If you’ve suffered injuries as a result of another person’s reckless or careless actions, you could be liable to receive compensation for your emotional suffering, medical bills, and other damages. However, to successfully file a compensation claim, you’ll need the help of a professional Rancho Mirage personal injury lawyer. Over the years, Crockett Law Group has helped countless clients in California and can be of help to you too! We have won millions of dollars in compensation on behalf of injury victims. Our attorneys are skilled professionals with experience handling various types of personal injury cases including slip and fall accidents, wrongful death, truck, and car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and more. Call (800) 900-9393 today for a free case review. 
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What Should I Do After Suffering Accident-Related Injuries?
If you’ve been involved in any type of personal injury accident, there are steps you could take that could help guarantee your wellbeing while improving your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve for injuries suffered.Seek Treatment
Seek treatment right away. Visit the nearest hospital or emergency room for examination and treatment even if you feel alright.Take Photos & Speak to Witnesses
Make sure you take photos and videos of the scene of the accident, injuries suffered, and any other damages. If someone (or multiple people) witnessed the accident, ask them to give you their contact information. Witnesses play a crucial role in demonstrating how an accident happened.Report the Accident
Report the accident to the relevant authorities immediately. If you have been hurt while performing your duties at work, notify your supervisor or manager right away; if you have been involved in a wreck, call the police.Keep Records
Keep a record of all documents and reports related to the incident; that includes employer records proving lost wages, hospital bills, police reports, photos and videos you took of your injuries and damages, etc.Don’t Admit Fault
After the incident, avoid discussing what happened with those involved and don’t take responsibility for what happened. Anything you say after the accident could be used to deny you compensation for your injuries and damages.Get in Touch With a Lawyer
To increase your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries and damages in Rancho Mirage, California, reach out to Crockett Law Group for professional and reliable legal counsel and representation. Call us now and schedule your free initial consultation.Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Here are a few reasons why you should consider hiring an experienced Rancho Mirage personal injury lawyer.Case Preparation and Filing
As a personal injury victim, the first step you need to take to initiate a lawsuit is to get in touch with a personal injury attorney and have them review your case. If the attorney accepts your case, he or she will then start investigating the matter to gather the evidence needed to build the case before filing a claim on your behalf seeking compensation for your damages and injuries.Settlement Negotiation
Your attorney and the other party’s team will first enter discussions to try and reach a settlement before the matter goes to court. During negotiations, your lawyer makes an offer and the defendant’s team makes a counteroffer. If you feel that the amount offered by the defendant’s insurance is sufficient, then your lawyer accepts the offer and the claim comes to an end.Trial Preparation and Representation
In the event the defendant’s insurance denies your claim, then the next course of action to take would be to file a personal injury case. Apart from filing court papers, your attorney will also argue out your case before a judge to prove that the defendant is responsible for your injuries. If it is determined that the defendant’s actions caused you harm, then the court determines how much you will be awarded as compensation for damages. Looking for a professional and reliable personal injury attorney in Rancho Mirage? Call Crockett Law Group now to speak to an experienced attorney.
What Damages Can I Recover in Rancho Mirage, California?
Some of the compensation personal injury victims in California are entitled to include:Economic Damages
These damages involve any costs related to physical therapy, recovery assistance, treatment, medical diagnosis, and lost wages – basically, any loss whose financial/monetary value can be determined.Non-Economic Damages
These damages cover incurred losses whose monetary value cannot be determined such as paralysis, physical disfigurement, etc.Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are mainly pursued if initial investigations show that the responsible party acted recklessly, hence causing the accident.How’s Liability Determined in California
California is a comparative fault state, which means that judges or the jury have the authority to award damages to those involved corresponding to their percentage of fault in an incident. If, as the plaintiff, it’s determined that you are partly at fault for an accident, the jury or judge could reduce the amount you receive as compensation by the percentage you are at fault. In California, liability rests on everybody who contributed to the accident. For you to recover damages through a personal injury claim in California, there are three things you will have to prove:Duty of Care
You’ll have to prove that the defendant owed you a duty of care – they owed you a moral or legal obligation to ensure your safety/wellbeing.Breach of Duty
You’ll have to prove that they breached their duty of care by acting negligently.Causation
Finally, you will have to prove that their negligent actions/carelessness is what lead to you being injured.How Much Time Do You Have to File Personal Injury Claim in California?
The statute of limitations for cases involving personal injury in California is two years from the day of the injury. That means you have two years from the day you got injured or your injuries were discovered to file a lawsuit against the responsible party (California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.)
What Is the Personal Injury Claims Process in California?
While details might vary, the general process of filing a personal injury claim in California is usually the same:Review Case With Attorney
The first step generally involves meeting with a Rancho Mirage personal injury lawyer and having them review your case. If the attorney determines that you have a claim to pursue after assessing your case, he or she will take on the case and start preparing a claim.Notification and Reservation of Rights Letters
Your attorney will write and send a notification letter to the defendant’s insurer. This letter is meant to inform them of your intent to pursue a claim. The insurance company will then send a reservation of rights letter. This document acknowledges that they’ve received your notice and that the company is also investigating the matter but hasn’t admitted liability.Investigation & Discovery
Once your attorney has sent the notification letter, he or she then starts gathering evidence and information relating to your accident to determine what happened, damages and injuries sustained, and who’s at fault.Demand
Once your attorney is done investigating the incident and gathering evidence, he or she then sends a demand letter detailing the facts of your accident, damages sustained, and expenses you’ve accrued.Negotiations
The next step is usually negotiations with the defendant’s insurance company. Here, your attorney will fight hard to ensure that the insurance company sufficiently compensates you for injuries and damages sustained.Settlement
If your attorney manages to get you a good offer, he or she will let you know before accepting the settlement. If the insurer denies your claim, then your lawyer might advise you to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. This process involves:Filing Court Papers
This process involves filing documents that state the facts of your case against the defendant and the damages you’re seeking.Discovery
Both parties are then given a chance to discover or request and present additional evidence.Mediation
Most of the time, the court might advise that you and the defendant try mediation to settle the matter before it goes to trial. In mediation, a mediator (neutral third party) facilitates negotiation and discussion with the main aim of both parties reaching a mutual agreement.Trial
If mediation fails, then the next step is trial. Here a judge or jury listens to the cases presented by both sides before making a ruling. At the end of the trial, the judge or jury concludes the matter before delivering a ruling.
