West Covina Personal Injury Lawyer

Suffering an injury due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness is a stressful and painful time. As the ones responsible for your injury may try to justify their actions or try to shift the blame onto you, it is important that you hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Regardless what type of injury you have suffered, these injuries could potentially alter your life in ways that you couldn’t have imagined. Which is why if you or a loved one have suffered serious injuries then it is highly recommended that you seek legal representation so you can recover compensation for your damages.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we have a dedicated and experienced team of personal injury attorneys who are ready to help guide you throughout the entire legal process. We are a personal injury law firm with over 20 years of legal experience and our team of lawyers are confident that they can help you get the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses.

We have recovered over $1.6 billion in financial compensation to our clients and we will continue to do our duty and give our clients the best legal representation that we can. Our dedicated team of lawyers have worked on a variety of personal injury claims from car accidents to wrongful deaths, and they are ready to handle your case with the care and integrity that it deserves.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.

What Are Personal Injury Laws

Personal injury law is a legal field that covers all cases where a person has suffered injuries or property damage as a result of someone’s negligence or recklessness. These damages can be accrued in a variety of different scenarios and can happen to anybody and anywhere. Whether your personal injury case is settled out of court or not, it is vital that you hire a personal injury lawyer to represent your best interests and help recover damages like medical bills, lost wages, or any other out-of-pocket expenses.

Why Do You Need A West Covina Personal Injury Lawyer?

By hiring a lawyer for your personal injury matters, accident victims are able to increase their chances of recovering compensation for any of their losses in an accident. A personal injury lawyer can help file and process important documents, draft up proposals and motions to opposing counsel, negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company or opposing counsel, and give you sound legal advice throughout your case. While you can choose to file a personal injury case on your own, your chances of recovering compensation would become significantly lower, because if you miss an important detail or not negotiate properly then it can impact your total compensation.

Types Of Personal Injury Claims We Handle

Due to the nature of personal injury, there are many different types of accidents that can occur and from what is typically seen in the field, traffic accidents, premises liability cases, and injury cases are the most common. As such, it is important to understand the differences between each type so you can discuss the details with an experienced attorney and get a better grasp of your situation.

Car Accident

Car accidents are some of the most common personal injury claims to occur due to the amount of car accidents that happen every year. The National Safety Council has deduced in a 2022 motor vehicle crash report that there has been 12,800,000 reported crashes in the United States and leading causes were reported to be negligent driving errors such as speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving.

As such, accident victims are urged to find legal support and pursue compensation against the negligent party for their actions. However, on top of filing a claim against the responsible party, insurance companies will try their best to lower your proposed amount in order to save money, so it is imperative to hire an experienced car accident attorney who can help.

Uber and Lyft Accident

Much like car accidents, an Uber and Lyft accident can potentially harm those involved and they can sustain long-term injuries and property damages. However, trying to determine liability in a rideshare accident is notoriously difficult due to the amount of parties involved. Uber and Lyft’s insurance policy for their rideshare drivers states that they can only cover drivers who meet a specific set of requirements and if drivers get into an accident without meeting those requirements, they will be forced to use their own personal insurance coverage.

In addition, insurance companies will conduct lengthy investigations in order to find evidence that makes the other party liable for all damages and this alone makes it troubling for those who have sustained serious injuries and need the compensation to pay for their treatments. So whether you are a passenger, rideshare driver, or a random driver, it is recommended to hire a lawyer for this endeavor.

Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycles are a great way to get past congested traffic, but they also make motorcyclists more susceptible to traffic accidents and severe injuries due to their size and lack of protection. Accidents such as left turn collisions, car door accidents, intoxicated collisions, and sudden lane changes can potentially yield devastating injuries such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even burn injuries. With that in mind, an accident lawyer will be able to get you compensation for your damages.

Bus Accident

While it may be rare, a bus accident can occur anywhere in a city for a variety of reasons. As bus accidents claims can be separated either by public and private cases, the types of injuries that can be sustained can be just as serious as any traffic accident. This is due to the fact that most buses don’t have the same safety features that are typically found in a car. Whether someone crashes into your bus or your bus driver crashes into someone, determining liability and coverage can become a long complicated process and if you are severely injured then it can make filing a claim even more difficult to do.

