How to Pursue a Personal Injury Claim After a Gardena Car Accident?

Douglas D. Shaffer - Personal Injury Lawyer - Manhattan Beach, CA

If you’ve suffered injury after a car accident, it may be time to take legal action to receive compensation to help cover your losses. It can be hard to know the first steps in this process, and you may wonder how to pursue a personal injury claim after a Gardena car accident. There are many steps to take when trying to respond to a car accident, and fighting for your rights should not be an afterthought.

Experienced Car Accident Attorneys in Gardena

Shaffer Law is one of California’s top personal injury law firms. We have recovered more than $100 million in compensation for our clients who have faced similar cases to yours. Our firm recently won $10 million for a client who pursued a wrongful death case due to a defective product. We also won a case for our clients that led to them receiving $5 million in an elder abuse-related claim. You can trust us with your personal injury case.

How to Initiate a Personal Injury Claim After a Car Accident

2021 saw 43,230 individuals killed in motor vehicle-related accidents, as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. With this level of loss and severity, car accident injuries are taken very seriously, and if you have faced injury, it is time to initiate action. The most important area of focus after an accident is seeing that your medical needs are cared for. Seek immediate medical attention after an accident.

The first step in pursuing a personal injury claim may be to ask for help. By reaching out to a personal injury lawyer, you are setting yourself up for a smooth and successful case. They can help you know your legal options upfront and help you take those actions. If your case goes to court, which in Gardena is on Magnolia Avenue, your lawyer can be your mouthpiece and defend your case in front of a judge and jury.

After your accident, it is important to start gathering evidence that supports your case. This may be photos or videos of the accident scene, police reports that detail what happened and show fault, and medical reports that prove your medical condition. As much evidence as possible that you can uncover is key. Proving fault is key to a successful personal injury claim, so anything that you can do to establish this will help your case.

It is important to speak with insurers as soon as possible, as many insurance companies have policies with a timeline, and if you miss the deadline, you may not be eligible for a payout. If you receive a low-ball settlement offer from insurance adjustors, you do not have to accept it. This can be negotiated, and if a collective agreement is not made, you can proceed to court to advocate for your needs.

It is important to remember that California has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims of two years, so you should take legal action as soon as you can to avoid missing this deadline and unintentionally counting yourself out for potential compensation.

No matter what first step you take to initiate your personal injury case, make sure you look after your health. Your physical health is the most important aspect when responding to a car accident, and then you can move forward from there.

FAQs

Q: How Much Do Most Personal Injury Cases Settle for?

A: The amount that most personal injury cases settle for varies greatly depending on the details of the case, but ideally, compensation matches the amount of losses related to the injury. These losses can include both economic and non-economic damages. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, lowered earning capacity, pain and suffering, liability, and more.

Q: What Do You Need to Make a Successful Personal Injury Claim?

A: To make a successful personal injury claim, you often need to establish the four elements of negligence. These elements include duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. It is essential that you have detailed evidence that supports these four elements so that you can prove your right to compensation.

Q: How Long After a Car Accident Can You Pursue Legal Action for Personal Injury?

A: The amount of time that you have to pursue legal action for a personal injury claim due to a car accident will depend on the state’s statute of limitations. In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of the injury. This means that if you have suffered an injury, you should take legal action as soon as possible to ensure that you do not fall outside of that time window.

Q: How Long Do Most Personal Injury Cases Take?

A: Most personal injury cases can range in duration due to several key factors and dynamics at play in your case. The timeline can depend on the type of injury and how serious it is, how long medical treatment takes, if liability is clear or disputed, how straightforward any negotiations with insurers are, and if your case moves to a trial or not. Due to the variables that impact personal injury cases, the time it takes to complete them can vary.

Q: Is Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer Effective?

A: Working with a personal injury lawyer can be highly effective, as they can help you navigate the complexities of your case. Lawyers can handle complications like disputed liability, uncooperative insurance companies, and long trials. A lawyer works to see that your rights are respected and that you receive compensation for all of your losses, even the ones that are not so clear and visible.

Speak With a Trusted Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Do not wait to get the legal support and advocacy that you not only need but also deserve. If you have suffered an injury in a car accident, you can pursue compensation to help cover the economic and non-economic damages you suffered. The process may seem complex and overwhelming, but this is where a personal injury lawyer can step in and provide essential care. Reach out today to Shaffer Law and set up an initial consultation.

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About The Author

Douglas D. Shaffer

Douglas D. Shaffer is a seasoned attorney based in California, specializing in personal injury and complex litigation. With an impressive career marked by significant case wins and a strong dedication to his clients, his professional background and expertise are noteworthy. Education: Graduated magna cum laude from Pepperdine Law School; holds a Bachelor of Science from Ohio State University. Experience: Over three decades of legal practice, focusing on catastrophic injury cases. Recognition: Repeatedly recognized as a Super Lawyer; named a top lawyer by US News and World Reports. Community Involvement: Actively contributes to community services and coaches youth sports. Bar Admissions: Admitted to the State Bar of California, U.S. District Court Northern District of California, and U.S. District Court Central District of California since 1984.

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