Rear End Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles
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Los Angeles rear end accident lawyer: quick answers
Who handles rear-end collision cases at B&D Law Group in Los Angeles?
B&D Law Group, APLC is a personal injury firm with its main office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. We handle rear-end collision injury claims across Los Angeles County and California. Call (888) 977-2238 for a free case review.
Is the driver who rear-ends another car always at fault?
No. No California statute makes the rear driver automatically liable. Fault depends on following distance, speed, attention, braking and how suddenly the lead car stopped (Pittman v. Boiven (1967) 249 Cal.App.2d 207). In practice, the following-distance rule (Vehicle Code 21703) and the basic speed law (Vehicle Code 22350) often decide the case.
Can the lead driver share the blame?
Yes. A driver must not stop or suddenly slow down without signaling to the driver behind when there is an opportunity to do so (Vehicle Code 22109). Shared fault reduces a recovery but does not bar it (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804).
How long do I have to file a rear-end accident claim in California?
Two years from the injury to file a lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). If a city bus or other government vehicle hit you, a written claim is generally due within six months (Government Code 911.2).
What does it cost to hire B&D?
The case review is free. We work on contingency, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover for you.
Statutes and cases checked November 10, 2026. General information, not legal advice about your case. B&D Law Group, APLC, Los Angeles, California.
Rear-end crashes are among the most common collisions on Los Angeles streets and freeways, and the injuries, especially to the neck and back, are often worse than the damage to the car suggests. Many people assume the rear driver is always at fault. California law is more careful than that, which is why evidence matters from the start.
The rules of the road behind a rear-end crash
- Following too closely. A driver must not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, considering the other vehicle’s speed, traffic and the road conditions (Vehicle Code 21703).
- Basic speed law. No one may drive faster than is reasonable or prudent for the weather, visibility, traffic and road, and never at a speed that endangers people or property (Vehicle Code 22350).
- The lead driver’s duty. A driver must not stop or suddenly slow down without first giving an appropriate signal to the driver behind, when there is an opportunity to do so (Vehicle Code 22109).
Is the rear driver automatically at fault?
No. There is no California statute that makes the rear driver automatically liable. A California appeals court put it directly: a driver is not necessarily negligent because their vehicle rear-ends another, and fault depends on the circumstances, such as following distance, speed, attention, braking and how suddenly the lead car stopped (Pittman v. Boiven (1967) 249 Cal.App.2d 207).
In practice, the rules above often decide the case. Under California’s negligence per se instruction, if a jury finds that a driver violated a safety statute such as Vehicle Code 21703 or 22350 and that the violation was a substantial factor in causing the harm, it must find that driver negligent unless the violation is excused (CACI 418).
When more than one driver shares the blame
Chain-reaction crashes on the freeway, sudden stops and unlit brake lights can spread fault across several drivers. California’s pure comparative fault system reduces each person’s recovery by their own share of fault rather than barring it. For non-economic damages like pain and suffering, each defendant pays only their own percentage share (Civil Code 1431.2), so identifying every responsible driver matters.
Evidence that decides rear-end claims
- Photos of both vehicles, including the point of impact and brake lights.
- Dashcam and nearby business or traffic camera footage, requested quickly before it is overwritten.
- The police report and witness contact information.
- Prompt medical records that connect your symptoms to the crash. Neck and back symptoms can appear a day or more later.
If you were hit by a city bus or other government vehicle, a claim against the public agency generally must be presented within six months (Government Code 911.2). See also our car accident, truck accident and hit and run pages, and our guide to who is at fault in a rear-end collision in California.
Deadlines and fault rules that apply to every California injury claim
- Two years to file a lawsuit. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
- Six months for claims against a public agency. If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, for example because of a dangerous road condition or a government vehicle, a written claim generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues under Government Code section 911.2. Missing that deadline can end the claim.
- Partly at fault does not mean no recovery. California uses pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804). If you share some of the blame, your compensation is reduced by your share rather than barred.
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in rear-end collisions throughout Los Angeles and California from our Los Angeles office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. The consultation is free, and we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (888) 977-2238 or send us your case details.
Attorney advertising. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency procedures, fees and data on this page were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.