If you've been injured because of another person's negligence, you have the right to ask for financial compensation for the losses you've suffered. However, seeking a personal injury claim is no easy task. Offenders and their insurers are backed by armies of attorneys ready to protect their clients. Who's looking out for you?
At Drake Law Firm, we fight for personal injury victims. Where possible, we settle cases out of court so our clients can get back to their lives. If necessary, 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 recovering.
What Is Personal Injury?
The essence of a personal injury case is negligence. When another person, business, or even a governmental agency acts irresponsibly, others can get injured. The injury is typically physical, but it can also be psychological or emotional too.
"Negligence" is a legal term that implies failure to exercise an appropriate degree of care under the circumstances. Another way of putting it is failure to behave as a reasonably sensible individual would. Negligence can be demonstrated through a person's actions (like speeding or driving drunk) or through an omission (such as failing to eliminate a known hazard from one's company property).
To win a personal injury case, the victim needs to prove that the defendant was negligent. There are four specific components that are required under California legislation:
Possible Damages In a Personal Injury Lawsuit
The objective of a personal injury claim is to make the plaintiff whole through financial compensation. This compensation is known as damages, and some examples are:
Are There Time Limits to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Your right to take legal action 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 submit their lawsuits before they lose the right to do so. For a personal injury, the statute of limitations is two years. In most cases, the clock starts to run when the injury takes place.
However, it's ideal not to delay taking action on your claim. Witnesses' memories can diminish with time, evidence will be more difficult to obtain, and you might fail to remember vital details if you wait too long. If you or a loved one have been hurt, reach out to a committed San Fernando Valley personal injury attorney.
How Can the Personal Injury Attorneys of Drake Law Firm Help Me?
Suing a defendant almost always means suing an insurance company, like a motor vehicle insurer. Regardless, you can count on the offender's attorneys pushing back on your claims or making settlement offers that come nowhere near to covering your losses. You want an attorney who not only knows California personal injury law, but knows how to determine a fair value for your case.
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.