As the name suggests, a personal injury case occurs when an individual sustains an injury that is the result of the other party’s actions. In the majority of personal injury cases, the defendant is accused of behaving negligently, rather than intentionally. A personal injury lawyer located in Riverside may handle a range of types of cases, including those that involve motor vehicle accidents and trip and fall accidents.

Auto Accidents

Car accidents are among the most common types of incidents that lead to personal injury lawsuits. Many car accident survivors make the mistake of trying to negotiate with the insurance carrier by themselves, rather than contacting a personal injury lawyer. But since it’s not in the insurance carrier’s best interests to offer a fair settlement, car crash survivors are unlikely to receive just compensation for their losses. In fact, the insurance carrier may try to claim that the victim was at fault for the crash. It’s always a good idea to contact a lawyer. Even if no lawsuit is filed, the personal injury lawyer can effectively negotiate with the insurance carrier on behalf of the victim.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries. Even when a motorcyclist is careful to wear a DOT-approved helmet and other protective gear, getting thrown from a bike can result in permanent disability. For this type of personal injury case, the victim’s attorney may seek compensation for his or her physical injuries, psychological injuries, lost wages, and other damages.

Slip and Fall Incidents

A slip and fall accident can occur anywhere. If a person falls outside of his or her own home, it may be attributable to an act of negligence committed by another party. For example, a building manager may have failed to nail down loose floorboards in the common area of an apartment building, causing a tenant or visitor to trip and fall. These types of cases can be tricky to litigate, so it’s very important that the victims carefully document the scene of the incident, the hazardous condition, and their injuries.

You might already know that if you’re involved in a car wreck that was the fault of the other driver, you have the right to pursue legal recourse against that party with the help of personal injury attorneys in Riverside, CA. But what happens if the other party was driving a government vehicle? In these cases, it’s best to consult a car accident lawyer who has experience with government liability cases . You do still have the right to pursue compensation from an at-fault city, state, or federal government entity. Similarly, a car accident lawyer can help hold government entities liable for crashes that occur with other private citizens due to dangerous intersections, lack of traffic signage, and other problems that were the responsibility of the municipality.

Government liability cases extend well beyond auto crashes. Accident attorneys may file a lawsuit in the wake of civil rights violations committed by law enforcement officers. They may also sue for injuries caused by the negligence of public schools or public school districts. And since slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere, an attorney can step in to help if you fall on public property or in government buildings because of someone else’s negligence.

After an auto accident in Riverside, CA, an attorney can review the case, determine liability, and discuss the next steps to take. But in the immediate aftermath of the crash, there are some steps you need to take right away-well before you contact a personal injury attorney . It’s equally as important to avoid making certain mistakes that can jeopardize the efforts of your accident lawyer to obtain just compensation on your behalf.

Avoid Driving Away

Driving away from the scene of an accident could result in criminal charges. Even if it appears that no one is injured and that the property damage is minimal, it’s always essential to pull over.

Avoid Making Verbal Agreements

If the other driver doesn’t have auto insurance, he or she might try to convince you not to call the police, file an accident report, and notify a personal injury attorney. But it’s never a good idea to make a verbal agreement to settle the matter between the two of you. Quite simply, there’s no guarantee that the other driver will uphold his or her end of the bargain. Plus, you might later accrue unexpected expenses stemming from the crash. Always call the police and file an accident report.

Avoid Neglecting to Obtain Important Information

You might already know that you need to exchange insurance information with the other driver. But did you know that you should also write down his or her driver’s license number, make and model of the car, license plate, and the names and contact information of any witnesses? Use your cellphone to take plenty of photos of the crash site, including any skid marks and traffic signs, and to document the damage on the vehicles and your injuries.

Avoid Discussing the Crash

When you’re exchanging information with the other driver, it’s essential to avoid discussing the crash with him or her. Save your account of what happened for the police officer. If the other driver insists on discussing the accident or becomes belligerent, you can refer him or her to your auto accident attorney.

Avoid Waiting to See a Doctor

When the police authorize you to leave the scene, you should go to a hospital right away, even if you think you are not seriously injured. Waiting to see a doctor might later enable the insurance carrier to claim that you couldn’t have been badly injured.

 Evidence is the backbone of a successful lawsuit. When you meet with a personal injury attorney serving the Riverside, CA area, he or she will ask you about any evidence you can produce. Evidence is best preserved in the immediate aftermath of an incident. To help your personal injury lawyer substantiate your claims, it’s a good idea to take photographic evidence of the scene of the accident, your injuries, and any property damage.

As you’ll learn when you watch this video, your personal injury lawyer may also contact other parties to obtain evidence. For instance, he or she can obtain copies of the report you filed with the police officers. An accident lawyer might also use the testimony of expert witnesses or eyewitnesses to the accident. The more compelling evidence you can produce, the stronger your case will be.

After sustaining injuries due to someone else’s negligence , you can retain the services of a personal injury attorney with offices in Riverside, CA. Your personal injury attorney might file a lawsuit against the negligent party to demand compensation for your losses. If the case goes to trial, your accident lawyer will make an opening statement, present evidence, and question witnesses to prove your losses and the other party’s negligence. The case may be resolved with a jury verdict or a settlement.

For more on what happens leading up to the trial, watch this video or consult your personal injury attorney. The professional in this video explains that your attorney will begin the process by submitting a notice of representation to the negligent party and possibly to his or her insurance company. Then, your lawyer will review all relevant evidence to prepare your case.

If you’re looking for a personal injury attorney in the Riverside, CA area, you might have slipped and fallen on someone else’s property, been struck by a negligent driver, or been attacked by someone else’s dog. A personal injury attorney can handle all of these types of cases and many more. It’s best not to hire the first injury attorney you come across. Spend a little time researching the attorney’s background and get the most out of your initial consultation by bringing a list of relevant questions.

