Personal Injury Law in Fresno, CA
Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Fresno? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Fresno, CA can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law in Fresno relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Fresno, CA
Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.
A few of the most common personal injury claims are:
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
- Burn Injuries
Most Common Injuries in Fresno
Fresno remains the safest large city in California, according to the Fresno Police Department. Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of injury in California, and Fresno experiences fewer accidents on average, than any other large city in California. In 2015, only 1,131 traffic injuries were reported in Fresno, thanks to new citation and enforcement policies implemented by local police.
Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Fresno, CA
Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in California
A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance. After you send a demand for compensation, you can either come to a settlement or file a claim with the court. In Fresno, should you need to file a claim, you will then enter the discovery, or evidence finding process. This will then either lead to another opportunity for a settlement, or trial. With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount. The Collegian has a step-by-step list of how personal injury settlements in California might unfold. Truly it is difficult to find an average settlement amount because there are so many factors like medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering damage, that can affect the outcome of a settlement. The median verdict for a personal injury settlement in California is thought to be about $114,305. However, this median is no guarantee, as each case depends heavily on a variety of some aforementioned factors and many others. If the other party has insurance, their insurer will likely push for an out-of-court settlement to avoid the unpredictability of a jury decision. Settlements benefit both injured parties and insurance companies, as they ensure quicker compensation for the victim and reduce legal risks for the insurer. Opting for court in carries the risk of receiving no compensation if the verdict doesn’t go in your favor. If your California personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay. In order to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted. Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills, and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses. General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant to compensate you for the pain and anguish. Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. In California, there are no caps on the damages that you can seek in a personal injury suit. The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized. California’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases gives an injured person two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. Pursue a personal injury claim in Fresno against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across California state lines. Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area! Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States. With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Answers to legal questions can often lead to more questions. If you’re seeking more about an area of law in Fresno, CA, we’ve got you covered.California Personal Injury Settlement
Damage Awards in California
Statute of Limitations in Fresno, CA Personal Injury Law?
Work With an Experienced Fresno, CA Lawyer
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