Santa Ana Personal Injury Attorney

Nobody plans to be injured while going about their business. Injuries can occur on the road, at the grocery store, taking a walk in your neighborhood, or even at home no matter how careful you are. 

When someone else’s negligence causes you to become injured, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. It’s disruptive to your life and your finances, not to mention the effect it can have on your mental health.

If you have been hurt in an accident, The Santa Ana personal injury attorneys of 1Law may be able to help. We can negotiate with insurance companies to improve your settlement or pursue legal action in court to get you the financial compensation you need.

Santa Ana Personal Injury Attorney FAQ

In order to help you determine the next steps after your accident, we have assembled a list of our most frequently asked questions

• How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?
• What Kind of Cases Do Personal Injury Attorneys Take?
• What Do I Say if an Insurance Adjuster Contacts Me?
• When Is It Necessary to Get a Personal Injury Lawyer?
• What Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney in Santa Ana?
• How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take to Settle?
• What Kind of Damages Can Be Considered in a Personal Injury Case?

How Long do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?

The time limit for filing a personal injury claim in the State of California is two years from the date of the injury. There are exceptions to the statute of limitations, however. If the injury was not discovered until later, you have one year from the date that the injury was discovered to file a claim.

This is why it is critical to contact an attorney as soon as you realize you have been injured. This enables your lawyer to begin the necessary steps and gather evidence before it is lost. Witnesses can change their phone numbers, memories can fade, and evidence can deteriorate with time. 

You may lose the ability to build a successful case or lose your right to pursue a claim if you wait too long. It’s generally free of charge for the initial consultation with personal injury attorneys, so there is no financial risk to learn how they can help.

What Kind of Cases do Personal Injury Attorneys Take?

Personal injury law is an area of practice that is also known as tort law. When someone else’s actions or failure to act caused injury to you or damage to your property, a tort action can help you recover financial losses from the person or entity that caused harm. 

A personal injury lawyer in Santa Ana can take on a variety of cases in their practice. Some are more specialized than others, so choosing a personal injury lawyer with experience in similar cases is generally a good course of action. Some of the types of claims our attorneys take include:

• Defective drugs cases
• Workplace accidents and injuries
• Bicycle accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Defective medical devices
• Defamation
• Sexual assault and rape cases
• Pedestrian accidents
• Cruise ship accidents
• Truck accidents
• Nursing home neglect and abuse
• Slip and fall accidents
• Birth injuries
• Product liability and defective products
• Motorcycle accidents
• Boating accidents
• Premises liability
• Violent attacks and assaults
• Car accidents
• Dog bite cases

If you believe you were harmed by the negligence of another party, it never hurts to call an attorney to tell your story and find out what can be done to help you. Our lawyers are here to help you in any way they can. We have defended the rights of countless others who have been hurt and secured a substantial financial recovery on their behalf.

What do I Say if an Insurance Adjuster Contacts Me?

An insurance adjuster may contact you in certain circumstances. They can seem to be sympathetic and kind, but their motives for contacting you may not be what you think. It’s best to let them know you can’t speak to them just now and get their contact information. Pass it along to your lawyer and let them handle it.

The insurance companies have many resources available to them and they generally have multiple attorneys on staff. They are employed to preserve their company’s dollars and shield them from liability wherever possible. The adjusters are pressured to keep payouts low and can employ any number of techniques to do so. 

Your statements can be used against you and they will often ask for recorded statements. Do not allow them to record you, and don’t engage in small talk. Your financial recovery can be at stake. Enlisting the services of a personal injury lawyer can protect your claim and preserve your rights to collect.

When Is It Necessary to Get a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Regardless of how simple your case may seem on the surface, it can be beneficial to consult with a lawyer after you suffer an injury. A slip and fall or a low-speed collision can cause lifelong damage to your spine, back, or neck. It’s generally wise to ensure that your injuries are assessed and treated properly and to talk to an attorney.

If you are in a car accident, have a medical malpractice claim, or get hurt on someone else’s property, don’t delay. Time is critical and speaking to the insurance company adjusters is better handled by your legal counsel. 

Dealing with the insurance company alone can become a minefield. There is a real threat to the value of your claim because the insurance adjuster is backed by an army of professionals who are bent on saving money for the company. The support you have on your side does matter, so contacting a lawyer is your best bet.

Some signs that you may need a personal injury lawyer can be:

• An insurance company is stalling to push past the statute of limitations
• The insurance company is attempting to deny or reduce your claim by misrepresenting the policy terms
• They are misleading you or being deceptive about your rights
• They are dragging the case out by demanding unreasonable amounts of unnecessary paperwork
• Your injuries involve a business or multiple insurance carriers
• The statute of limitations is very soon
• The insurance company is not investigating your claim
• An insurance company is accusing you of negligence or saying that you contributed to your injury

Santa Ana personal injury attorneys spend a significant amount of their careers combating shady insurance company tactics. Having an experienced lawyer can be your most valuable weapon against exploitation by insurance companies.

