Car Accidents
Rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, and multi-car pileups all come with the same problem, an insurance company looking for reasons to pay you less. We handle the claim from the first call to a fair settlement or trial.
Personal Injury
Modesto Personal Injury Attorney
After an accident that was not your fault, you need someone in your corner while you focus on getting better.
A serious accident upends everything at once. Medical bills, missed paychecks, insurance adjusters calling before you have even seen a doctor, and a recovery that takes longer than anyone expects. Amanda J. Heitlinger represents injured people across Modesto and Stanislaus County, taking on insurance companies that try to settle claims for less than they are worth.
You do not pay us anything unless we recover money for you, so there is no financial risk in finding out where you stand. We investigate what happened, deal with the insurance companies directly, and build the strongest case possible while you focus on healing.
Talk to a partnerWhat we handle
Matters in this practice
Truck Accidents
Commercial trucking crashes involve bigger injuries, bigger companies, and federal regulations that do not apply to a regular car accident. We move fast to preserve evidence like black box data and driver logs before it disappears.
Motorcycle Accidents
Riders get hurt worse than drivers and blamed more often, even when the crash was not their fault. We push back on unfair assumptions about motorcyclists and fight for the full value of your injuries.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Being on foot or on a bike offers zero protection against a car, and the injuries reflect that. We hold negligent drivers accountable for the harm they caused to the most vulnerable people on Modesto roads.
Wrongful Death
Losing a family member because of someone else's negligence is a loss no settlement can fix, but California law lets surviving family members recover. We handle these cases with the care they deserve while pursuing full accountability.
Catastrophic and Brain Injury
Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disabilities change the rest of your life, not just the months after the accident. We work with medical experts to account for a lifetime of care, not just today's bills.
Premises Liability and Slip and Fall
Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe, and when they do not, people get hurt. We prove what the property owner knew, when they knew it, and why they failed to fix it.
Dog Bites
California holds dog owners strictly liable for bites in most situations, meaning you do not have to prove the dog had bitten someone before. We handle the medical and insurance side so you can focus on recovering.
Workplace Accidents
Workers compensation is not always the only path after an on-the-job injury, especially when a third party like a contractor, vendor, or equipment manufacturer caused the harm. We identify every source of recovery available to you.
Do you have a case
Signs it is time to call.
- The insurance company is pushing you to settle before you know the full extent of your injuries
- Fault is being disputed or you are being blamed for an accident that was not your fault
- Your injuries require ongoing treatment, surgery, or time away from work
- A commercial vehicle, truck, or company driver was involved
- Someone died because of another party's negligence
- The insurance company has denied your claim or stopped responding
How it works
What happens next.
- Get medical attentionSee a doctor right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries, especially head and spine injuries, do not show symptoms immediately.
- Document everythingTake photos of the scene, get names and contact information for witnesses, and keep every medical bill and record.
- Call us before you talk to the insurerAnything you say to an adjuster can be used to reduce your claim. Let us handle those conversations from the start.
- We build your claimWe calculate the true cost of your injury, medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering, and we do not settle for less than that.
Questions
Common questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in California?
In most cases you have two years from the date of the accident under California's statute of limitations. Government claims, such as those involving a public entity or vehicle, have much shorter deadlines, sometimes as little as six months. Do not wait to find out which one applies to you.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
California follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partly responsible, though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies often try to shift more blame onto you than the facts support.
Should I talk to the insurance company on my own?
We recommend you do not give a recorded statement or accept an early settlement offer without talking to us first. Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and what feels like a friendly conversation can limit what you recover later.
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and we only get paid a percentage of what we recover for you. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.
How long will my case take?
It depends on the severity of your injuries, how clear liability is, and whether the insurer negotiates fairly. Straightforward claims can resolve in a few months, while serious injury cases often take longer because we wait until your treatment is far enough along to know the full cost.
What is my case actually worth?
It depends on your medical expenses, lost income, the severity and permanence of your injuries, and the impact on your daily life. We cannot give you an honest number without reviewing the details, but we will give you a straight answer once we have looked at your case.
Talk to a Partner. You pay nothing unless we win.
Call (209) 876-8886 or send us a message. You speak directly with a partner.