One of the best ways to maximize compensation for a personal injury claim is to hire an experienced California personal injury lawyer. An attorney can help you take the steps you need to take to protect your legal rights. Your lawyer also helps you avoid common mistakes many people make when handling an injury claim without an attorney.
However, there are several things that you can do to help your personal injury lawyer maximize compensation.
Four Ways You Can Help Your Personal Injury Attorney Get the Most Money for Your Claim
1. Don’t delay seeing a doctor.
Delays in medical treatment can hurt your personal injury claim. Don’t give the insurance company or the other party any reason to dispute your claim. See a doctor as soon as possible to document your injuries from the accident. Follow up with your physicians and stay with your treatment plan until your doctor releases you from treatment.
2. Document your injuries and financial losses.
Throughout your recovery, document your injuries by taking photographs of the injuries and making notes about your recovery. Include notes about your pain level and how the injuries impact your daily activities and relationships with others. Carefully document your financial losses and expense, such as medical bills, lost wages, and travel expenses. Keep copies of receipts, invoices, and other evidence of financial losses.
3. Don’t work directly with the insurance company.
Don’t provide a statement or sign any documents for the insurance provider until you have an opportunity to talk with a personal injury lawyer. Anything you say could be used later in the case to undervalue or deny your claim. Signing releases and other documents could result in a much lower settlement amount, or you could give up some of your legal rights to pursue a claim.
4. Don’t accept a settlement claim without speaking with an experienced California personal injury lawyer.
Most initial settlement offers are well below the actual value of a personal injury claim. Until you have a chance to meet with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your claim, you may not want to accept a settlement offer. Once you accept the settlement offer, your claim is closed. You cannot seek additional compensation even if you discover additional injuries or damages.
Accepting a settlement amount before you complete treatment for your injuries can result in the loss of thousands of dollars. It is impossible to know the exact value of your claim until the full extent of your injuries is known. If your injuries result in permanent impairments or disabilities, you might be entitled to additional compensation for future damages.
A personal injury lawyer understands how to calculate the maximum value of your injury claim.
Contact Our California Personal Injury Lawyers for More Information
Our law firm handles a variety of personal injury claims, including claims related to motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, dog attacks, elder abuse, and defective products.
For a free consultation with one of our California personal injury lawyers, contact The Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website. Our legal team is here to help you seek the compensation you deserve after being injured by another party.
Concussions are common car accident injuries. A concussion can result from a blow to the head, such as hitting your head on the steering wheel, window, or dashboard. It can also occur if your head is struck by an object flying around in the vehicle. In some cases, a concussion may occur from your head being violently whipped back and forth during the initial impact (whiplash). Regardless of the cause, a concussion can result in long-term impairments and complications. A Sacramento accident attorney can help you file a claim to recover compensation for your concussion injury.
When Should I Be Concerned About My Car Accident Concussion Symptoms?
A concussion can range from mild to severe. Mild concussions typically heal within a few weeks, but you should always be checked by a physician even if you don’t believe the concussion is serious. Only a physician can determine the severity of a head injury after a car accident.
Symptoms of a concussion may include:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Confusion or the appearance of being dazed
- Fatigue
- Ringing in the ears
Other symptoms may develop over a few hours or days, such as problems with sleep, concentration, memory, sensitivity to light or sound, irritability, and depression.
If your concussion symptoms persist, you develop additional symptoms, or the symptoms grow worse, you need to see a doctor immediately. Concussion symptoms that do not go away or worsen could be a sign of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other severe brain injury.
A neurologist may need to perform one or more diagnostic tests to determine the severity of the brain injury. Once the injury is diagnosed, doctors can develop a treatment plan to give the person the best chance of recovery. In cases involving permanent impairment, a treatment plan may include several forms of therapy and treatment that help the person learn to manage the changes that a permanent disability from brain injury can bring to his or her life.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Concussion Injuries
Individuals who sustain concussions during a car accident can be at risk for developing chronic symptoms and complications from brain injuries. In severe cases, a person may not be able to work or perform other activities of daily living. Medical care, personal care, and loss of income can be substantial after a brain injury. Filing a personal injury claim can help recover the cost of care for brain injuries. It can also help provide compensation for future care and financial losses.
