Not all accident-related injuries are similar. For example, some injuries are minor and heal quickly, while others can alter the course of your life forever. This devastating harm could prevent you from maintaining employment or enjoying life the way you did before your accident.
However, if your injury resulted from another person’s negligence, intentional wrongdoing, or recklessness, our dedicated attorneys could help. You have the right to demand compensation from liable parties for your accident-related damages in a civil lawsuit. Let our experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyers help you pursue your compensation claim. Our attorneys can meet with you to review the specific details of how your injury occurred to let you know if you have a potentially viable legal claim.
What Injuries Result in Civil Claims?
Any injury could lead to legal action when negligence is involved. However, specific injuries are more likely than others to lead to personal injury lawsuits. Some of the most common examples include:
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
- Broken arms or legs
- Severe burns
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal damage
- Paralysis
When another party’s recklessness, carelessness, or intentional wrongful action results in a physical injury, it could lead to a viable claim for compensation. A hardworking injury attorney in San Bernardino can pursue fair compensation from the responsible party and negotiate a fair settlement amount on behalf of a plaintiff.
How Do Severe Injuries Occur in San Bernardino?
Several circumstances could lead to a personal injury case. In each of them, proving another person’s carelessness is vital to securing a monetary award. A local injury attorney can pursue legal action after any of the following incidents:
- Motor vehicle, truck, or motorcycle collisions
- Slip, trip, and fall incidents
- Defective product accidents
- Violent assaults
- Dog bites
A knowledgeable lawyer from San Bernardino can look at the facts of a case and determine whether another party’s actions directly caused an avoidable incident and file a suit against them in court. Our seasoned local attorneys can review the details of the accident or incident to let them know if it is in their best interests to pursue a legal claim.
What Compensation Can Plaintiffs Recover After an Injury?
In civil lawsuits, numerous types of compensation are available to injured plaintiffs. Every case is different, and the possible settlement for one claim could be different compared to another with similar circumstances. Ultimately, it depends on the type of harm an injured party suffers and the impact that harm has on the injured party’s life and well-being. There are many common forms of compensation available in these cases.
Medical Expenses
Costly medical care is a hallmark of severe accidents and injuries. These expenses often begin immediately after an accident, with ambulance rides, emergency room visits, medical testing including X-rays and CT scans, surgeries, hospitalization, and follow up care. For catastrophic injuries, long-term care, including physical, behavioral, occupational, or cognitive therapy, medication, and assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, or respirators, for months or years to come, may be necessary. Sadly, some survivors of catastrophic personal injuries need medical care for the rest of their lives. Some people need to move to nursing homes or assisted living facilities where they can access round-the-clock nursing assistance and receive the full-time care they require. Unfortunately, the costs can be prohibitive, which is why working alongside an experienced local attorney is critical.
Lost Wages
One of the primary goals for many personal injury plaintiffs is recouping the wages they lost due to their injury. Unfortunately, for some workers, it can take weeks, months, or even years to recover sufficiently to return to the workforce, resulting in numerous missed paychecks and unexpected financial challenges. Additionally, if someone’s injuries prevent them from fully recovering, they may need help determining how to support themselves and their family members while being unable to work for a paycheck. In that situation, our knowledgeable legal team may be able to help them fight for their future lost anticipated earnings, potentially recouping the salary and benefits they would have received during their lifetime.
Non-Economic Damages
Most serious physical injuries also have non-economic consequences. For example, severe pain is an unfortunate reality for many injury victims. This pain would not have occurred but for the negligence of another party. Therefore, compensation could be available based on the severity of that person’s pain and suffering. Additionally, many people with debilitating injuries face other non-economic injuries, such as mental anguish, depression, and anxiety. Some people find it harder to interact with their close friends or family members, or they may experience a diminished sense of worth or decreased enjoyment in their life. While those types of feelings do not have strict quantitative values, they are very real losses and deserve compensation.
Punitive Damages
California law also permits injured people or their family members to pursue punitive damages in certain, limited situations. California Civil Code Section 3294 states that courts can award punitive damages as a means to punish the defendant and serve as a deterrent to others from engaging in similar behavior. To be eligible for punitive damages, an injured party must show, by clear and convincing evidence, that the defendant acted with oppression, malice, or fraud.
A seasoned lawyer in San Bernardino knows how to properly value a case to ensure that a plaintiff receives a fair settlement for all the personal injury harm they have endured. Fortunately, California does not have damage caps in most situations, so injured parties should be able to pursue fair compensation for their full losses. The skilled attorneys can explain how those limitations could affect an injured party’s recovery. Relying on their years of experience with other personal injury matters, the determined legal team can work tirelessly and aggressively to build a robust claim for full compensation.
Steps to Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Following the correct protocol can significantly increase the chances of a successful lawsuit resolution after sustaining an injury due to someone else’s actions.
Obtain Medical Assistance
Immediately after a motor vehicle crash or other incident resulting in harm, individuals should seek a medical evaluation and treatment. Even if they feel relatively well, they should still see a doctor because a doctor could examine them for any hidden injuries that might not be outwardly visible. In addition to making a diagnosis and providing treatment, a doctor could assist in the liability and damages parts of a lawsuit. A skilled attorney could use the doctor’s report as evidence linking the injuries to the accident and also as proof of the harm caused by the event.
Be Careful What Is Said
People should limit what they say after suffering an injury. Although they might be tempted to talk to friends or post on social media, whatever they say could be misconstrued. They should consult only with a seasoned local attorney.
Gather Information
If possible, an injured person should try to gather as much information as they can. For instance, after a car crash, if physically able, a person should take pictures of the surrounding area, ask bystanders for their contact information, and file a report with the police. An attorney could use this initial information as a starting point to their own detailed investigation.
Trying to handle a personal injury compensation claim can be overwhelming, which is why relying on the trusted assistance of a San Bernardino attorney is essential.
What Is the Time Limit to File a Personal Injury Claim?
After sustaining a severe injury, the first instinct of many people is to focus on healing. Many people want to feel better both emotionally and physically before tackling a lawsuit. However, waiting too long can be a mistake. Locating sufficient evidence to build a strong claim can be harder if someone delays their actions. Additionally, in most situations, California law generally allows individuals only two years to bring a claim. This time limit, known as the statute of limitations, could also be longer or shorter in certain circumstances. Missing this deadline could result in being barred from filing a claim altogether.
Speaking with a San Bernardino attorney as soon as possible after suffering a personal injury allows the injured party to focus on healing.
Talk to a San Bernardino Personal Injury Attorney Today
Your injury case is essential to your well-being and financial stability. If you are successful, the compensation you receive could positively impact your future. A successful and satisfactory resolution of your civil claim could allow you the peace of mind to focus on healing, without having to worry about how to support yourself or your beloved family members.
While these claims are often challenging, a compassionate attorney could make all the difference. Reach out to our San Bernardino personal injury lawyers as soon as possible.
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