Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer
Request Free ConsultationOrange County, California is the 2nd most populated county in California, behind Los Angeles County. According to the latest Census data from 2017, there are currently an estimated 3,190,400 people living in the county. With its temperate weather, plethora of sandy beaches and world class tourist destinations like Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland, it is no wonder that so many individuals call Orange County home, including the skilled and professional Orange County personal injury attorneys of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP.
As with all regions that are hotbeds for tourism, the high likelihood of motor vehicle accidents or personal injury is a constant concern. Because of this, the Orange County personal injury lawyer team at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP have years of experience and can help fight for maximum compensation for your case, whether it happened in Irvine, Anaheim, or anywhere throughout Orange County.
Whether you are on one of the major highways that run through Orange County, like Interstate Highway 5, Highway 405 or Highway 605 or you are enjoying yourself in Laguna or Huntington Beach, the opportunity for an accident is very real. Orange County auto accidents are an especially common occurrence and it is no exaggeration to say that the highways in the O.C. are among the most congested and traveled in the world.
Additionally, the influx of visitors from other areas adds to the crowds and throngs of people in the region, which of course raises the instances of serious injury accidents. It is estimated that in 2015 alone over 18.2 million people visited Disneyland in Anaheim. This number is clearly dwarfed by the total number of people who visit the region to enjoy its many other attractions.
Our Orange County Office Number is: (949) 468-5777
Orange County Personal Injury Resources:
- Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Orange County?
- How Much Is My Injury Case Worth?
- What Are Common Causes of Personal Injuries?
- What are the Statutes of Limitations in California?
- Shared Fault Laws in California
- California Specific Dog Bite Laws
- What Do I Do After a Personal Injury in Orange County?
- Hire Local Orange County Attorneys
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Orange County?
Oftentimes serious injuries happen because of the actions or negligence of other people. In this event, a personal injury lawyer can help victims get their life back or adjust to the new challenges they are facing, without taking on the massive financial burden that a serious injury can include. The person, persons, or company responsible for your pain and suffering should be held accountable and a skilled Orange County personal injury attorney from Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us before you settle with an insurance company and get a low settlement.
Possible compensation after a personal injury lawsuit can cover not only medical bills and expenses, but also:
- Property damage
- Changes in lifestyle
- Lost income (present and future)
- Loss of support, social ability
How Much Is My Injury Case Worth?
In order to prove a personal injury claim, there are four important main elements:
- Duty
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
The value of your personal injury claim would largely depend on the many different factors involved in your case, such as: the severity of the accident and injuries, who was involved, the amount of insurance coverage available, and many others. You may be able to recover damages for many different categories, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Physical Impairment
The value for each of these categories can be subjective, so the total value of your personal injury claim can vary quite a bit. Contact our expert attorneys for a free consultation today and they can give you an estimation of how much your case is worth after knowing all the necessary facts.
What Are Common Causes of Personal Injuries?
A personal injury can be caused by any situation where a person is injured due to someone else’s actions, but some of the common causes are:
- Slip and Fall (Premises Liability)
- Auto Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Injuries
- Defective Products
- Food Poisoning
- Elevator Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Negligent Security
The Orange County personal injury attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP have been representing the catastrophically injured in Orange County, California and all across the country with unparalleled success.
Our accident attorneys handle a wide range of cases including:
Laws differ from state to state and even according to county. If you’ve sustained an injury in Orange County, you need to hire competent local injury attorneys who understand which laws apply to your situation. California has special laws regarding time limits, comparative fault, and dog bite injuries.
What are the Statutes of Limitations in California?
Statutes of limitations outline the time limits a person has to file a personal injury claim in Orange County or throughout California. If you fail to file within your time limit, the courts can refuse to hear your case. There are different deadlines depending on the type of case you’re filing in California:
- Personal injury. A plaintiff has two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim based on negligence.
- Medical malpractice. A plaintiff has three years from the date of injury or one year from the date of discovery – whichever occurs first – to file a medical malpractice claim.
- Domestic violence. A plaintiff has three years from the last act of domestic violence to file a lawsuit for injuries resulting from this situation.
- Childhood sexual abuse. The plaintiff has eight years from his or her 18th birthday or three years after the plaintiff realizes his/her physical or psychological injury resulted from childhood sexual abuse, no matter what age.
Once you know which statute of limitations applies to your case, determine when your clock starts ticking. In most cases, the clock starts to run on the date of actual harm. However, if a plaintiff isn’t aware of injuries for months or years after the date of harm, the clock may instead begin on the “date of discovery” of the injury or on the date that the plaintiff reasonably “should have discovered” the harm. Different cases will have different time limits. Speak with an Orange County personal injury lawyer about your specific case.
Shared Fault Laws in California
California follows “pure comparative negligence” rules in personal injury cases. This means the courts can assign partial fault to both parties if there’s evidence of negligence on the plaintiff and defendant’s part. The courts may reduce your amount of compensation by the amount equal to your percentage of fault for an accident.
For example, if you were 10% responsible for a car accident, you would receive $90,000 of a $100,000 settlement the judgement entitles you to receive. Thus, your shared fault in an accident can impact your compensation. You can receive partial compensation no matter what your percentage of fault is as part of CA’s “pure” fault laws. By contrast, plaintiffs more than 50 or 51% at fault can’t take home compensation at all in modified comparative negligence states.
Dog Bite Laws in California
In most states, the law protects dog owners to some degree from liability for first-time incidents. If a dog owner had no reason to know that the dog had dangerous tendencies, many states refer to “one bite” rules – meaning the owner won’t be liable.
In California, however, we abide by “strict liability” dog bite rules. California Civil Code § 3342 makes a dog owner legally responsible for injuries the dog causes without the plaintiff needing to prove negligence. The courts may hold dog owners liable for damages regardless of their knowledge of former viciousness.
What Do I Do After a Personal Injury in Orange County?
Getting involved in an accident and getting injured is always a tough experience. Here’s a list of things to do if you find yourself in this situation:
- Immediately seek medical attention if you need it. The most important thing is your health. Make sure you tend to your injuries as soon as you can after an accident.
- Thoroughly document everything. Take photographs of your injuries and the scene of the injury. Remember to keep all your detailed medical records.
- Do not settle or talk to an insurance company before consulting with an attorney. Insurance companies have one main goal: pay as little as possible in settlements. So make sure you consult with an experienced attorney to know your legal rights and what kind of compensation you can recover for your injuries.
Get in Touch With Our Injury Lawyers
California has its own personal injury laws and statutes that dictate how and when you can file a personal injury claim and collect a settlement. Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident on the 405 or suffered a burn from a defective product, the attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, can help steer your Orange Country personal injury case toward success. Our accident attorneys can discuss the exact details and laws that may come into play in your particular case when you request a free consultation.
The trial attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP are leaders in complex litigation, including cases involving automotive defects, auto accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death and very serious injuries. Our partners have been repeatedly nominated for Trial Lawyer of the Year, Top 100 Most Influential Attorneys and other professional awards, and regularly speak and write about trial practice to other attorneys.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured, contact the Orange County personal injury attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP to help protect your rights. We can help you!