Riverside Personal Injury Lawyer

No matter what type of personal injury you may be suffering from, you deserve to have an experienced attorney on your side to help put your mind at ease. Here at Younglove Law Group, we help our clients recover compensation from injuries caused by a myriad of accidents, including:

• Car accidents
• Catastrophic injury
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Bus accidents
• And much more

Even if you do not feel as if your injuries are severe, you should always seek an evaluation by a medical professional after any kind of accident. Not all injuries can be seen or felt immediately. Latent injuries could take weeks to start showing symptoms after an incident. Your doctor should be able to identify any injuries you may have that you cannot see.

What to Do After a Personal Injury Accident in Riverside, CA

Understandably, an accident can leave you shocked and confused. However, it’s vital that you take the correct steps, as your actions will affect your recovery and personal injury claim.

Seek Medical Intervention

Regardless of your injuries, seek medical attention from a certified healthcare professional without delay. If you can’t get there on your own, contact first responders, and an ambulance will take you to the emergency room or your preferred healthcare professional.

Explain everything you feel as every detail –however minor– is vital. Further, a thorough medical examination immediately after the accident reduces the likelihood of delayed injuries, such as soft tissue injuries, appearing later. Additionally, the healthcare professional will compile a detailed medical report, which will be important for your claim.

Don’t Speak to Anyone About Your Case

Various parties, such as the at-fault party, insurance agents or even the media, might contact you about the accident. Understandably, you need to talk to someone about the accident; maybe you need to share some details or ease the trauma.

Regardless, you must only talk to your attorney and doctor about the accident. If you must speak to any other party, including the authorities, ensure your attorney is present.

Document Your Accident

There are certain factors in a personal injury claim that your attorney must prove for you to qualify for compensation. They must prove the defendant had a duty of care that they breached, leading to the accident that directly caused you or your loved one’s injuries.

To prove all these elements, you must document the accident by collecting the necessary evidence:

• Photograph the accident and any visible injuries
• Collect any video footage available
• Collect eyewitness statements and contact information
• Obtain accident reports and statements from first responders
• Collect all related medical records and billing
• Compile a personal journal detailing your experience during and after the accident
• Document the effects of the injuries on your life, such as lost wages, missed vacation, PTSD, and any other documented damages

Your attorney may also contract accident reconstruction experts to analyze the accident scene to determine fault and the injuries sustained. Every piece of evidence and documentation is relevant to your claim.

Consult Your Riverside Personal Injury Attorney

What follows after an accident due to negligence of another party is a whirlwind of legal activity requiring the services of an experienced personal injury attorney in Riverside, CA. Once the healthcare professional clears you, contact a personal injury attorney to represent, defend, and advise you on the next steps.

Younglove Law Group personal injury attorneys have your best interests at heart. We offer a free consultation to enable you to explain everything that happened to you. The defendant’s insurer will attempt to pin fault on you to avoid compensating you, so be sure to consult with a qualified attorney without delay. Moreover, the attorney will evaluate your case and determine the best avenue for you to seek recovery.

California’s Pure Comparative Negligence on Personal Injury Claims

California’s personal injury claims are governed by the pure comparative negligence of the parties involved. As such, blame is apportioned among each of the parties involved in the accident, and each party’s recovery is reduced according to their measure of fault. Put simply, according to the law, you can only get compensated or be allowed to recover damages relative to your level of fault in causing the accident.

For example, your recovery could be reduced if you were partially at fault for causing your own injury. Say you were walking through a construction site one day while wearing your headphones, and a brick fell on your head because you could not hear the construction workers trying to warn you of it. Even if you suffered injury, like a concussion, your recovery would likely be reduced due to your inattentiveness. While the construction company failed to post any warning sign or erect any warning tape, your actions also contributed to the accident since you wore your headphones in a construction zone. In this instance, if a jury determined you were 20% at fault for the incident, your compensation would likewise be reduced by 20%.

It’s therefore vital that an experienced Riverside, CA personal injury attorney be present in the fault determining process. That’s the best way to increase your chances of receiving the full compensation to which you are entitled.

Understanding California Statute of Limitations on Personal Injuries

California has a time frame within which you can file your claim against the negligent party. This limit is known as the statute of limitations under the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Under this law, you have two years from the date you or your loved one sustained the injuries to file your claim and seek legal redress (damage recovery and compensation).

While this statute is strict, there are certain exceptions:

• Delayed discovery where you never suspected you sustained any injuries after the accident, and you discovered them much later
• The negligent party agreed to toll the statute of limitations
• You were a minor or lacked the legal capacity to make any decisions when the accident occurred (such as having a mental disorder)

Missing this deadline means losing your chance at justice and damage recovery. That’s why you should talk to a Riverside personal injury lawyer promptly after seeking medical attention to begin a personal injury claim.

How a Riverside Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Fight for Compensation

One missed detail or misinterpretation can cost you your whole settlement. When you partner with Younglove Law Group, we will thoroughly investigate your case and discuss every aspect of the process together so that you can ultimately decide how to proceed. 

We have the skills and knowledge required to help you defend your claim by:

• Conducting a complete, independent investigation into your accident
• Working with trusted medical professionals to determine the total value of your claim
• Negotiating with every party involved in the case
• Collecting critical evidence to prove liability
• Providing a thorough understanding of the legal system and how to make it work for you
• Consulting with experts in fields such as accident reconstruction and life-care planning
• Ensuring that all documents are filed correctly and in a timely manner
• Preparing your case for court

Negligent parties and insurance companies will often do everything in their power to prevent having to pay out compensation to injured victims. Should you choose to represent yourself instead of partnering with an attorney, you would be putting yourself at a disadvantage. Insurance companies deal with injury claims daily, and they know exactly how to utilize the system to their advantage. To reach a fair settlement for your damages, you will need a personal injury lawyer to defend your interests throughout the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I’ve been in an accident in Riverside, what kind of compensation can I receive?

If you were injured in an accident in Riverside, you are entitled to compensation for your damages, including your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and much more. Each claim is unique, and many factors affect the types of compensation you may be entitled to. Talk to an experienced Riverside accident lawyer to see what you are entitled to. 

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Riverside?

The amount of time you have to file a personal injury claim in Riverside is generally 2 years; however, certain claims must be filed within 6 months. If you have a personal injury claim in Riverside, be sure to consult with a personal injury attorney promptly to protect yourself.  

How can a Riverside personal injury attorney help my case?

A Riverside personal injury attorney can help you to not only recover the maximum amount of compensation available to you, but also to get treatment with the best doctors in Riverside for your specific injuries. If you are struggling with medical debt or are missing work due to a personal injury, contact an experienced Riverside personal injury attorney for assistance.