Porter Ranch Car Accident Lawyers

Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Porter Ranch, California

Personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident or a year from when you discover a related injury. For property damage, you have up to three years from the time of the accident.

Aside from visiting a doctor to have your injuries assessed, your next step should be making a record of everything that happened after the accident. This includes your recollection of the events immediately following the crash, witness statements and things like hospital and doctor visits. Your Porter Ranch attorney will need this information later.

If you haven’t already, be sure to contact an attorney right away. An experienced legal team will be able to guide you through this process and make sure you don’t miss anything important.

The Types of Car Accident Claims

There are several types of car accident claims that may pertain to your situation. You may need to file more than one type of claim if you have a variety of damages.

Medical Expenses

Car accidents often leave people with serious injuries, which may require ongoing medical care. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, your first step is to visit the emergency room. Even if you only sustained a few minor cuts and bruises, it’s important to not skip this step. You might think that you aren’t at risk because you didn’t hit your head, but even something like a leg injury could potentially cause internal bleeding and death.Another big reason to see a doctor within the first 24 hours is that it could help your case. You might not know whether you want to file a lawsuit while reeling in the shock of an accident, but if you end up deciding against it, no harm can come from a doctor’s visit. It will benefit your health and give you the best chances of getting financial compensation if you choose to seek it.

Common injuries sustained in a car accident include:

• Broken bones.
• Burns
• Cuts, scrapes, and lacerations.
• Head injuries.
• Spinal injuries or paralysis.
• Loss of limbs.

Loss of Wages
On top of the growing medical bills that often pile up after an accident, most people suffer an additional loss of income due to being unable to work. Whether you miss work for a few months or suffer a major injury that prevents returning to work at all, you will need financial compensation to get you through this tough time. Factors such as your past earnings, occupation type, wages, skill level and age all play a role in determining how much compensation you might receive.

Pain and Suffering
Serious injuries do more than simply cause financial problems. They can also cause a great deal of pain and even emotional problems, such as PTSD or depression. If you’re suffering physically or emotionally because of your accident, you might be entitled to compensation, which will be based on the level of pain, how much that pain interferes in your life and how long you are expected to suffer. This means you will need a medical prognosis to demonstrate how these injuries will affect your life in the future.Not all states handle pain-and-suffering claims in the same manner. In California, something known as a tort liability system determines how these claims are litigated. This means that the jury can choose an amount they feel is fair to compensate for the plaintiff’s pain and suffering.

Loss of Consortium
An accident can have a devastating effect on a relationship. If you or your spouse has received an injury that is having a negative effect on your ability to show affection to each other, you might be entitled to compensation. However, unlike other types of claims, this claim is filed by the uninjured spouse.

Some examples that fall under loss of consortium include:

• Being unable to do activities with your spouse due to their injuries or resulting emotional problems
• Finding yourself burdened with housework or financial responsibilities due to your spouse being unable to work
• A general reduction in the happiness of your marriage due to your spouse’s physical pain, depression or other serious issues that resulted from the accident.

Choosing a Porter Ranch Attorney

Insurance companies are known for doing everything they can to avoid paying out on a claim. When they see that they are going to be working with an experienced legal team, they will be much less likely to attempt to manipulate the situation in their favor. A car-accident lawyer knows how to work with difficult insurance companies, saving you time, energy and stress.

Our team also has experience handling other lawyers. We will be working with the legal team hired by the party you’re taking to court, and it’s best if we can share evidence and communications in a professional manner. Choosing the right attorney is crucial if you want to earn enough compensation to carry you through your recovery period.

Contact a Porter Ranch Car Accident Attorney Today

Suffering an injury due to someone’s negligence can leave you feeling like a victim, which is exactly why you should empower yourself by contacting an attorney before it’s too late.

At our practice, we handle a variety of car accident lawsuits, including:

• • • Rollover accidents, fender-benders, head-on collisions and side impacts.
    • Crashes involving semi-trucks, motorcycles and other types of vehicles.
    • Motorcycle and bicycle accidents.
    • Hit-and-run accidents.

You shouldn’t have to go through this rough experience alone. With an experienced Porter Ranch attorney on your side, you’ll stand the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve. Please contact one of our three Valley Accident Attorneys offices today.