Sadly, accidents that result in physical and emotional harm are an unfortunate part of life in California. They are commonly caused by workplace mishaps, auto accidents, slip-and-falls, and medical malpractice. These accidents and the resulting personal injuries are often not the victim’s fault. In such cases, accident victims who get hurt may be able to file a claim for compensation against the at-fault parties.
If you or a loved one has been physically or emotionally injured in an accident as a result of someone else’s reckless or negligent actions, please contact the skilled Fullerton personal injury lawyers at the Crockett Law Group right away to get started on the quest for justice.
Dealing with personal injury lawsuits can be overwhelming for accident victims, especially if they are unconversant with California’s legal process and are dealing with severe physical injuries and mounting medical bills at the same time. Medical bills, missed pay, relationship strains, and life-changing physical injuries are just a few implications that personal injury victims and their loved ones may be forced to deal with.
The Crockett Law Group is a Top-Rated Personal Injury Law Firm in Fullerton, California. We assist car accident victims and other injured people in Fullerton, Irvine, Palm Springs, Santa Ana, Victorville, San Bernardino, and throughout California in recovering medically and financially from their injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages.
It would be best to have an experienced and compassionate attorney on your side during these trying times. Please allow the Crockett Law Group to handle your case while you focus on getting better. Consultations are FREE!
Fill out our no-cost online Case Review form or call (800) 900-9393 to schedule a consultation one of our Fullerton personal injury attorneys.
Table of Contents
What Should I Do After an Injury?
The steps you take immediately after an injury-causing accident – whether it’s a car accident, bicycle wreck, or slip and fall incident – will be incredibly in protecting your health and legal rights. Keeping the following steps in mind will keep you safe and help you strengthen your future personal injury claim:- Seek medical treatment and keep records of all treatment
- Report the Incident (call 911 if it’s an auto accident, report workplace accidents to managers, supervisors, or the employer, etc.)
- Gather crucial evidence with photos/videos if you can
- Never admit fault
- Get the names and contact info of any witnesses
- Call a Fullerton Personal Injury Lawyer!
Why Do I Need a Fullerton Personal Injury Lawyer?
After a personal injury, it is in your best interest to get in touch with a trusted personal injury law firm near you. At Crockett Law Group, we put your interest first every day. Our experienced Fullerton injury lawyers know how to compile a winning claim to get you maximum compensation. To make sure we can compile a winnable case, we promise to treat you with compassion and respect every step of the way and handle all aspects of your lawsuit, including:- Case Preparation/Filing a Lawsuit: Here, we will: Obtain medical records, attain accident reports from the Fullerton PD, gather evidence, consult with experts – including accident reconstructionists to recreate the accident site – and much more.
- Settlement Negotiation: The chances are you will be blamed. Our personal injury attorneys will protect you from the insurer’s efforts to deny or undervalue your claim and handle negotiations to set you up to obtain the compensation you deserve.
- Trial Preparation & Representation: At Crockett Law Group, we understand that litigation is always a possibility. For this reason, we are always ready to take your injury case to court, even when working on a settlement.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Suppose another person or entity is responsible for the accident that caused your injuries. In that case, Crockett Law Group can fight on your behalf to obtain maximum compensation for all damages related to your injuries. In general, recoverable damages in personal injury lawsuits in California fall into three categories:Economic
These are awarded to help the claimant recover financial losses caused by the injury-causing accident and include:- Lost wages
- Medical expenses (e.g., ER treatment, ambulance fees, hospital stays, doctor appointments, surgery, physical and future medical expenses)
Non-Economic
These aim to make the plaintiff whole after suffering intangible damages such as pain and loss. Examples of recoverable non-economic damages in a California personal injury case include:- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Overall physical pain and suffering
- Emotional or mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
Punitive
When awarded, punitive damages seek to punish the defendant for their extreme negligence in the incident.How is Liability Determined?
A crucial aspect of any personal injury claim is determining fault. To determine who was at fault or liable for an accident, you must establish negligence. A personal injury attorney will try to prove that the person or entity responsible for the accident acted without reasonable care. To do so, a lawyer must prove three vital elements:- Duty of Care: There was a legal duty not to cause harm to the plaintiff
- Breach of Duty of Care: The defendant was negligent, and their action or inaction breached that legal duty
- Damages: The plaintiff was hurt and suffered other losses.
- Causation: That negligence was the actual or proximate cause of damages to the plaintiff
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?
Like every state, there are time limits for filing personal injury claims in California. The California statute of limitations or the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit depends on the unique aspects of your case. Here are examples of deadlines for filing a personal injury lawsuit as outlined under the California Code of Civil Procedure:- Injury to a person (California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1), e.g., car accidents and truck accidents: 2 years from the date of the injury.
- Property damage (California Code of Civil Procedure section 338): 3 years from the date your property was damaged
- Medical malpractice (California Code of Civil Procedure section 340.5): 1 year from the date the plaintiff noticed the injury or should have, or 3 years from the date the plaintiff suffered the injury.
