When you suffer accidental injuries, you may not foresee how quickly medical bills can accumulate over a short period of time. If you were injured due to the negligence of another person, then you can seek financial compensation for your medical bills, as well as your pain and suffering, from the at-fault party. Being injured in a serious accident can affect you physically, emotionally, and financially, and you should recover every dollar that you deserve.
Contact a Costa Mesa personal injury lawyer today to schedule a free consultation – we can review what happened and inform you of the options available to you. Hiring a personal injury attorney will enable you to heal from your injuries while not having to worry about requesting medical records, gathering evidence, and dealing with insurance companies. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can help you obtain a just settlement amount for your losses.
What Do Personal Injury Attorneys Do?
Personal injury attorneys will handle every aspect of your case and represent your rights and interests to adverse parties. Maximizing your recovery is also a major benefit of having the right personal injury attorney representing you.
To best protect yourself, you should take the following steps after suffering injuries during an accident.
- Preserve any evidence related to the case. Do not get rid of the clothing you were wearing when you suffered your injuries. Taking photographs of the accident scene, if possible, will help you preserve a record of the evidence from the scene. Write down the names and addresses of all witnesses who may have seen the accident. An experienced personal injury attorney will use this evidence to help you establish your case.
- Do not wait to report the incident to the proper authorities. It is usually best to call 911 so that officers can report to the scene directly and issue citations or make arrests if another driver violated the law. They can also create a report, which is useful if your injuries prevent you from gathering your own information.
- Do not delay seeking medical attention. An emergency room physician can diagnose your injuries and form a treatment plan for you. Medical treatment and a proper diagnosis should be your priority following an injury.
- Continue obtaining medical treatment, and do not stop adhering to your doctor’s recommendations. You should attend every therapy session and do not discontinue any of your medical treatment early.
Despite doing all of this, the best way to protect your rights is to seek legal representation as soon as you can.
What Is The Timeline For A Personal Injury Case?
No two personal injuries cases are exactly alike, as all cases have different facts. Most civil cases are settled out of court and do not proceed to trial. Still, the parties have to investigate the accident, present evidence, and negotiate a settlement, which can take time. Investigations may take longer if you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle or involving a commercial product. Large companies may have more resources available to use and thus might take longer to investigate claims.
Contact a Costa Mesa personal injury lawyer today for a free consultation so we can review the facts of your case and advise you on how you should proceed with your personal injury case. Retaining a personal injury attorney will ensure that you have the resources necessary to stand up to insurance companies and not succumb to their tactics.
What Damages Are Available To Me In A Personal Injury Case?
Many different types of compensation are available to you if you were injured due to the negligent actions of someone else. Economic and non-economic damages are available, and within these two broad categories are more specific types of damages. Economic damages are referred to as “special damages,” and these constitute quantifiable damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs.
Non-economic damages are categorized as “general damages.” Pain and suffering and emotional trauma are two of the most important types of general damages. General damages are more difficult to calculate than economic damages because they are not documented in itemized bills or receipts. Non-economic damages may include recovery for permanent physical impairment, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and loss of consortium.
Punitive damages – also known as exemplary damages – are awarded to punish a defendant and deter them from committing the same destructive behavior in the future. These damages are not always awarded to parties who file claims against negligent parties, as they only apply in cases involving particularly offensive or egregious conduct. Punitive damages are more likely to be awarded if a defendant acted intentionally to cause your injuries.
You may want to know the exact amount that your personal injury case may be worth. Unfortunately, no two personal injury cases are exactly alike, and no exact monetary figure can be assigned to any specific case without a full evaluation of your losses.
If you reach out for an evaluation, we can discuss your situation and the approximate amount of your damages. The best thing you can do is speak with a personal injury attorney about your injuries and the medical treatment you have received.
Contact Our Costa Mesa Personal Injury Attorneys Today
In California, injured victims have two years from the date of the injury to file a claim. Do not rest on your rights. If you have suffered serious bodily injury during an accident caused by the negligent acts of another party, you should contact a trusted personal injury attorney today. The sooner you reach out to an experienced attorney, the better it will be for every aspect of your case.
Suffering personal injury during an accident can make it more difficult for you to return to the life you had before the accident. You may no longer be able to engage in the hobbies you previously enjoyed, and you might have significant financial stress. Hiring a personal injury attorney can provide you with the compensation you are entitled to under the law, while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery. Contact a Costa Mesa personal injury lawyer today.