You might qualify for a personal injury case if you have been injured due to the negligence or incompetence of another person. Personal injury cases include but aren’t limited to car accidents, slander, defamation of character, and slips and falls.
The first step to filing for a personal injury case is to determine if there is a case at all. You may need the advice of a professional personal injury lawyer to tell you if you have a case worth chasing. They will quickly check if there is adequate insurance cover over your claim. If there is no sufficient insurance cover from a reputable company the lawyer can still opt to pursue the case if he feels he can process a claim on your behalf. Ideally, your first consultation with a personal injury lawyer is free, but make sure you bring along all documents, IDs, photo, and anything that will help you win the case.
The cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in San Francisco
As we mentioned earlier, your initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer should be free. However, if they choose to accept and pursue your case, many personal injury lawyers will be involved in it. They will definitely work to take their pay out of the lawsuit should they win the case. On average, most law firms will take about a third of the claim amount. Other fees, like the cost of hiring investigators, the cost of filing the case in court, or the cost of expert witnesses, can add up to the initial fees you pay. On an hourly rate, lawyers will collect several hundred dollars or more.
What cases are considered Personal Injuries?
If you are injured due to another person’s actions, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. However, common personal injuries usually revolve around accidents, medical malpractice, character defamation, and a host of other injuries. Here is a list of some of the more popular injury cases in San Francisco:
Car Accidents
Careless or reckless driving that results in the injury of others is termed as personal injury. However, in states where the no-fault system is in effect, the car accident victim may qualify for compensation without having to go to court.
San Francisco is the 13th most populous city in the United States of America, and the epicenter of commerce and financial market of Northern California with an average of 883,305 residents as of 2018. Tourists will find the warm-summer Mediterranean climate particularly pleasing. Climatic conditions are greatly influenced by cool currents of the Pacific Ocean to provide a remarkable climate all year round. There are many qualified accident lawyers near The San Francisco Bay Area that you can contact for professional advice on personal injury claims.
Slip and falls
If someone falls and gets injured on another person’s property, he or she may qualify for a personal injury claim. More often than not, if the injury resulted from the owner’s neglect or negligence, a claim can be made. You can pursue a claim and learn about the legal provisions of your case by contacting an attorney.
Medical Malpractice and Unethical Conduct
Unethical conduct in medical practice can lead to injuries and even the death of patients. So if someone dies as a result of medical mistakes, a personal injury claim can be filed.
Dog Bites
If the owner of a dog fails to restrain the animal properly and it bites someone else, the victim of the dog bite can file a claim against the owner.
Character defamation
Character defamation is a very serious offense in most states. If an individual spreads falsehoods about you to the general public, you are at liberty to seek redress in the law court. Slander or character defamation may also include a falsehood against your business.
Defective or bad products
Defective products are prevalent in supermarkets, online stores, and department stores. If a defective product causes you personal injury, you can file a lawsuit against the manufacturer seeking damages.
Personal Assaults
Assaults of any kind can be seen from a personal injury perspective. Most assaults can be resolved by the people involved, but when it gets out of hand and results in personal injuries, a claim can be filed.
What do you have to do to process claims
The first thing to consider in a potential personal injury case is your health and the health of others if it involves a car accident. Here is a bulleted list of what you should do. Please be advised that this list shouldn’t be followed exactly as is. The procedure could differ because of varying circumstances:
- Collect as many photographs as you can from as many angles as you can.
- Create an inventory of all medical bills and payments you have made regarding the personal injury accident.
- Quickly gather names and addresses of all parties involved in the accident so you don’t miss out on who to contact.
- Take notes or record conversations with other persons who are involved in accidents.
- Inform those who caused the accident that you will file a lawsuit against them.
How long do you have to notify someone of a Personal injury lawsuit claim?
That a claim can be filed when you wish doesn’t mean that you should procrastinate it. Quick action on your part may significantly increase your chances of resolving it. That you have given formal notice of your personal lawsuit claim doesn’t guarantee that it will be filed. You still need to complete the necessary paperwork to finalize the process. It just shows that the other party involved has been formally notified of your injuries.
There is a time limit so make sure you do the needful. Failing to file your claim can jeopardize your chances of winning the case. Unless there are physical injury limitations, you should file for a claim as soon as possible. The statutes of limitations are a guide that allows individuals to file for claims within a specified timeframe after the event occurred.