Additionally, an accident victim may also be entitled to compensation for noneconomic or pain & suffering damages such as physical pain, emotional distress, and a decrease in quality of life.
A Sacramento personal injury lawyer can help you seek the compensation you deserve after a concussion or brain injury.
Contact a Sacramento Personal Injury Law Firm for a Free Case Review
Our legal team helps people who are injured in car accidents. Let us take care of the accident investigation and dealing with the insurance company for the other driver while you focus on healing after a car accident.
Contact The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our California personal injury lawyers.
Our California wrongful death lawyers handle a variety of cases involving the death of an accident victim. A wrongful death claim can arise from many different situations, including but not limited to:
- Car Accidents
- Premises Liability Claims (slip and fall accidents, swimming pool accidents, amusement park accidents, etc.)
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- DUI Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Dog Attacks and Animal Attacks
- Commercial Vehicle and Truck Accidents
- Defective Products
- Elder Abuse
- Bicycle Accidents
Almost any personal injury accident can result in a wrongful death. Unfortunately, there are several defenses to wrongful death claims. Our experienced Sacramento wrongful death attorneys are familiar with wrongful death defenses and how to overcome many of the ways people try to avoid taking responsibility for their negligence and wrongdoing.
Defenses to Wrongful Death Claims
There are many different ways a party may try to avoid liability for a wrongful death accident. Four common defenses used by many parties are:
Self-Defense
If a death occurs because of a physical altercation or attack, the party causing the death may argue that he or she was only acting in self-defense.
Assumption of Risk
Another wrongful death defense that a party might claim is the assumption of risk. This defense can be used with or without a waiver or release of liability. The party claims that the person who died knew that an activity or action held certain risks of injury or death and decided to participate even though he or she understood the risk.
Comparative Fault
Comparative fault alleges that a victim had some responsibility in the cause of his or her death. For instance, a person was speeding at the time of a deathly car accident; therefore, the victim is partially at fault for the crash that took his life. According to comparative fault laws, the victim is not entitled to full compensation for damages because he contributed to the cause of the accident.
Statutes of Limitation
Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed before the expiration of the statutes of limitation for such claims. Statutes of limitation set deadlines for filing certain types of claims. In most cases, California wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of death.
However, some exceptions can lengthen or shorten the time to file a wrongful death claim. For instance, wrongful deaths arising from a medical malpractice claim usually must be filed within three years of the date of death.
Contact a Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer for Help
Losing a loved one is never easy, but it can be very traumatic when the death is unexpected and sudden. Thinking about a lawsuit is usually one of the lowest priorities after the death of a family member. However, as stated above, your time to file a claim is limited.
If you suspect that the death of your loved one was because of the error, negligence, or wrongdoing of another party, contact our office to discuss your situation with an understanding wrongful death lawyer. We can help you investigate the death of your family member to determine whether you have a claim for wrongful death.
Contact The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our California wrongful death lawyers.
Personal injury is used to define a group of legal cases involving injuries to an individual. In most cases, personal injury claims are based on negligence. However, other wrongdoing and errors can give rise to an injury claim. For example, carelessness that results in an injury to another person can result in a claim.
If you are injured, our Sacramento injury lawyers can help you pursue a claim for damages. Even though compensation does not undo the damage or ease your suffering, it can help reimburse you for your financial losses and provide some measure of justice.
What Types of Accidents Result in a Personal Injury Claim?
When a person is injured because of the negligence, errors, or wrongdoing of another party, the injured person may have a valid injury claim. Our injury lawyers handle a variety of claims involving personal injuries, including:
- Car Accidents
- DUI Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Motorcycle Crashes
- Bicycle Accidents
- Dog Bites and Animal Attacks
- Product Liability (defective products)
- Elder Abuse and Neglect, including nursing home abuse
- Premises Liability (slip and fall claims)
- Wrongful Death Claims
In some cases, the above incidents may lead to criminal charges against the at-fault party, as in the case of a DUI accident claim. However, the criminal case is separate from a civil case. Regardless of whether criminal charges are filed, you should consult an injury lawyer about your rights in a civil action. The criminal justice system represents the interest of the public, not individual injury claims.
What Types of Compensation Are Available in a Personal Injury Claim?
The amount of compensation you can receive after an injury depends on numerous factors. However, most injury claims include both economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the financial losses associated with the accident and your injury.
