You’re hurt, the bills are starting, and an insurance adjuster has already called. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
For 23 years, the Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell has represented injured people in Huntington Beach. From crashes on Beach Boulevard and the 405 to falls inside Main Street businesses. We have recovered millions for our clients, including cases where the insurance company’s first offer was nothing at all.
You pay us nothing unless we win.
Insurers open low, sometimes at zero, because most people don’t know what a claim is worth and won’t push back. Here is the gap, case by case.
|
They offered |
We recovered |
The case |
|
$0 |
$2,725,000 |
Chair collapsed under our client at a restaurant. Spine injury requiring surgery. |
|
$800,000 |
$2,500,000 |
Rusted exterior wall ladder broke during a fall at a commercial building. Head injury and multiple fractures. |
|
$0 |
$2,000,000 |
Flight attendant trainer injured when an emergency exit slide collapsed from negligent maintenance. |
|
$75,000 |
$1,090,000 |
Construction vehicle rear-ended our client on the 405 Freeway. Cervical surgery. |
|
$100,000 |
$800,000 |
Driver turned right into a bike lane in Seal Beach. Cyclist suffered head and back injuries. |
|
$0 |
$750,000 |
Slipped on a slick substance at a restaurant. Fractured kneecap. |
|
$100,000 |
$700,000 |
Driver sideswiped a cyclist on Pacific Coast Highway. Fracture, road rash, back and hip injuries. |
|
$200,000 |
$700,000 |
Distracted driver struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Broken leg. |
|
$0 |
$580,000 |
Poor lighting at an ice rink. Elderly woman missed a step, fractured her leg, required surgery. |
|
$50,000 |
$300,000 |
Rear-end crash on the 55 Freeway. Whiplash and prolonged neck and back pain. |
|
$100,000 |
$200,000 |
Pit bull attack. Puncture wounds to hands, arms, and leg. |
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is different, and results depend on the specific facts, injuries, and insurance coverage involved.
If someone else’s carelessness hurt you, California law gives you the right to be repaid for your medical care, your lost paychecks, your future treatment, and the pain you’ve had to live with. That right has a deadline, and the insurance company is counting on you not knowing it.
Most people we meet aren’t looking to sue anybody. They’re looking to get their life back and stop losing money while they heal. That’s the job.
In California you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Miss that deadline and your claim is almost always gone, no matter how strong it was.
Several situations change that timeline:
|
Situation |
Deadline |
|
Most injury claims |
2 years from the injury – CCP § 335.1 |
|
Wrongful death |
2 years from the date of death – CCP § 335.1 |
|
Claim against a city, county, or state agency |
6 months to file an administrative claim – Gov. Code § 911.2, then a separate deadline to sue under Gov. Code § 945.6 |
|
Injured person was under 18 |
Clock generally pauses until their 18th birthday – CCP § 352 |
|
Injury wasn’t discovered right away |
Clock may start when you had reason to suspect the injury and a wrongful cause – Fox v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery (2005) |
That six-month government deadline catches people constantly. If your injury involved a city bus, a public sidewalk, a county road, a municipal vehicle, or any government property in Huntington Beach, you may have six months, not two years. Call before you assume you have time.
There is no formula. Case value depends on how badly you were hurt, what your medical care costs, how much work you’ve missed, whether you’ll need future treatment, and how much insurance coverage exists. Anyone who quotes a number before reviewing your records is guessing.
A claim typically accounts for:
What the table above shows is the difference representation makes. In three of those cases the insurance company’s position was that our client deserved nothing.
Nothing upfront, we work on contingency. Our fee comes out of your recovery, and if we don’t win, you owe no attorney fees.
We also advance the case costs: filing fees, medical record retrieval, accident reconstruction, expert witnesses. You don’t write a check to pursue your claim.
The consultation is free and obligates you to nothing. If we don’t think you have a case, we’ll tell you.
Get medical attention first, report the incident, document everything, and talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to any insurance company.
Huntington Beach mixes heavy commuter traffic with year-round beach and bike traffic, and the cases we see cluster in predictable places:
Because your case will be built, negotiated, and if necessary tried in Orange County, and local familiarity matters at every stage.
Our office is on Beach Boulevard, minutes from where most of our clients were injured. We know the intersections. We can visit the scene. Orange County cases are handled in Orange County Superior Court by an attorney who practices there routinely.
You’ll also know who your lawyer is. Brent Caldwell handles the cases this firm takes, you won’t be passed to a call center or handed to a case manager you’ve never spoken with.
Brent W. Caldwell is the founding attorney and managing partner of the Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell, a personal injury firm serving Huntington Beach and Orange County. He has been licensed to practice law in California since 2003.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A great lawyer. Helped me get out of a hard situation when I felt like nobody else could. Got me healthy and helped me get justice back after my accident. 10/10 lawyer!!!” — Andrew S.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“It’s not surprising all these 5 stars. Brent and Katie both were awesome in everything, they made everything easier. Thank you!” — Tariq
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Great attorneys. Responsive, helpful, answered all my questions, took time with me and never made me feel rushed.” — Melany Pelayo
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Thank you to Brent and the whole team for handling my car accident. Great law firm, highly recommended.” — Marcelino Hernández
⭐ 5.0 out of 5 — 125+ Google reviews
Do I have a case? If someone else’s negligence caused your injury and you received medical treatment, you likely have a claim worth evaluating. The only way to know is to have the facts reviewed, and that review is free.
How long will my case take? Straightforward claims with clear liability can resolve in a few months. Cases involving serious injury, disputed fault, or litigation take longer, often a year or more. We’d rather take the time to get the number right than settle early and leave your future care unpaid.
Will I have to go to court? Most personal injury cases settle without trial. But insurance companies pay more when they know your attorney is prepared to try the case, so we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial.
The insurance company already offered me money. Should I take it? Talk to a lawyer first. In several of our cases the first offer was $0 and the final recovery was in the high six or seven figures. Accepting an offer typically ends your claim permanently, including for treatment you haven’t had yet.
What if I was partly at fault? You can still recover. California uses comparative fault, which reduces your recovery by your percentage of responsibility rather than barring it. Being partly at fault is not a reason to skip the call.
If you or a loved one has been injured in Huntington Beach, contact the Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell today. We offer free consultations and do not charge any fees unless we win your case.