It is best if you contact a personal injury attorney as quickly as possible after your injury. This is especially true if the injuries are severe or there was a death. While defense attorneys like to paint this in a negative light, there are important reasons for quick contact to a personal injury attorney. Valuable evidence can disappear or be destroyed, witnesses move, memories of the parties involved or witnesses fade, and ultimately, the longer that time passes, the harder it may be to prove your case.

If you are beginning treatment or still being treated by a physician, an attorney can help guide you through the process as well as how to deal with medical bills. While litigation is stressful, having a seasoned personal injury attorney there to help walk you through the case and evaluate things lessens this burden. Don’t be afraid to contact a personal injury attorney today if you’ve suffered an injury and would like your claim evaluated.

Our case evaluations for personal injury claims are FREE. We will typically do an initial intake on the phone or through email to see if your claim qualifies. If we believe you may have a claim, we will schedule an appointment for you to come in to meet with us. These appointments usually range from about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of the case.

If you do not make it past the initial screening, we by in no way mean to degrade or detract from your injury. Unfortunately, there are some situations where there may be a significant injury, but no remedy under the law. Just because we don’t take your claim, however, doesn’t mean you don’t have one. We always recommend that if we don’t take your claim to keep trying other personal injury lawyers, because someone may take a different approach to your case.

Typically, personal injury cases are taken on what’s called a “contingency fee.” This means that the attorney takes a percentage of any recovery. In most cases, the personal injury attorneys will front the costs of the case (filing fees, deposition transcripts, court reporters, etc.). Any costs that arise during the litigation will be reimbursed to them from any recovery. However, if there is no recovery, we don’t get paid and you will not owe us for those costs. Our fees are competitive and in line with those in the area. If you would like a free, no obligation case evaluation, please contact us today.

Yes. In California, the statute of limitations (meaning the time limit to sue) is 2 years for a personal injury claim. If the person is a minor or someone with a serious mental disability, it is possible to extend it beyond that time.

If you’ve been injured on public land or are making a personal injury claim against a government entity, the rules are slightly different. You must file a claim within SIX (6) MONTHS if you are pursuing a claim against the government. If you do not file within that time period, you will likely be barred from bringing the claim at all. This is just one of many reasons to seek an evaluation of your case from a personal injury attorney right away.

These are general guidelines as it relates to personal injuries. Medical malpractice is only 1 year. There are exceptions to the above. If you’ve been injured or have a question about the statute of limitations on a potential claim, you should consult with a personal injury attorney to determine your rights and preserve your claim.