Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney

Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney

If you have sustained injuries as a result of someone’s negligence, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim against them. Undergoing the process of filing such a claim can be difficult and overwhelming, however, with the right legal team on your side, it can turn into a stress-free experience. 

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our Sacramento personal injury attorneys are readily available to offer legal assistance. We strive to deliver excellent legal services with the objective of acquiring the best settlement offer possible for each case we handle. With our track record of winning more than 5,000 personal injury cases and recovering over $1.5 billion in settlements and judgements for our clients, we are confident that we will get you the compensation you deserve for your losses. 

Contact our Sacramento personal injury law firm today by calling 213-927-3700 or completing our contact form to schedule a free consultation and learn more about what your personal injury claim could be worth.

Cases Handled By Our Sacramento Personal Injury Attorneys

• Car Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Uber and Lyft Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Pedestrian Accidents 
• Premises Liability
• Dog Bites
• Motorcycle Accidents 
• Burn Injury
• Food Delivery Accidents 
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Brain Injury
• Truck Accidents
• Bus Accidents
• Scooter Accidents

How to Know if You Have Grounds for a Personal Injury Claim in Sacramento

Many personal injury victims hesitate to take legal action after an accident because they are unsure of whether they have grounds for a claim. This is quite common for victims to think about as they are not entirely aware of what severe form of body injury or damages would give them the eligibility to file a personal injury claim. While you are reflecting on the accident, you should consider the following questions:

• Was someone else responsible for the cause of the accident and/or your injuries?
• Was more than one party responsible for the cause of the accident?
• Did the injuries or damages you sustained from the accident cause any significant impact on your life? 
• Are your injuries predicted to affect your life for many years to come?

If you have said yes to one or more of these questions, you should look into seeking legal representation from a Sacramento personal injury attorney. They will help guide you through the process of filing a personal injury claim against the party at-fault for damages. If successful, you will be granted recoverable compensation.

How Does a Personal Injury Claim Work?

A personal injury claim can be complicated to handle on your own, which is why it is encouraged for victims to reach an experienced attorney for legal assistance. Your attorney will help you understand how a personal injury claim works and what to expect with your case. 

Since each personal injury claim comes with unique circumstances, the approach and outcome of your case may differ from others. Your attorney will begin by assessing your case, which will help them develop an effective strategy that will help better your chances of obtaining a fair settlement offer to cover for any losses you suffered from due to the negligence of the at-fault party. 

To get a general idea of how a personal injury claim is handled, we have created a list below:

1. Hire a Sacramento personal injury attorney. 
2. Your attorney will open an investigation to determine the cause of the accident you were involved in.
3. Your attorney will review the evidence collected, which will help them prove liability. 
4. Once your attorney has determined fault, the outcome of the settlement offer may be estimated. 
5. After the value has been calculated, your attorney will submit the personal injury claim. 

If you are not granted compensation through the insurance company, your next best option would be to file a claim in civil court. Your Sacramento personal injury attorney will inform you on what would be the most ideal path to take after looking into the circumstances of your case. 

Types of Evidence Needed to Support Your Case

After an accident, you will need to gather evidence if you are planning to file a personal injury claim against the party at-fault for damages. Your Sacramento personal injury attorney will help you prove liability based on the evidence you collected. All of the evidence presented in court must contain proof of the defendant being more responsible for any injuries or damages caused by their unlawful actions. 

Your attorney will have a better understanding of what evidence would have an effective role in proving fault. For instance, your personal injury claim involved a motor vehicle accident. Ideal evidence to collect for this type of accident should include the following:

• Copy of the official police report
• Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test results
• Photographs or video footage of the collision

Some of the other types of evidence that can help support your Sacramento personal injury claim include:

• Photos of your injuries 
• Photos of any property damage
• Medical records
• CCTV footage
• Witness statements
• Expert testimony

Avoid Making These Mistakes in a Sacramento Personal Injury Case

While you are preparing your personal injury claim, you will need to be careful with what you say and do as it can greatly affect the outcome of your case. Below, we have provided a list of some words and actions that you should avoid doing:

• Talk about your case to anyone other than your Sacramento personal injury attorney.
• Ignore medical treatment recommendations provided by your physician. 
• Use social media to post details or images relating to your accident.
• Accept follow requests from people who you have no relation with in real life, primarily those who have requested to follow you after you have started the process of filing a personal injury claim.
• Reach out to the at-fault party. 
• Speak to the insurance company and accept a settlement offer without your attorney involved in the discussion(s).
• Set your social media account(s) to public.

Sacramento Personal Injury FAQ

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we have worked on thousands of personal injury cases and have often come across frequently asked questions given by our clients in regards to the accidents they have been involved in. Below, we have created a list of some of the most commonly asked questions we would typically receive in most of the cases we have handled over the years.

If you do not see a question that relates to your case, we welcome you to contact our Sacramento office to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys to address your concerns with a more in-depth response. 

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?

In California, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim is two years starting from the date of when the incident occurred. If you exceed the deadline, you will no longer be eligible to pursue legal action against the party at-fault for your losses. However, there are a few exceptions that will allow you to have an extension on filing a personal injury claim. You must be: 

• A minor,
• Out-of-state,
• Legally insane,
• Incapacitated, or
• Incarcerated.

The “discovery rule” may also affect the amount of time you are given to submit a personal injury claim. Under the discovery rule, the statute of limitations will start on the date of when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered.

Should I Give the Insurance Company a Statement?

You shouldn’t give a statement to the insurance company unless you have gone over it with your personal injury attorney. In order to avoid getting taken advantage of by the insurance company, you should direct them to speak with your attorney in Sacramento if they are requesting a statement to be sent over to them. Your attorney will respond with evidence needed by the insurance company for them to move forward with processing your personal injury claim. 

Should I Accept the Insurance Company’s Offer?

Do not accept the first offer an insurance company gives you. Insurance companies do not have your best interest at mind and will look for any opportunity to reduce their profit loss. If you have a personal injury attorney on your side, your chances of obtaining a fair settlement offer will be much greater. Your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you get the settlement offer you deserve to cover for any damages caused by the accident.

Contact Our Sacramento Personal Injury Attorneys for Legal Assistance

If you have sustained injuries as a result of someone’s negligence or deliberate acts of malice, you have the right to hold the guilty party responsible for your losses. A Sacramento personal injury attorney at West Coast Trial Lawyers can recover compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, property damage, emotional distress, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Call us today at 213-927-3700 or fill out our quick contact form to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring, and compassionate legal team.