What are some good companies that will loan me money in the LA area if I have sort of bad credit?

I bought a laptop for a friend who I have known for about 6 years. They were making my payments on time until they got ill and could no longer work and that sort of ruined my credit a bit. I could not borrow any money to pay this off because I have a loan of my own for school. And I really need a car since I cannot afford an apartment anymore for commuting. What are some potential lenders in the Los Angeles, CA area that will make me a loan anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 to be able to find a reliable used car. Please help.