California is a gorgeous and thriving state. It’s widely known for its beauty. For some people, California is as close to a perfect paradise as there is on Earth. But, as everyone knows, no place is perfect. Just like everywhere else, California has bad things. There are days with bad weather, traffic jams, and crime. And there are also terrible injuries.
Californians should always try to be safe, but the harsh truth is that no one can fully guarantee his or her own safety. Other people are in this state, and their decisions matter, too. A careful driver can still be struck by a reckless one. A tidy homemaker can slip and fall when a store owner is too sloppy with the mop water.
When these sorts of accidents happen, the wrong people can be left with the consequences. A terrible accident could leave an innocent person with huge medical bills, long-term disabilities, and more. When that’s the case, California’s personal injury laws may have a role to play.
How does personal injury law actually work?
People have a lot of misconceptions about personal injury law, but here’s the truth: California’s personal injury laws exist to protect people who are harmed because of the negligence of others. When someone claims damages in a personal injury case, they should be talking about real consequences stemming from the accident (which, in turn, was caused by the negligence of the party being sued). Those include not only pain and suffering but also the specific costs of medical bills, lost wages because of time off from work, and more.
A personal injury attorney must argue the merits of each of these claims while tying them all back to negligence on the part of the party being sued. Lawsuits are not filed at random: In California and elsewhere, they are used to hold parties responsible when they do wrong.
Your injury, your damages, and your potential compensation
Hopefully, you’ll never need to understand just how important California’s personal injury laws can be. But life has no guarantees, so here’s what you need to know about a case of your own.
If you’re injured in an accident that was not your fault, you need to do everything that you can to preserve evidence. Make sure that the police are on the scene and that you get a copy of any police reports. Hold onto all doctor’s notes and medical bills. Keep track of the damages you’re suffering.
Then, call an attorney who specializes in personal injury law — and, ideally, is familiar with cases like yours. Time is of the essence, say the experts at the law offices of Daniel Kim. Act fast to give your attorney as much time as possible to prepare your case.
Show the attorney your documentation, and speak clearly about your situation, sticking to the facts and nothing more. This is your attorney’s chance to decide whether he or she wants to take your case. It’s also your chance to size up your would-be attorneys: Are they clear and communicative? Would you like to work with them? Remember, you don’t have to stick with the first attorneys that you schedule a consultation with. You can always call another.
At your initial consultation, the attorney will give you more information about your options. Remember that you should only ever take legal advice from an attorney who is familiar with your case. Hopefully, you’ll find that California’s personal injury laws can help you.
