LA Century Law personal injury lawyers offer experienced legal representation to victims who are hurt or injured because of the negligence of others. We are a civil law firm advocating for the rights of individuals. Our California personal injury lawyers can pursue monetary compensation on your behalf.
Personal Injury Lawyer in California
LA Century Law is a premier personal injury law firm with multiple locations in Southern California. We work to get you a higher recovery for your injuries. We know filing a legal claim can seem daunting – but it doesn’t have to be.
We are a licensed and fully-resourced team ready to work on your behalf from start to finish. Contact us for a consultation at our offices, ask for a remote consultation or let us visit you at home or in the hospital.
About Our Personal Injury Lawyers
What is a personal injury lawyer?
A personal injury lawyer provides legal representation to a person who is hurt because of someone else’s actions or negligence. The lawyer evaluates the rights of their client and represents them in a personal injury claim for compensation. The lawyer works towards the best resolution in the case, offering both guidance and legal advocacy throughout the case.
What kinds of cases do personal injury lawyers handle?
A personal injury lawyer may handle a wide variety of cases, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck, commercial truck, and bus accidents
- Motorcycle injuries
- Bicycle and pedestrian injuries
- Uber/Lyft accidents
- Slip, trip and fall accidents, dangerous premises cases
- Toxic chemical exposure, harmful substances
- Dog bites, animal attacks
- Work accidents and construction accidents
- Dangerous products, product liability
- Medical malpractice
- Assault and battery, homicide
- Wrongful death
How can a personal injury attorney help me?
A personal injury attorney can help you assert your rights after a personal injury accident. They can help you work towards the best possible outcome in the case. They provide guidance, prepare court documents, determine what legal avenues are best to pursue, and handle court appearances. They assist with each task the victim needs to receive compensation when they’re hurt in a personal injury accident.
California Personal Injury Compensation
Who can get personal injury compensation in California?
California law allows victims to claim personal injury compensation when they are hurt because of the careless, reckless, or intentional actions of others. Common causes include car accidents, trips and falls, slips and falls, dangerous conditions on property, malfunctioning products, and toxic chemicals.
When injuries can be traced to negligence or more serious misconduct, the victim may receive personal injury compensation. For some types of cases, like product defects, strict liability may apply even without showing that the defendant acted in a negligent manner. To receive compensation, the victim must initiate a claim.
What compensation can I get for personal injury in California?
Compensation for personal injury in California includes:
- Emergency medical treatment, doctor’s appointments
- Surgery, prescription costs, wheelchairs, boots, scooters, and the like
- Nursing care and in-home care
- Physical and occupational rehabilitation
- Mental health evaluation and treatment
- Future medical expenses that are reasonably priced, necessary, and certain
- Other out-of-pocket expenses that result from the injury
- Loss of income and career
- Damaged personal property
- Pain associated with the injury
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Disfigurement, disability, and scars
For all cases, damages reflect the actual damages (in the form of economic and non-economic). California does not have damages limitations in personal injury claims except non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases.
How do I get compensation for a personal injury accident in California?
To get compensation for a personal injury accident in California, you file a legal claim in the appropriate court. The case begins in a trial court, usually the superior court for the county with jurisdiction over the claim. There are 5.3 million claims filed each year in California Superior Courts. (Judicial Branch of California)
A California personal injury lawyer can evaluate your claim to determine the best way for you to get compensation for a personal injury accident.
California Personal Injury Laws
What are personal injury laws in California?
California personal injury laws come from California statutes and the courts through case law. The general principles of California personal injury laws state:
- A person or entity is responsible for damages caused by their negligence, recklessness or willful conduct. Negligence is conduct lacking the ordinary care of a reasonable person in the same circumstances.
- There is no set rule for what amounts to reasonable conduct. It’s up to the jury to decide if the defendant was unreasonable. Violation of a law is strong evidence of negligence.
- A victim may claim compensation from the responsible party or parties. In California personal injury law, joint responsibility applies to economic damages while separate responsibility applies to non-economic damages. Contribution may be available except when a party causes intentional injury.
- California does not have limits on economic or non-economic damages in any case. Non-economic damages caps apply in medical malpractice claims.
- Punitive damages may be awarded in cases that qualify. Qualifying standards are malice oppression or fraud, which may be present in cases involving recklessness or intentional conduct. When appropriate, punitive damages are available to punish a party for such conduct.
What evidence is needed for a personal injury claim?
Evidence needed for a personal injury claim includes:
- Negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct – The victim must show that the defendant had a duty of care and that they breached their duty of care by acting negligently, recklessly or with willful misconduct. To determine whether there is a duty, look at whether the harm was a predictable consequence of the conduct and the moral blame of the defendant.
