Personal injury law is a unique branch of the law that addresses the injuries you sustain as the result of someone else’s negligence. Because recovering after such an event can be extremely difficult, the law addresses the situation by affording claimants the opportunity to seek compensation for the losses they suffer. Although personal injury claims tend to be complicated, obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is critical to your ability to successfully travel the path toward healing, and an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney can help you do just that.
Common Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury claims come in nearly all shapes and sizes, but the most common include the following:
- Car accidents, including accidents involving drivers for rideshare companies, such as Lyft and Uber
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- E-scooter accidents
- Bike accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and falls and other types of premises liability claims
- Dog bites
- Pool drownings
- Accidents that lead to catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Whatever kind of accident causes you to be injured, the basics of personal injury law remain the same.
First Things First: Seeking the Medical Attention You Need
You’ve been injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, and the first order of business is seeking the medical attention that you need. Even if you don’t believe you were seriously injured in the accident in question, it’s important to remember that the shock associated with violent accidents can mask the painful effects of your injuries. Further, some very serious injuries can remain asymptomatic until they develop into something much more serious and much more complicated to treat effectively. Seeking a doctor’s care as soon after the accident as possible is the best way to protect your health and the best way to demonstrate to the insurance company handling your claim that you are taking the accident as seriously as you expect them to take it. Additionally, it’s important to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions throughout the recovery process – in order to help protect your health and to help protect your personal injury claim.
Consult with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
The second important step you should take is consulting with an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney as soon after the injury-causing accident as possible. You have been injured, and you are no match for the massive insurance company handling your case. This insurance company has its sights on high profits, which translates to paying out as little in settlements as it can get away with. Your personal injury attorney, on the other hand, does have the skills, resources, and experience to deftly defend your legal rights – in pursuit of your rightful compensation. The insurance company is going for the gusto, and you can count on your personal injury attorney to do the same on your behalf.
Keep Your Thoughts on the Matter to Yourself
You are the victim of someone else’s negligence, and it’s a lot to take in. While sharing is a great way to relieve your stress, it can actually harm your personal injury claim. The involved insurance company is waiting for you to slip up and say something that it can twist into evidence against you. For example, apologizing at the scene of an accident is human – you’re naturally sorry that the accident happened – but the insurance company will pounce at such a statement and will misconstrue it to mean that you are admitting fault in the matter. The insurance company is also adept at ringing damning information out of claimants’ social media posts. Because the insurance company will be sure to watch your every move post-accident, it’s a good idea to remain mum until your claim has been resolved.
Calculating Your Damages
Your personal injury claim will hinge on the damages you have suffered as a result of the other person or entity’s negligence, making it very important to ensure that your complete damages are well-represented in your personal injury claim. Toward this end, it is important to include each of the following in their entirety:
- Your Medical Expenses – Your medical costs will likely begin with emergency care and extend on to surgery, hospitalization, pain management, rehabilitation, and much more.
- Your Lost Wages – A serious injury means a lot of downtime that very often translates to lost earnings. If your injuries affect your ability to do your job, it can reduce earning potential, which can be financially devastating in the long run.
- Your Pain and Suffering – The pain and suffering you experience can be one of your most difficult hurdles post-accident, and it should be well represented in your personal injury claim.
Negotiating a Favorable Settlement
In order to negotiate a favorable settlement that allows you to fully recover, you’ll need to cut through the insurance company’s tools of the trade, which is a job for your experienced personal injury attorney. These tools can include all of the following:
- Denying claims outright (regardless of their merit)
- Making early settlement offers that fall woefully short of their mark
- Prolonging and/or complicating the claims process
- Shifting blame onto the claimant
- Denying the full extent of damages
Don’t let the insurance company’s practices get you down – that is their objective. While you attend to regaining your health, your personal injury attorney will engage in skillful negotiations with the insurance company on behalf of your claim’s best possible resolution.
Discuss Your Claim with an Experienced Orange County Personal Injury Attorney Today
Suffering serious injuries that were caused by someone else’s negligence is difficult. The reputable Orange County personal injury attorneys at Los Angeles City Law, however, have reserves of experience guiding claims like yours toward just resolutions that support our clients’ rights, and we are here to help you, too. Our accomplished legal team is standing by to help throughout the legal process, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 866-522-4895 to learn more about what we can do to help you today.
