Accidents happen all the time, but most people never stop to consider how traumatic and life-changing they can be to those involved. In 2016, 39.5 million people visited their doctor for unintentional injuries; another 29.2 million were treated through emergency care. Of these accidental injuries, 169,936 were fatal. Most accidents are due to someone’s bad behavior –negligence, recklessness, or worst of all intentionally unsafe actions. If you or a loved one were injured due to someone else’s bad behavior, they may be financially liable for your injuries. Contact a personal injury attorney in Riverside to learn if you may be eligible to receive compensation.
Riverside, a growing city with over 326,000 residents, has a number of risk factors making more likely someone in or around the area will be injured in an accident than in most other parts of the country. There are 3 major freeways – the 15, the 215, and the 91 – that surround and pass through the city. Additionally, over one third of the adult working population commutes to and from other cities for work on a daily basis, and Riverside County is a main throughway for large commercial trucks hauling cargo to other destinations in-state and nationwide. The city has also seen a wide array of attractions such as Castle Park, Mount Rubidoux Park, and the Mission Inn Museum to draw in tourists to the area. These factors come together to make Riverside a multi-dimensional city, but one full of risk factors that could lead to avoidable accidents, injuries, and even deaths on any given day.
What are Personal injuries?
Anyone who is injured by someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts can bring a personal injury claim to recover damages from the wrongdoer. The injuries do not have to be physical or even proven by concrete evidence such as receipts or paystubs; emotional, mental, psychological, financial, and physical injuries all count as damages for purposes of personal injury claims. Common situations giving rise to personal injury claims include:
- Accidents involving motor vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, pedestrians, boats, and bicycles
- Slip and falls
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Brain injuries
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Wrongful deaths
- Construction accidents
It’s wise to contact a Riverside Personal Injury Attorney to learn if the circumstances of your accident may allow you to file a personal injury lawsuit.
What Damages Can I Recover for My Personal Injury Claim?
It’s common to wonder what your Riverside personal injury claim is worth. If you can prove a defendant was negligent – meaning they breached their legal duty of care to you and caused your injuries – they are generally financially liable for your injuries. You may receive damages for a variety of physical, emotional, mental, and financial injuries such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Funeral expenses or burial costs
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring, disfigurement, or disability
- Loss of consortium
What If I am Partly Responsible for The Accident That Caused My Injuries?
California employs the theory of comparative negligence, so even if you were partly to blame for the accident that injured you, you may still recover some damages. Once a court review the facts, they assign each party involved a percentage of fault. Any award you were given is reduced by the percentage of responsibility you bear for the accident.
What Should I Do If I am involved in an Accident in Riverside?
No matter how minor they may seem to you, accidents can be traumatic and make the thought of being proactive immediately afterwards seem daunting. Though it may feel overwhelming, taking a few small steps can make a big difference for your physical health as well as the health of any personal injury claim you may file in Riverside. Additionally, California requires you to file a personal injury claim for recovery within 2 years from the date of your injury or else you are barred by the statute of limitation and permanently forfeit the right to recover damages for your injuries through the court system.
Seek Medical Attention
Get medical care as soon as you’ve been involved in an accident. Besides receiving treatment for obvious injuries, you need to be evaluated for injuries you may not know you sustained because symptoms have not yet presented. Some injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, may not initially present symptoms but can prove fatal if left untreated. Getting medical treatment helps your physical and emotional recovery; it also creates a timeline for when your injuries occurred and documents their nature and severity. This can strengthen your claim for compensation.
Document Your Damages
If you have been involved in an accident, you want to gather evidence to substantiate the harms you’ve suffered so you can prove them later in court. If possible, photograph the accident scene and your injuries. Get contact information for any witnesses. If law enforcement responds to the accident, cooperate and get a police report from the local police department, local courthouse, or your insurer. Keep copies of all medical records related to your injuries, as well as all receipts, paystubs, or other evidence showing financial damages you suffered as a result of the accident and your injuries.
Contact a Riverside Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident, contact the experienced Riverside Personal Injury Attorneys at Walton Law, APC today. Our team of attorneys has years of experience delivering customized, comprehensive representation for victims just like you and securing millions of dollars in compensation for their injuries. Contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days by calling (866) 338-7079 or using our Contact Us page to schedule your risk free, confidential case review today. The initial consultation is free, there is no obligation, and you do not pay until we win your case. Let our knowledgeable Walton Law attorneys evaluate your situation, answer your questions, and help start you on the path to maximum possible recovery so you can get your life back on track after being injured.