Personal injuries occur due to the actions or negligence of other individuals in various scenarios. Sometimes, a personal injury results from a negligent driver who runs a red light, leading to an accident.
In other instances, the negligent party does not have to be physically present to be sued for their negligent behavior, such as in slip-and-fall accidents, where victims are injured due to the negligence of a property owner who failed to keep their premises safe.
Regardless of how the personal injury took place, if you were injured in Burbank, California, you deserve to be compensated for your damages. A Burbank personal injury attorney can help you if you have the legal grounds to pursue a claim and help you seek fair compensation for the damages incurred.
At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our personal injury law firm helps Burbank citizens achieve satisfactory outcomes for their personal injury cases, as showcased in our client testimonials. Our personal injury attorneys are committed to bringing justice and fair treatment to victims of personal injury in Burbank, CA, and the surrounding regions. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation and find out if you have a personal injury case worth pursuing. Here is what you should know about personal injury law in California, what types of cases our Burbank personal injury attorneys take on, and how a lawyer can help.
How an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Personal injury lawyers are legal professionals specializing in various types of personal injury cases in which the negligent or wrongful actions of another party physically and psychologically harm another.
In most instances, lawyers offer a free case review to assess the merits of a personal injury claim and ascertain if the legal rights of another citizen were violated. Each type of personal injury case can involve different laws and legal strategies to achieve favorable outcomes.
For example, injury cases have a legal time frame within which the injured victim can sue the at-fault party. This is known as the statute of limitations, which can be affected depending on the sued entity. Usually, this occurs when a government agency is the at-fault party for a personal injury. In these situations, the legal time frame will be much shorter, and the legal process might differ.
In wrongful death cases, the statute of limitations does not start from the date of injury but rather the date of death. Personal injury lawyers undertake various cases and a law office may have multiple lawyers handling different cases.
Depending on the circumstances of a case, some lawyers are better prepared to handle certain types of cases than others due to their familiarity with applicable laws and their network of third-party experts. For example, a car accident lawyer knows traffic laws and regularly collaborates with accident reconstruction experts to strengthen a client’s case.
A medical malpractice lawyer will have the relevant legal knowledge to handle medical malpractice cases and a network of healthcare professionals to provide expert testimonies and highlight medical negligence.
It is important to understand that hiring a lawyer for an injury case does not necessarily mean your case will go to court. Usually, the trial phase only occurs when negotiations for a fair settlement offer fail. Having a lawyer by your side to protect your civil rights and prepare your case can positively influence the outcome. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, only receiving payment if they win your case.
Services Offered by Crown & Stone Law, P.C.
The Burbank personal injury lawyers at Crown & Stone Law, P.C. consider victims of negligence a top priority and seek to help victims receive justice and fair compensation for the harm incurred.
A personal injury lawyer from our law office in Burbank can help you understand the complexities and applicable laws to your case through a free consultation request. If our Burbank personal injury lawyer finds your case is valid, they will help you seek compensation for all your losses and suffering based on the available evidence. Here are the services we offer to our clients:
Thorough Investigation and Case Preparation
Depending on the circumstances of your case, a lawyer with relevant knowledge of the type of accident you were involved in will be assigned to your case.
For example, suppose you have been involved in a truck or motorcycle accident. In that case, a truck accident lawyer or a motorcycle accident lawyer from our Burbank office will take your case.
Your Burbank personal injury lawyer will thoroughly analyze your case and prepare your claim. They will assist with gathering evidence such as medical records, police records, witness statements, photos and videos, and other relevant evidence to strengthen your claim and prove fault and negligence. They will identify the liable parties in your claim, prepare the necessary documents, and submit them to the proper entities while adhering to the applicable deadlines.
Calculating Damages
Our law firm will collect evidence to highlight all your damages and losses. Our client-focused approach gives clients a fighting chance at receiving fair compensation for their injuries and other losses. We will calculate the damages to inform clients what they are owed.
In any type of accident resulting in injuries, injured victims deserve to be compensated for more than their medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. In an accident, victims are also entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, emotional distress, PTSD, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
In certain personal injury cases, justice is served by punishing negligent parties using punitive damages.
Developing Strategies and Keeping You Updated
Our Burbank personal injury lawyers will develop the necessary legal strategies to strengthen your claim and always keep you informed about the status of your case. In California, accident victims can be assigned a percentage of the fault, negatively impacting their total damage awards.
California follows a pure comparative negligence fault system in which parties can still recover damages even if they are 99% at fault. In a car accident, multiple vehicles can be involved, and one’s actions or negligence can influence the degree of property damage.
This can decrease your compensation based on the percentage of fault allocated to you. However, a personal injury lawyer from our law office can ensure that you take the necessary steps to avoid accusations of negligence that can decrease your compensation.
Negotiation and Settlement
The insurance company of the at-fault parties usually awards the compensation. However, a personal injury victim can face challenges and legal complexities when seeking justice.
For example, an insurance company may not award a fair settlement amount. Our personal injury law firm has the resources to take on anyone, and we believe in justice for victims of negligence.
An accident attorney in Burbank from our firm will handle all negotiations with the insurance companies on your behalf until a favorable outcome is reached. Should negotiations fail, our dedicated lawyers will help you initiate a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault parties and insurance companies.
Litigation Representation
Presenting your case in court shouldn’t intimidate you but rather motivate you to see your case come to a fair end. The trial lawyers at Crown & Stone Law, P.C. will prepare your case for the trial and further strengthen it through expert witnesses and testimonies and other legal strategies.
