Santa Ana Personal Injury Lawyer

After a severe injury, your life can get turned upside down. You may lose weeks or months of work, or lose the ability to work altogether. You may face long, arduous rehabilitation because of another person’s negligence or recklessness. Without income, you could face the loss of your home.

Dealing with insurance companies is daunting. You do not have to face this ordeal alone. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to help you pursue a claim for damages following your accident. A Santa Ana personal injury lawyer can fight for you and help you receive the compensation you deserve.

Common Causes of Personal Injuries

The majority of personal injuries claims in Santa Ana involve motor vehicles, but cars and trucks are not the only sources of serious injury.

Defective products cause many serious injuries, and in these situations, the manufacturer, laboratory, or retailer may be liable. Other common types of accidents resulting in personal injury include:

  • Airplane accidents
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Boat accidents
  • Construction accidents
  • Dog bites
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Negligent security – stores and offices may be liable for injuries suffered in a crime if they lack proper security
  • Slip and fall

Many of these accidents leave a victim permanently disabled. Conditions that may render an accident victim permanently disabled include:

  • Internal organ damage
  • Multiple fractures
  • Severe burns
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Traumatic brain injury

Types of Damages

Severe injuries change a person’s life. While nothing can restore an accident victim to the state they were in prior to the incident, monetary awards can help them regain the best quality of life under the circumstances. Under California law, victims of personal injury may recover certain compensation, or damages. This includes economic damages for:

  • Medical expenses – including future expenses
  • Loss of wages
  • Property loss – such as the damaged motor vehicle and computers or other valuables inside it
  • Loss of employment opportunities

Non-economic damages include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Disfigurement

Statute of Limitations

In California, the victim – or plaintiff – must file a claim within two years of the accident date. Failure to file within that timeframe means the plaintiff loses the right to sue.

Some situations require filing within a very brief time. If the plaintiff was involved in an accident with any type of government vehicle, there is a six-month statute of limitation. Accident victims should contact Santa Ana personal injury lawyers as soon as possible.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

A personal injury victim who does not retain a lawyer may settle with an insurance company for an amount of money that will not take care of their medical and other needs. However, once a settlement is made with an insurer, the deal is done. That is why it is so important to consult an attorney after a serious accident. A skilled Santa Ana personal injury lawyer knows the amount of a fair settlement given a particular situation and negotiates diligently so that the client receives the best possible settlement.

If the insurance company will offer a fair settlement, the attorney will take the case to court. An attorney will investigate the circumstances of the accident, study police and medical reports, and hire experts in relevant fields to receive the best outcome for the client.

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious personal injury because of another party’s negligence, call a Santa Ana personal injury attorney today for a consultation.