Personal Injury Attorney in Walnut Creek

In simple terms, a personal injury case is a legal dispute that arises when one person suffers harm due to an accident or injury caused by another party's negligence. Unlike criminal cases which seek to penalize a defendant with jail time or fines, personal injury cases are civil cases meant to compensate the injured party for their losses in the form of monetary damages. Personal injury cases can be brought against a variety of parties including a private individual, a business, a corporation, or even a government agency.

Injury victims in Walnut Creek can seek economic and non-economic damages from the party responsible for their accident. Economic damages encompass all quantifiable losses such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages, while non-economic damages compensate victims for things like pain and suffering, disfigurement, and emotional distress. With the exception of injury cases related to medical malpractice, California does not impose a cap on compensatory damages in personal injury cases.

Additional punitive damages may be awarded in rare circumstances where the responsible party acted with extreme negligence or malice, such as cases involving intentional harm. Our attorneys can review the details of your case and provide you with a more accurate expectation of what damages you can expect to recover.

Not necessarily. While it is impossible to predict whether or not your case will end up going to trial, the vast majority of personal injury claims are resolved through out-of-court negotiations between your attorney, the at-fault party's attorney (if they have legal representation of their own), and the involved insurance companies. With that being said, if we feel you are being treated unfairly, if your case is highly contested, or if the insurance company is refusing to offer you an amount that fully compensates you for your injuries, our attorneys are fully prepared to pursue litigation in order to secure a favorable outcome for your case.

The value of your case will be heavily influenced by factors such as the extent and long-term impact of your injuries, the cost of your medical treatments, the amount of insurance coverage available in your case, the level of liability of the at-fault party, and the negotiation skills of your attorney. It is best that you consult with a skilled attorney to get a more accurate understanding of your case's potential value.

The general statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is two years from the date of the injury. In other words, you have two years to file a claim in civil court to seek damages for your injury. With that being said, certain circumstances can extend or shorten this deadline, such as cases involving medical malpractice or the victims of criminal acts. Since adhering to the statute of limitations can have such a critical impact on the success of your case, it is important you contact an attorney as soon as possible to maximize your chances of success.

Common statutes of limitations in California are as follows:

• General personal Injury: 2 years
• Wrongful death: 2 years
• Medical malpractice: 1 year (from discovery)
• Felony victim claims: 1 year (from conviction)
• Serious felony victim claims: 10 years (from conviction)
• Injury claims against a government agency: 6 months