Pittsburg Personal Injury Lawyer

Yes. It is usually wise to talk to an attorney as soon as possible after the accident for the following reasons:

Meeting Deadlines

Most personal injury cases in California have a two-year statute of limitations. This means you have just two years from the date of injury to file a claim against the responsible party. Your attorney will ensure that all legal deadlines are met in plenty of time.

Gathering And Collecting Evidence

Evidence collected early in the case can be crucial to establish liability. However, the quality of the evidence usually declines after a few days. For example, it is essential to gather evidence as soon as possible before vehicles are moved or skid marks fade after a car accident.

You can help the investigation of a car accident by taking photos of the vehicles’ positions and damages. Also, take pictures of the accident scene, including distant and close-up shots of any skid marks.

Increasing Case Value

One of the problems of not hiring a Pittsburg, CA personal injury lawyer is being tempted to take the first settlement offer from the insurance company. They may be misinformed or so desperate for money that they will take a low offer. Taking the first offer without aggressive negotiating is a mistake! The insurance company will always start low to see if you will bite.

An experienced lawyer will know what your case is really worth. The attorney will look through all of your damages in the past and future to arrive at a fair settlement number. For example, your attorney will consult with medical experts to understand what your future medical treatments will cost and how long they will affect your ability to earn a living.

Negotiating

Most personal injury cases settle before seeing a courtroom. So, a major part of your attorney’s job is to negotiate with the insurance adjuster. Sometimes they will need to haggle with other attorneys, too. You will be at a major disadvantage if you are not represented by an attorney in these sessions.

Providing Legal Representation And Peace Of Mind

After a severe accident, you will probably be upset and shocked. But, with serious injuries, medical appointments and bills, and loss of work, the last thing you want to worry about is legal issues. Would you want to have to collect evidence, meet legal deadlines, and haggle with complex insurance companies?

Most injured parties are better off letting a Pittsburg personal injury lawyer handle all legal matters. That way, you can focus on your recovery and healing. An attorney can take so many burdens off of your shoulders.

Plus, you may be able to receive compensation for your bills, lost work time, and pain and suffering, so you will have a financial cushion to see you through hard times.

Personal injury law is about proving another party’s liability for an injured person’s damages. Most personal injury lawsuits in California involve proving negligence. Your attorney will prove liability for negligence by showing:

Legal Duty

The defendant owed you a ‘duty of care,’ which means they owed you a reasonable amount of caution and attention not to injure you. For instance, a car driver is legally obliged not to run a red light and hit you.

Breach of Duty

This results from the defendant’s unsafe action or failure to act that led to the accident. The other driver may breach their legal duty in a car accident by driving too fast and running into you at a stop sign.

Causation

A breach of legal duty caused injuries to you, including physical damages, emotional suffering, medical costs, and loss of earnings.

Damages

You incurred losses and damages that can be compensated for in a claim or lawsuit. For example, if you are hurt in a car accident, you could be entitled to lost earnings and medical bills for your back injuries.

Every personal injury case begins with an accident caused by someone’s negligence. Whether it is an auto accident, pedestrian accident, or slip and fall case, there is a similar timeline for how the case proceeds:

Get Medical Treatment

This is always the first step after an accident. The most important thing is to make sure your health is taken care of by going to the ER or doctor. Even if you are ‘ok,’ it always is best to be checked out by a doctor. Serious injury symptoms can take a day to appear, such as neck and back injuries and concussions.

Keep all receipts and bills from your doctor visits; they will be needed to prove your medical expenses. Also, take pictures of obvious injuries, such as cuts and scrapes. Your attorney will use this evidence to maximize your claim.

Remember, if you delay seeing a doctor, the insurance company may argue that you were not seriously injured. They already will try to minimize their payout, so don’t help them by waiting to get medical treatment.

Hire A Pittsburg Personal Injury Law Firm

Many injured parties may think it is best to wait until you get an insurance offer or diagnosis to hire a lawyer. However, calling an attorney should happen as soon as you receive medical attention. The initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose and much to gain.

The attorney will never take a case where an attorney is not needed, either. At best, you will get a settlement that was much higher than what you would have received. At worst, you got some free legal advice.

Do An Accident Investigation

After you hire your lawyer, they will investigate the case. There are several things your attorney will need to understand the claim, including witness statements, photos, police reports, and medical bills and records.

During the investigation, you should be open and honest with your lawyer. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, for example, tell your attorney about it right away. If you think you were partially at fault for the accident, let the attorney know. The more information they have early on, the better.

File The Claim

Before your attorney files a lawsuit, they will make a claim with the at-fault person’s insurance company. The case could be settled at this stage before going to court. A skilled law firm leverages the threat of a lawsuit to get a better settlement.

It is ultimately up to you whether to accept a settlement offer or not. Your attorney will offer the advantages and disadvantages of the specific offer and leave it to you whether to accept or go to court.

File A Lawsuit

If you can’t agree with the insurance company, then your attorney will file a lawsuit. At this point, your attorney will deal with the defendant’s attorney, not an insurance adjuster.

Discovery

Each party investigates the case and requests evidence from the other party. There will be a lot of communication between both attorneys during the discovery phase to understand the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

Mediation

Lawyers will usually try to reach a settlement outside the courtroom after the discovery phase. Hopefully, a fair agreement can be reached without the time and expense of a trial.

Trial

This is the last step of the case if settlement negotiations and mediation fail. Both sides will present their best case to the jury. Your attorney will use all of the evidence compiled so far to convince the jury that you are entitled to compensation. Keep in mind that if the jury rules for the defendant, you get nothing. That is an important consideration when deciding whether or not to take a settlement offer.