Truck Accident

Truck accidents are when large commercial vehicles collide into another vehicle or a stationary object. Trucking accidents are like standard motor vehicle accidents, but they are more devastating due to their size and the cargo they carry. If someone has been in a truck accident, then the chances of sustaining a severe injury is very likely and the liability will be dependent on the cause of the accident, because in certain scenarios it can be the truck driver, the trucking company, or even the maintenance and manufacturer of the truck.

Bicycle Accident

A bicycle accident is when a bike rider gets hit by a motor vehicle and has suffered injuries as a result. While bike accidents tend to occur at a moment’s notice, it is important to seek legal representation regarding the matter because bicycles are susceptible to a variety of injuries from broken bones to internal injuries. No matter what kind of case it may be, it is recommended to consult with a bike accident attorney for more details and what next steps may entail.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are when a vehicle collides into a person when they are at a crosswalk, sidewalk, parking lot, or on a road. Liability in pedestrian accidents tends to be straightforward, but to some people’s surprise, there is actually a layer of complexity that can dramatically alter a case’s liability. If one or both parties were negligent in their actions or if the victim showcased a complete disregard of the law, it can greatly affect who is responsible for the accident and how much the victim can receive financial compensation for their injuries.

Premises Liability Cases

A premise liability case is when a person suffers an injury on someone else’s property. Whether it is a private or a commercial property, if the victim can prove that the accident was caused by property owner’s negligence, then they can pursue legal action to recover damages. Typically slip-and-fall accidents are the most common type that is seen in these cases, however, more complex cases such as failed maintenance compliance and attractive nuisances can potentially land a property owner in deep legal trouble if they are inattentive in how they manage their land/business.

Scooter Accident

Electric scooters are a popular option on the road, and as such, there is a sudden increase of scooter accidents. Much like bicycle accidents, scooter accidents are when a rider gets hit by a motor vehicle and they sustain injuries from the collision. While the compensation will be dependent on the severity and cause of the collision, however, due to the availability of rental scooters, if you were not abiding by the state’s scooter laws then you could be held liable for your own actions and possibly the driver’s damages.

Dog Bites

Dog bites tend to occur when the dog owner has failed to control or warn others about their pet. While these cases tend to be straightforward, it can become complex if the dog has a history of aggression, or if the victim instigated the dog to attack them. In some severe instance, the court may force the owner to put down the dog on top of paying damages to the victim. Due to the complexity of dog bite cases, it is recommended to hire a lawyer who is well versed in the scenario in order to get the best results.

Wrongful Deaths

A wrongful death lawsuit is when someone unfortunately passes due to someone’s negligence or recklessness. The cause of an untimely death can happen in any kind of accident, from traffic accidents to medical malpractice. As losing a loved one is an extremely painful event that a person can go through, these cases are one of the most difficult and emotionally taxing, because both the defendant and the insurance company will fight aggressively to prove that they were not responsible. Which is why the surviving family should hire a wrongful death attorney because they will fight for the deceased and be objective in their approach.

Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are defined as damages to the head and brain as a result from a hit, blow, or jolt. With that in mind, any accident that causes a brain injury can become a brain injury case and the liable party will be responsible for paying the victim’s medical bills and any other damages they have claimed. While the severity will vary on a case by case basis, it is vital to seek legal representation in order to ensure that victims don’t take on the full brunt of the medical expenses.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury is defined as damage to the bundle of nerves and fibers that sends and receives signals from the brain. Much like brain injury cases, any accident that causes a spinal cord injury can become a spinal cord injury case and the victim will be filing damages for their medical bills and any other non-economic damages like mental anguish and emotional distress.

Burn Injuries

A burn injury is when the skin gets damaged by fires, electrical malfunctions, chemicals, and friction. There are many different sources where a person can receive a burn injury such as severe traffic accidents, workplace accidents, defective products, and ill-intentioned actions. Due to the different types of injuries that can occur, every type of burn has a specific way of being treated, and the type of personal injury case that can be filed will be dependent on the severity and origins of the injury.

Food Delivery Accidents

Much like rideshare accidents, food delivery accidents occur when the delivery driver gets into an accident while making a delivery. While the passenger element is not applicable in food delivery accidents, there are significantly more app-based delivery services such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, Doordash, Postmates, Instacart, and Shipt and they all have different liability coverage, making it difficult to determine coverage in the event of an accident.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Attorney Cost?