- Wrongful death: 2 years
- Claims against the government: Successfully recovering on a personal injury lawsuit against a government entity is much more challenging than recovering compensation against a person or a private company. Government Code section 911.2 – When filing a personal injury claim against a California government agency, you must first file an “administrative claim” (within six months from the injury date) with the government agency or office before you file in a California court.
What is the Personal Injury Claims Process?
You sustained a severe injury because of the recklessness or negligence of another and want to pursue compensation; what now? Although the steps may vary, our Fullerton personal injury lawyers breakdown the general process of a personal injury claim in California:Meet with an Attorney
Meet with a Fullerton personal injury lawyer for a free consultation and have them evaluate your case. If an attorney takes your case, then they will handle the process.Notification Letter
Your Fullerton personal injury lawyer will send a notification letter to the at-fault party/insurance company informing them of your intent to recover damages.Investigation and Discovery
Next, your attorney will begin collecting crucial evidence and information relating to the accident and your injuries, including interviewing eyewitnesses and reviewing your medical records. This stage allows your Fullerton personal injury lawyer to examine information and evidence relevant to your case so they can form a complete picture of what happened and determine who is at fault and the full extent of injuries sustained.Demand Letter
Once your personal injury attorney has a full picture of who is at fault and the extent of your injuries, they will devise a demand letter, send it to the at-fault party/their insurance company and wait for a response. A demand letter will detail the facts that entitle you to recover damages, including what led to your injuries and why the insured entity or person is at fault. In addition, it will list and specify your damages. After receiving your demand letter, the at-fault party/insurance company will have two options:- Enter into negotiations
- Deny your claim (ending the process and forcing you to lodge a lawsuit to pursue financial compensation)
Negotiating Your Claim
A majority of personal injury cases in California are settled outside of court. If the at-fault party/insurance company enters into negotiations, your Fullerton personal injury lawyer will handle negotiations on your behalf. They will use the information and evidence collected during the discovery to leverage the insurance company into offering a fair settlement.Settlement
Following successful settlement negotiations, your Fullerton personal injury lawyer will advise whether to accept the settlement and confer with you before accepting any settlement offer on your behalf.File a Lawsuit
The personal injury claim process does not always go smoothly. Sometimes, insurance companies can dig in their heels. When negotiations fail, it is not the end of your case. Your Fullerton personal injury lawyer will file your lawsuit in court and pursue the compensation you deserve.How Much Will a Fullerton Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
After an accident resulting in injuries, hiring a skilled Fullerton personal injury attorney near you is the best decision you can make. However, many clients and their loved ones are apprehensive about the costs of working with an experienced Fullerton personal injury lawyer. You might be shocked to learn that you can hire a Fullerton personal injury lawyer without any upfront fees. Yes, you can have our experienced Fullerton personal injury lawyers and legal team, including our founder Kevin Crockett working to fight for you without paying any upfront costs. The Crockett Law Group’s trusted team of personal injury attorneys and educated staff is dedicated to assisting accident victims in receiving the justice they deserve. We work on a contingency fee basis. This allows our legal team to prioritize your needs and assures you that you will not owe us a dime until we win your case and obtain a favorable settlement or verdict. We also offer free, no-obligation case review consultations. Contact us and learn more about Fullerton personal injury lawyer fees.Types of Personal Injury Cases the Fullerton Personal Injury Lawyers Handle at Crockett Law Group
There are countless ways a personal injury may occur. At Crockett Law Group, our Fullerton personal injury lawyers represent injured victims in all types of situations, including, but not limited to:Car Accidents
A car accident in Fullerton can quickly turn your life upside down. Our Fullerton car accident lawyers near you at Crockett Law Group will fight diligently to hold at-fault parties and/or their insurers accountable for the harm and losses they’ve caused. We’ll conduct a thorough investigation, identify the cause of your car accident, and gather the curial evidence required to obtain substantial compensation.Pedestrian Accidents
Tragically, it is usually the pedestrians who are severely injured in auto accidents. Motorists who fail to exercise reasonable care and cause pedestrian accidents should be held accountable for the resulting injuries. Fullerton personal injury attorneys at Crockett Law Group represent pedestrians in injury cases and will go above and beyond to recover the compensation you deserve.Truck Accidents
Accidents involving semi-trucks and big rigs often result in catastrophic injuries and property destruction. These cases are usually complicated, involving several potentially liable parties, necessitating the engagement of technical specialists to determine the cause of the wreck. If you have been hurt in an 18-wheeler or other commercial truck accident, it is critical that you speak with the Fullerton truck accident lawyers at Crockett Law Group. After conducting an extensive investigation, we will pursue damages from all potentially liable parties, including the transportation firm, truck driver, or other negligent third parties.Slip and Fall Accidents
A slip and fall accident is a tragic incident that is far too frequently caused by situations that might have been avoided. These mishaps can result in severe injuries, especially if the victim is a child or otherwise vulnerable, such as the elderly.Other Cases We Handle
Our Fullerton personal injury lawyers aren’t limited to just those cases listed above. They have years of experience in handling all different types of personal injury cases. A few we have extensive knowledge and experience are:- Motorcycle Accidents
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Bicycle Accidents
- Uber Accidents
