end up having a car accident on your record, call our legal team.

We can conduct a thorough investigation into your accident to discover:

• What instances of negligence contributed to your losses.
• Who was involved in your accident breached the duty of care that they owed you.
• What evidence you can use to push back against accusations of shared fault.

We connect with professional investigators to establish liability after a car accident. We can look over an accident scene for physical debris as relevant to your crash, then pair what we find with witness statements, video footage of your crash, and photos from before, during, or after an accident.

We can also work with expert witnesses, including emergency responders and police officers, to build out assertions of liability. All of this effort helps us argue that you should have the right to remove an accident from your California driving record sooner rather than later.

Should You Work With a Fresno Car Accident Lawyer?

If you want to spearhead an investigation into your recent car accident, consider connecting with an experienced legal professional. At Fowler | Helsel | Vogt, our car accident lawyers in Fresno do more than investigate liability and assign responsibility for your accident. We’re also here to help you fight for accident compensation in the arena that suits you best.

We can push to have a car accident removed from your driving record in California as soon as possible, namely by helping you file the necessary paperwork.

We can also preserve your right to financially recover from your accident. We do the latter by assigning liability for your losses with concrete evidence of harm.

We can then represent you in ongoing conversations about your right to compensation, be those with insurers or liable parties. Our representation can prevent insurance adjusters from trying to pressure you into accepting insufficient settlement offers. We can subsequently protect your right to comprehensive financial aid as you recover from a crash.

How Can You Financially Recover From a Car Accident in California?

Once you can successfully identify the party that you can hold financially accountable for a car accident, it’s time to demand the compensation you need. You can do this using an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, depending on how you want to move forward with your case.

Our legal team can help you, no matter which of these means you want to use to argue for financial support. We can speak with insurance adjusters and push back against attempts to misrepresent fault in your accident or otherwise claim that you don’t qualify for coverage under a relevant insurance policy.

If insurance adjusters won’t provide you with the financial support you need to heal after a car accident, we can take your fight for compensation to civil court.

You may not have to present your case to a judge but might instead be able to convince a liable party to offer you support during negotiations. You can trust Fowler | Helsel | Vogt to stand with you, no matter how you proceed.

Let’s Discuss Your Driving Record Today

Are you wondering how long a car accident stays on your record in California or what steps you can take to recover from a recent collision? If so, consider getting in touch with a car accident attorney in Fresno.

Our lawyers at Fowler | Helsel | Vogt can help you understand how an accident is likely to impact your future and what steps you can take to minimize your stress.

Fowler | Helsel | Vogt is here to represent you in and out of court as you communicate with insurers, prove liability, and argue for your right to compensation.

If you need help pushing to have an accident expunged from your record or you want to discuss the different means you can use to financially recover from a collision, schedule a free accident consultation with our office.