Chino Hills Personal Injury Attorneys
It can be overwhelming and frustrating to have to deal with the fallout of an accident, especially one that resulted in severe, life-altering injuries that you now have to deal with for the foreseeable future. If you try to handle the legal process on top of everything else, you may be even more stressed and, ultimately, fail to succeed with your claim. That’s where an experienced personal injury lawyer comes in. Speak with a Chino Hills personal injury lawyer to learn more.
A personal injury claim can be filed after you are injured because of someone else’s negligent or willfully ignorant behavior. You can try to hold that person liable in court for your injury and attempt to pursue compensatory damages for what you have been forced to go through since your accident. You should retain a personal injury lawyer to handle such a case, whether it’s the aftermath of a car accident or the tragedy of a loved one’s wrongful death.
At Belgum, Fry & Van Allen, our attorneys have many years of experience in the field of personal injury. We understand how difficult a personal injury can be, and we’re prepared to help you seek a full recovery of your damages.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help Your Case
Handling your own personal injury case can be daunting, and having someone who understands the ins and outs of personal injury law can only serve to help your case. They can provide you with the help you need to succeed in your claim. Here are some significant qualities that a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can bring to your case:
- A Wealth of Knowledge: The law is broad and encompasses many different disciplines. It takes years to learn enough to be able to practice it as a career. Your lawyer will have a wealth of personal injury law knowledge that they can apply to your case, including civil codes, precedents, and viable strategies.
- Applicable Experience: If it is within your capabilities to do so, you should try to retain a lawyer who has experience handling cases similar to yours and winning them. A seasoned attorney has been down similar roads and may be able to apply winning strategies to your case. On the other hand, they may recognize certain pitfalls and can help you avoid them.
- Litigation Skills: A significant number of personal injury cases never see the inside of a courtroom, as they are settled out of court. However, some do make it to trial, and that is where you will want someone with significant litigation experience representing you and your case. Litigation skills can be one of the most impressive and helpful talents that an experienced personal injury lawyer can bring to your case.
- An Independent Investigation: When you hire your personal injury lawyer, they will most likely want to conduct their own investigation so they can determine the facts for themselves. Through this investigation, they will gather their own evidence, speak to witnesses, and reach their own conclusions about the most effective way to handle things going forward. You will need to determine fault before moving forward with a claim.
- Communication Skills: Communication is an effective life skill that is vital to an experienced lawyer’s career. They will certainly need to effectively communicate the facts of the case and how to handle it effectively. However, they should also listen to what you have to say so they can better understand what you hope to achieve, as well as any reservations you may be concerned about. Your lawyer should be someone you can trust.
- Resources: An experienced lawyer will likely have established a significant network of reliable resources that they can call upon when the time is right. These resources may include private investigators, medical professionals, expert witnesses, financial advisers, and others whose professional skills could be invaluable to your case. This network might be at your lawyer’s disposal to use as they see fit.
- Compassion: Facing this kind of legal strife is not always easy. Facing the fallout of your accident might be one of the most traumatic events of your life, especially if your accident resulted in injuries that may never fully heal. You should feel a certain degree of comfort with your lawyer, and they should treat you with empathy, care, and compassion. You can find that compassion at the law firm of Belgum, Fry & Van Allen.
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury cases arise from many types of accidents for which someone else is responsible. If you are ever involved in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligent behavior, it is important that you take certain steps to protect yourself and your future claim. Here are some of the more common personal injury cases that experienced lawyers deal with all the time:
- Slips and Falls: You may slip and fall for any number of reasons. In certain situations, someone could be held responsible for any injuries you may sustain in such a fall. It could result in serious injuries, and it is important that the people who caused your fall to occur are held responsible for their negligence. If you fall in a place of business due to a hazard you weren’t warned about, the property owner could be liable, for instance.
- Car Accidents: One of the more common types of personal injury cases is a car accident. In certain situations, your car accident could be the result of someone else’s actions, and you could hold them legally responsible for it. An experienced personal injury lawyer could help you pursue damages from them.
- Medical Malpractice: A medical malpractice case can be difficult to prove, but your chances of success improve considerably with the help of an experienced attorney. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional breaches their duty of care toward a patient through neglectful, unethical, or reckless behavior that results in harm to that patient. Not every medical error falls under malpractice, but a lawyer can help you determine if yours does.
- Dog Attacks: California’s Civil Code states that every pet owner is responsible for any damages that their pet causes, whether that be property damage or injury. If a dog bites you, their owner will likely be considered liable for your medical bills and emotional distress, among other damages that you may wish to pursue from them.
FAQs
Q: How Much Can You Sue for a Personal Injury in California?
A: In California, you can sue for as much as you feel is necessary to recoup the total amount you have lost, thanks to your accident. The amount you pursue should reflect the total cost of your medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, pain and suffering, property damage, and any other losses for which you are owed compensation. You should never settle for any less than you feel you deserve, and your lawyer can help you arrive at a viable number.
Q: How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take in California?
A: There is no telling how long a personal injury claim will take in California. It depends entirely on the facts of the case, the severity of your injuries, the evidence you have gathered, and both parties’ willingness to compromise, among other factors. Some cases take a short time to resolve, while others could hold out while both parties try to emerge victorious. Your lawyer can help you decide on an effective strategy while you focus on your recovery.
Q: How Are Personal Injury Settlements Calculated in California?
A: There is no official way that California courts calculate a personal injury settlement. However, one of the most effective methods of calculation adds up three specific types of damages: Special damages, medical damages, and general damages. Special damages include financial strains like lost wages and property damage.
Medical damages include your medical bills and associated fees. General damages include pain and suffering and compensate you for your experience. All three are added to reach the settlement amount.
Q: At What Point Do Most Personal Injury Cases Settle?
A: There is no way to tell when a personal injury case is going to settle. It depends entirely on the case at hand and the details that surround it. Every personal injury case is different, and some cases may settle surprisingly soon into the process of making a claim. Others may take much longer to reach a settlement. Still, others may never settle at all and be decided in court.
Reach Out to an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Today
A personal injury can be devastating, but an experienced lawyer can help you develop a case to hold the right people responsible and receive compensatory damages for what happened to you. Money can’t heal your injury, but it can start to provide you with some sense of closure.
The legal team at Belgum, Fry & Van Allen is prepared to offer you comprehensive legal guidance, advice, and representation. We can help you deal with insurance companies, launch our own investigation, and provide a compassionate ear for you if needed. Contact us to schedule a consultation as soon as you can.