How to Choose a Car Accident Lawyer in California
Choose a car accident lawyer by comparing the work your claim needs with the person who would actually do it. A disputed collision, an unresolved diagnosis and an uninsured-driver claim raise different questions. Start with a short factual case summary, verify the lawyer’s current license and interview more than one candidate when feasible. Use the worksheet below to record specific answers about evidence, staffing, costs and communication before you decide.
Hurt Advice editorial guide. Source review: . This guide does not state that the attorney authored, reviewed or approved it. Visit the profile for public licensing and background records.
Review the attorney’s public background, then confirm experience and availability directly.
Raffi Naljian
Founder, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Attorney
Raffi Garabed Naljian is the founder of Naljian Law Offices and an active California attorney under State Bar #238919. A Los Angeles Times profile says he founded the firm in 2008 after beginning his legal career in 1997, and the State Bar lists personal injury, litigation, criminal law, and business law among his self-reported practice areas.
View Raffi Naljian's full verified profilePrimary identity record
Learn more about Raffi Naljian
This is a focused supporting page. Use Raffi Naljian's full sourced attorney profile as the primary identity record for biography, role, languages, office information, and public-record links. Review that profile alongside the issue-specific preparation and public sources below.
The State Bar record lists Raffi Garabed Naljian as an active California attorney, State Bar #238919. Hurt Advice is a separate referral and legal information service, not the attorney's law firm.
How to Evaluate Attorney Fit for This Issue
A useful consultation connects the lawyer’s experience to your actual dispute. Ask for an explanation of how the lawyer would investigate fault, evaluate the medical chronology or review the relevant policy. A verdict advertised from a different type of case does not answer those questions. Identify who handles negotiation and who takes over if a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Consultation worksheet
Car accident lawyer comparison worksheet
Use one set of notes per candidate. Record the answer and the document or follow-up that supports it; leave unknown points marked as unresolved.
There is no submit or save action. Copy your notes before leaving this page.
What has this lawyer handled that involved the same disputed issue—fault, medical causation, coverage or another problem? What details can they discuss without exposing another client’s information?
Who handles the claim now, who supervises staff and who would handle litigation? Record names and roles.
Which missing record or unresolved fact would the lawyer address first, why does it matter and who would obtain it?
How will updates arrive, who answers questions and how do you raise an urgent issue?
Which agreement provisions cover the fee, case expenses, excluded work and possible repayment obligations? Record questions before signing.
Sources for this guide
- State Bar of California: Before selecting an attorney
Consumer guidance on comparing candidates, preparing for a consultation and evaluating whether a proposed lawyer fits the work required.
- California Rules of Professional Conduct: Lawyer-client relationship
Rules 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 address client decisions, communication and fees; these are professional duties, not proof of any particular lawyer’s performance.
- California Department of Insurance: After an accident
Official automobile-claim guidance for assembling the insurance and accident information needed to identify the question a consultation must address.
Compare Counsel Step by Step
- 1Identify the decision you need help with: disputed fault, coverage, injury documentation, settlement terms or a filing deadline.
- 2Verify each candidate’s current California license in the State Bar attorney search; read the record rather than relying on a badge.
- 3Give candidates the same concise summary and use the comparison worksheet to ask about their proposed work and staffing.
- 4Read the proposed engagement and fee documents, resolve open questions and keep the signed agreement if you hire counsel.
Records for Comparing Candidates
- One-page chronology with the collision date, current medical status and the specific issue you need resolved
- Claim numbers, policy declarations and any written coverage position or settlement offer
- Available collision report, photographs and witness contacts, plus a list of missing records
- Each candidate’s written scope, fee terms and follow-up answers for comparison
Keep your unanswered questions handy when comparing the attorney’s public profile with your needs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating an advertised past result as a forecast for your claim
- Assuming the lawyer in the advertisement will be the person responsible for your file
- Comparing percentages while overlooking expenses, excluded work and the order of deductions
- Waiting for several consultations when a known deadline or disappearing record needs prompt attention
How the Process Typically Works
Before the interview
Write down the unresolved decision and provide enough party information for the firm to check whether it can consider the matter.
During the interview
Ask for the proposed approach, who would do the work and what remains uncertain. Record answers in the same format for each candidate.
Before signing
Confirm the scope and fee terms in the proposed agreement. Ask who will communicate acceptance and when responsibility for the matter begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I compare more than one car accident lawyer?
When time permits, speak with more than one candidate using the same factual summary. The State Bar recommends comparison shopping. If a deadline or evidence loss is imminent, raise that issue at the outset instead of allowing the comparison process to delay necessary action.
Does a California license establish experience with my accident?
A license check is a starting point. Ask separately about experience with the disputed issue, proposed investigation, staffing and ability to handle the next stage. Do not infer those facts from a directory listing alone.
What if I have only property damage?
Ask what work would justify a lawyer’s involvement and what other routes may fit the dispute. The California Department of Insurance accident guide explains claim documentation and insurance questions; use it to organize the issue before comparing the scope and cost of help.
Who decides whether to accept a settlement?
California Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2 assigns the settlement decision to the client. Ask how counsel will explain the offer, deductions, remaining uncertainty and alternatives so you can make an informed decision.
Use the attorney’s public background as a starting point for a direct conversation about fit.
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Important Disclosures
Attorney Advertising. Hurt Advice is a lawyer-referral and legal-information service, not a law firm. This website provides general information, not legal advice. Viewing a page or submitting a form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Independent participating attorneys decide whether to accept a matter, and representation begins only under a separate written agreement. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; results depend on the facts and circumstances of each matter.