There is no denying that a serious injury can disrupt your work and finances overnight. As accidents can happen at a moment’s notice, it is vital that you seek out an experienced attorney who can represent your best interests no matter where you are in California. At Frank Penney Injury Lawyers, our team of personal injury lawyers levels the playing field against insurance companies with meticulous case preparation and deep knowledge of California law and local venues.
With decades of experience, our attorneys craft and tailor a personalized legal strategy for their clients to ensure maximum results. Whether your claim involves a freeway pileup, a rideshare crash in downtown San Francisco, a dog bite in Sacramento, a slip-and-fall in Orange County, or a trucking collision on Highway 99, the legal team at Frank Penney Injury Lawyers will be there every step of the way to ensure your voice is heard and you get the legal support you need.
Call us today at 888-888-0566 or by filling out our online contact form for a free case consultation.
What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
A personal injury lawyer can provide legal support and guidance for their clients which can be invaluable in the event of a serious accident. In fact, they can handle a variety of tasks that will be critical to your personal injury claim such as filing vital paperwork and motions, collect and preserve crucial evidence, negotiate on your behalf against insurance companies and opposing counsel, and watch out for your best interests to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
While accident victims are able to pursue and file accident claims on their own, it is generally not recommended, especially if they are unfamiliar with the legal process. This is because the chances of recovering a lower compensation sum for the accident in question becomes significantly higher as accident victims will be more susceptible to tactics designed to lower a victim’s compensation.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do You Handle?
At Frank Penney Injury Lawyers, our experienced legal team represents individuals who have suffered injuries due to negligence, recklessness, or wrongdoing. We handle a wide range of personal injury cases across California, providing each client with the attention and dedication their case deserves. Our areas of practice include:
- Car Accidents: Whether caused by distracted driving, speeding, or impaired motorists, we help victims recover compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages.
- Truck Accidents: Collisions involving commercial trucks often lead to catastrophic injuries. Our attorneys know how to hold trucking companies and drivers accountable.
- Motorcycle Accidents: We advocate for injured riders who were struck by negligent motorists or unsafe road conditions.
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents: When careless drivers cause harm to cyclists or pedestrians, we fight for justice and fair compensation.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Property owners have a duty to maintain safe premises. We help victims injured on unsafe or poorly maintained properties.
- Dog Bites and Animal Attacks: Our firm represents victims of animal attacks and ensures negligent owners are held liable.
- Wrongful Death: We stand by families who have lost a loved one due to another’s negligence, helping them pursue justice and closure.
- Uber, Lyft, and Rideshare Accidents: We navigate complex insurance issues involving rideshare companies and negligent drivers.
- Construction and Workplace Injuries: Our firm assists employees injured on the job, including those facing unsafe working conditions or third-party negligence.
No matter the type of case, our goal remains the same — to protect your rights, maximize your recovery, and help you move forward after an injury.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in California?
One of the biggest concerns accident victims ask, the overall cost of hiring an experienced attorney can turn a lot of people away or try to file a claim on their own. However, hiring a personal injury attorney is actually more affordable than one would think, because most attorneys operate under a contingency fee basis. This means accident victims will not have to pay any legal fees for their attorney’s services unless they win their case. This ensures the attorney is committed to fight for fair compensation for their clients and accident victims can focus on recovering rather than figuring out how to pay their attorney.
In the event that a contingency fee attorney wins or achieves a fair settlement offer for their client, the attorney will only collect a flat fee for their services and this fee can range from 25%-40%. While the percentage of the fee will depend on a variety of factors such as complexity of the case and the experience of the attorney, accident victims can negotiate the terms of the flat fee before they hire an attorney.
Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases
To some people’s surprise, there is a deadline on all personal injury cases and it can potentially affect your ability to recover compensation and justice for the accident in question. According to California Civil Code 335.1, all personal injury claims in California must be filed within two years from the date of the accident and according to California Government Code 911.2, any accident lawsuit involving a government entity must be filed within six months from the date of the accident. If the accident victim fails to file a personal injury claim within the given time, they will automatically waive their right to pursue compensation and will not be able to get any compensation.
Steps to Take After an Accident
If you have been involved in an accident it is understandable to feel shaken up about the situation, however, it is vital that you act accordingly to ensure your rights are protected and that you have enough evidence to hold the responsible party accountable. In fact, the following steps are considered to be the most vital steps to take after an accident:
- Call 911 to have first responders take control of the situation
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene and exchange contact and insurance information with everyone involved.
- See a medical professional to ensure you have not suffered any serious injuries.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer immediately so they can represent your best interests
Types of Recoverable Compensation
In personal injury cases, accident victims are able to recover compensation for any out-of-pocket costs that have accrued due to the accident in question. While every accident is different, recoverable damages can be categorized as either economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are referred to as calculable expenses that have accrued due to the accident in question. If an accident victim is to recover economic damages, it means that they are going to be made financially whole again. For example, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damages, quality of life adjustments, and even funeral/burial costs are all recoverable out-of-pocket expenses that can be reimbursed in the event of an accident. However, it is important to note that there must be proper documentation in order to recover these expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are defined as non-calculable and subjective costs an accident victim has suffered as a result of the accident in question. To be more concise, it compensates victims for any physical pain and emotional suffering they have experienced as a result of the accident. For example, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium are common instances where victims can receive non-economic damages. However, due to the subjective nature of non-economic damages, its value will widely vary on a case by case basis.
Punitive Damages
One of the more rare forms of damages, punitive damages are different from economic and non-economic damages because instead of providing compensation to accident victims, it punishes negligent parties for their actions. This is designed to set legal precedence and to deter any similar behavior that may occur in the future. In addition, it also gives the affected party a sense of justice, seeing that the responsible party is held accountable for their actions.
Frank Penney Injury Lawyers is Here to Help
Getting involved in an accident can disrupt one’s life for the worse, as such it is vital to seek a skilled attorney who can help you out of this predicament. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers is a personal injury law firm with decades of experience and their team of personal injury lawyers are prepared to fight for their client’s rights. With a mission to provide legal assistance to those in need, our team of attorneys will craft a personalized legal strategy for their clients to ensure maximum results.
Call us today at 888-888-0566 or by filling out our online contact form for a free case consultation.