Woodland Hills Personal Injury Lawyer 

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. But seeking a personal injury lawsuit is no simple task. Offenders and their insurance providers are backed by armies of lawyers prepared to protect 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 necessary, however, we assemble a litigation strategy and take the case to trial. Either way, we defend our clients from start to finish so they can concentrate on getting better.

¿Qué son los daños personales?

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

"Negligence" is a legal term that suggests failure to exercise a proper level of care under the circumstances. Another way of putting it is failure to behave as a reasonably prudent individual 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 company property).

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

• Duty of care. The offender must have owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. In some cases a duty arises out of a personal relationship between the individuals, such as doctor and patient. But this isn't always required. For example, when you drive on a highway, you owe a duty to other drivers not to be reckless.
• Breach. Next, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the offender breached the duty of care. This is where the defendant's negligent acts and/or omissions are highlighted. It also covers circumstances where the at-fault party breaks a law or engages in deliberate wrongdoing. Breach is usually the most contested part of a personal injury case.
• Causation. The offender's breach has to really cause injury to the plaintiff. If the defendant acted negligently but didn't harm the plaintiff, this element fails.
• Damages. These are the losses for which the plaintiff will demand financial compensation. A few of the most common damages are medical costs, lost income, lost earning capacity, as well as pain and suffering. The nature and amount of damages are hotly disputed in most personal injury cases.

Possible Damages In a Personal Injury Claim

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

• Medical costs. This broad category can consist of everything from hospital bills and prescription drugs to physical therapy and unique adaptive equipment to help with a victim's day-to-day activities.
• Lost wages. While you recover or are hospitalized for your injuries, you will lose time from work and, with it, possibly considerable amounts of money. You can ask a court to award you damages to cover this lost income.
• Lost earning capacity. Your occupational prospects might be cut short or drastically restricted after a personal injury. An expert witness can help estimate the future earnings 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 difficult to measure, they are vital to catastrophic injury cases.
• Loss of pleasure in everyday life. It may not be possible to enjoy your regular daily activities, hobbies, and other passions after a bad injury. These damages help compensate you for the loss.
• Loss of consortium. This category refers to the deprivation of the advantages of a family relationship. It includes the loss of assistance, community, 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 intended to punish the wrongful party and deter others from engaging in similar conduct.

¿Existen plazos para presentar una demanda por daños personales?

Your right to sue a negligent party will not last forever. In California, personal injury claims are subject to what's called a statute of limitations. This sets a deadline for plaintiffs to submit their claims 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 takes place.

However, it's best not to procrastinate taking action on your case. Witnesses' memories can diminish with time, proof will be harder to obtain, and you might forget vital details if you wait too long. If you or a loved one have been injured, reach out to a committed Woodland Hills personal injury attorney.

¿Cómo pueden ayudarme los abogados de lesiones personales del bufete Drake?

Suing a defendant almost always means suing an insurance company, like an automobile insurer. Regardless, you can count on the offender's legal representatives pushing back on your claims or making settlement offers that come nowhere close to covering your losses. You need an attorney that not only knows California personal injury law, but understands how to determine a reasonable value for your claim.

At Drake Law Firm, we've assisted countless personal injury clients obtain the compensation they need to recover. We won't accept unreasonable offers and will stand by you from beginning to end. Give us a call or fill out 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 Lawyer in Woodland Hills, 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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