In various ways, the negligent actions of other people can result in death or injury in Palm Springs. Traffic accidents are the most common causes of injury in Palm Springs, but people can also fall victim to slip and fall accidents, premises liability and many others. For all of these events, it is highly recommended to enlist the help of a Palm Springs personal injury lawyer.
Any instance where an individual suffers an injury as a result of the negligent or reckless actions of another party falls under the category of personal injury. California law allows personal injury victims to seek legal action in court against the responsible party/parties that caused the accidents.
If you or a cherished one has suffered an injury as a result of somebody else’s carelessness, you need a Palm Springs personal injury attorney you can depend on. Serious injuries are devastating and can often have long-term or permanent consequences. Even moderate injuries are enough to completely upend your life. At times, the economic stress and mental anguish families and victims face following an injury are just as worse than the injury itself.
Why should you suffer because of the negligent actions of another person? The skilled legal team at the Crockett Law Group understands exactly what you are going through and are ready to assist you through this difficult period. If you or somebody close to you has been the victim of a personal injury accident, and you reside in the Palm Springs local, contact the personal injury attorneys at Crockett Law Group at (800) 900-9393 to get a complimentary consultation and case review.
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What Should I Do After an Injury?
After an injury, so much is going through your mind that it can be hard to know exactly what you should do. Here are some things to keep in mind immediately following a car accident.Take Photos/Video If You Can
If you can physically move and your smartphone is working, make sure to take a lot of photos and videos of the accident scene. This can act as visual evidence of the carelessness that occurred. It can help in proving who was liable for the accident.Get Names and Numbers of any Witnesses
Witness statements make a huge difference in a court of law. Witnesses provide an unbiased account of what ensued in the moments leading to the accident. So, ensure that you have taken down the names and numbers of witnesses at the accident scene. Once they leave, it may be difficult getting a hold of them ever again, which is detrimental to your case.Report the Incident
After an accident, don’t just ignore the situation and assume that everything will be fine. Make sure that you have reported the incident to any relevant authority. Call 911 if it’s a car accident, and if it’s a workplace accident, you need to also report the accident to the supervisor. If you do not report the accident, there is no evidence proving that anything actually happened.Never Admit Fault
After an accident, the next logical question to ask is who is at fault. Each party will be quick to blame the other to get out of paying for damages suffered. So never admit fault to anyone, especially insurance adjusters who only want to trick you into admitting fault. Keep to yourself and give as little information as possible. Do not talk to anyone without an attorney present.Get Medical Treatment If Needed
After an accident, chances are that you will sustain an injury. Sometimes the injuries may be internal and may not be visible to you at first. So, make a point of seeking medical care to have a professional physician make an expert assessment of your condition. This way, an injury can be treated before it escalates to something fatal.Keep Records of all Treatment
What’s more, getting medical attention is not only good for your health, but it can also bolster your personal injury claim. Having records of all the treatments done by a licensed medical practitioner will go a long way in proving the extent of injuries suffered and subsequently the settlement amount to cover medical costs. What’s more, the doctor can appear before the court and act as an expert witness.Call a Personal Injury Lawyer!
As soon as you are able to, contact a Palm Springs personal injury lawyer to discuss the way forward with regard to your claim. The Crockett Law Group can assist you to fight for your deserved compensation.Why do I Need a Palm Springs Personal Injury Lawyer?
Case Preparation / Filing a Lawsuit
The legal system is quite intricate and any mishaps in procedures can see your case thrown out of court. So everything needs to be done up to standard with the law and legal proceedings. When you enlist the services of the seasoned personal injury attorneys at Crockett Law Group they will begin case preparations by doing a comprehensive and independent investigation of the injury claim to collect as much evidence as possible. This will entail recreating the scene of the accident, obtaining police and witness statements, photos, and videos, getting medical reports, and so on. All these will assist them to build an airtight case with strong and compelling arguments. They will also reach out to the liable party to determine whether they are willing to present a settlement offer that covers all your losses and damages. If the liable party or their insurer fails to give a satisfactory offer, your attorney can then proceed to file a lawsuit. The professional Palm Springs personal injury attorneys at Crockett Law Group will prepare your case ready to go to court.Settlement Negotiation
When pursuing a personal injury claim, a personal injury lawyer is your best bet if you want to be fully compensated. They are the ones that will be looking out for your welfare. Their years of experience mean they are conversant with all the tricks insurance adjusters and insurance companies use to lowball the settlement amount that they should pay or even get out of paying anything entirely. The Palm Springs personal injury attorneys at Crockett Law Group have excellent negotiation skills that ascertain you receive what you are owed. They will deal with all the settlement negotiations while you focus on recuperating from your injuries and they won’t settle for anything less than what you deserve. Sometimes, the mere presence of a reputable personal injury lawyer is enough for the insurer to stop with the tricks and take the claim seriously and make a fair cash settlement.Further Reading
Trial Preparation and Representation
Personal injury cases are usually resolved in the negotiation phase. However, if negotiations break down, then your lawyer has no choice but to proceed to trial. Here, they will still push on to fight for the reimbursement that you are rightfully owed before a jury and/or a judge. It is crucial that you hire a personal injury lawyer with experience in handling these types of cases and are ready to go with this route if need be. You should note that trials like these can be long, complex, time-consuming, and expensive for the parties involved. The personal injury lawyers at Crockett Law Group will be ready to go all the way from the start. With years of experience in the corridors of justice, these attorneys know what is required in a court of law. So when it reaches this phase, they will prepare you for trial and coach you on how to best represent yourself before a jury and/or judge. Furthermore, they will provide you with expert legal representations that guarantee you get the highest compensation amount possible for damages suffered."The very best in the PI industry. From start to finish, Kevin made the situation smooth as ice. Myself and my wife Maria and countless others have had Kevin on our side. Making life as stress free as possible. Great follow up and even better follow through. Thanks Kevin.”
John and Maria
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Economic
Economic damages are monetary in nature and are meant to act as relief for injuries suffered. They include current, future, and past medical costs, lost wages, property loss, and loss of earning capability, particularly if you are physically unable to fulfill your work responsibilities.Non-Economic
Non-economic damages are more subjective and intangible in nature. They refer to damages that can’t be given a monetary value. They include things like mental trauma, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, and disability.Punitive
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, you as a plaintiff can pursue punitive damages. Punitive damages refer to any form of damage caused as a result of another person’s recklessness, negligence or carelessness. These damages are given as a way of punishing the defendant and also to act as a warning to discourage such behavior from the other would-be offenders. So if you are looking to recover compensation for damages suffered, Crockett Law Group can help hold the at-fault party accountable.How is Liability Determined?
Negligence is an integral factor when it comes to personal injury claims. However, that is still not enough for you to receive compensation. In order to determine liability, the following elements of negligence must be shown.- Duty of Care: The defendant in question had the legal responsibility to behave in a certain manner that an otherwise reasonable individual in the same situation would when faced with a similar scenario. You must prove that the defendant was in breach of their duty of care.
- Breach of Duty of Care: The defendant in question was responsible for the safety of the claimant. You must prove that the defendant was in breach of duty of care and failed to fulfill their legal obligation.
- Causation: Because the defendant did not fulfill their responsibilities, an accident occurred. You must definitively prove that the breach of duty of care is what led to your injuries.
- Damages: Because of the accident, you suffered damages. You must prove that the injuries sustained were as a result of the accident and not any other underlying conditions. They can include non-economic and economic damages.