If you were injured in Woodland Hills or anywhere near the city because of another person’s negligence, you may have the right to file a personal injury claim and pursue compensation for out-of-pocket costs like medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering against them. However, whether you have been involved in a car crash or in a slip and fall, insurance companies may try to dispute your claim to try and minimize your claim in order to save their costs.
At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our firm understands how unfair insurance companies and at-fault parties try to avoid and minimize their accountability and are committed to fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. With over 25 years of experience, our firm has recovered more than $2 billion in financial compensation for thousands of injury victims and will continue their duty to provide the legal representation people deserve.
On top of it all, we operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (818)-514-9423 or by filling out our quick online contact form.
Why Hire a Woodland Hills Personal Injury Lawyer?
In a personal injury claim, there are numerous factors that can impact your ability to recover the compensation that you need to make a full recovery. For example, insurance companies have a tendency to begin investigating your accident before you have even had time to understand the extent of your injuries and an insurance adjuster may try to find reasons to minimize the severity of the claim.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer can provide accident victims a layer of protection from tactics that are designed to dispute the validity of your claim. When you hire a Woodland Hills personal injury lawyer, the goal is not simply to file paperwork with an insurer, but it is to develop evidence showing what happened, who was responsible, how you were injured, and what financial and personal losses resulted from the accident.
Why Choose West Coast Trial Lawyers for a Woodland Hills Personal Injury Case?
Choosing a personal injury law firm is about more than finding someone who can submit some paperwork, because depending on what caused your injuries, your attorney may need to deal with a major insurance carrier, corporation, the at-fault party’s legal counsel, and even a government agency.
When that happens you need a law firm that not only has an established track record, but experience fighting and winning in some of the most heavily contested complex legal claims. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, you are choosing a firm with the experience and legal pedigree to fight for your rights.
What You Get When You Hire West Coast Trial Lawyers
- An In-House Trial Team– Our attorneys investigate and prepare cases with the intent to take it to trial, so if the responsible party refuses to provide reasonable compensation, we are ready at a moment’s notice.
- Direct Access to Your Legal Team– From the moment you call our firm, you are connected to an experienced team who is available to answer any questions or concerns you have 24/7.
- Experience Taking on Powerful Defendants– West Coast Trial Lawyers has experience pursuing claims involving major insurance companies, corporations, commercial defendants, and other well-resourced parties.
- A Woodland Hills Office– Our office at 20016 Ventura Boulevard provides clients with direct local access to the firm in Woodland Hills.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Woodland Hills
Personal injury law encompasses many different accidents and forms of negligence. Because of that each type of case can present different questions involving liability, insurance coverage, evidence, damages, and applicable law.
Traffic Accidents Claims
Traffic accidents are without a doubt, one of the most common types of accidents where personal injuries occur. According to a 2021 vehicle incident report conducted by the National Safety Council, approximately 4,240,000 people have suffered non-fatal injuries in traffic accidents which totals to around 78% of all car accidents in the United States.
As traffic accidents encompass a variety of different vehicles, the chances of getting into one is significantly high. So if you have been involved in any of the following accidents, it is best to familiarize yourself with the different types of vehicular accidents so that you can make the appropriate filings with a personal injury attorney.
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Uber and Lyft Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Bus Accidents
- Food Delivery Accidents
Negligent Liability Claims
Negligent based accidents are another common type of claim found in personal injury lawsuits due to the fact that these types of accidents are caused by inattentiveness or recklessness by one or more parties. As a result, there are a variety of negligent based accidents that can occur in a moment’s notice and the complexity of these cases is dependent on a case by case basis. With that in mind, if you find yourself in a negligent accident, be sure to familiarize yourself with the different scenarios that can occur.
- Wrongful Death
- Dog Bites
- Scooter Accidents
- Premises Liability
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Catastrophic Injury Claims (brain, spinal cord, burn)
What Should You Do After an Accident in Woodland Hills?
Whether you have been involved in a motorcycle accident driving up Topanga Canyon or crashed into an electric scooter rider around Pierce Community College, your health should be your first priority. Seek appropriate medical attention and follow any treatment recommendations provided by your healthcare professionals.
However, if you are physically able it is recommended to begin documenting what happened, because what kind of photos and videos you get from the accident scene can be extremely useful when you file a personal injury claim. You should also be cautious when speaking with another party’s insurance carrier, because any statements made shortly after an accident may later be compared with evidence and it can potentially impact your claim.
How Do You Prove a Personal Injury Claim in California?
In order to prove a personal injury claim, accident victims will need to establish that the at-fault party acted negligently or recklessly in a way that led to the accident. For example in a drunk driving accident, the injured party would need to provide evidence such as photos, police reports, witness statements, and DUI tests to prove that the at-fault party acted negligently.
Furthermore, the strength of a personal injury claim also depends on how seriously someone was injured, because there must be evidence connecting another person’s conduct to that injury that was suffered.
What if the Driver Who Hit You Was Borrowing Someone Else’s Car?