Generally speaking, personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency-based system where they would charge no fees for their legal services until they either win or receive a settlement offer from opposing counsel. Should they manage to achieve one or the other, they would charge a flat contingency-fee that can range anywhere between 25% to 40%, however, most tend to average around 33%. With that in mind, if you are looking to file a personal injury lawsuit against a certain party, it is recommended to consult with several different attorneys and law firms to see which one can serve your best interests.

What Kind of Damages You May Be Entitled To

Damages in personal injury cases are referred to as the monetary compensation that is awarded to accident injury victims in a civil lawsuit. This is meant to compensate victims for any accrued costs or sustained loss due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party. As such, there are three types of damages that injury victims can potentially recover: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.

Economic

Economic damages are defined as calculable losses that can be recovered for a certain amount. In personal injury cases, a victim can sue for economic damages in order to recover financial losses that has accrued as a result of the accident in question. For example, economic damages like medical expenses, lost income, property damage, funeral and burial costs, and quality of life adjustments are all instances of calculable costs that can be recovered. However, it is important to note that calculating economic damages requires a careful assessment and documentation of the specific financial losses incurred by the affected party.

Non-Economic

Non-economic damages are defined as intangible losses that can be recovered for a varied sum. Compared to economic damages, non-economic damages allows accident victims to recover damages that are subjective by nature and, as a result, this cost will vary from person to person. For example, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium are all instances of non-economic damages a person could sue for, especially in extremely emotional taxing cases such as an untimely death. However, there needs to be a direct correlation from the accident in order to prove non-economic damages.

Punitive

Punitive damages acts as a different type of compensation for the victim, because the awarded compensation mainly comes in the form of punishing the defendant for their crimes/negligence. Typically, the court only awards punitive damages to those who have committed severe acts of negligence or recklessness and then the court issues these damages in order to serve as a deterrent for any related that could happen. While there is little monetary compensation with punitive damages, it allows the victim to receive justice for the accident they have been involved in.

What Should I Do If I Have Been Involved In an Accident?

If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, it is imperative that you stay calm and take prompt action to ensure that your injuries do not become worse and that you do not unintentionally become liable for any damages. In fact, one of the first things you should do in the event of an accident is to call 911 and have first responders take control of the situation and have them apply first aid to those who need critical medical attention.

Once you have done that, it is recommended to document the accident scene by taking photos, videos, and witness statements, and exchanging contact information with everyone involved. It is also recommended to call your insurance company and consult with a West Covina personal injury lawyer to discuss the details of your case and see if you can seek compensation for your injuries.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here To Help

If you or a loved one have sustained injuries in an accident, you may be eligible for compensation for your damages. As filing a personal injury claim can be a confusing and frustrating process if you are unfamiliar with the legal process, it is important that you hire an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of personal injury attorneys are ready to help and serve as your personal and trusted legal counsel. We are a personal injury law firm with over 20 years of experience and our lawyers are well versed in the California court system and are confident that they can get you the financial compensation you deserve.

We have recovered over $1.6 billion in financial compensation to our deserving clients and we will continue to do our duty to guide you throughout the legal process. Whether you have been involved in a car accident or got bitten by a dog, our 24/7 legal team is here to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your case.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.

Most Frequently Asked Questions About West Covina Personal Injury Attorneys

How Long Does It Take to Settle A Personal Injury Claim?

The length of a personal injury case will be entirely dependent on the nature of your case and the severity of your sustained injuries. For example, severe car accident cases can take several months just to decide who is liable for the damages and how much the victim can recover, and cases that involve a traumatic brain injury or a wrongful death may take years to settle. As such, it could take anywhere between several months to a year and half for a settlement to be achieved.

How Much Can I Recover for My Case?

The amount you can recover for your case will be dependent on the nature of your case, the severity of the accident, and the overall scale. As such, every personal injury case will be different and if you want to get an estimate of what kind of damages you can recover, you can visit our personal injury settlement calculator or consult with a personal injury attorney.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases?

According to section 335.1 of California’s Code of Civil Procedure, the statute of limitations for all claims must be made within two years of the accident date. If accident victims fail to file a claim within that time frame, then the statute of limitations takes into effect and they would not be able to recover any damages for the accident. The only exception to the two year rule is unless the victim is a minor, in jail, legally insane, living out-of-state, or disabled.