Table of Contents
What types of cases does Personal Injury entail?
“Personal Injury” is a broad term that applies to any type of occurrence, which leads to bodily injury. It generally involves injury to the body, mind or emotions. Our San Francisco personal injury law firm covers the following practice areas:
How can I know if I have a personal injury case?
If you have been injured and/or traumatized and believe it’s the fault of someone else you may have a personal injury case in San Francisco. However, only an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney will be able to advise you if you have a valid claim or not. There are particular circumstances that warrant legal action. Generally, most law firms offer a free initial consultation in which an attorney will examine the facts of your case to determine if it’s necessary to retain counsel.
How much is my personal injury case worth and will you guarantee success?
The “value” of your case depends on many factors, such as the extent of your injury, the amount of your medical bills, and your condition after you have finished medical treatments. The calculation also factors in if you in any way contributed to or caused the incident. A San Francisco personal injury attorney will never guarantee any outcome in your case; however, an experienced attorney can give you a fair assessment of the outcome of your case.
How much does a San Francisco personal injury attorney charge?
Most San Francisco personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. Therefore your attorney will only get paid if you get paid. If no recovery is obtained there is no out of pocket cost from you. Most law firms work on a percentage based fee. They usually obtain 33.33% of your final award. Contingency-based cases are very beneficial because they provide access to the courts for those who can’t otherwise afford to pay attorneys fees and the costs of litigation. It also reduces frivolous lawsuits because attorneys will only litigate cases they think they will likely win.
What type of monetary compensation can I get for my personal injury case?
Each case differs based on the facts of that particular case. Generally, you can recover for all medical expenses related to the incident, lost wages for time missed from work as a result of the incident, pain and suffering, property damage, and any other costs incurred as a result of the incident.
How soon should I file a San Francisco personal injury lawsuit?
You should contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney as soon as possible following an incident. In California, the “statute of limitation” is two years from the date of the incident. Therefore, the claim must be initiated and/or a lawsuit must be filed within that time frame or you will be forever barred from any recovery from this incident.
Although you have two years to initiate lawsuit its best to contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and to allow the attorney sufficient time to research the facts of the case and determine the best possible approach for your matter.
What happens during a San Francisco personal injury lawsuit?
Generally, your law firm will contact the legal representation of the company or person you are filing a grievance against. Most personal injury cases can be resolved without ever filing a lawsuit or even going to trial. Your participation in your legal claim is minimal as your attorney handles most aspects of your claim. However, if a lawsuit is filed your participation in the matter increases.
What should I do if I’m unsatisfied with my current personal injury lawyer?
If you are unhappy with your current attorney for any reason you have the option of changing your attorney. Once you obtain a new San Francisco personal injury attorney he/she can handle the process of substituting out the previous attorney. Generally, it is a very simple process to do and there is no cost to you. However, your current attorney will likely need to split a portion of your award with your prior attorney according to the amount of work he/she has contributed to your claim prior to being substituted.
What type of monetary compensation can I get if I was partly at fault for the personal injury accident?
In many cases, you still have rights and are entitled to a monetary award even if you were partly at fault for the injury or injuries sustained. An experienced attorney will be in the best position to determine what rights you are entitled to.