In that scenario, the driver who caused an accident is not necessarily the only person or insurance policy that may become relevant. Under California Vehicle Code § 17150, a vehicle owner can be held responsible for injury or property damage caused by someone negligently operating the owner’s vehicle with express or implied permission. This can become important when someone is injured by a driver who was using a family member’s, friend’s, employer’s, or another person’s vehicle.
Does the Vehicle Owner’s Insurance Automatically Pay the Entire Claim?
Any questions involving insurance coverage, permissive use, policy exclusions, and ownership will serve as the legal basis for the owner’s liability which can affect how much coverage is available. California also has statutory limitations that can apply when liability against an owner is based solely on permissive use rather than the owner’s own wrongful conduct.
An attorney investigating a serious crash should therefore determine who owned the vehicle, who insured it, why the driver was using it, and whether another relationship such as employment creates additional liability.
What if the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance or Leaves the Scene?
A hit-and-run or accident involving an uninsured driver can make recovering compensation more complicated, but it does not necessarily mean there are no options. Depending on your automobile policy, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may become relevant.
California Insurance Code § 11580.2 requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist protection that are subject to the statute’s requirements so drivers who are involved in such circumstances can recover compensation for damages.
With that in mind, timing can be particularly important in unidentified-driver claims, because the state requires specific reporting for certain uninsured motorist claims involving an unknown driver, so accident victims should not assume they can wait indefinitely before notifying law enforcement or their insurer.
What if There Is No Police Report or the Report Says You Were at Fault?
While a police report is a useful piece of evidence in a personal injury claim, but if one is missing then it doesn’t automatically determine legal responsibility for an accident. Whether the officer arrived after the collision or based portions of the report on statements from the people involved, there are other pieces of key evidence that can help establish what happened.
For example, any of the following evidence can play a big role in a personal injury claim:
- Dashcam footage
- Business surveillance video
- Vehicle damage
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Traffic camera information
- Electronic vehicle data
- Cellphone records
- Medical records
- Accident reconstruction evidence
Can Surveillance Footage Help Prove a Woodland Hills Accident Claim?
Video footage can become particularly important when drivers, businesses, or insurance companies disagree about how an accident occurred. For example, businesses along Ventura Boulevard and retail centers around Warner Center have surveillance cameras that can potentially capture what happened. However, surveillance footage may not be stored permanently because many systems automatically overwrite recordings after a certain amount of time.
What Makes Woodland Hills Accident Claims Locally Different?
Los Angeles City Planning identifies US-101, Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and the Warner Center area as major geographic features of Woodland Hills, because it is part of the western San Fernando Valley, it includes a mix of residential neighborhoods, major commercial corridors and offices. Accidents in these areas may involve different evidence depending on where they occur.
For example, a Ventura Boulevard accident may involve turning vehicles, driveways, pedestrians, cyclists, or nearby businesses with surveillance cameras. While the location alone does not establish negligence, understanding the surrounding roadway and available evidence can help reconstruct how an accident happened.
Where Are Woodland Hills Personal Injury Lawsuits Filed?
Woodland Hills is within the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Northwest District and the court identifies the Van Nuys courthouse at 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91401 as the main courthouse to handle personal injury lawsuits. However, courthouses may change depending on the case type and if there are any developments that require a change of venue.
Furthermore, it is important to note that hiring an attorney also does not mean your personal injury case will automatically go to trial, because many claims tend to be resolved through negotiations or litigation. However, if no agreement can be made between the two parties, then the lawsuit will be brought to a court’s attention as well as a jury.
What Compensation Can You Recover After Filing a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury victim in Woodland Hills may be able to pursue both economic and non-economic damages depending on the circumstances of the case. For context, economic damages refer to the measurable financial losses as a result from the accident like medical bills, lost income, property damage, etc.
Meanwhile, non-economic damages refer to the physical pain and emotional suffering a person suffers from the accident. The exact damages that are available to your case will depend on the severity and scale of the accident, injuries, evidence, and applicable California law.
How Much Is a Woodland Hills Personal Injury Case Worth?
Due to the nature of personal injury claims, there is no reliable average settlement that determines what a particular Woodland Hills personal injury claim is worth. While there are personal injury settlement calculators that can provide rough estimates of what a claim is worth, consulting with a Woodland Hills personal injury lawyer is the best way to get an accurate estimate and a better understanding of your situation.
By having a personal injury lawyer review your case, they can determine the value of a claim by its facts and evidence rather than the type of injury alone and take account of factors such as:
- The severity of the injury
- Whether the injury is temporary or permanent
- Past and future medical expenses
- Available insurance coverage
- Strength of the liability evidence
- Whether several parties share responsibility
- Need for future surgery or rehabilitation
- How the injury affects everyday activities
What if More Than One Person Caused Your Accident?
If more than one person has caused your accident and there is sufficient evidence to prove so then they can be held accountable for their actions. For example, a multi-vehicle collision on US-101 could involve negligence by more than one driver and in such cases every driver involved in the accident can be held liable for their role in causing the accident.
