If someone else’s careless or negligent actions have left you injured, you shouldn’t have to spend a penny out of your own pocket on your recovery. Let a Los Angeles personal injury attorney make sure you don’t have to.
Seek Justice for Your Injuries: Let’s Maximize Your Compensation Today
Accidents happen unexpectedly, leaving victims with injuries that disrupt their lives. Los Angeles personal injury lawyers assist individuals in seeking compensation for injuries caused by the negligence of others. From car crashes and slip-and-fall incidents to workplace accidents and medical errors, victims face physical pain, medical bills, and lost income.
Pursuing a personal injury claim offers a way to recover the damages suffered due to the wrongful actions of another party. However, navigating the legal process can be challenging without legal support. Dealing with a personal injury is not just a legal matter. It’s a deeply personal and often overwhelming experience. A successful claim depends on gathering strong evidence, negotiating with insurers, and understanding the applicable laws.
Quick Summary:
- Personal injury law in California covers claims for physical, emotional, or financial losses caused by another party’s negligence or wrongful actions, including cases of medical malpractice and wrongful death. Common personal injury cases in Los Angeles include car accidents, slips and falls, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, workplace accidents, dog bites, product liability, and medical malpractice.
- Accident victims can suffer from a wide range of injuries, from minor cuts to severe trauma. Common injuries include Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), broken bones, and dental injuries, which might not show symptoms immediately. These injuries can lead to long-term health issues, lost income, and emotional challenges.
- After a personal injury in Los Angeles, it’s important to take several steps to protect your rights. First, report the accident immediately and collect detailed information, including photos and witness names. Seek medical attention immediately to address potential injuries and avoid discussing your case publicly or with insurance companies. Lastly, contact a personal injury lawyer to help manage your case and ensure you receive proper support.
- Personal injury claims generally need to be filed within two years of the injury date. For medical malpractice, you have three years from the injury or one year from discovering it, whichever comes first. In wrongful death cases, the deadline is two years from the date of death. To file a claim, gather evidence, such as photos, medical records, financial losses, and insurance details, and preserve critical evidence like surveillance footage.
- To prove negligence in a personal injury case, you must show four key points: the other party had a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the accident, and resulted in damages. Economic damages cover measurable financial losses like medical expenses and lost wages, while non-economic damages address intangible losses such as pain and emotional distress. Punitive damages may be awarded in cases of severe negligence or intentional wrongdoing to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar actions.
What is Personal Injury in California Law?
Such a type of injury refers to a legal area where individuals who have sustained physical, emotional, or financial losses due to another party’s negligence or wrongful actions claim compensation for their losses. Personal injury laws are governed under negligence and liability for wrongful actions.
It also branches out to medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. It’s important to note that personal injury laws can be complicated, so consulting with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney is important to understanding and navigating the specific legal aspects of your case.
What are the Common Personal Injury Cases in Los Angeles?
When it comes to personal injury law, Los Angeles has various cases where people get hurt due to someone else’s careless actions. These cases often cause physical pain, stress, and financial problems for the injured.
Personal injury laws allow victims to seek compensation for their injuries. Here are some of the most common personal injury cases seen in Los Angeles:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most frequent causes of personal injury claims in Los Angeles. With the city’s busy streets and highways, crashes happen often. Accidents may result from speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence, or failing to follow traffic rules.
Victims of car accidents can suffer from broken bones, head injuries, whiplash, and other serious harm. Many seek legal help to cover their medical costs, car repairs, and lost income while recovering.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall cases are another common type of personal injury claim. These happen when someone slips, trips, or falls due to dangerous conditions on someone else’s property. Wet floors, uneven sidewalks, poor lighting, and other hazards often lead to serious injuries.
Victims may experience sprains, fractures, or head injuries. Property owners may be responsible if they fail to fix or warn about these hazards.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are especially vulnerable on Los Angeles streets. When drivers are distracted, speeding, or ignoring traffic signals, they can hit pedestrians, causing serious injuries. Pedestrian accidents often result in broken bones, head injuries, or worse. Often, the injured person can seek compensation from the at-fault driver to cover their losses.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents are common in Los Angeles, where cyclists often share the road with cars. Many of these accidents are caused by distracted drivers, unsafe road conditions, or failure to yield to cyclists.
Bicyclists, who have little protection, can suffer serious injuries, including broken bones, spinal injuries, and head trauma. Personal injury claims can help cover the costs of medical care and lost income during recovery.
Workplace Accidents
Accidents at work are common in industries like construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. Heavy machinery, hazardous materials, and unsafe working conditions can lead to severe injuries such as broken bones, burns, and even permanent disabilities.