Examples of economic damages include, but are not limited to:
- Property damages
- Medical expenses
- Personal care costs
- Travel expenses
- Lost wages
- Medical equipment
Noneconomic damages include the pain and suffering caused by the experience and your injuries.
Examples of pain and suffering damages include, but are not limited to:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Emotional and mental distress, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Loss of quality of life and enjoyment of life
It is difficult to place a price on a person’s suffering. However, an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer understands how to use the evidence in the case to maximize the value for pain and suffering damages.
The third type of compensation might be available in some personal injury cases. Punitive damages are a special type of compensation paid in some cases. Punitive damages are intended to “punish” a party for gross negligence and reckless disregard for the safety of others. For example, punitive damages might be available in a DUI case. However, punitive damages are rare and only applicable in specific cases.
Do You Need a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you have been injured, you might be entitled to compensation for your financial losses, pain, and suffering. However, you must prove that another party was responsible for causing your injury and provide evidence to prove the value of your injury claim. Insurance companies are not interested in paying the true value of a claim. Insurance adjusters work hard to reduce the value of a claim if they cannot deny the claim outright. An attorney can help you protect your right to a fair and just settlement for your personal injury claim.
Call The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 to schedule a free legal consultation with an experienced Sacramento injury attorney.
A car accident, fall, medical malpractice, dog bite, or defective product can cause your child to be seriously injured. In some cases, child injuries can result in permanent disabilities that significantly impact a child’s future and quality of life. If your child is injured, medical treatment is the first priority. However, you should also discuss your case with a Sacramento child injury attorney. An attorney can help you protect your child’s legal right to fair compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence and wrongdoing.
Steps to Take If Your Child is Injured
Medical Treatment
Child injuries need to be treated seriously, regardless of the severity of the injury. Complications and infections from a minor injury could result in lifelong health conditions. Therefore, seeing a doctor is the top priority. Make sure that the doctor understands that the injury is related to an accident or other wrongdoing. Your doctor notates in the medical record the cause of the injury, which can help when you are ready to file a personal injury claim for child injuries.
Reporting the Injury
You also need to report the injury as soon as possible to the applicable parties. In the event of a car crash, call 911 to request police and emergency services. Dog bites should be reported to the dog’s owner and local animal control authorities. Other injuries may need to be reported and a claim filed with government agencies, property owners, or government agencies. A Sacramento child injury lawyer can help you determine what parties need to be notified of the injury.
Follow Up and Legal Advice
Do not allow your child to make statements regarding the accident or injury to insurance adjusters or parties representing the at-fault party. You should also avoid discussing the incident with an insurance provider until you have met with a California personal injury attorney. Written or recorded statements can work against you.
Make sure that you follow up with your child’s doctor and follow the treatment plan. Insurance companies use delays in medical treatment or failure to treat injuries as a reason to deny valid claims for child injuries.
When your child is stable, contact our Sacramento child injury lawyers to discuss the next steps you need to take. Hiring an attorney to handle your child’s claim allows you to focus your full attention on your child’s health and wellbeing.
How Can a Sacramento Child Injury Lawyer Help My Child?
An attorney can help you in numerous ways, including but not limited to:
- Assisting you in obtaining medical care or referrals, if needed.
- Investigate the injury and accident to gather evidence proving fault and liability.
- Identify all parties who may have potential liability for your child’s injury.
- Work with your child’s physicians to gather evidence proving the severity of the injuries and your child’s prognosis.
- File an insurance claim with each insurance company that might have potential liability for a claim.
- Work with various experts, including medical experts, accident reconstructionists, economists, and others to build the strongest case possible for full compensation.
- Calculate the value of your child’s injury claim based on financial losses, physical pain, emotional suffering, and future damages.
- Negotiate with insurance companies and other parties for settlement of the claim.
- File a personal injury lawsuit, if necessary, to protect your child’s best interests.
Our personal injury lawyers in Sacramento work diligently to hold parties responsible for child injuries liable for their errors, negligence, and wrongdoing.
Contact Our Sacramento Child Injury Lawyers for a Free Case Review
If your child has been injured, we want to help. Contact The Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 to schedule a free legal consultation with one of our child injury attorneys in Sacramento.