If you've been injured because of someone else's negligence, you have the right to demand financial compensation for the losses you've endured. However, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit is no simple task. Defendants and their insurance companies are backed by armies of lawyers prepared to defend their clients. Who's looking out for you?
At Drake Law Firm, we defend personal injury victims. Where possible, we settle cases out of court so our clients can get back to their lives. If needed, however, we put together a litigation strategy and take the case to court. Either way, we defend our clients from beginning to end so they can focus on getting better.
What Is Personal Injury?
The essence of a personal injury case is negligence. When another person, company, or even a governmental agency acts irresponsibly, others can get hurt. The injury is typically physical, but it can also be psychological or emotional as well.
"Negligence" is a legal term that means failure to exercise an appropriate degree of care under the circumstances. Another way of putting it is failure to act as a reasonably prudent person would. Negligence can be displayed through a person's actions (like speeding or driving intoxicated) or through an exclusion (such as failing to eliminate a known hazard from one's business property).
To win a personal injury case, the victim must prove that the defendant was negligent. There are four particular components that are required under California legislation:
Potential Damages In a Personal Injury Case
The objective of a personal injury lawsuit is to make the plaintiff whole through financial compensation. This compensation is referred to as damages, and some examples are:
Are There Time Limits to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Your right to file a claim against a negligent party will not last forever. In California, personal injury claims are subject to what's called a statute of limitations. This establishes a deadline for plaintiffs to file their claims before they lose the right to do so. For a personal injury, the statute of limitations is two years. In most cases, the clock begins to run when the injury occurs.
However, it's best not to procrastinate taking action on your case. Witnesses' memories can fade over time, proof will be more difficult to obtain, and you could forget critical details if you wait too long. If you or a loved one have been injured, reach out to a committed Panorama City personal injury lawyer.
How Can the Personal Injury Attorneys of Drake Law Firm Help Me?
Suing a defendant usually means suing an insurance company, like a motor vehicle insurer. Regardless, you can count on the offender's legal representatives pushing back on your claims or making settlement offers that come nowhere close to covering your losses. You want a lawyer who not only understands California personal injury legislation, but knows how to determine a fair value for your claim.
Contact Drake Law Firm so I can answer any questions you may have and let you know what I can do to help. If you’re unable to visit our firm, we can come to your home or hospital room.