A Personal Injury Law Firm in California Answers the Most Common Personal Injury Questions
Accidents happen more often than we like. After an accident caused by the careless or negligent acts of another person, company, or entity, you shouldn’t have to pay for medical expenses, vehicle repairs, and other costly damages on your own.
This is where a personal injury claim comes in. Personal injury is the legal term for any physical, emotional, or mental damages a person sustains after an accident.
Keep reading to get the answers to some of the most common questions about personal injury. BD&J is the personal injury law firm in California that people call for unmatched representation during the legal process!
Key Takeaways
- California’s large population sees personal injury claims daily
- Personal injury claims allow people hurt in accidents caused by the negligent or reckless acts of someone else to recover compensation
- BD&J answers some of the most pressing questions about personal injury, including what liability is, the financial aspects of personal injury, and the time length of a claim
- There are various benefits to working with a personal injury law firm for a claim, including higher compensation amounts, legal knowledge, and more
California is one of the States with the Most Personal Injury Claims
In the fiscal year 2024-2025, California saw nearly 300,000 unlimited civil claims presented.
Noted as one of the states with the most personal injury claims, some of the factors that may go into California’s large portion of lawsuits include:
- A larger population
- Higher cost of living, making it difficult for injured victims to afford medical expenses, vehicle repairs, etc.
- An abundant number of roads throughout the state, with over 25 interstate highways, which leads to an increased risk of vehicle accidents
- California’s acknowledgment of comparative negligence in an accident
BD&J is a Dedicated Personal Injury Law Firm in California, Answering Your Questions
Personal injury claims can be complex, involving numerous regulations, deadlines, and terminology. This can be overwhelming to any person, especially someone already dealing with painful injuries.
There are a few questions surrounding personal injury cases that many people often have, whether about their accident or their loved one’s. Find answers to these questions below:
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
This is the first question a potential client often asks. You may have a personal injury case if you can prove another party’s liability for an accident that caused your injuries.
What is Liability?
Liability essentially means responsibility. In personal injury, the basis of proving liability depends on proving:
- The other party had a duty of care to you
- This duty was breached through negligence or a reckless act
- The breach resulted in an accident
- This accident directly caused your injuries
What Counts as a Personal Injury?
Many people often think only catastrophic injuries count for personal injury cases, but the truth is that any measurable loss suffered from an accident can be cause for a personal injury claim.
Injuries like broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, catastrophic injuries, spinal cord injuries, organ damage, lacerations, and whiplash are some of the most common injuries presented in a claim from personal injury law firms in California.
Do All Accidents Count as Personal Injury?
Typical personal injury accidents include:
– Commercial vehicle accidents
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Most personal injury claims in California must be filed within 2 years from the date of injury. However, this deadline (also known as the statute of limitations) can change for certain reasons.
For example, claims against a local city government must be made within 6 months of your accident.
How Much is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Personal injury cases can recover anywhere from several thousand dollars to millions of dollars, depending on the damages. You really get the most accurate answer to this question when you consult with a California personal injury attorney. However, some of the factors that can impact how much your case is worth include:
- Severity of injuries
- Loss of wages
- Vehicle repairs (or if the vehicle is deemed a loss)
- If an injured plaintiff was left disabled
- Longterm care
- Physical rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
- Mental trauma
- Punitive damages
How Much Does It Cost to Work with a Personal Injury Attorney?
A majority of personal injury lawyers in California work on a contingency fee agreement, as opposed to hourly rates or retainer fees.
What Are Contingency Fee Agreements?
Contingency fee agreements mean an attorney advances all case costs to a client, taking attorney fees (which range from 25% to 40%) from the final compensation amount after a case settles.
Five Benefits of Working with a Personal Injury Law Firm for Your Case
If you’ve become a bit more familiar with personal injury claims and think you may have a case, the next step is consulting with a personal injury law firm.
Five benefits of working with a law firm on your case, compared to handling a claim by yourself are:
- No upfront costs to file your personal injury claim
- Greater compensation amounts (about 3 to 4 times the amount you’d recover alone)
- Access to expert witnesses who can aid in injury testimony and accident reconstruction
- Representation through every step of the claims process, including communications with the other party, mediation, and any court appearances as needed
- The reassurance of having a legal expert in your corner who can provide emotional support
More Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Still File a Claim if I Was At-Fault in an Accident?
Absolutely, because California is a comparative negligence state. This means injured victims can recover compensation in an accident where they had some fault, and the compensation amount is simply reduced by the percent of fault they’re found to have.
How Much Is My Compensation Reduced Through Comparative Negligence?
This can ultimately depend on how much fault you’re assigned. For example, if you recover $300,000 in a car accident claim but were found to be 50% at fault for driving distracted, you’d end up recovering $150,000.
How Long Does It Take to Receive Compensation?
After signing the release papers, most settlement checks can take anywhere between 1 month or 2 to be released. Your attorney will keep you updated on your specific timeline.
Does a Personal Injury Case Often Go to Trial?
No, actually, about 95% of personal injury claims reach a pre-trial settlement.
What Would Cause a Personal Injury Claim to go to Court?
Failure to agree on compensation or liability can typically require a claim to go to court.
Do I Have to Call the Police After a Car Accident?
Car accidents dominate personal injury claims, and while you don’t have to call the police if your accident leaves no injuries or less than $1,000 in damages, it’s typically recommended you do so for all other circumstances.
Why Should I Call BD&J for My Personal Injury Claim?
BD&J is a top personal injury law firm in California that has represented injured clients in the fight for justice since our establishment in 2007. We’ve recovered more than $3 billion* in compensation, and we’re not intimidated by big companies and aggressive legal teams.
Does the BD&J Law Firm Work Under a Contingency Fee Basis?
Absolutely! We advance all case costs and recover attorney fees after a case settles, so there are no fees until we win* your case.
How To Recover After a Devastating Injury
Personal injury accidents can often lead to serious and painful injuries, leaving people unable to work or resume their daily lives. Continue your recovery journey by doing the following.
- Following through with all medical treatments. – Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other treatments are essential for your recovery, so avoid delaying or skipping your recommended treatments.
- Not taking on too much activity at once. – It’s always recommended you take it easy for some time after a serious injury, so don’t take on too much activity or strenuous activity that could aggravate an injury.
- Getting good sleep. – While often underestimated, the restorative power of good sleep can do a lot for your physical and mental health while injured.
- Accepting help and support when needed. – Building a support group and accepting help can allow you to connect with loved ones during these stressful times and not have to physically strain yourself.
- Visiting a personal injury law firm in California. – Medical expenses and other financial problems from an accident can create unnecessary strain in your life, which is why talking with a personal injury attorney can help you learn about filing a claim for compensation.
Personal Injury Attorneys Dedicated to Fighting for Clients
Personal injury can sound intimidating, but the process of filing a claim becomes much easier when you’re working with a trusted law firm.
BD&J attorneys are here to answer your questions, clear up any doubts, and join you in the fight for rightful compensation. Complete our form or call us at 855-906-3699 to connect with our California personal injury law firm.
Injured in an accident? Connect with the BD&J personal injury lawyers to file a claim!