Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me

Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me

Being injured by someone else’s negligence in an accident is a painful, frightening, and costly experience that can leave you in a serious bind regarding how best to proceed. Personal injury claims are legally complicated, which makes working with an experienced personal injury lawyer near you well worth the effort. 

Identifying the Elements of Your Case

In order for your California personal injury case to be successful, there are several elements that must be present, including:

• The party whom you deem at fault for the injury-causing accident must have owed you a duty of care. A prime example of this responsibility is the duty of care that we all owe each other when we are behind the wheel. 
• The party whom you deem at fault for the injury-causing accident must have breached that duty of care owed to you, which amounts to engaging in some form of negligence. For example, drunk drivers breach the duty of care they owe everyone else on the road. 
• You must have standing to bring a lawsuit in the first case, which means that the party whom you deem at fault must actually have caused the injuries you suffered. You don’t have standing to file a claim against that drunk driver unless he or she caused the accident that left you injured. 
• You must have experienced losses that are recognized as legal damages, which include medical expenses, lost wages, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. 

The Insurance Company

Many accident victims are under the mistaken belief that the insurance company covering their claim will make a reasonable settlement offer that allows them to move forward toward recovery. Insurance companies, however, are in the specific business of making money, which means they are heavily invested in keeping settlements like yours as low as possible. The insurance company’s arsenal of techniques for protecting its profits can include any of the following tactics (which you should be on the lookout for):

• An early settlement offer (made before you’ve had time to accurately assess your complete damages)
• An artificially complicated and/or lengthy claims process
• A shift in fault (away from the insurance company’s policyholder and toward you)
• A denial regarding the severity of your accident-related losses
• An outright denial of your claim (in the hope you will simply lose faith and give up)

It is important to note here that, even if you do share fault for the accident that leaves you injured, you can seek compensation for the percentage of fault that the other party bears responsibility for. 

An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Near You Can Help

If you have suffered losses as a result of someone else’s negligence, obtaining the legal guidance you need from an experienced personal injury lawyer near you is paramount, and the practiced San Francisco personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Scott Righthand are standing by to help. Your personal injury case is important, so please don’t wait to learn more by contacting us and scheduling your free consultation today.