Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorneys

If another person, company, or entity’s negligence or recklessness has caused you injury, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit and seek payment for the damages you have endured. Personal injury claims, also referred to as “tort” claims, adhere to certain procedures established by the state in which you are living. However, most states follow the same guidelines for personal injury lawsuits.

“Damages” are losses you have incurred as a result of your injuries and/or the event that caused you harm. Though damages vary from case to case, they often include: 1) Physical and emotional injuries, 2) Loss of earning capacity, 3) Outstanding medical bills and out-of-pocket costs, 4) Lost wages, 5) Future medical costs for ongoing treatment, 6) Punitive damages (for willful and wantonly reckless behavior).

Compensation for personalized damage claims will be based on: 1) The cost of your current medical costs and required ongoing treatments, 2) The severity and type of the harm (or whether a victim has died), 3) Whether you are able to earn money after being injured, 4) Payouts awarded in cases similar to yours, 5) Whether or not your injury/condition is curable, 6) Whether your injury was due to deliberate harm or malice (as opposed to merely neglect).

In all personal injury cases, the burden of proof falls on the plaintiff. This means that you must show by a multitude of evidence that your injuries were a direct result of the defendant’s negligent actions. If you are able to prove the magnitude of the injuries endured, you can be granted compensation for your losses. In most cases, a qualified personal injury attorney will hire physicians, as well as other professional witnesses, to testify on your behalf and confirm your claim.

A statute of limitations limits the amount of time a sufferer has to file a personal injury lawsuit. Statutes of limitations for personal injury cases differ from one state to another. In many states, the time limit begins instantly after the injury occurs. However, there are exceptions to the statute. Generally speaking, in California, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident, injury, or death.

Injured plaintiffs don’t need the aid of a personal injury lawyer to pursue their claim; however, they are a great deal more likely to acquire higher settlements if they work together with lawyers. A personal injury attorney will have: 1) An intimate understanding of the legal system, 2) Knowledge of and experience in negotiating with corporate attorneys, 3) Connections with professionals and other courtroom authorities who can facilitate and help prove your case, 4) An understanding of various claims and possible damages for which you may seek reimbursement.

The majority of personal injury attorneys provide their services on contingency, meaning that you will not have to pay attorneys’ fees until (or unless) your case is resolved. Once a payout is attained, lawyers typically take a percentage of the award to cover the expenses of legal services.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious personal injury due to the carelessness or wrongdoing of another party, it is important to seek the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer who will protect your legal rights and maximize your interests. Please contact us today to speak to a qualified personal injury attorney free of charge. Give us a call at (855) 951-2215 or submit an online contact form to get started.

You may be wondering if your case will go to trial. In order to answer that properly, it’s important to understand how your personal injury claim operates. When you’re involved in a motor vehicle collision or any other injury-causing incident, the first thing that we’ll do is send a demand to the insurance company to compensate you for your injury. Often, insurance companies are fighting tooth and nail to pay you as little as possible for your injury claim. It’s at that point in the majority of cases that we end up filing a lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit enters us into a phase called litigation. Once we enter into litigation, we’re not just dealing with an insurance company and an adjuster, we’re also dealing with a defense attorney and the process becomes more adversarial. Chances are, your case will be resolved at what’s called a mediation. A mediation is when we sit down with you and the defense, as well as a third-party mediator. A mediator is a person that’s neutral and has no interest in the outcome of your case. It’s at this time that most cases are resolved without having to go to trial.

Generally, the insurance defense lawyer will question you about your past employment history, medical history and records, information about the accident or how you sustained the injury, the severity of your injury, how the injury affects your ability to work and impedes your quality of life, and more. Our litigation attorneys will prepare you in advance of deposition for the types of questions we can anticipate. Additionally, we will review your medical records together to ensure you are not caught off guard.