Traffic crashes killed 4,061 people in California in 2023, down nearly 11 percent from 4,539 in 2022, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. Thousands more were seriously hurt in crashes, falls and other accidents. For an injured person, choosing a lawyer usually comes down to three questions: does the firm handle this kind of case, does it try cases when insurers will not pay fairly, and will someone keep the client informed along the way.
This guide compares ten firms from San Diego to Sacramento that hold personal injury practices, work on contingency and have long records in California courts. Kerr Law Firm of Fountain Valley leads Orange County drivers who need both an injury claim and a vehicle-value claim handled by one small, attorney-led team. Each other firm is matched to a different region or case type.
| Rank | Firm | Good Fit For | Key Strengths | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kerr Law Firm | Orange County crash victims with injury and vehicle-value losses | Practicing since 1979; diminished value and loss-of-use claims | Fountain Valley |
| 2 | Panish, Shea & Ravipudi | LA families in catastrophic injury or mass-disaster cases | Aliso Canyon settlement counsel; 12 languages | Los Angeles |
| 3 | Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger | Bay Area medical errors and serious injuries | Founded 1959; ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year 2014 | San Francisco |
| 4 | Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora | Sacramento-area big-rig and vehicle crashes | Record 2010 Sacramento County award; five languages | Sacramento |
| 5 | Greene Broillet & Wheeler | Westside and South Bay catastrophic and privacy cases | $55M Erin Andrews verdict (2016) | El Segundo |
| 6 | Singleton Schreiber | Wildfire, utility and vehicle-technology claims | $243M Tesla Autopilot verdict (2025) | San Diego |
| 7 | Bisnar Chase | Crash victims hurt by vehicle or seat defects | Auto-defect focus; five California offices | Newport Beach |
| 8 | Chain, Cohn & Clark | Kern County oilfield and workplace injuries | Founded 1934; Spanish-language team | Bakersfield |
| 9 | Harris Personal Injury Lawyers | Central Coast and smaller-city crash victims | 18 California offices | San Jose, Oakland and more |
| 10 | Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates | Inland Empire truck and motorcycle crashes | Ten California offices; Spanish and Arabic | Riverside, Irvine and more |
| Location: 16480 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Service Area: Orange County and Long Beach, including Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Irvine, Newport Beach and Anaheim Phone: (714) 531-5900 Lead Attorneys: Russell S. Kerr (managing partner, practicing since 1979), Russell E. Kerr and Alex G. Kerr Rating: 5.0 on GoogleFees: Contingency; no fee until money is recovered, and the firm advances case costs Website: kerrlawfirm.com |
Why they lead the list: Kerr Law Firm has represented injured people in Orange County since Russell S. Kerr began practicing in 1979, and its Orange County car accident attorneys handle car, truck, motorcycle, e-bike and pedestrian cases. What sets the firm apart is that it also pursues the vehicle side of a crash: diminished value and loss-of-use claims, which many injury firms leave clients to handle alone. The firm charges no fee until it recovers money and advances all case costs.
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Orange County drivers and riders hurt in a crash who also face a large loss in their vehicle's value, including owners of newer or high-end cars. Spanish-speaking clients can be served in Spanish.
Standout Features
Bottom line: A strong choice for Orange County crash victims who want one firm to handle both the injury claim and the vehicle-value claim.
What Reviewers Say: Google reviewers most often praise attentive attorneys who explain each step, strong results on diminished value and loss-of-use claims, and honest advice given without pressure. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Orange County crash victims with injury and vehicle-value losses.
| Location: 11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90025; second office downtown Los Angeles Service Area: California, with offices in Nevada, Arizona and Washington Phone: (310) 477-1700 Lead Attorneys: Brian Panish, Adam K. Shea and Rahul Ravipudi Rating: 4.6 on Google Fees: Contingency; no fee unless compensation is secured Website: panish.law |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Los Angeles families facing a fatal crash, a life-changing injury or a mass-casualty event. Brian Panish was named ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2010 and entered the CAALA Hall of Fame in 2023.
Bottom line: A good match for the most serious injury cases in Los Angeles County.
What Reviewers Say: Reviewers most often praise compassionate, responsive teams that keep clients updated. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: LA families in catastrophic injury or mass-disaster cases.
| Location: 650 California St., 26th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108 Service Area: San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California Phone: (415) 212-4350 Lead Attorneys: Michael A. Kelly, Richard H. Schoenberger and Doris Cheng Rating: 4.9 on Google Fees: 100% contingency; no upfront fees or retainers Website: walkuplawoffice.com |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Bay Area families dealing with a missed diagnosis, a surgical error or another serious injury. Founded in 1959, the firm says it takes serious injury cases only. Michael Kelly was named California ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2014.
Bottom line: A good match for complex Bay Area cases that turn on medical evidence.
What Reviewers Say: Google reviewers most often praise transparent, compassionate attorneys who explain the law and set realistic expectations. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Bay Area medical errors and serious injuries.
| Location: 20 Bicentennial Cir., Sacramento, CA 95826; offices in San Jose, Carmel and San Juan Capistrano Service Area: Sacramento region and Northern California Phone: (916) 999-9132 Lead Attorneys: Robert A. Buccola (managing partner), Roger A. Dreyer and Joseph J. Babich Rating: 4.8 on Google Fees: Contingency; no fee unless the case is won Website: dbbwc.com |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Sacramento-area residents hurt in commercial truck, bus or vehicle-defect crashes. The firm says it takes cases of all sizes. Roger Dreyer was named CAOC Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2010.
