Hiring a California Personal Injury Attorney: Everything You Need to Know

Hiring a California Personal Injury Attorney: Everything You Need to Know

If you were injured in an accident in California and want to pursue compensation, a personal injury attorney can help. They can ensure you get compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and other damages from the individual responsible. Also, if the at-fault person refuses to accept fault, your attorney will take them to court, where they will be held accountable.

“A major challenge faced by parties in a personal injury case is determining if they need legal help and the extent of help that is necessary,” says attorney Michael A. Hackard of Hackard Law. So, you may wonder if your case requires working with an attorney or if you can handle it yourself. Here are common frequently asked questions regarding personal injury cases in California, including when to retain a lawyer.

What Types of Personal Injury Accidents Are There?

A personal injury accident encompasses many different kinds of accidents caused by negligence or relating to strict liability. Some of the common examples include auto accident, slip and fall, premises liability, swimming pool accidents, wrongful death, product liability, and medical malpractice.

What Does a California Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

A personal injury lawyer in California helps to ensure individuals injured due to someone else’s negligence gets justice. They also will have a legal education with a license to practice law issued by the California state bar association.

Furthermore, a California personal injury lawyer understands the local personal injury laws, court rules, and ethical laws. In a personal injury case, the attorney will first negotiate with the at-fault party and then proceed to court if negotiations are not forthcoming.

Is There Any Benefit for Working With a Personal Injury Attorney?

You are not legally required to have a lawyer for your personal injury case. Neither does working with a lawyer guarantee you obtaining compensation for your losses from the at-fault individual. However, working with a lawyer does have numerous benefits such as helping you to gather evidence while you recover.

Also, you will face insurance companies that often try to get you to say things that could jeopardize your claim, to avoid paying you. Your attorney is familiar with their methods and knows how to fend them off of you; they can negotiate on your behalf. Therefore, you are better off working with an well-versed attorney in your personal injury case in California than handling it alone.

Do You Need a Lawyer to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?

You can file a personal injury claim in California without a lawyer, but it is a confusing and complex legal process. Civil legal proceedings typically follow strict guidelines and timelines, so missing them can negatively impact your case. In addition, you may face many expenses, such as the legal costs of the litigation, all of which a lawyer can help you manage.

At What Point Should You Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer?

You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident, especially if you are suing the at-fault driver. The earlier you retain a lawyer, the better because these cases have a limited timeframe within which you can file them. This is referred to as the Statute of Limitations, which differs from state to state, being two years in California.

Talking to a lawyer on time will help ensure that you file your case on time. These rules are so strict that even being just a day late to file can mean losing your chance to ever recover compensation.

Conclusion: Are Personal Injury Attorneys In California Expensive?

Personal injury lawyers in California have their service rates, but most of them work on a contingency basis. This means that your legal team will handle the legal fees used to handle the case until you get paid. This means that you will only pay your attorney if they succeed in getting you that settlement or jury award.

Generally, how much a California lawyer charges for a personal injury case can depend on the complexity and duration of the case. Before you retain a lawyer for your personal injury case, ensure you agree on the fees and potential additional costs. If there is any part of the fee agreement, contingency percentage, and other costs you do not understand, endeavor to ask.