Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been hurt in an accident, it is important that you speak with an Orange County personal injury lawyer to learn about your rights and privileges. When you are involved in an accident, the steps that you take immediately following the injury or illness could shape how your case is resolved and what it is worth – it could mean the difference between meaningful compensation and having your case thrown out of a California court. Contacting a skilled personal injury attorney is an essential step in pursuing necessary compensation.

Common California Personal Injury Cases

In the state of California, the legislature has recognized a wide variety of personal injury cases. These cases stem from the idea that someone who is negligent caused the victim’s injury by violating a standard of care. Negligence is the type of conduct that falls below the standard of care prescribed by law; in other words, the “tortfeasor” (negligent party) acted in a manner that falls short of reasonable care.

This area of the law can get complicated. To help determine whether someone’s actions fell below a standard of reasonable care, some Courts ask – What would a reasonable person do in the same situation?

An Orange County personal injury attorney can help anticipate how the court will answer this question by analyzing local rules, state statutes, and judicial precedent. By examining how courts have ruled in similar cases, the attorney can approximate how a new case might be resolved.

In the past, California courts have heard personal injury cases resulting from:

  • Car accidents
  • Dog bites
  • Defective products
  • Medical malpractice
  • Construction accidents
  • Brain injuries
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Premises liability accidents
  • Wrongful death
  • Social security disability
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Intentional torts

How an Orange County Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

When an individual has been hurt due to negligence, that injury has far-reaching consequences. Compensation could include paying for a person’s pain and suffering between the time of the accident and the trial or settlement date, pain and suffering for the future, a loss of consortium claim for a family member that depended on the victim, and even special damages for hospital services, funeral expenses, and other out of pocket expenses.

Preparing for a trial truly starts on the date of the accident. An individual’s words, actions, and social media posts immediately following the accident could some day communicate volumes to a juror regarding that victim’s state of mind and motivation. An Orange County personal injury attorney can assist with the investigation of facts, the preservation of evidence, and the interview of available witnesses.

Typical Questions Arising from a Personal Injury Case

Speaking with an attorney could help shed light on the questions that most people have after they have been injured:

  • How can a claim be filed with an insurance company?
  • Who is responsible?
  • How will medical bills be paid?
  • How long does the process take?
  • Are conversations with insurance company representatives recorded?
  • Who will pay attorney’s fees?
  • What will compensation be for time out of work?

Contacting an Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer

Contact an Orange County personal injury attorney for an initial consultation to discuss your case. An attorney can assist you with speaking with insurance companies to resolve your case, often building upon relationships from previous cases.

It is important to avoid being negligent in the handling of your own case. Failure to file a lawsuit within the timeframe set forth by law could result in your claim being time barred by court. The legislature requires that personal injury lawsuits be filed within two years from the date of the accident in order to receive compensation.

According to California’s Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1, failure to file a lawsuit within this time limit will result in your case being precluded. An Orange County personal injury attorney can walk you through the steps of your lawsuit and help you with obtaining the justice you deserve.