How to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Orange, CA
Learn more about what goes into the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit when pursuing compensation for an accident.
How to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Orange, CA
A personal injury is anything that causes bodily injury to someone. Oftentimes, personal injury claims in Orange, CA arise out of negligence. As a result, a personal injury lawsuit can be filed. As such, establishing a duty and breach of care is an essential component of moving forward with filing a successful personal injury claim.
With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer in Orange, you can start collecting the compensation you need to move forward with your life and on the road to recovery. If you’re ready to move forward with a personal injury claim in Orange, CA, here are some helpful tips on how to get started and how to file a personal injury lawsuit when you need to.
Different Types of Personal Injury Claims
Before you can ever file a personal injury lawsuit, you must first determine that you suffered a true personal injury. As noted earlier, personal injury claims arise from acts of negligence caused by someone else such as a car accident caused by a distracted driver.
All property owners, medical professionals, manufacturers, and motorists owe a duty of care to other drivers, patrons, patients, and consumers. Examples of this include a driver adhering to rules of the road and making sure they are not endangering other motorists. When this duty of care is breached and causes an accident and subsequent injury, the injured party has a right to file a personal injury claim against the negligent party.
The most common types of personal injury claims include:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Uber/Lyft Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Defective Products
- Dog Bites
Oftentimes, these accidents leave residents with serious, sometimes lifelong injuries that make going back to work or resuming normal, day-to-day activities impossible. Oftentimes, the insurance company involved will try to underpay a claim in order to save money. The best way to combat this is by hiring a local Orange personal injury lawyer who’s familiar with these tactics and will negotiate on your behalf.
Steps to Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Orange, CA
After suffering a personal injury, you’ll need to collect evidence to support your claim for compensation. This includes taking photographs of the accident scene, collecting witness testimonies, and keeping records of your medical bills, as well as other out-of-pocket expenses. If you don’t have these items, it will be very difficult to establish liability and the severity of your injuries to warrant compensation.
Once liability has been established, you’ll want to meet with an experienced Orange personal injury attorney who can help you navigate the personal injury claim process. They will help you determine the best venue to file the claim, depending on the circumstances. For claims valued at $10,000 or less, the claim will usually be filed in small claims court.
In many situations, a personal injury case tried in small claims court doesn’t require the assistance of a lawyer. However, Southern California residents who hire an experienced personal injury attorney often recover more compensation than those who don’t. For damages greater than $10,000, they will be filed in a California civil court.
Damages Available in California Personal Injury Cases
Those who are able to move forward with a personal injury claim in California will be able to pursue compensation for the following economic damages:
- Ongoing and future medical treatment and related expenses
- Medication costs
- Rehabilitation care
- Lost wages and lost earning capability if injuries preclude you from returning to work
- Vehicle repair and related expenses
Expect a Settlement
Most personal injury cases settle before they go to trial. This is usually done through a process called mediation, where both parties will try to reach an agreement everyone is satisfied with. If a settlement cannot be reached, then the case will proceed to trial where it could take several weeks or months to complete (depending on the circumstances).
Schedule a Consultation With a Personal Injury Lawyer From Santiago Accident Lawyers
Don’t handle the aftermath of a personal injury accident alone. With the help of our firm, we’ll investigate the accident, help you file a claim, and hold the liable party responsible for the damages they caused.
When you’re ready to move forward with a personal injury claim in Orange, CA, our personal injury lawyers are here to help. Contact our law firm at 714-912-6901.
