Harbor City Personal Injury Lawyers

Dordulian Law Group - Harbor City office

 

Victims injured in accidents may be eligible to file a personal injury claim to recover damages like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and much more. Most personal injury claims can be settled without ever going to court. However, to ensure the greatest chance of success in obtaining justice for your injuries, schedule a free and private consultation with an experienced Harbor City personal injury attorney from Dordulian Law Group today.

What is a Personal Injury Claim?

Personal injury is one of the most common types of legal claims, including everything from car accidents to slip and falls, dog bites, wrongful deaths, product liability, medical malpractice, and more. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there are an estimated 400,000 personal injury claims each year. Of those cases, approximately 16,397 go to trial. This means that the majority of personal injury cases can be resolved without ever stepping foot in a courtroom. However, it should be known that Dordulian is always prepared to take a case to trial if it is in the best interest of the client and his or her individual case. We never settle for lowball offers or leave money on the table when negotiating a claim. We seek maximum allowable damages awards for each and every client.

Harbor City personal injury claims are filed in civil court and there are four main types of personal injury lawsuits. These include:

• Defective Products: There are thousands of products on the market and when you purchase one from a reputable company you trust that it is safe to use by you and your family. If a person is injured because of a defective product, he or she can file a product liability lawsuit, which falls under the personal injury umbrella.
• Intentional Harmful Acts: When someone intentionally causes injury to another person -through battery, assault, sexual abuse, and more – the injured person can file a personal injury lawsuit for various damages, including emotional and physical trauma.
• Accidents: The most common type of personal injury lawsuit that Harbor City personal injury attorneys come across stems from accidents. Claims resulting from accidents can include scenarios such as slip and falls, medical malpractice, car accidents, and more.
• Defamation: This form of personal injury is not physical. Defamation is when a person’s statements cause harm to the other person. This is commonly seen when someone’s false statements cause another to lose their job or suffer ensuing financial loss. This type of Harbor City personal injury lawsuit seeks to recover damages for the defamation victim.

Types of Personal Injury Claims

There are many subcategories that fall under the personal injury umbrella. Some of these include:

• Dog Bites: When a dog is off-leash and attacks you, you may be entitled to compensation. Dog bite accidents often leave victims with permanent injuries such as disfigurement.
• Bus Accidents: Buses are large vehicles that can cause accidents leading to devastating consequences for injured victims. Bus accident victims may be able to obtain compensation from various parties in a lawsuit. You may be able to sue the insurance company, the bus company, and even the bus manufacturer, in addition to the vehicle operator.
• Slip and Falls: If you slip or trip and fall due to a hazard that could have been avoided, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The fall could have happened on someone else’s property or at a business.
• Car Accidents: The most common type of personal injury law accident is motor vehicle collisions. These occur when two vehicles crash while traveling on roads and highways.
• Truck Accidents: Trucks are commonly found on our roads. Although they are an essential part of our economy, trucks are large and can wreak havoc on someone’s life when an accident occurs.
• Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcycles involved in accidents lead to increased fatalities when compared to other vehicles on the road.
• Bicycle Accidents: California has the perfect weather to get around on your bicycle. However, this also makes you susceptible to serious injury if an accident occurs.
• Rideshare Accidents: These can be very complex accidents, and with more and more rideshare drivers on the road they are becoming more frequent. Rideshare accidents often include many intricacies, and third parties can be involved.
• Brain Injuries: Suffering a brain injury can lead to long-lasting, devastating effects. You and your family should not be held responsible for medical expenses that were caused by someone else’s negligence.
• Defective products: As consumers, we trust that products are safe. But that is not always the case, as some products are defective by design and can cause serious injury.
• Premises Liability: If you are injured on someone else’s property, the at-fault party may be held liable for your injuries.
• Wrongful Death: The surviving family members of a deceased party are entitled to financial compensation from the negligent individual or entity who caused the death.

