Northridge Personal Injury Law Firm

If you've been injured due to someone else's negligence, you have the right to demand financial compensation for the losses you've suffered. But pursuing a personal injury claim is no simple task. Offenders and their insurers are backed by armies of attorneys prepared to defend their clients. Who's looking out for you?

At Drake Law Firm, we fight for personal injury victims. Where possible, we resolve cases out of court so our clients can get back to their lives. If needed, however, we put together a litigation strategy and take the case to court. Either way, we stand by our clients from start to finish so they can focus on recovering.

What Is Personal Injury?

The essence of a personal injury case is negligence. When another individual, business, or even a governmental agency acts irresponsibly, others can get injured. The injury is typically physical, but it can also be psychological or emotional too.

"Negligence" is a legal term that means failure to exercise a proper level of care under the circumstances. Another way of putting it is failing to behave as a reasonably sensible individual would. Negligence can be displayed through a person's actions (like speeding or driving drunk) or through an exclusion (such as failing to eliminate a known risk from one's company property).

To win a personal injury case, the victim has to prove that the defendant was negligent. There are four specific components that are required under California law:

• Duty of care– The defendant must have owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. Occasionally a duty emerges out of a personal relationship between the individuals, such as physician and patient. However this isn't always required. For instance, when you drive on a freeway, you owe a duty to other drivers not to be reckless.
• Breach– Next, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the offender breached the duty of care. This is where the defendant's negligent acts and/or exclusions are brought out. It also covers circumstances where the at-fault party breaks a law or participates in deliberate wrongdoing. Breach is generally the most disputed part of a personal injury case.
• Causation– The offender's breach needs to actually cause injury to the plaintiff. If the defendant acted negligently but didn't hurt the plaintiff, this aspect fails.
• Damages– These are the losses for which the plaintiff will seek financial compensation. A few of the most common damages are medical costs, lost wages, lost earning capacity, as well as pain and suffering. The nature and amount of damages are hotly disputed in most personal injury cases.

Potential Damages In a Personal Injury Claim

The goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to make the plaintiff whole via financial compensation. This compensation is referred to as damages, and some examples are:

• Medical costs– This broad category can include everything from hospital bills and prescription drugs to physical therapy and unique adaptive equipment to assist with a victim's daily activities.
• Lost wages– While you recover or are hospitalized for your injuries, you will lose time from work and, with it, possibly significant amounts of money. You can ask a court to award you damages to cover this lost income.
• Lost earning capacity– Your career prospects may be cut short or drastically limited after a personal injury. An expert witness can help estimate the future income you will lose out on as a result.
• Pain and suffering– These damages account for the pain and emotional stress you will likely experience for some time to come. Although difficult to measure, they are essential to catastrophic injury cases.
• Loss of enjoyment of day-to-day life– It may not be possible to appreciate your typical day-to-day activities, hobbies, and other passions after a bad injury. These damages help compensate you for the loss.
• Loss of consortium– This category refers to the deprivation of the advantages of a family relationship. It includes the loss of assistance, society, companionship, and sexual relationship between partners brought on by the injury.
• Punitive (exemplary) damages– In rare cases, an at-fault party can be subject to punitive damages. These are meant to penalize the wrongful party and discourage others from engaging in similar conduct.

Are There Time Limits to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Your right to file a claim against a negligent party will not last forever. In California, personal injury claims are subject to what's called a statute of limitations. This sets a deadline for plaintiffs to submit their claims before they lose the right to do so. For a personal injury, the statute of limitations is two years. In most cases, the clock begins to run when the injury takes place.

However, it's ideal not to delay taking action on your claim. Witnesses' memories can diminish with time, proof will be more difficult to obtain, and you could forget vital information if you wait too long. If you or a loved one have been hurt, reach out to a dedicated Northridge personal injury lawyer.

How Can the Personal Injury Lawyers of Drake Law Firm Assist Me?

Suing a defendant almost always means suing an insurance company, like an automobile insurer. Regardless, you can count on the defendant's legal representatives pushing back on your claims or making settlement offers that come nowhere close to covering your losses. You need an attorney who not only understands California personal injury legislation, but knows how to establish a reasonable value for your case.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients obtain the compensation they need to recuperate. We won't accept unjust deals and will defend you from beginning to end. Give us a call or fill out the contact form today to get started on your case.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients to get the compensation they require to recover. We won't let you accept unfair treatment from other law firms and we will defend you from beginning to end. If you need help with Personal Injury in Northridge, California, give us a call at (844) 513-7253 for a FREE consultation or visit our website at DrakeLawGroup.com to get started on your case today! 

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