Suffering a personal injury is a devastating, painful, and expensive experience. When you are the victim of these incidents, and it is another person’s fault, you have the right to demand compensation. Still, these cases are rarely easy. To obtain the proper payments for your losses, it is necessary to prove the defendant’s fault and accurately measure your case’s value. Unfortunately, unrepresented plaintiffs often fall into the trap of settling their claims for far less than their true worth.
However, a Fresno personal injury lawyer can help you pursue at-fault defendants for proper compensation. Call our dedicated attorneys today if you endured your injuries due to an accident or were the victim of a violent crime.
Common Personal Injury Claims
Many personal injuries are the result of accidents. For example, if a defendant in a negligence case did not mean to cause any harm, but their reckless behavior led to an injury, they may be liable. Still, it is not enough for a plaintiff to state that a defendant was negligent. It is necessary to prove these cases in court.
Whether a defendant’s actions were negligent is a question with different criteria for every type of accident case. However, in general, a plaintiff must show that the defendant owed them a duty of protection, that the defendant failed to provide this protection, and that this failure resulted in an injury. This basic framework applies to most damages caused by accidents, including:
- Car, truck, and other accidents that happen on the road
- Dog bites
- Slips and falls
- Defective product cases
A seasoned personal injury attorney in Fresno can pursue cases arising out of a wide variety of accidents and fight to get injured victims the justice they deserve.
Potential Compensation in a Personal Injury Claim
Personal injuries can affect an individual’s life in a variety of ways. The most obvious impact is physical injury. In every example, a defendant who is liable for causing these injuries must provide compensation for all needed medical care.
However, most examples of personal injury events affect people’s lives in other ways. For example, most personal injuries are painful. Even so, this will not appear as a charge on a hospital bill. Still, this is a way in which the event has changed a victim’s life for the worse. A skilled personal injury lawyer in Fresno can help place a dollar value on these losses.
Another potential form of compensation is wage reimbursement. For instance, if an injury is significant enough to prevent a victim from working, a liable defendant must provide compensation for the injured person’s lost wages. In extreme examples, an injury leaves a person with a permanent disability. Here, a lawyer works to estimate how the event will impact an individual’s future earnings.
Steps to Take After an Accident
The moments following an accident can be overwhelming, but taking the right steps early on can make a major difference in both your recovery and your legal claim. Your health and safety should always come first—seek medical attention immediately, even if you do not think your injuries are severe. Some injuries, such as concussions or internal damage, may not be apparent right away. Having medical documentation from the start will also provide essential evidence for your case.
After ensuring your safety, try to document the scene as thoroughly as possible. Take photos or videos of the accident site, any visible injuries, and the conditions that may have caused the incident. Collect the contact information of witnesses and anyone involved, and, if applicable, request a copy of the police or incident report.
You should also notify your insurance provider promptly, but be cautious when speaking with adjusters before consulting an attorney. Insurance companies often aim to minimize payouts and may pressure you to accept a settlement quickly. Avoid signing any documents or making recorded statements until you have legal guidance.
Finally, contact a Fresno personal injury attorney as soon as you can. Acting quickly helps preserve crucial evidence, ensures compliance with California’s filing deadlines, and allows your lawyer to start building a strong claim on your behalf.
State Law Gives People a Limited Time to Pursue a Case
The one thing that most accident cases have in common is the statute of limitations. This law controls when a plaintiff must ask a court to rule on their case. If this time expires and the case is not yet in court, the plaintiff cannot recover any compensation. According to the California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, most plaintiffs have two years from the time of injury to pursue a case. A hardworking attorney can help individuals understand the negligence laws and pursue their claims promptly.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Navigating the aftermath of a serious accident involves more than just medical recovery—it requires dealing with insurance companies, understanding legal procedures, and proving fault. An experienced Fresno personal injury attorney can guide you through each of these challenges.
Your attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into how the accident occurred, gathering medical records, witness statements, photographs, and expert testimony to establish liability. They can also handle all communication with insurers, ensuring that your rights are protected and that you do not say anything that could jeopardize your claim.
Beyond proving fault, your lawyer will work to accurately measure your damages. This includes not only your medical expenses and lost wages but also your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and any long-term effects on your quality of life. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your attorney can represent you in court and present a compelling case before a judge or jury.
Ultimately, having an attorney on your side helps level the playing field against well-funded insurers and defense teams. Their goal is to secure the maximum compensation available to help you move forward after a life-changing injury.
Let a Fresno Personal Injury Attorney Work to Promote Your Rights
You should not have to endure the physical pain, emotional trauma, and economic losses that often follow a personal injury. Therefore, whenever another party is at fault for a personal injury, that defendant must provide the compensation needed to make you whole again.
Our experienced lawyers will take the lead in seeking this compensation. They work to investigate the incident, identify all potential defendants, connect the actions of these defendants to your losses, and properly value your case. Contact a Fresno personal injury lawyer today to get started on your claim.