As you can see, personal injury law encompasses various categories that are often the result of complex circumstances. You should meet with a Harbor City personal injury attorney from Dordulian Law Group immediately if you have been injured. We will protect your rights and fight to recover every ounce of financial compensation due to you.

Is There a Statute of Limitations for California Personal Injury Claims?

Most states have statutes of limitation for personal injury claims. California follows the standard two-year filing deadline for most personal injury claims. Although there are exceptions, this means that you have two years from the date of the accident or injury suffered to file a claim. In California, certain exceptions to the two-year deadline exist and are dependent on the nature of the crime.

An example would be survivors of sexual abuse. Many survivors require additional time to process the trauma before feeling ready to file a claim. California has different statutes of limitations for sex crimes impacting adults and children.

Most personal injury claims, however, should be filed within the two-year deadline to avoid ineligibility. This is why it is imperative to seek the help of a DLG Harbor City personal injury attorney as soon as possible. We will determine the best strategy and plan of action for your specific circumstances, and do everything in our power to ensure your case is successful.

Comparative Fault and Personal Injury

If you were involved in an accident and were partially at fault, you may be wondering if there is any legal recourse that can be taken. The answer is yes. California has a pure comparative fault law. This means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident or injury, you can still seek compensation for your damages. The caveat is that the percentage of fault will be taken into account when determining a formal settlement or verdict. For example, if it is found that you were 10% at fault for an accident or injury, your final damages verdict or settlement will be reduced accordingly by 10%.

Possible Outcomes of a Personal Injury Lawsuit

There are two outcomes that typically occur as a result of filing a personal injury lawsuit. In some cases, a formal lawsuit is filed. When a formal lawsuit is filed, the claim consists of the plaintiff (also known as the claimant) issuing a civil complaint against another party who will be known as the defendant. Complaints typically include allegations that the defendant was reckless or harmful, and those actions led to the injury.

A second potential general outcome of a personal injury claim is an informal settlement. This is the most common outcome that is seen in personal injury cases, especially when a Harbor City personal injury attorney is involved. This process often entails insurance companies and attorneys who represent either side negotiating back and forth until a final resolution is reached. Once negotiations are complete, there will be a written agreement where the plaintiff agrees to not file any additional legal claims against the defendant for the specific matter in question. This is often the point where a financial award amount is agreed upon.

Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.

 

What Damages Are Recoverable in my Personal Injury Claim?

One of the primary goals of a personal injury lawsuit is to obtain compensation for any damages (economic and noneconomic) suffered as a result of the incident. You may be entitled to various types of damages depending on the specifics of your claim. When you meet with a Harbor City personal injury attorney from Dordulian Law Group, we will determine which types of damages are eligible for recovery.

There are four categories of damages that are typically seen in personal injury claims:

• Punitive Damages: These are rare, and sometimes difficult to obtain, but there is no cap on such damages in California. This is because very specific requirements need to be met in order to obtain punitive damages. Your Harbor City personal injury lawyer must prove that the negligent party acted with wanton recklessness or disregard. DLG seeks punitive damages for all eligible claims.
• Special Damages: These include things like rent, relocation arrangements, car bills, and more. To recover special damages, the case needs to meet certain guidelines. These types of damages are typically recovered in cases where the injured party is unable to return to work and suffers additional financial hardship.
• Monetary Damages: These are the most common damages recovered in personal injury cases, typically involving things like compensation for medical expenses, property damage, and other tangible losses.
• Wrongful Death Damages: These are some of the most heart-wrenching damages our Harbor City personal injury attorneys have to seek. They apply in situations where the victim did not survive the accident and the family files suit against the negligent party. The family can obtain compensation for funeral expenses, any related medical expenses, consortium, and more.

You may be able to seek various types of damages depending on the details of your case. Contact a Harbor City personal injury lawyer from Dordulain Law Group at 310-773-4004 today to discuss your claim.

