What Should You Do, Legally, After Getting Injured?

Ray Hrdlicka – Host – Attorneys.Media

“What should a person do, legally speaking, the very first thing after becoming injured? Whether it is a car accident, slip and fall, or anything?”

Andrew Dósa – Personal Injury Attorney – Alameda County, CA

“Well, assuming that they’ve been at the collision scene, and they’ve already exchanged information, insurance information and driver’s license and those sorts of things…afterwards, if they start to feel pain because they have been injured, then the most significant thing for them to do is to make arrangements for healthcare. If they have a physician, they should go see their doctor. If it’s a little more serious, then they may not have a choice. They may be taken by ambulance to the hospital. If they can drive, or if a family member comes and picks them up, then it’s really a matter of what their need may be.

I will say that there’s another significant thing, and that is they have an obligation to contact their own insurance company because their insurance company may be defending them against a claim that they were negligent. And their insurance company also provides services, so they may be able to get a rental car. For example, if the car they’re driving is damaged and not operable. So, there’s a practical side to what they ought to do.

But the third thing I would suggest after making sure they’ve made arrangements for medical care, and contacting their insurance company, is that I would certainly recommend that they, at least, speak with an attorney. Whether they retain an attorney, may depend on whether the case is significant enough for an attorney to be involved. Or really, just that they would make sure that they had a chance to get a consultation and understand what may be involved in the process.”

Accidents happen. But when they do, it’s important to have a good attorney on your side who can help you get the compensation that you deserve. Personal injury law is one of those areas where there are so many variables involved – from medical bills and lost wages to emotional distress and pain and suffering. It’s difficult for an individual to determine how much money he or she should be seeking in damages without legal representation by an experienced personal injury attorney.

Personal injury law allows an injured person in California to file a civil lawsuit in court and seek compensation for losses due to an injury after an accident. This law aims to provide compensation for the injured person after the stress and harm they have suffered because of another person’s negligent or intentional conduct.

What are the common kinds of personal injury cases?

Car Accidents

Car accidents are the most common personal injury cases in the U.S. When a car accident usually happens, it is because someone didn’t follow the traffic rules. A reckless driver can be held liable for the injuries caused by the accident.

However, California follows shared fault laws or the “pure comparative negligence” rule. In basic terms, this means that the compensation an injured person will receive will depend on their shared fault in the accident.

For example, you were in a car accident where another driver beat the red light and hit your car. However, you were also driving a few miles above the speed limit, so you might share a small percentage of the blame for the accident, say 15%.

Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, your total compensation is reduced by 15%, representing the total percent of your fault in the accident. So from $10,000, you will only receive $8,500 after deducting the 15%.

Slip and Fall

A slip and fall case is another common type of personal injury case. Landlords, or sometimes even tenants, have the legal responsibility of keeping their property safe and hazard-free to avoid any individuals from being injured. Of course, not all injuries or accidents inside the property premises are against the property owner.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is a special type of personal injury case. These types of claims are brought against nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals or even hospitals when their treatment falls below medical standards, leading to a patient’s injury or death. However, it is essential to remember that not all bad treatment outcomes mean that your health care provider has committed medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are extremely complicated, so you need legal experts on your side.

Defamation

Defamation is a false statement about you that someone gives. It can appear as fact, and it aims to harm your professional or personal reputation.

Libel and slander fall under defamation law. Libel is defamation in writing, and slander is verbal defamation. When charging for slander or libel, you just usually have to prove that someone made a false statement against you and that it caused harm or financial loss.

Dog Bites

In many states, dog owners are protected from injury liability if their dog injures someone for the first time or if they have reason to believe that the dog isn’t dangerous. In California, California Civil Code section 3342 makes the dog owner strictly liable, which means that the dog’s owner is legally responsible for injuries caused by their dog to someone. The statute reads:

“The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”

Battery, Assault, and Intentional Torts

Compared to other types of personal injury lawsuits, intentional torts aren’t accidents caused by carelessness but rather when someone intentionally harms someone. Cases like these can usually involve criminal charges against the perpetrator. For instance, when someone physically attacks another person, they face criminal charges. The victim can also file a personal injury lawsuit in court and demand compensation for injuries caused by the attack. If you have experienced physical harm caused by someone, don’t hesitate to press charges.

Andrew Alexander Dósa is a trial attorney with more than 36 years of experience in civil/business litigation, criminal defense, personal injury claims, and estate planning. Mr. Dósa received his law degree from the University of San Francisco and his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley.

He is admitted to practice in all California Courts and the U. S. Northern and Eastern District Courts in California, and he is a member of the California State Bar, Alameda County Bar Association, and Christian Legal Society.

As an Alameda CA trial attorney, Andrew has a record of over 15 jury trials, 60 court trials, more than 60 arbitrations and mediation sessions, and handling of all aspects of litigation involving criminal, real estate, business, tort, and trust/probate law. Significant legal research, analysis, and writing. Extensive experience appearing before state and federal courts, administrative boards, and agencies.