- The conduct caused an accident – You must show that an injury occurred because of the wrongful conduct of the defendant. It may be the only cause of the accident or a substantial contributing factor.
- Damages – The victim must identify and document damages. Evidence may include witness testimony, bills, records, experts to explain medical information, wage statements, invoices, repair estimates and accountants to measure long-term losses.
Can I sue the State of California for personal injury?
Yes, you can sue the State of California for personal injury. There are special laws that apply when the defendant is the state, a city or other government worker. The government may pay damages for the negligent or otherwise wrongful acts that occur within the scope of employment of their workers. Under California Government Code § 945.6, you have only six months to submit notice of your intent to sue.
Can you claim personal injury in California if you are partially at fault?
Yes, you can claim personal injury if you are partially at fault in California. California uses a system of comparative negligence. There are no limitations – so a victim who is even 99% at fault may receive some compensation. The amount of compensation is reduced with the victim recovering a proportional share based on the other party’s fault for the accident.
Who decides comparative negligence in a personal injury claim?
If you file a personal injury claim, the other side may bring up comparative negligence. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you share legal fault. It’s up to the jury to determine the facts based on the evidence. The jury makes the final decision. Our lawyers can help you evaluate comparative fault and give you an honest opinion about whether it is a viable defense in your case.
How do I sue someone for personal injury in California?
To sue for personal injury in California, determine if you have a claim based on the circumstances and the law that applies. File your complaint in the court with jurisdiction, and comply with other filing requirements. The burden of proof is on the plaintiff to prove their case and the right to compensation.
Personal Injury Lawsuit FAQs
What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in California?
The statute of limitations for personal injury in California is two years. (There are some exceptions.) If you begin your case more than two years after the injury, the defense can invoke the statute of limitations and ask the court to dismiss the case. To meet the statute of limitations, you must file the complaint in court by the last day before the statute of limitations expires.
What happens if I reject a settlement offer?
If you reject a settlement, your case continues towards trial. You may continue to negotiate as your trial date approaches. If you do not accept any settlement offer, the court conducts a trial to decide the case.
How soon can I get a personal injury settlement?
Settling quickly is a goal of many victims, but it’s also important to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Your lawyer for personal injury claims can help you reach the right balance of all the things that are important to you and your case.
Can you sue for pain and suffering in California?
Yes, you can sue for pain and suffering in personal injury in California. There are no caps to pain and suffering except in medical malpractice cases. It’s important to follow the right steps to include pain and suffering as part of your case. The amount that you receive depends on the relative pain and suffering associated with your injuries and how they impact your life.
Can you have a lawyer represent you in a personal injury case?
Yes, you can have a lawyer represent you in a personal injury case. They represent your interests in all aspects including investigation, filing court documents, speaking in court, negotiations and trial. Our lawyers represent individuals and their families in personal injury claims.
Personal Injury Lawsuit Statistics and Numbers
What is my personal injury claim worth?
The worth of your personal injury case depends on your financial losses, pain and suffering, fault, and the ability to collect your judgment. The courts decide each case on its own merits. You have important rights, whether your case is large or small. Contact us for a custom evaluation of what your case may be worth.
How successful are personal injury lawsuits?
Our firm has a 99% success rate. There are things we do to increase your chances of success and maximize the amount that you receive. When we represent you, we carefully build the evidence, create a legal strategy that’s tailored to your goals and put our experience to work in strategic settlement negotiations. Our personal injury lawyers can determine the steps you need to take to make your claim successful.
What percentage of personal injury claims are settled?
Almost all personal injury claims are settled. Only a small percentage of claims end up going to trial before a jury. Legal discovery rules require open sharing of information and evidence. With the evidence out in the open, the parties have a starting point to engage in productive settlement talks. These negotiations result in a settlement in most cases.
About LA Century Law Personal Injury Lawyers
You don’t have to go it alone. Our personal injury lawyers are taking new cases. At LA Century Law, we fight for justice for injured victims and their families. LA Century Law is a personal injury and accident firm. We have won numerous awards and recognition including from Lawyers of Distinction, Super Lawyers and the American Academy of Attorneys Top 40 Under 40. With offices in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, we are here to help you receive compensation for injuries, damages and harms.
Ryan J. Daneshrad, Esq. is our founder and President. He graduated from Loyola of Los Angeles Law School where he served as the Chief Production Editor of the International Law Review. He is an aggressive advocate for his clients having won millions of dollars in settlements and judgments. With experience in bench and jury trials, he is prepared to aggressively represent your interests in claiming financial compensation when you are injured in a personal injury accident.
Free Consultation – Taking New Cases
Ask about our contingency fees and how we can represent you with no risk to you. Your case starts with your free consultation with our legal team. If we do not win your case, you owe nothing. Call or message us today to connect with our personal injury lawyer team.