Contact our top-rated team of expert personal injury attorneys online or by phone today to pursue justice and secure a financial award for damages.

 

How long before I receive my personal injury settlement check?

How Long Will it Take to Settle my Personal Injury Claim?

Each case is unique and there is no set time period for your claim to be settled. One case can be settled within a few weeks or months, while another may go on for years. The length of time required to reach a verdict or settlement is typically contingent upon the specifics of the case and how willing the at-fault party is to negotiate. In some cases, a formal lawsuit may lead to a trial, which would likely extend the length of your claim.

At Dordulian Law Group, we aim to bring your case to a successful conclusion as soon as possible, but we will never settle for less than you deserve. Additionally, we are always prepared to take a case to court if necessary. When you contact a DLG Harbor City attorney for a free consultation, we will give you an approximate estimate for how long your case might take to reach a favorable conclusion based on various facts of the incident (negligence, extent of injuries, etc.).

Once a settlement or verdict is reached with the help of your Harbor City personal injury lawyer, you will then be awarded a check. This typically happens 90 to 120 days after a settlement offer has been accepted. Once a decision has been made, you will be required to sign a release in order for the insurance company or at-fault party to issue the check. The release will declare that you will not seek any further legal action against the party related to this injury or accident.

The check will be sent from the insurance company to your Harbor City attorney’s office. It will then be deposited in a trust account and the attorney will issue you a check shortly thereafter. Your DLG Harbor City personal injury attorney will fight to get you the maximum compensation you deserve.

Can The Insurance Company Handle my Claim?

Your insurance company may be able to handle your claim depending on the type of accident and injury. Whether allowing them to do so is in your best interest, however, is often another story. Insurance companies are in the business of saving money, and that means they make every effort to not pay out one penny more than is required. Insurance companies do not operate with the best interests of an injured party in mind, and your carrier may not be entirely on your side.

They may try to lowball you and offer the bare minimum compensation for your accident. Do not make a statement about your accident to an insurance investigator without first speaking to an experienced Harbor City personal injury attorney at Dordulian Law Group.

Do I Need a Harbor City Personal Injury Attorney?

More than likely, the answer is yes. If you want to protect your rights and ensure you receive all available compensation for your injuries, hiring a personal injury lawyer can be the best decision you make. Often, injured parties make the mistake of not hiring a Harbor City personal injury attorney, and are therefore left at the mercy of insurance companies. Keep in mind that insurance companies are not on your side. They want to give you the least amount of money for your claim. They will try to find any loophole in order to decrease your settlement. You can easily be left with mountains of medical bills and a miniscule settlement check without the protection of an experienced personal injury attorney.

With DLG, you never have to worry about out-of-pocket expenses or upfront fees. We work on a no win/no fee contingency basis. This means you do not pay anything until we recover financial damages on your behalf.

Why Should I Hire Dordulian Law Group?

Our Harbor City personal injury attorneys are never unprepared or intimidated. We are always ready to take the case to trial if necessary. We pride ourselves on being advocates for our clients and fighting for justice. Do not face these difficult situations alone. We have years of experience handling cases just like yours, and are familiar with the complexities that come through navigating a personal injury claim in California courts.

Our Harbor City personal injury attorneys have recovered over $200 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We pride ourselves on having a 98% success rate and over 40 years of combined experience.

Do not hesitate to contact the Harbor City personal injury lawyers at Dordulian Law Group via 310-773-4004 or by filling out our online contact form. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and always available to help clients. Call us today to begin the personal injury claim process towards recovering a maximum financial damages award for your injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills, and so much more.

Client Review

“I was rear-end by a careless driver, and I was stressed and hurt. Attorney Samuel Dordulian and Dordulian Law Team was highly recommended. He was emphatic, informative, and answered all my questions and concerns. Every step of the way, there was constant communication. He was thorough and kept me informed. In addition, his team is exceptional and helpful. Thank you for your amazing service. I highly recommend him.”
Zachary Q.