North Hollywood Personal Injury Attorney

If you've been injured due to another person's negligence, you have the right to demand financial compensation for the losses you've suffered. However, seeking a personal injury claim is no easy task. Offenders and their insurance companies are backed by armies of attorneys ready to defend their clients. Who's looking out for you?

At Drake Law Firm, we defend personal injury victims. Where possible, we settle cases out of court so our clients can return to their lives. If needed, however, we assemble a litigation strategy and take the case to trial. In either case, we defend our clients from start to finish so they can focus on getting better.

What Is Personal Injury?

The essence of a personal injury case is negligence. When another individual, business, or even a governmental agency acts irresponsibly, others can get injured. The injury is often physical, but it can also be psychological or emotional too.

"Negligence" is a legal term that implies failure to exercise an appropriate level of care under the circumstances. Another way of putting it is failure to act as a reasonably sensible person would. Negligence can be displayed through a person's actions (like speeding or driving intoxicated) or through an exclusion (such as failing to eliminate a known risk from one's business property).

To win a personal injury case, the victim must show that the defendant was negligent. There are four specific components that are required under California legislation:

• Duty of care. The defendant must have owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. In some cases a duty arises out of a personal relationship between the parties, such as physician and patient. However this isn't always required. For example, when you drive on a freeway, you owe a duty to other motorists not to be careless.
• Breach. Next, the plaintiff needs to demonstrate that the defendant breached the duty of care. This is where the offender's negligent acts and/or exclusions are highlighted. It also covers situations where the at-fault party breaks a law or participates in intentional wrongdoing. Breach is typically the most contested part of a personal injury lawsuit.
• Causation. The offender's breach needs to really result in injury to the plaintiff. If the defendant acted negligently but didn't harm the plaintiff, this component fails.
• Damages. These are the losses for which the plaintiff will demand financial compensation. Some of the most common damages are medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. The nature and amount of damages are fiercely disputed in the majority of personal injury cases.

Possible Damages In a Personal Injury Lawsuit

The objective of a personal injury lawsuit is to make the plaintiff whole through financial compensation. This compensation is referred to as damages, and some examples are:

• Medical costs. This broad category can include everything from hospital bills and prescription medications to physical therapy and unique adaptive equipment to assist with a victim's daily tasks.
• Lost income. While you recuperate or are hospitalized for your injuries, you will lose time from work and, with it, potentially significant amounts of money. You can ask a court to grant you damages to cover this lost income.
• Lost earning capacity. Your career prospects may be cut short or drastically restricted after a personal injury. An expert witness can help estimate the future income you will miss out on as a result.
• Pain and suffering. These damages account for the pain and psychological stress you will likely experience for some time to come. Although hard to measure, they are essential to catastrophic injury cases.
• Loss of pleasure of day-to-day life. It might not be possible to enjoy your typical everyday activities, hobbies, and other interests after a bad injury. These damages help compensate you for the loss.
• Loss of consortium. This category refers to the deprivation of the benefits of a family relationship. It includes the loss of support, society, companionship, and sexual relationship between spouses brought on by the injury.
• Punitive (exemplary) damages. In rare cases, an at-fault party can be subject to punitive damages. These are meant to punish the wrongful party and deter others from participating in similar conduct.

Are There Time Limits to File a Personal Injury Claim?

Your right to take legal action against a negligent party will not last forever. In California, personal injury cases are subject to what's called a statute of limitations. This sets a deadline for plaintiffs to file their lawsuits before they lose the right to do so. For a personal injury, the statute of limitations is two years. In most cases, the clock starts to run when the injury occurs.

However, it's ideal not to procrastinate taking action on your case. Witnesses' memories can diminish with time, evidence will be harder to obtain, and you could forget critical details if you wait too long. If you or a loved one have been hurt, reach out to a dedicated North Hollywood personal injury attorney.

How Can the Personal Injury Lawyers of Drake Law Firm Assist Me?

Suing a defendant usually means suing an insurance company, like a motor vehicle insurer. Regardless, you can count on the defendant's lawyers pushing back on your claims or making settlement offers that come nowhere close to covering your losses. You want a lawyer who not only understands California personal injury legislation, but knows how to establish a fair value for your claim.

At Drake Law Firm, we've helped numerous personal injury clients get the compensation they need to recuperate. We won't accept unreasonable deals and will stand by you from beginning to end. Give us a call or complete the contact form today to get started on your case.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted numerous personal injury clients to get the compensation they require to recover. We won't let you accept unfair treatment from other law firms and we will defend you from beginning to end. If you need help with a Personal Injury Attorney in North Hollywood, California, give us a call at (844) 513-7253 for a FREE consultation or visit our website at DrakeLawGroup.com to get started on your case today! 

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