As such, when it comes to these types of claims, identifying all potentially responsible parties can become especially important when injuries are severe or one defendant does not have enough insurance to compensate the victim.
What if You Were Partially Responsible for the Accident?
If you were partially at-fault for causing the accident in question, then in accordance with the state’s comparative negligence system, your total awarded damages will be reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if your damages were valued at $100,000 but you were determined to be 20% responsible for causing the accident, your recovery could generally be reduced to $80,000.
The California Supreme Court adopted this system after Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) and ensured it was designed in a way to hold every negligent party accountable instead of allowing one singular party to be responsible for all damages without taking account of circumstances. However, this makes fault disputes particularly important because an insurance company may have a financial incentive to assign an injured person a greater percentage of responsibility.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Woodland Hills?
Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, most lawsuits involving personal injury or death caused by another person’s wrongful act or negligence are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. Any failure to file a claim within that timeframe will result in the injury victim waiving their right to file a claim and recover compensation for the accident. However, that does not mean every accident victim has exactly two years.
For any personal injury claims that involve the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, a public transit agency, or another government entity can involve substantially shorter requirements. In fact, California Government Code § 911.2 requires many claims involving personal injury against public entities to be presented within six months from the date of accident. With that in mind, accident victims should therefore avoid assuming that two years applies to every possible defendant or claim and contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure they don’t run out of time to file a claim.
Speak With West Coast Trial Lawyers Today About Your Case
Whether you have been involved in a serious rideshare crash or got bitten by a dog, a serious accident can create problems that extend far beyond the initial injury and leave you with uncertainty about the future. However, you do not have to navigate the legal process by yourself.
At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our attorneys understand how impactful these personal injury claims can be and are committed to guide you through the legal process and fight for your rights. As a result of our hard work, we have recovered more than $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for thousands of injury victims and our legal team will handle all of the legal aspects of your claim while you can focus on recovering.
Call our Woodland Hills office today at (818)-514-9423 or fill out our online contact form for a free case consultation.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Most Frequently Asked Questions About Woodland Hills Personal Injury Claims
What if the Driver Who Hit Me Was Driving a Rental Car?
A rental-car accident may involve the driver’s personal insurance, insurance purchased or provided in connection with the rental, and other potential coverage depending on the circumstances.
An attorney should determine who rented the vehicle, who was authorized to drive it, what insurance policies were in effect, and what conduct actually caused the accident.
What if the Driver Who Injured Me Was Making a Delivery or Working?
If the driver was acting within the scope of their employment when the accident occurred, the employer may potentially become another responsible party. This can arise in collisions involving delivery drivers, commercial vehicles, service workers, sales representatives, construction companies, or other employees traveling for work.
Can I File a Claim if I Was a Passenger in the Car That Caused the Accident?
A passenger is not automatically prevented from pursuing compensation simply because the negligent driver was operating the vehicle the passenger was riding in. This can feel uncomfortable when the driver is a friend or family member, but an injury claim commonly involves applicable insurance coverage rather than simply asking that person to personally pay the medical bills.
What if Someone Hit Me and Then Gave Me Fake Insurance Information?
If possible try to preserve photographs of the vehicle, license plate, driver’s license, registration, accident scene, and any information exchanged after the collision.
After doing so, report the accident when appropriate and notify your own insurance carrier, because if the other driver ultimately turns out to be uninsured, uninsured motorist coverage may become relevant depending on your policy and the circumstances.
Can an Insurance Company Use an Old Accident Against Me?
An insurance company may review previous accident claims or medical treatment when evaluating whether your current injuries were caused by the new accident. A previous injury does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation if the new accident caused a separate injury or aggravated an existing condition.
What if the Other Driver Repairs or Sells Their Vehicle Before My Claim Is Resolved?
In such circumstances, the injured party will have to depend on their vehicle damage patterns, photographs, onboard data, and other physical evidence may help show how a collision occurred. If there is reason to believe the vehicle contains important evidence, an attorney may consider whether steps should be taken to preserve or inspect it before it is repaired, sold, or destroyed.
Can a Parking Lot or Shopping Center Be Responsible for My Accident?
An accident involving a parking area may raise questions about driver negligence, visibility, traffic controls, lighting, property design, maintenance, or other conditions, but liability depends on what caused the accident.
A property owner is not automatically responsible merely because a collision happened in its parking lot, but dangerous property conditions may become relevant when they contributed to the incident.
What if I Do Not Know Who Caused a Multi-Car Freeway Accident?
You do not necessarily need to determine liability yourself before contacting an attorney. Chain-reaction collisions can involve several drivers giving conflicting accounts of what happened.
Vehicle damage, witness statements, dashcam footage, collision reports, electronic vehicle data, and accident reconstruction may help determine how the sequence of impacts occurred and whether several drivers share responsibility.
What Happens if My Injuries Get Worse After I Accept a Settlement?
A final personal injury settlement typically requires the injured person to release the defendant from further liability arising from the accident. Once an enforceable settlement and release have been completed, discovering that an injury is worse than expected generally does not mean the claim can simply be reopened for additional compensation.