Fighting For The Compensation You Deserve After An Accident
Were you seriously injured in a car accident caused by the reckless behavior of another? Do you have a loved one whose life has been changed forever due to a catastrophic personal injury or a medical mistake? Are you drowning in doctor, hospital, and pharmaceutical bills and uncertain about what lies ahead?
If you suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced attorney to help protect your rights and fight for the compensation you need to move forward. At Shanberg Stafford LLP, our personal injury attorneys assist injured clients in California, Washington, Colorado and nationwide in filing claims.
Quality Personal Injury Representation You Can Count On
We offer representation in serious personal injury matters involving:
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Car accidents
- Bus accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Airplane accidents
- Premises liability
- Products liability
- Wrongful death
At Shanberg Stafford LLP, we deliberately limit our caseload to be able to give our clients the individual attention they need and deserve. Our partners work together on almost every case: they are not just the face of the firm. This personal attention is highly important in personal injury law.
How To Know If You Have A Valid Personal Injury Claim
You likely have a valid personal injury claim if another person’s or company’s carelessness caused your injury and you suffered actual losses, such as medical bills or missed work. To build a case, your attorney must prove four elements:
- Duty: The other party had a responsibility to act safely
- Breach: They failed in that responsibility
- Causation: Their failure directly caused your injuries
- Damages: You suffered real harm
Our lawyers will investigate your incident to see who owed you a duty of care and how they broke that duty. We can help collect and analyze key evidence, such as police reports, video footage, witness statements and medical charts. This proof allows our attorneys to establish a clear timeline linking the negligent act directly to your injuries. We may also consult with accident reconstructionists or medical professionals to explain any technical issues.
It’s important to note that California and Washington both use “comparative fault” rules. This means you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. However, your percentage of blame may reduce your final award.
Evidence That May Be Crucial To Your Personal Injury Case
If you are thinking of taking legal action, it can be helpful to start collecting critical information about your accident. This includes:
- All medical records: Including notes from the ER, doctors and specialists, plus physical therapy charts, imaging and lab results
- Proof of financial losses: Such as recent pay stubs, W-2s or disability filings to show lost income
- Accident scene documentation: This includes photos of your injuries, vehicle damage, and the location, as well as the official police or incident report
- Records of all related expenses: This can be bills, receipts and co-pays for prescriptions, medical devices, and even travel to appointments
- All insurance information: Such as your health insurance card, any Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements, and all auto or property claim numbers
If possible, gather key contact information of people who may have witnessed your accident. You can also keep a daily journal describing your pain levels, sleep issues and limits on your normal activities.
Bring everything you have to your initial consultation. The more documentation you provide, the faster our attorneys can begin fighting for the compensation you need. However, do not worry if you cannot find everything. We can help you obtain any missing reports or records.
How Insurance, Liens And Subrogation Affect Your Settlement
Insurance policies and medical liens can often affect the final amount a plaintiff receives from a settlement. A “lien” or “subrogation” interest is a right held by an entity, such as your health insurer, to get paid back from your settlement for bills it covered.
Private health plans, Medicare and Medicaid may seek reimbursement. Hospitals or doctors may also place liens on your case, especially if they treated you on credit. If your injury happened at work, the workers’ compensation carrier will also have the right to be repaid.
Our lawyers identify every potential claim against your recovery early in the process. We will manage all communication with your insurance carriers and health insurance plans. Our attorneys will negotiate with lienholders on your behalf to resolve paybacks correctly and maximize the net settlement funds disbursed to you.
What Compensation Can You Recover In A Personal Injury Case?
California and Washington law allow you to pursue compensation for two main types of damages:
- Economic damages: These are your tangible costs. Our attorneys calculate these by adding up all past and future medical bills, lost wages, missed bonuses and any reduction in your future earning capacity. This also includes property damage and other out-of-pocket costs, such as household help.
- Noneconomic damages: These compensate you for the personal toll of the injury. This includes your physical pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and any permanent physical impairment or disfigurement.
Our personal injury attorneys are prepared to demand the full and fair value of your claim, and to file a lawsuit if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers
We represent clients in California, Washington, Colorado and throughout the United States from our main office in Newport Beach. We have significant litigation experience and are aggressive trial lawyers; we know what it takes to fight and win for our clients in court.
To learn more about our personal injury practice, please call 866-902-0497 or contact us by email. Shanberg Stafford LLP, is here to help you.