East Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer

East Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney

Dealing with a personal injury can be stressful, especially if you have decided to pursue legal action on your own. An experienced East Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can make all the difference when it comes time to develop a case and pursue compensatory damages for your injury. A good lawyer can take over your case and see it through to the end, providing you with quality legal assurance throughout the process.

What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for You?

Personal injury settlements can be difficult to navigate, especially on your own. The statute of limitations to pursue a personal injury case in California is two years. That means you’ll have two years from the date of your initial injury to start building a case and pursuing compensatory damages for your injury. If you fail to file a claim within that two-year window, your case may be thrown out and your opportunity to recoup damages will have passed.

An experienced personal injury lawyer in East Los Angeles can help you keep track of important paperwork deadlines and make sure your case is strong enough to negotiate a settlement with the negligent party. Here are some important steps in your personal injury case that your experienced legal counsel can help prepare you for and even handle on your behalf:

• Legal right to sue. In the state, you cannot sue anyone for any reason. You must have the legal right to sue somebody. In order to establish that right, you must be able to prove three essential facts for your case:
  • You suffered harm due to the actions or inactions of the negligent party.
  • You have legal status as a natural person or a business entity.
  • You are filing this lawsuit with the mental and physical capacity to do so.

  If you can prove these three statements, you will be able to bring a valid personal injury lawsuit against the party that caused your injury. You may also have a difficult time determining exactly who to sue for your injury. In some cases, that issue may be fairly straightforward. In others, it may not. A good lawyer can help you determine exactly who owes you compensatory damages for your injury and how to build a case against them.

• Hire a lawyer. You are more than welcome to file a personal injury lawsuit on your own without the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer. There is no law saying you need to retain legal assistance for your case. However, it is highly recommended that you do so anyway. Having someone by your side who understands the ins and outs of personal injury law can only help your case.
• Investigation. Your lawyer will likely wish to launch their own independent investigation into your case to determine the facts for themselves. During this investigation, your lawyer may track down any witnesses and interview them, obtain police reports of the incident, obtain any photos of the incident, and look through your medical records to get a sense of your injuries. They will then decide for themselves who is at fault.
• Where to file. Generally, you will have to file your personal injury claim in the county in which your injury took place, the county where you live, or the county where the defendant lives. This is typically not widely known information. This is one of those times when an experienced personal injury lawyer will come in handy. They will be able to find that information and help you file the suit with the proper county.
• Demand letter. Once you and your lawyer have determined which county you should file your claim in, you can start working on your demand letter. Your lawyer can help you draft this letter, which will be sent to the negligent party. The letter will contain a demand for a certain amount in compensation that you and your lawyer feel is appropriate for your injury. The other party is not required to respond.In some cases, however, the other party will respond to your letter. Sometimes, they may even send you the money you demanded, which will likely end your claim, as you have been compensated. Other times, the negligent party’s insurance company may respond with a counteroffer, which would begin the negotiation process.
• The complaint. If the other party refuses to negotiate following the demand letter, you may need to file an official complaint with the court. This complaint will consist of all the evidence you and your lawyer have gathered that supports your claim, as well as a legal argument of why you deserve compensation from the other party. Once you have filed the complaint, the other party must respond with settlement negotiations or a trial.
• Evidence review. Once the other party responds to the complaint, your case will either enter settlement negotiations or head to trial. Either way, the next phase is for both parties to review all the evidence at hand. Your attorney will share what they have with the other party’s attorney, and they will share what they have with your attorney. This will get everyone on the same page and bring all the evidence out in the open.
• Negotiations. One of the most important qualities that a personal injury lawyer can have is negotiation skills. They will have to argue on your behalf to get you the amount in compensation that you feel you deserve to accurately reflect the damage you’ve been through. Many personal injury cases don’t see the inside of a courtroom since they are often settled at this stage, particularly if both parties are willing to compromise.
• Trial. If your case is unable to be settled through negotiations, there is a strong chance that it will need to be settled in a court of law. At the trial, both lawyers will provide compelling arguments using the evidence they’ve collected. In the end, a judge and jury will decide the outcome of your case and how much to award you in compensation should you emerge victorious.

FAQs

How Much Do Personal Injury Lawyers Charge in California?

There is no telling how much a personal injury lawyer may charge. Every personal injury case is different, and many lawyers ultimately decide on a fee that’s based largely on the facts of your case. A lawyer’s fee can be determined by many different factors, including their availability, their popularity, their caseload, the amount of resources they’d have to devote to your case, how difficult your case may be to win, and your lawyer’s negotiation skills.

When Should I Call a Personal Injury Lawyer?

In order to get started on your case as soon as possible, you should consider calling a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. The sooner you retain experienced legal counsel, the sooner they can start building your case. The statute of limitations is only two years for personal injury cases. That deadline approaches faster than you might think. It is vital that you hire a lawyer and start developing your case soon.

How Do I Find the Right Personal Injury Attorney in California?

There are many different ways to find the right personal injury attorney. Ultimately, you should go with a lawyer you trust. You should feel comfortable with your lawyer, as you are going to have to tell them a lot of personal details you may not feel comfortable sharing with a stranger. In addition to trust, you should look for a personal injury lawyer with experience, education, a great track record, strong ethics, and a network of resources.

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case in California?

Every personal injury case, whether it be from a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, or slip and fall, is going to have its own complexities and factors that are unique to that case. So, the time it takes to settle a personal injury case really depends on how complex your case ends up being. If your case can be decided during settlement negotiations, it may take less time than if it ends up being decided in a courtroom. Some cases are decided in a matter of months, while others may take years to figure out.

Reach Out to an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Dealing with the aftermath of a personal injury case on your own can be daunting, stressful, overwhelming, and frustrating. However, you do not have to deal with it by yourself. An experienced personal injury lawyer can be the deciding factor between success and failure for your case. A good lawyer can ensure that you are never taken advantage of by insurance companies that may try to bully or guilt you into accepting less than you deserve.

At the Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes, we are fully prepared to assist you in developing the strongest case possible and helping you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve after your accident. We can help you build up your case, gather all the evidence you need to prove your claim, and represent your interests against insurance companies. We understand the kind of help you need.

Contact us to speak with one of our valued team members and schedule a consultation as soon as you can.