What does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney in Santa Ana?

At most personal injury firms, cases are taken on a contingency basis. This means that the lawyer does not get paid until there is a successful outcome to the trial or a settlement is collected. If you do not win or recover the settlement, you don’t pay.

Cost is well-known to be a major factor in choosing to hire a lawyer. Most law firms understand the expense of a lawyer isn’t something that people budget for. Contingency-based fee structures allow people access to the legal assistance they deserve and need, and it allows lawyers to do the work they want to do.

Most personal injury lawyers charge between 30 to 40% of the money that is recovered. The fees usually depend on the complexity of the case, and a good lawyer will provide fees and charges in writing, in terms that are easy to understand. Contingency ensures that your lawyer will be fighting for your best interests and for the best financial outcome.

How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take to Settle?

Since every case is different and can have a number of variables, it’s impossible to predict until you speak to a Santa Ana personal injury law firm. They can evaluate the details of your case and provide you with a time frame that is reasonable, and they can explain your legal options.

The insurance companies involved are often likely to offer a fast settlement to you over the phone, however, the amount they offer is usually far less than the true value of your claim. While it may be very tempting to take the money and run, you risk leaving a significant amount behind. 

Remember, having a lawyer shows the insurance company that you mean business, and it establishes the possibility of your lawyer taking them to court. Insurance companies know litigation is expensive, so it is usually in their best interest to work with your lawyer and cooperate. 

What Kind of Damages Can Be Considered in a Personal Injury Case?

Your attorney has another important job: finding the true value of your claim so that all the possible damages are addressed in your case. If you don’t have a comprehensive analysis of your damages, an accurate evaluation of your claim’s worth is not likely.

You may be leaving some damages out of the equation because you aren’t aware that they pertain to your case. You may also be unaware of the future costs involved in the ongoing treatment of your injuries. Having a lawyer to deal with the legal details in the valuation of your claim can make a substantial difference.

A personal injury firm will generally have access to professionals with financial and medical expertise. They will consult with these professionals to ensure that future damages are properly assessed. The damages involved in your personal injury claim can be:

Your Medical Expenses

Claims for personal injury first address the medical costs of your injuries from the accident. Your damages can include just about any medical expense you incurred treating your injuries, such as: 

• Medication
• Hospitalization
• Surgeries
• Physical therapy appointments
• Doctor visits
• Medical devices
• Mobility aids. 

If you have already paid for some of these items, they should be reimbursed. The future costs associated with ongoing treatment will be assessed. 

Property Damages

Depending on the type of accident you experienced, you may have suffered property loss. If your clothing, vehicle, phone, home, or other items were damaged or lost in the accident, you can be compensated for repairs or replacement costs.

Lost Wages

If you had to miss more than a few hours or a day of work, your loss of wages will be added. Time off work can be financially crippling, especially if the injured party is unable to work for an extended length of time. 

Loss of wages or loss of income potential can be considered. And in certain cases, the loss of benefits or retirement will be a factor. Vocational rehabilitation can be added if you are unable to return to your original profession because of the injuries you suffered.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages in a personal injury case are often difficult to put a price on. These damages are what an injury victim has suffered that do not have a quantifiable value. The damages in a personal injury case can often include the following:

Psychological Distress

The emotional impact of an injury can be severe. The trauma of the accident, the disruption of your life, and other emotional damage can be addressed. 

Pain and Suffering

The severity of your injuries plays a part in these damages. The amount of pain, the time it takes to treat and heal, and the pain involved in ongoing treatments may be considered. The pain and injury part of any compensation package is usually the largest and is generally proportional to how serious your injuries are.

Loss of Consortium

If your relationship has been damaged or your marriage is suffering because of the accident, a jury could address the possibility of assessing damages for the loss of consortium. Severe injuries can turn the lives of those around you upside down, and they may be awarded for these damages.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Serious accidents can lead to the loss of enjoyment of life. Some people may not be able to engage in recreational activities or hobbies they once enjoyed. The damages related to the loss of your enjoyment of life can be a factor.

Since each situation in a tort case has dozens of variables, the best way to determine the value of your claim is to seek the professional advice of a personal injury attorney in Santa Ana.

Contact Us Today

The Santa Ana personal injury attorneys of 1Law have helped accident victims to recover substantial compensation in cases like yours. These financial awards are of critical importance to our clients, and we understand the impact that our work can have.

Our area of expertise is personal injury law, and our primary concern is protecting the rights of injury victims. We do everything we can to maximize their financial recovery and ensure their needs are met. If you believe you have been injured by the negligence of another, contact us today with free legal chat to find out how we can help you.