Pasadena Personal Injury Attorney
A personal injury action derives from any incident where an individual suffers fatal, physical and/or emotional injuries. Injury cases generally fall under the main umbrella of laws called Torts, which is divided into sections such as negligence, intentional torts, and strict liability. Accidents, whether it is a car accident, bus accident, motorcycle accident, pedestrian accident or construction site accident, generally fall under negligence. Slip and fall cases generally fall under negligence. Dog bite and food poisoning cases generally fall under both negligence and strict liability.
One main element shared by all these type of cases is causation. This means that in order to be successful, an injured party must be able to link the injury causing event to the injury, e.g. link the car accident to the injured party’s back pain. Defendants often argue causation in an effort to attack an injured party’s case. For example, they will argue pre-existing conditions and/or that the injured party is hurting because of degenerative changes.
A personal injury lawsuit refers to any incident those results in physical and/or emotional injuries. In such lawsuits, you can recover past and future medical bills, property damage, past and future income, pain, suffering, and emotional distress. If you are involved in a vehicle accident, obtain all essential information, including the other driver’s name, address, driver’s license number, insurance and vehicle information, even if you feel no pain. Remember, people often do not feel immediate pain because of a release of endorphins in the body. However, when the endorphin levels drop, people begin to feel pain. If you are involved in a fall, try to find out what caused your fall and if possible, take pictures. Also, report the incident to the proper person, such as the manager.
Avoid talking about the cause of the incident with others. Remember, things you say to others aside from your Pasadena personal injury attorney are generally not privileged and are discoverable. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Early treatment is beneficial to your health and your case. If you cannot afford paying for treatments, a Pasadena personal injury attorney can refer you to a provider who will treat you on a lien basis so you do not have to pay for the treatments until your case is settled. If you are worried about paying an attorney, keep in mind that most Pasadena personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning that they take no money from you unless you obtain a settlement or judgment against the adverse party.
Do not be intimidated at the thought of going to court. A good Pasadena personal injury attorney will negotiate with the adverse party’s insurer to try to settle your case before filing a lawsuit. If negotiations break down, you will need to file a lawsuit. Once filed, a good Pasadena personal injury attorney will walk you through the lawsuit. Be mindful that the only time you need to personally appear in court will likely be for trial, and since 98% of cases settle before trial, you may never have to personally appear in court. Never feel guilty for filing a lawsuit. It is the best way to protect yourself and to get the proper medical care you need to resolve your injuries to make sure that you suffer from no long term effects and to obtain the compensation you deserve.
