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Every day, thousands of drivers travel Highway 99, Highway 132, and Highway 108 through Modesto. When a serious crash happens, victims are left facing injuries, medical bills, lost income, and difficult conversations with insurance companies. If you were injured in a freeway collision, neighborhood crash, or accident involving a commercial vehicle, you have legal rights. The Shirvanian Law Firm proudly serves Modesto and the surrounding communities of Stanislaus County.
We represent injured drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and families who have lost loved ones in fatal collisions.
If this is your first accident, the legal process can seem overwhelming. Attorney Narbeh Shirvanian explains what to expect after a car accident, from opening an insurance claim and investigating liability to working with insurance companies throughout the claims process.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Modesto ranks among the highest-ranked California cities of similar size for fatal and injury traffic crashes.
Several local conditions increase the risk of serious crashes, including:
For many residents, simply driving to work, school, or shopping centers means navigating some of the busiest roadways in Stanislaus County.
| Collision Category | Victims Killed or Injured | 2023 OTS Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fatal & Injury Victims | 1,876 | #2 of 62 cities |
| Alcohol Involved Collisions | 224 | #2 |
| Nighttime Collisions | 189 | #2 |
| Pedestrian Victims | 119 | #3 |
| Hit-and-Run Victims | 166 | #5 |
| Motorcycle Victims | 87 | #4 |
These statistics highlight why working with an experienced car accident attorney serving Modesto, CA, can be important after a serious collision.
Some roadways experience more crashes than others because of traffic volume, speed limits, commercial trucking activity, and congested intersections.
Highway 99 is one of California’s busiest transportation corridors, carrying thousands of passenger vehicles and commercial trucks each day. If you were injured in a collision, a Highway 99 accident lawyer can help investigate the crash, identify liable parties, and pursue compensation.
Heavy traffic, congestion, and high speeds contribute to rear-end collisions, lane-change accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, and truck crashes. According to California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), State Route 99 through Stanislaus County recorded 302 injury collisions in 2023—the highest total of any major highway in the county.
Highway 132 connects Modesto with Interstate 5 and communities farther east, where higher travel speeds, rural road conditions, unsafe passing, and commercial truck traffic increase the risk of serious crashes. If you were injured in a Highway 132 car accident, a qualified attorney can help determine liability and protect your right to seek compensation.
Drivers should use extra caution along busy corridors such as Briggsmore Avenue, McHenry Avenue, Oakdale Road, Standiford Avenue, and Coffee Road. Heavy traffic, frequent turning movements, and signalized intersections contribute to crashes.
A Modesto intersection accident may involve left-turn collisions, red-light violations, failure-to-yield crashes, or distracted driving. The City of Modesto has installed red-light enforcement cameras at several high-traffic intersections to improve safety.
Outside the city, many drivers travel two-lane rural roads connecting Modesto with surrounding farming communities. Higher speed limits, limited lighting, narrow shoulders, and slow-moving agricultural equipment can create hazardous driving conditions.
Drivers should use extra caution when approaching farm vehicles, passing on rural highways, or traveling after dark, particularly during planting and harvest seasons.
As experienced Modesto injury lawyers, The Shirvanian Law Firm represents clients injured in different types of collisions throughout Stanislaus County.
California prohibits drivers from holding a cellphone while driving, yet texting, navigation apps, and other distractions continue to cause preventable crashes throughout the state. Proving distracted driving requires evidence such as cell phone records, witness statements, surveillance footage, dashcam video, or data from the vehicles involved.
Truck accident claims often involve larger insurance policies, federal trucking safety regulations, electronic logging devices (ELDs), and multiple potentially liable parties. A truck accident lawyer can investigate the crash, preserve critical evidence, and determine whether the driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, or another party may be responsible.
Explore the unique challenges involved in truck accident litigation.
If you were injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you may be able to seek compensation through the uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage included in your own auto insurance policy.
The loss of a loved one in a car accident can leave families facing emotional and financial hardships. If another person’s negligence caused the crash, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under California law.
California follows a pure comparative fault system, so you may still receive compensation even if you were partly responsible for the crash.
Because insurance companies often argue that an injured person was partially responsible, securing evidence as early as possible can strengthen your claim. Important evidence may include:
Find out how being partially at fault may affect your claim.
If another person caused your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
In wrongful death cases, surviving family members may also recover damages for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support.
Taking the right steps after a crash can protect both your health and your legal claim.
In California, the statute of limitations for most car accident injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. If you fail to file within this time frame, you may lose your right to recover compensation.
However, certain exceptions may apply, especially if a government entity is involved. Claims against public entities in California require you to file a government claim within six months of the injury before you can file a lawsuit. Because deadlines can vary, it is important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after your accident.
Handling a car accident claim on your own can be difficult, especially when dealing with injuries and financial stress.
A skilled attorney can:
At The Shirvanian Law Firm, we are committed to helping injured clients pursue the full compensation they deserve while providing clear communication throughout the legal process.
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, understanding your legal rights is an important first step. A Modesto car accident attorney can evaluate your case, explain your options, and help you pursue the compensation you may be entitled to under California law.
The Shirvanian Law Firm offers free consultations and handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to schedule your free case review and learn how we can help you after a serious accident.
Yes. The Shirvanian Law Firm serves clients in Modesto and throughout Stanislaus County. We offer consultations by phone, video, or in person. Explore our locations to find the office most convenient for you.
Yes. If someone else caused the crash, you may be entitled to compensation. Farm vehicle accidents can involve unique liability issues, so it’s important to preserve evidence and speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Early legal guidance can help preserve evidence, protect your rights, and strengthen your claim. Although most California car accident lawsuits must be filed within two years, waiting can make your case more difficult to prove.
Helpful evidence may include police reports, photographs, witness statements, medical records, surveillance or dashcam footage, and, when available, cell phone records or commercial truck data.