Bottom line: A practical choice for Sacramento cases against trucking companies.
What Reviewers Say: Google reviewers most often praise caring attorneys who fight low insurance offers and keep families informed. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Sacramento-area big-rig and vehicle crashes.
| Location: 222 N. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 2100, El Segundo, CA 90245 Service Area: Los Angeles County and California Phone: (866) 634-4525 Lead Attorneys: Bruce A. Broillet and Browne Greene Rating: 4.8 on Google Fees: Contingency; free consultation Website: www.gbw.law |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Westside and South Bay residents with a catastrophic injury or a claim against a large institution. The firm has practiced for more than 50 years, and Spanish-language help is available.
Bottom line: A fit for high-stakes cases likely to go to trial.
What Reviewers Say: Google reviewers most often praise clear communication, respectful consultations without pressure, and referrals even when the firm cannot take a case. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Westside and South Bay catastrophic and privacy cases.
| Location: 591 Camino de la Reina, Suite 1025, San Diego, CA 92108; offices in Pasadena, Sacramento and Clearlake Service Area: California and several other states Phone: (619) 489-1934 Lead Attorneys: Gerald Singleton (managing partner) and Brett Schreiber Rating: 4.5 on Google Fees: Contingency, typically 33% to 40%; the firm fronts case costs Website: singletonschreiber.com |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Families who lost homes or were hurt in a wildfire, and victims of crashes involving driver-assist systems. Brett Schreiber was named Consumer Attorneys of San Diego Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2021.
Bottom line: A good match for disaster and technology cases with many defendants.
What Reviewers Say: Google reviewers most often praise supportive case staff and settlements reached in reasonable time. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Wildfire, utility and vehicle-technology claims.
| Location: 1301 Dove St., Suite 120, Newport Beach, CA 92660; offices in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Service Area: Southern California Phone: (949) 203-3814 Lead Attorneys: Brian Chase (managing partner) and Scott Ritsema Rating: 4.7 on Google Fees: Contingency; no win, no fee, and the firm advances costs Website: bestattorney.com |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: People hurt when a seat, roof or other part of a vehicle failed in a crash. Brian Chase was named OCTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year for products liability in 2014 and has been a Super Lawyers selection every year since 2006.
Bottom line: Worth a call when a vehicle defect may have made injuries worse.
What Reviewers Say: Client reviewers on Google and Avvo praise responsive communication, strong advocacy and knowledge of auto-defect cases. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Crash victims hurt by vehicle or seat defects.
| Location: 1731 Chester Ave., Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 93301 Service Area: Kern County and the southern Central Valley Phone: (661) 616-9829 Lead Attorneys: Matthew C. Clark, David K. Cohn and Chad Boyles Rating: 4.6 on Google Fees: Contingency; no recovery, no fee Website: chainlaw.com |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Kern County workers and families, including Spanish-speaking clients, after a workplace or highway injury. The firm was founded in Bakersfield in 1934.
Bottom line: A practical choice for Bakersfield cases that mix workplace and injury claims.
What Reviewers Say: Google reviewers most often praise a team approach and responsive staff. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Kern County oilfield and workplace injuries.
| Location: 55 S. Market St., Suite 1010, San Jose, CA 95113; 18 California offices, including Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego and the Central Coast Service Area: California Phone: (408) 512-3600 Lead Attorneys: Ryan D. Harris (founder), Philip C. Alexander and Jared Salter Rating: 4.9 on Google Fees: Contingency; the firm covers investigation and filing costs Website: harrispersonalinjury.com |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Residents of the Central Coast, Central Valley and smaller cities who want a local office for meetings. Ryan Harris has been a Super Lawyers selection every year from 2013 to 2026.
Bottom line: A good match when a nearby office matters.
What Reviewers Say: Google and Avvo reviewers most often praise case results, steady communication and supportive staff. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Central Coast and smaller-city crash victims.
| Location: 3610 Central Ave., Suite 400, Riverside, CA 92506; offices in Irvine, Anaheim, Ontario, Corona, San Diego and more Service Area: Inland Empire, Orange County and California Phone: (951) 444-5922 Lead Attorneys: Samer Habbas (founder) Rating: 4.9 on Google Fees: Contingency; no fees unless money is recovered Website: habbaspilaw.com |
What They Do Best
Ideal Customers: Inland Empire drivers and riders hurt on the region's freight corridors. Samer Habbas has been a Super Lawyers selection since 2022.
Bottom line: A practical choice for Riverside and San Bernardino County crash cases.
What Reviewers Say: Google and Avvo reviewers most often praise professional staff, regular updates and fair settlements. No recurring complaint.
Good fit for: Inland Empire truck and motorcycle crashes.
Primary factors
Secondary factors
Every firm here handles personal injury cases in California on a contingency basis. Kerr Law Firm ranks first for Orange County crash victims who need both their injuries and their vehicle losses handled by one attorney-led team.
Before signing, confirm the attorney's license on the State Bar of California website, ask who will handle the case day to day, and get the fee percentage and cost terms in writing.