For example, if your accident occurred due to a negligent driver, we will work alongside accident reconstruction experts to highlight the events leading up to it. In some instances, reconstructing accident scenes can reveal negligence, such as drunk driving or distracted driving.
Expert witnesses play a crucial role in proving negligent parties’ lack of care or willful intent and will strengthen your claim and maximize your compensation. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C. to learn more.
Types of Cases Our Personal Injury Lawyers Take On in Burbank
If you were harmed in Burbank due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve justice and fair compensation for your injuries and other losses. Our law firm in Burbank focuses on the following practice areas:
Automobile Accidents
Unfortunately, automobile accidents in California are common, and thousands of citizens are involved in such events annually, resulting in severe injuries, property damage, or death. Each type of vehicle collision has legal complexities and potential liable parties involved, which requires a different approach. The types of automobile accidents that Crown & Stone Law, P.C. handles include:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
Multiple vehicles can be involved in a car accident, complicating the investigation. However, a car accident can also occur due to hazardous road conditions, which means that the government agency that failed to keep the roads safe can be liable.
A car accident lawyer can help you understand the legal process of pursuing a claim when you are dealing with multiple liable parties or a government agency. This is often the case with truck accidents, where a truck driver may not be the only party liable for your accident.
Sometimes, the truck company, truck part manufacturer, or service maintenance providers can be to blame, in which case a truck accident lawyer can help you establish liability. A personal injury lawyer in Burbank with our firm can also help motorcyclists deal with their claims, especially if they are called reckless.
Slip and Fall Accidents
In slip-and-fall accidents, a victim can experience life-altering injuries. Most of these incidents could have been avoided if the property owner had kept their premise safe.
A personal injury lawyer with our firm can help you establish liability in slip and fall accident cases and seek fair compensation for the injuries incurred.
Wrongful Death Cases
Unfortunately, sometimes personal injuries result in death. When that happens, surviving family members are left to deal with the loss of their beloved and bills for various expenses, medical treatment, costs for funeral proceedings, and other expenses. Financially dependent members are now left to fend for themselves and are burdened with upcoming expenses.
This is when a Burbank injury attorney specializing in wrongful death cases can make a difference. Our compassionate personal injury attorneys will help surviving family members seek the compensation they deserve for the loss of their beloved and hold the liable parties accountable for their negligence. Contact Crown & Stone Law, P.C., and speak with an attorney to pursue justice.
Understanding Personal Injury Laws in Burbank, California
Various personal injury laws in California will affect your claim and knowing them can help you make informed decisions that will positively affect your case. For example, all personal injury cases have a statute of limitations.
Most of them have a two-year legal timeframe in which you can pursue a claim and seek compensation from the negligent party. The two-year statute of limitations begins when an accident or injury occurs.
If a person succumbs to their injuries, then the statute of limitations begins from the date of death. If an injury is not discovered immediately, such as in medical malpractice cases, you have only one year to pursue a claim from when the injury is discovered.
Although every personal injury attorney will advise clients to pursue a claim as quickly as possible, you can sometimes pursue a claim even if the statute of limitations expires. However, this can only occur in special circumstances, such as when the party you intend to sue flees the country or goes into hiding or a party is rendered mentally incapacitated.
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, injury, or property damage exceeding $1,000, then you must report the accident to authorities. In California’s pure comparative negligence system, if you are assigned a percentage of fault for an accident, that percentage will be used as a deductible factor in your claim.
For example, if you are assigned 30% fault for a car accident and receive total damage awards of $200,000, you will receive $140,000. If there are multiple vehicles involved,, you have the right to pursue compensation from multiple liable parties for your injuries and other losses through California’s “joint and several liability” legal concept.
Working With Crown & Stone Law, P.C.
At Crown & Stone Law, P.C., our Burbank personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay unless we win your case. A Burbank personal injury lawyer from our law firm will thoroughly analyze your case and inform you if you should pursue a claim.
We will help you navigate the legal process and fight for fair compensation that accurately represents the extent of damages you were subjected to, including psychological harm. Contact our law office today for a free consultation to learn your legal rights and options.
Steps to Take After Sustaining a Personal Injury
When you are injured, it’s important to take the proper steps to mitigate the situation and ensure your claim isn’t affected. Here is what you should do:
- Seek Medical Attention
Prioritize your health and contact emergency services. If you are unable to do so, ask others to do it. Even if you don’t feel injured, accept medical attention. Some injuries don’t have immediate symptoms. Your medical records will help support your claim.
- Report the Accident
If you are involved in a car crash, report the accident to authorities so that they conduct a police investigation. This way, you will find out if you are dealing with an uninsured or underinsured driver. If the police conclude that the driver is intoxicated, your case will be easier.
- Exchange Information and Gather Evidence
Exchange insurance and contact information with the other party. Before leaving the accident scene, take photos or videos of the accident scene, highlighting your injuries, vehicle damage, and road conditions. If eyewitnesses are present, get their contact information. If CCTV cameras are present, take notes and inform your lawyer so that they get the evidence before the recordings are erased.
- Notify Your Insurance Company
Tell your insurance company about the incident even if you are not at fault. If the other party’s insurance company makes an offer, do not accept it until you consult a lawyer. The offer might not represent the true value of your injuries and other damages.
- Consult a Personal Injury Attorney
In California, drivers must carry minimum liability insurance of up to $5,000 in property damage and $15,000 for injury or death. However, your damages might exceed the at-fault party’s insurance limits, or there might be other challenges in your claim, such as proving fault. Consult a personal injury attorney in Burbank from Crown & Stone Law, P.C. who can help you strengthen your claim, prove fault, engage in negotiations, and advocate for your rights