San Pedro Personal Injury Lawyer
San Pedro Personal Injury Attorney
Any personal injury has the potential to be a life-changing incident for the victim and their family. A personal injury happens when one party inflicts harm on another party. Most of the personal injuries reported in San Pedro and throughout California are the results of negligence or failure to use reasonable care. However, it is also possible for illegal actions to result in personal injuries and more complex legal proceedings for those involved.
Compassionate Personal Injury Counsel for San Pedro Clients
When you or a member of your family has sustained physical injuries and/or economic losses because of the actions of another party, a San Pedro personal injury attorney is the optimal professional resource. The right attorney can make every aspect of your recovery process easier to manage and more likely to yield the results you hope to see. They can help gather the evidence needed to prove liability for your damages, identify every open channel of compensation to enhance your recovery, and prepare you for the legal proceedings ahead as you seek the compensation for the damages that you deserve.
Shaffer Law has the experience and resources you want on your side as you begin the personal injury claim filing process. Our team has helped many San Pedro area clients recover substantial case awards, and we provide each client with the individual attention they need in these challenging situations. Whatever type of personal injury case you must file, a San Pedro personal injury attorney you can trust is an invaluable asset for your legal efforts.
Types of Personal Injury Claims Our Team Handles
When you need legal representation for a personal injury claim, it’s vital to select a San Pedro personal injury attorney who has a solid record of professional experience handling cases like the one you currently face. The legal professionals at Shaffer Law handle many personal injury claims pertaining to many types of situations for San Pedro area clients, such as:
- Motor vehicle accidents. If you were harmed in a traffic accident caused by another driver, they are responsible for all the damages you suffered because of their actions behind the wheel. Our team can help file an insurance claim against the at-fault driver, and we can assist you in building a subsequent personal injury case.
- Commercial truck accident claims. These accidents not only tend to cause more devastating damages than standard passenger vehicle accidents but also generate more complex questions regarding liability. We can assist in identifying every party that bears fault for the accident and guide you through the process of holding them appropriately accountable for your losses.
- Pedestrian accident claims. If you were hurt while walking through the San Pedro area due to a driver’s negligence or intentional misconduct behind the wheel, our team would assist you in holding them fully accountable for all the damages they caused.
- Claims for premises liability. Property owners must resolve foreseeable hazards on their land or buildings that could harm lawful guests and visitors. If you received injuries in a slip and fall on another person’s property, we would help hold them accountable for the losses you sustained.
- Claims for catastrophic injuries. A personal injury is catastrophic when it causes some type of permanent harm to the victim. Severe burns, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries are a few examples of injuries that often result in severe permanent medical complications for victims. If you have sustained this level of injury, we will assist you in proving fault and recovering as much compensation as the law allows for your immediate losses and projected future damages.
Having the right San Pedro personal injury attorney to represent your claim is the ideal way to enhance your recovery as much as possible. Shaffer Law will work closely with you to review the various effects your personal injury has had on your life and identify the various damages the defendant has caused.
Recovering From a Personal Injury in San Pedro
After proving how your personal injury happened and confirming the responsible party’s identity, you must then prove the full scope of the damages you suffered because of their actions. California’s personal injury laws enable the plaintiff to seek full repayment of the economic losses they sustained from their personal injury, which could include:
- Medical treatment costs for their injuries. You and your San Pedro personal injury attorney must show proof of all the medical expenses you incurred because of the defendant’s misconduct or failure to use reasonable care. They are responsible for all immediate and future medical treatment costs as long as you can prove their actions directly resulted in the injuries in question.
- Lost wages. Many people who suffer personal injuries cannot work while they recover, or their earning power may be limited because of the physical complications their injuries cause. If a defendant’s actions have reduced your ability to earn income in any way, they are responsible for repaying these losses. This rule extends to lost future earning capacity if you were permanently disabled by their actions and you cannot return to work in the future.
- Property losses. Some personal injury cases pertain not only to physical injuries but also damage to victims’ property. If a defendant damages your home, vehicle, or other property, they are responsible for all associated costs to repair or replace the property.
Once your San Pedro personal injury attorney has helped you accurately calculate your claimable economic damages, they will then assist you in determining a suitable amount of pain and suffering compensation to include in your claim. The state restricts pain and suffering compensation only in medical malpractice claims, so all personal injury claims outside of medical malpractice are not subject to any limitations.
If you suffered a severe life-changing injury, your attorney might seek a lump sum of pain and suffering compensation on your behalf, calculated by multiplying your total economic losses by a factor that represents the severity of your condition. If you are expected to make a full recovery in the near future, they might seek a per diem settlement that awards compensation each day during your recovery period. Ultimately, to have the greatest chance of securing as much compensation for your damages as state law allows, it is vital that you seek legal counsel from a San Pedro personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Personal Injury Lawyer FAQs
Q: What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Personal Injury Claim?
A: The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in the state is two years from the date the injury occurs. The plaintiff must submit a complaint for their personal injury to the court within this time period, or they lose the ability to claim compensation from the defendant. Do not hesitate to consult a San Pedro personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident to preserve your ability to recover compensation from the defendant.
Q: How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case?
A: Most personal injury claims can be resolved within several weeks through the private settlement negotiation process. As long as all parties involved in the case are willing to compromise and the plaintiff has experienced legal counsel, the case should be settled relatively quickly. However, if the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable conclusion for any reason, the case may need to go to trial, and litigation can take several months or even more than a year to conclude.
Q: Is It Necessary to Hire a San Pedro Personal Injury Attorney for My Civil Claim?
A: The state does not enforce a law that requires you to have legal counsel for your impending personal injury case. You are free to attempt filing your case by yourself, but you would face several significant risks in doing so. You could miss a court filing deadline or make another procedural mistake that jeopardizes your case. You may also succeed with your claim but overlook available compensation and settle for less than an attorney could have secured on your behalf.
Q: Will the Defendant Go to Prison for Causing My Injury?
A: The defendant who caused your personal injury will face full responsibility for all the civil damages they inflicted with their actions, but they are unlikely to go to jail unless they caused your personal injury through some intentional and illegal misconduct. DUI, reckless driving, and intentional violent crime are a few examples of how the defendant would be likely to face prosecution alongside their civil liability for your damages.
Q: How Much Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge?
A: Shaffer Law makes legal counsel accessible when you need it most with contingency fee billing. With this billing policy, you are not required to pay any legal fees unless we succeed in winning your case. When we do secure a settlement on your behalf, our fee is a percentage of the total amount collected from the defendant, and you keep the remainder. If we cannot obtain compensation for your personal injury for any reason, you do not owe any legal fees at all.
Shaffer Law aims to provide compassionate and responsive legal representation to every client we help in the San Pedro area. Our firm has earned a strong reputation and most preferred legal counsel in the area thanks to our dedication to client recovery and maintaining a small caseload that ensures every client has full access to our resources and guidance. If you are ready to learn how a San Pedro personal injury attorney can empower your recovery efforts, contact us today and set up a free consultation with our team.
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