Oceanside Personal Injury

Most personal injury cases in Oceanside involve motor vehicle accidents. Those include car, motorcycle, truck, bicycle and pedestrian accidents. Just about all of those cases are governed by the law of negligence.

Motorcycle & Bicycle Accidents in Oceanside

Statistics estimate that around 2,800 fatal motorcycle and bicycle accidents happen each year in the United States. Fortunately, while nearly 800 of those accidents are bicycle accidents, their total value only accounts for 1-2% of all documented traffic fatalities.

Minor Accident Injury claims

The first measure you would take in this situation is fairly obvious, which is to file a claim with your insurance company to receive fair compensation for the cost of your injuries. Often times this will nearly be the end of the process, especially if you fit some or all of the criteria:

• You walked away from the accident unharmed, or with minor cuts or bruises that require further medical attention.
• Your injuries diminish after physical therapy and dissolve shortly after you begin therapy.
• Property damage caused by the accident is either limited or nonexistent.
• Your insurance company is willing to pay you a fair amount in the compensation of your injuries.

Serious Injury & Damages Claims

Use the following guidelines to determine whether or not you should take the next step and hire a Car Accident Lawyer:

• You’ve been hospitalized due to severe injuries and have accrued substantial medical bills.
• You’ve received long-term or permanent injuries that scar or disable you for an extended period of time.
• The opposing driver was under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances during the time of the crash.
• The faulty party of the crash is vague and unsolved.
• The opposing driver’s insurance does not cover you and your injuries.

General advice would speak towards hiring a Car Accident Lawyer sooner than later in measures to prevent any costly mistakes that may be made even during the beginning process of your case. Bear in mind also that there are deadlines for filing personal injury claims, and that they vary from state to state. You can see the deadlines for your state of residence here.

What is negligence?

Negligence might be defined as an act or failure to act in a way that a reasonable and ordinary prudent person would act under the same or similar circumstances. When you need to prove negligence, you’ll be required to prove certain elements. Those are that:

• The person alleged to have injured the claimant owed the claimant a duty of care
• There was a breach of that duty
• The breach of that duty caused injuries to the claimant
• The claimant suffered legally recognized damages

Damages

After the victim of an accident has proved negligence, he or she must prove their damages. Damages that are ordinarily recoverable in a California personal injury case include:

• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future lost earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Any permanent disfigurement
• Any permanent disability
• Loss of a normal life
• Funeral and burial costs in the event of a wrongful death

Comparative negligence

The person who you claim to be responsible for your injuries might allege that you were also negligent. Insurance defense attorneys raise that issue whenever possible in efforts to reduce the amount that the insurer might ultimately have to pay out. That’s called the law of comparative negligence. Under the law of comparative negligence, any percentage of negligence that is determined to be attributable to the claimant is deducted from the gross amount of a jury’s verdict in his or her favor. For example, if a person is determined to be 20 percent comparatively negligent in an accident, and he or she was awarded $100,000 by a jury, the verdict would be reduced to $80,000 on the 20 percent comparative negligence finding. California is what’s known as a pure comparative negligence state. A person might be 95 percent at fault for an accident, but he or she can still make a claim for personal injuries.

The statute of limitations

Every state has a period of time within which an injured person must file a lawsuit against the person or entity that they claim to be responsible for their injuries. That’s known as a statute of limitations. In California, the statute of limitations for a person who has been injured as a result of the negligence of somebody else is two years from the date of the accident. If you fail to file your lawsuit within that time, it’s highly likely that you’ll be forever barred from proceeding. Most people don’t realize it, but if you’re going to sue a governmental entity for personal injury, you’re required to serve an administrative claim with the governmental office that you intend to sue within six months of the date that you were injured. Failure to timely file that claim will likely bar you from proceeding further.

The law of personal injury is incredibly complex. The El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers provides comprehensive and professional legal services to victims of accidents in Oceanside and throughout California. Our efforts are concentrated solely on the law of personal injury. Our clients obtain the benefits of our personal injury law experience and skills after they’ve suffered serious but preventable injuries through the carelessness and negligence of somebody else. Throughout the years, we’ve developed a highly respected reputation from thorough preparation of our cases and aggressive advocacy. We protect the families and futures of the victims of car, motorcycle, truck, bicycle and pedestrian accidents.

There’s no law that requires you to cooperate with the insurer of the person who turned your life and finances upside down. You don’t have to give a recorded statement that the insurance adjuster wants so he can use it against you in the future. Don’t give up your rights. Protect them, and call the El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers at 888-544-2136 right after any accident. We’ll take every legal step to protect your rights and maximize the compensation that you receive for your injuries.

Call today! 888-544-2136