Why Citrus Heights Residents Trust Reardon Injury Law
The moments after an accident are filled with confusion, pain, and uncertainty. One minute you’re commuting down Sunrise Boulevard or running errands near Greenback Lane, and the next you’re dealing with flashing lights, medical concerns, and the overwhelming stress of a damaged vehicle and a painful injury. Your daily routine is shattered, replaced by doctor’s appointments, missed work, and calls from aggressive insurance adjusters. At Reardon Injury Law, we understand that your world has been turned upside down, and our first priority is to provide the compassionate support and expert guidance you need to navigate this difficult time.
What sets Reardon Injury Law apart is our unique foundation in both medicine and law. Before becoming a personal injury attorney, our founder, John Reardon, practiced as a chiropractor for 20 years. This extensive medical background gives our firm an unparalleled advantage. We don’t just see a case file; we see the real-world impact of your injuries. We understand the complex nature of whiplash, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries on a clinical level. This allows us to build a more compelling case, communicate effectively with your doctors, and fight for the full compensation you need to cover future medical treatments and truly recover.
We believe that everyone in Citrus Heights deserves access to justice, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay absolutely no upfront costs or attorney’s fees. We cover all the expenses of building and litigating your case, and we only receive a fee if we successfully win a settlement or verdict for you. This approach allows you to focus on your health and recovery while we handle the legal complexities and take on the insurance companies on your behalf.
Accident Hotspots in Citrus Heights
As a bustling suburban city in Sacramento County, Citrus Heights sees a significant volume of commuter and commercial traffic, leading to several known accident hotspots. The city’s central location and major arterial roads create conditions where serious collisions can occur. Data shows that Citrus Heights has a notably high rate of speed-related collisions and hit-and-run incidents.
Drivers should be especially cautious at these intersections and roadways:
- Antelope Road and Sunrise Boulevard: This major junction handles a heavy flow of commuter traffic, and the high volume of vehicles increases the risk of serious car accidents, particularly during rush hour.
- Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard: Surrounded by shopping centers and restaurants, this intersection is notorious for complex turning movements, heavy traffic, and significant pedestrian activity. The mix of vehicles and people on foot makes it a high-risk area for both pedestrian accidents and T-bone collisions.
- Auburn Boulevard and Old Auburn Road/Sylvan Road: The convergence of these major roads creates a confusing and often congested area. Speeding along Auburn Boulevard, a historic route, further elevates the danger, leading to frequent rear-end and sideswipe accidents.
- Bremen Drive and Greenback Lane: Poor visibility and high speeds on Greenback Lane contribute to a high number of collisions at this intersection, putting drivers making turns from Bremen Drive at particular risk.
- Old Auburn Road and Sunrise Boulevard: Proximity to the freeway entrance and merging traffic patterns make this another challenging spot where motorcycle accidents and car crashes are common.
Types of Cases We Handle in Citrus Heights
Our firm is equipped to handle a wide range of personal injury claims. With our deep understanding of both the legal system and the medical realities of an injury, we are prepared to fight for clients who have been harmed by another’s negligence.
We frequently represent Citrus Heights residents in cases involving:
- Car Accidents: From fender-benders on local streets to high-speed crashes on Sunrise Boulevard, we help victims recover compensation for their injuries and losses.
- Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable on busy roads. We advocate fiercely for riders who have been injured due to inattentive or reckless drivers.
- Truck Accidents: Collisions involving large commercial trucks can be catastrophic. We have the resources to take on trucking companies and their insurers to secure justice for victims.
- Bicycle Accidents: We fight for the rights of cyclists injured by negligent drivers in a city that requires constant vigilance from those on two wheels.
- Pedestrian Accidents: With many commercial and residential areas, pedestrians in Citrus Heights face risks every day. We ensure their rights are protected after an accident.
- Rideshare Accidents: Accidents involving Uber and Lyft have unique insurance complexities. We navigate these intricate policies to ensure our clients are fairly compensated.
If you have been injured in any type of accident, please visit our practice areas page to learn more or contact us directly to discuss your case.
What to Do After an Accident in Citrus Heights
The steps you take immediately following an accident are crucial for protecting both your health and your legal rights.
- Prioritize Safety and Call 911: If you are able, move your vehicle to a safe location off the main roadway. Call 911 immediately. This will dispatch the Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) and emergency medical services to the scene.
- Seek Medical Attention: Your health is the top priority. Allow paramedics to evaluate you at the scene. Even if you feel fine, it is essential to get a full medical evaluation at an urgent care clinic or an emergency room, such as nearby Mercy San Juan Medical Center or Sutter Roseville Medical Center. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries that may only become apparent hours or days later.
- Document the Scene: If you are able, use your phone to take pictures of the accident scene, including the positions of the vehicles, property damage, skid marks, traffic signals, and your injuries. Exchange names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, and insurance details with all other drivers involved.
- File an Official Report: The responding CHPD officer will create a Traffic Collision Report. This report is a critical piece of evidence. Make sure you get the officer’s name and the report number so you can obtain a copy later.
- Avoid Admitting Fault: Do not apologize or admit any fault for the accident to anyone, including the other driver or police. Stick to the facts of what happened. Do not give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company without first speaking to an attorney.
- Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer: Before you accept any settlement offer, contact an experienced attorney. An attorney can protect you from aggressive insurance adjusters and ensure you are pursuing the full compensation you are legally entitled to.
Understanding Your Rights Under California Law
Navigating a personal injury claim requires an understanding of key California laws. An experienced attorney can apply these laws to the specifics of your case.
- Pure Comparative Negligence: California follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault, you can still collect 80% of your damages.
- Statute of Limitations: In California, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). However, there is a critical exception: if your claim is against a government entity (like the City of Citrus Heights or the State of California), you must file a formal administrative claim within just six months of the incident. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar you from recovering compensation.
- Minimum Insurance Requirements: California law requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of only $15,000 for injury to one person, $30,000 for injury to multiple people, and $5,000 for property damage. These low amounts are often completely inadequate to cover the costs of a serious injury. An attorney can help identify all potential sources of recovery, including your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage.
- Available Compensation (Damages): Victims of negligence are entitled to seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses, including medical bills (past and future), lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Contact Reardon Injury Law Today
You do not have to face this journey alone. At Reardon Injury Law, we are committed to providing the skilled legal representation and compassionate support you deserve. We serve clients throughout Citrus Heights and all of California, bringing a unique medical perspective to every case we handle.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. You don’t pay us a thing unless we win your case. Call us at (657) 522-7122 or fill out the form on our contact page to get started.