Workers’ compensation covers most injuries on the job. But sometimes, a personal injury claim may also be an option if a third party (someone other than the employer) is responsible.
Dog Bites
Dog bites are another common personal injury case in Los Angeles. Dog owners are responsible for keeping their pets under control. When a dog attacks, the victim may suffer cuts, infections, or more severe injuries. Victims often seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Product Liability
Product liability cases involve injuries caused by defective products. When products like car parts, toys, or appliances malfunction, they can harm consumers. In these cases, the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the product may be held liable. Injured individuals can pursue compensation to cover medical bills, pain, and other damages caused by the defective product.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when doctors, nurses, or other healthcare providers make mistakes that harm patients. These errors can include surgical mistakes, incorrect diagnoses, or medication errors.
Victims of medical malpractice may suffer long-term health problems, extra medical expenses, and emotional distress. Malpractice claims are complex and often need detailed medical evidence.
What are the Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases?
Accident victims can suffer many different types of injuries. These injuries can be minor, severe, or even lead to death. It’s important to get medical care right away, even if you feel fine. Often, the signs of injury show up later. Here are some of the most common injuries people experience:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Each year, over 2.8 million people go to the hospital because of a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries can happen from slipping and falling, a car crash, a truck accident, or other hard hits. Signs of brain damage can sometimes appear up to six months after the accident. It’s urgent to see a doctor for a checkup after an accident.
Broken Bones
Accident victims often suffer broken bones from hard impacts. A broken arm, leg, or rib can cause a lot of pain, stop you from working, and create long-term health problems. Sometimes, a broken bone isn’t noticed immediately but can cause pain, swelling, or bruising later.
Dental Injuries
When someone is injured in an accident, it is common to lose or chip teeth. That can happen when a person’s face hits the steering wheel or when an airbag deploys. In more serious cases, the jaw can also be broken during the accident.
Any one of these can lead to long-term healthcare needs, lost earnings, and emotional hurdles. Other common personal injuries include:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injury
- Serious back injuries
- Brain injury (minor and catastrophic brain damage)
- Concussion and skull fractures
- Fractures (facial, chest, hips)
- Serious eye injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Amputations
- Burn injuries: thermal, chemical, or electrical
- Total or partial paralysis
- Emotional trauma, depression, and anxiety (PTSD)
What to Do After Suffering an Injury in Los Angeles
It’s common to feel stressed and unsure of what to do after a personal injury. You might not know where to get help, especially since the other party may try to avoid blame, and an insurance company might try to take advantage of you. To protect your rights, it’s essential to take certain steps from the start of your case. If possible, do the following:
- Report the Accident
Report the accident as soon as possible. If it’s an emergency, call 911 right away. If not, notify the person in charge, like a store manager, property owner, or your boss, and request a written accident report for your records.
- Collect Information
Collect as much information as you can about the accident. Write down details like the location, time, and date, along with the names of everyone involved, including any witnesses. Before leaving, take photos and videos of the scene to document what happened.
- Seek Medical Attention
Seek medical attention immediately after an accident, even if you feel fine at first. Some injuries might not show up immediately but could become serious later. Delaying a visit to the doctor can also give insurance companies an excuse to reject your claim.
- Avoid Speaking About Your Case
Don’t discuss your injury case with friends or share details on social media. Avoid admitting you are at fault for the accident. When talking to insurance companies, keep your answers brief and straightforward to protect your case.
- Seek Legal Help
Reach out to Los Angeles personal injury lawyers as soon as you can. A lawyer will help protect your rights and handle discussions with insurance companies. Getting legal help early on is important to ensure you get the support you need.
How Soon Can You File a Personal Injury Claim in California?
California statutes of limitations are deadlines by which personal injury and employment civil claims. They vary depending upon the type of claim, against whom the claim is brought, and other factors.
Personal Injury
For personal injury cases, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. You must start your legal action within that time frame to seek compensation. If you wait longer than two years, you might lose your chance to get the money you deserve.
Medical Malpractice
In medical malpractice cases, you have three years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. If you only discover the injury later, you have one year from that discovery to take action. Whichever time limit comes first is the one you must follow.
Wrongful Death
In wrongful death cases, you generally have two years from the date of the person’s death to file a lawsuit. That means you should take legal action within that time to seek compensation. If you wait longer than two years, you may lose the chance to get justice and recover damages.
What Do You Need to File Your Claim?
Navigating personal injury claims can be overwhelming, especially after an accident. Understanding personal injury law and the legal rights of the injured person is essential for securing fair compensation.