Understand the Value of Experience

There are plenty of personal injury lawyers out there, but not all of them have years of experience in and out of the courtroom. Look for a personal injury attorney who has at least a couple of decades of experience. Experienced lawyers understand the fine art of negotiation during settlement talks and they know the tactics the other party might try to use in the courtroom. Seasoned attorneys can provide you with the one-on-one service you deserve and the personalized guidance you need to move forward with your life after the accident.

Schedule an Initial Consultation

When you’ve identified a personal injury attorney who might be right for your case, schedule an initial consultation at the law office. This brief consultation should be free of charge and without any obligations. It’s a chance to meet each other, discuss the case, and consider the details of retaining legal counsel. Bring a list of questions you have about your case and the attorney’s qualifications.

Explore the Attorney’s Track Record

During your consultation, feel free to ask the injury lawyer about past cases he or she has handled that were similar to yours. It’s acceptable to ask for an estimate of how many cases the law firm has handled over the years and how much money in jury awards and settlements the law firm has recovered for clients.

Ask About the Fee Schedule

Before hiring the personal injury lawyer, you should have a clear understanding of the legal fees involved. It’s generally best to find a lawyer who works on contingency, which means that he or she will not recover a fee unless there is a favorable resolution to your case.

Losing a loved one is a difficult experience, regardless of the circumstances. However, that loss can feel more acute when your family member died as a result of another’s negligence. A wrongful death claim may be brought by the surviving family members of a deceased individual against one or more persons when it is believed that the circumstances surrounding their loved one’s death could have been prevented. These lawsuits seek to provide reparations for the family members to atone for factors such as the financial, physical, and emotional losses suffered as a result of the death, such as the loss of financial support, physical actions, guardianship or companionship, and even funeral and burial expenses. If you are considering filing a wrongful death claim, it is essential to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Riverside, CA , to file your claim and support your case.

Accident attorneys have an up-to-date working knowledge of your legal resources if you have suffered an injury or loss due to negligence. Your personal injury attorney will provide you with the guidance, counsel, and legal knowledge you need to file a successful wrongful death claim or a personal injury claim.

If you have been injured in an accident, a personal injury attorney serving Riverside, CA, is your best resource when seeking reparations for your losses. Understanding how personal injury law works and how you can expect a personal injury case to proceed can reduce stress and uncertainty associated with your situation.

Settlement

When a personal injury claim is made, the parties involved have the opportunity to settle the claim outside of court. During a settlement, you and your personal injury lawyer will determine whether the offers made by the party at fault for your accident are adequate to close the case. The person or party responsible for your accident may offer an out-of-court settlement before or after you have filed a personal injury claim; the option to settle remains after your case has gone to court and even while the jury is deliberating, provided no final verdict has been made. However, once you have accepted a settlement for your injury, you may no longer file further legal claims for additional reparations.

Civil Lawsuit

If the personal injury case cannot be settled out of court to the satisfaction of both parties and their accident attorneys, or a settlement is not offered at all, your personal injury claim will go to court and proceed through the civil trial process. During a civil lawsuit, both parties and their accident lawyers will appear in court and make their cases to a judge and jury. The trial process may include the submission of evidence, such as accident reports and tickets served, as well as the examination of eyewitness accounts and the testimony of any law enforcement offices that handled the situation, such as during an auto accident. Finally, a judge or jury will determine the validity of the claims and whether the defendant was at fault for the accident, as well as assign the final monetary value of any reparations the plaintiff receives.

Dog bites are a common type of personal injury—each year, thousands of dog bites occur across America that often lead to pain and infection, and may even result in lost work and other consequences. If you have been bitten by a dog, a personal injury lawyer in Riverside, CA , can help you seek monetary compensation for medical treatment, lost work, and other pain or suffering you may have experienced.

Dog owners are responsible for their pet’s behavior and ensuring that others are safe from their pet in public spaces. Following a dog bite injury, your injury lawyer will clarify the details of the situation to ensure the owner is responsible for your bite under California personal injury law. He will examine the circumstances of the case, including your actions, the owner’s actions, and the results of any medical evaluation you have received for the bite. Once the facts have been established, your personal injury attorney will determine the type of compensation for which you are eligible, including recompense for property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional trauma surrounding the bite or its impact on your life.

Slips and falls are common causes of injury in homes, workspaces, and public areas. When seeking legal recourse for a slip and fall injury, it’s essential to prove that factors in your environment were responsible for the accident. If you have suffered a personal injury in Riverside, CA, associated with a slip, trip, or fall, your attorney will use the facts and circumstances of the case to prove that the property owner should be held liable for your slip and fall.

Dangerous Surroundings

When proving another’s liability for your slip and fall, your personal injury attorney will examine the condition of the surroundings in which you suffered the accident. In many cases, slips, falls, and trips are caused by dangerous conditions, such as damaged or deteriorating walkways and safety railings, that were not addressed appropriately by the property owner. Thus, proving that your surroundings at the time of the fall were dangerous in a way that should have been recognized and repaired or addressed by the property owner is a common practice during slip and fall injury cases.

Dangerous Situations

Alternatively, your slip and fall may have been caused by the occurrence of a dangerous situation, rather than a permanent hazard in your surroundings. Examples of dangerous situations caused by property owners include leaving hazardous obstacles or equipment in public areas or employee walkways, as well as failing to make accommodations for pedestrian traffic during repairs or construction projects. If the property owner committed an act that made the property temporarily dangerous at the time of your slip and fall, this action may also be submitted as proof during your slip and fall injury case.

A slip and call can cause serious injury that leads to lost work, chronic pain, and other consequences. Your accident lawyer will work with you to understand the environment at the time of your fall to build the best case for compensation.