These critical requirements are necessary for initiating and building a strong personal injury claim:
- Gather evidence such as photographs, videos, accident reports, and witness statements related to the incident.
- Compile medical records, bills, and reports on your injury and treatment.
- Document your financial losses, including lost wages, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses.
- Get details about your insurance coverage and the at-fault party’s insurance, if applicable.
- Keep records of all communication with relevant parties, including insurance companies.
- Ensure that important evidence, like surveillance footage, is preserved to support your claim.
How Can You Prove Negligence?
In a personal injury lawsuit in California, it is up to the injured person (the plaintiff) to prove that the other party is at fault. That’s why hiring a Los Angeles injury lawyer is important for handling your case.
Your lawyer has experience showing negligence and persuading a judge or jury with the evidence. To win a settlement or court decision, your lawyer must prove four main points:
Duty of Care
First, the other party must have had a duty to care for your safety. That means they were responsible for keeping you safe. For example, drivers are expected to follow rules to ensure everyone’s safety on the road.
Similarly, commercial property owners must protect the safety of their customers and visitors by taking reasonable steps. “Reasonable” means the level of care that most property owners would use in similar situations.
Breach of Duty
The second important part of a personal injury claim is showing that the other party failed to meet their duty of care. For instance, if a driver does something like speeding or texting while driving, they have not fulfilled their duty to keep others safe on the road.
Causation
The third part of a personal injury claim is proving that the other party’s failure to care caused the accident. For example, if a speeding driver loses control and crashes into you at an intersection, their careless driving directly causes the accident.
Damages
Finally, you need to have experienced losses that the law can help with to win a personal injury claim. That usually includes medical bills, lost wages, and physical or emotional pain. If you have property damage, like damage to your car in an accident, that can be included too.
What Kind of Damages Can You Recover After an Accident in Los Angeles?
Knowing what types of compensation you might get helps ensure you cover all your losses from an accident. If someone else’s carelessness injures you, you could receive money for both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the actual financial losses you have had or will have because of the harm caused by the defendant. These damages can be given a specific dollar amount because they involve real, measurable losses.
In a legal case, you might get compensation for several types of economic damages. Below are some examples of these damages:
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Loss of earning capacity
- Diminished value of property
- Vehicle rental fees
- Legal fees
Non- Economic Damages
Other losses don’t have a clear dollar amount but are still very significant. Non-economic damages help cover these intangible losses caused by your injury. Depending on your situation, you might receive compensation for various types of non-economic damages, such as the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Mental anguish or trauma
- Loss of reputation or stature in the community
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are extra money awarded to victims in cases where the responsible party has acted terribly, either through serious negligence or intentional wrongdoing. These damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer and stop others from acting similarly. They can be added with other types of compensation.
Sometimes, these damages can be more than the actual losses a victim has suffered because of how severe the wrongdoing was. However, punitive damages are rarely given, so it’s important for anyone seeking them after an accident to consult Los Angeles personal injury lawyers to see if they qualify.
Why Do You Need Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers?
In California, the law does not require you to hire a lawyer for a personal injury case. However, having one can be the best way to protect your rights and get the most money for your injuries.
A lawyer will help you during settlement talks or a trial to get the best results and ensure you have what you need to recover. Los Angeles personal injury lawyers can handle many important tasks for you, such as:
- Investigating and reconstructing the accident
- Gathering and preserving evidence
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Handling paperwork for claims
- Meeting legal deadlines and requirements
- Finding qualified experts for testimony
- Analyzing and assessing damages
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Representing you in court, if needed
You can rely on your personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles to look out for you because they work for you, not for an insurance company or anyone else. While you focus on recovering, your skilled lawyer will take care of all the legal aspects of your personal injury case.
Trusted and Proven Success in Los Angeles Personal Injury Cases
Haffner Law stands as a trusted advocate for personal injury victims in Los Angeles, bringing years of legal experience and a record of success. Our trusted Los Angeles personal injury lawyers handle each case precisely and carefully, ensuring no detail is overlooked.
You can rely on our team that knows how to tackle tough legal challenges and fight for the compensation you deserve. From handling complex negotiations to presenting strong cases in court, Haffner Law is dedicated to getting results. Choosing Haffner Law means choosing a firm that doesn’t back down.
Our personal injury lawyers are tenacious in our pursuit of justice, taking pride in our ability to secure fair outcomes for those harmed by others’ negligence. If personal injury has disrupted your life, trust Haffner Law to provide the aggressive and skilled legal representation needed.
Our legal team can also represent you in Bad Faith Insurance and Property Damage. Contact Haffner Law today for a free case review and take the first step toward getting the compensation you deserve.
