Handling a personal case without the assistance of a qualified Long Beach attorney can be a difficult task, and one slip-up (whether due to inexperience or lack of knowledge in a certain legal area) could have significant negative ramifications on your case.
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.
For a personal injury claim to be successful, one must be able to prove negligence on the part of the at-fault party. Proving negligence in a personal injury claim involves four elements:
1- The presence of a duty of care:
Personal injury cases start with establishing a duty of care from the defendant to the claimant. For example, in a car accident the duty of care could be as simple as driving safely and not putting anyone else at risk (e.g. a driver has a duty to lawfully stop at a stop sign). In more complicated scenarios, an individual or company may have a duty to actually take steps to prevent injuries (often in terms of a product they might produce or a property they might own).
2- A breach of that duty of care:
In order to successfully prosecute a personal injury claim, you must be able to prove that a duty existed, and that the existing duty was breached (therefore creating the potential for blame to be placed on the defendant). Using the example above, if a defendant driver has a duty to stop at a stop sign, the driver has breached his or her duty of care by failing to stop and causing an accident that led to another person’s injury.
3- A resulting injury:
A claimant needs to sustain a physical, emotional, or financial injury for a personal injury civil claim to be filed. This injury must result from a defendant breaching a duty of care (as outlined above). Without evidence of this injury, a lawsuit may not be able to proceed. In legal jargon, injuries or expenses from personal injury claims are often referred to as damages. You must (with the help of an experienced and dedicated Long Beach injury lawyer) be able to prove that your damages or financial losses are correlated to your accident and injuries.
4- Causation of said injury leading to damages:
Proving cause in damages that were incurred through an injury is one of the most important aspects of a personal injury claim. A claimant needs to prove that the defendant’s actions caused their injuries, and those injuries resulted in financial losses. If a defendant driver failed to stop at a stop sign and suddenly struck another driver with the legal right of way (causing that driver to sustain injuries), the civil lawsuit must prove that the at-fault driver’s negligence caused the other driver’s injuries.
Keep in mind that in California, both drivers can share a portion of fault for certain types of car accidents, such as T-bone and rear-end collisions. Shared fault means that, even if you were 99% responsible for a tragic car accident, you could still be eligible to recover some financial losses sustained through the accident. In other words, what do you have to lose by contacting a DLG Long Beach lawyer today for a free consultation to discuss your personal injury case? Don’t be intimidated into leaving money on the table when you have a valid claim. If you’ve been injured (even if fault was shared), you still likely have a case, and may even be eligible to recover financial damages. Contact us today at (562) 502-8822 to learn more.
A personal injury claim is an opportunity for an injured victim to recover financial losses (damages) that resulted from an accident. If negligence caused an accident where serious injuries were suffered, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for any losses. For personal injury victims, it is recommended that you enlist the representation of an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer who understands the law and can assist you with your claim. At Dordulian Law Group, every client receives friendly, personalized representation, with a team of dedicated attorneys working on your behalf to ensure insurance companies and opposing parties do not take advantage of you or your legal rights.
Following an accident that leads to any kind of injury, you should not try to negotiate with an insurance company on your own. Instead, contact a Long Beach accident injury lawyer immediately after an accident occurs to discuss your situation and learn about available options. A DLG personal injury attorney will help protect your legal rights and guide you through every step of the judicial process. DLG’s experienced and dedicated team of personal injury lawyers will handle the stressful details of your case, allowing you to focus on recovering from those unfortunate injuries and getting back on your feet.
A personal injury lawsuit is filed in civil court, with the complainant seeking financial damages for any losses he or she may have sustained from an accident or other incident.
There are four main scenarios that typically lead to personal injury lawsuits:
Once a personal injury lawsuit has been filed, there are typically two main outcomes that can follow. As an example, consider a case where an accident between a pedestrian and a car led to significant damages (medical costs, property damage, lost wages, etc.). For such a case, the result would likely be either a formal lawsuit or an informal settlement. When personal injury accidents occur, the typical end result is either a formal lawsuit or a negotiated financial settlement.
Let’s review those two common outcomes in greater detail:
While the government may initiate a criminal case, a formal personal injury claim may begin after a private individual (the “plaintiff” or “complainant”) files a civil complaint against an at-fault person, business, corporation, or government entity. The individual being sued is referred to as the “defendant.” The complaint will likely include allegations that the individual or corporation acted carelessly or irresponsibly in connection with an accident or injury resulting in harm. The formal action is known as “filing a lawsuit.”
Most personal injury disputes stemming from fault related to an accident or injury are resolved through an informal early settlement. A settlement typically entails everyone personally involved in the dispute, including the victim’s insurers and attorneys, with both sides having representation. A settlement often includes a process of formal negotiation, followed by a written agreement where both sides decide to cease any further legal action (e.g. a formal lawsuit). As an alternate course of action, they agree to resolve the matter through a mutually established financial amount.
At Dordulian Law Group, our Long Beach personal injury attorneys are your first and most important advocates, fighting to preserve your rights and secure a maximum financial damages award to recoup losses. We are never afraid to take a case to trial, and always proceed according a strategy that is in the best interest of the client. Accordingly, we always pursue the greatest possible financial damages award (whether via a verdict or settlement) in each case we handle. With DLG, you can be confident that your Long Beach personal injury case will receive the time and attention necessary to obtain a maximum damages award.
Different personal injury claims may be filed for different types of accidents/situations, and a range of injuries. Your top-rated Long Beach, California, personal injury lawyer at Dordulian Law Group will help you determine a legal strategy by identifying which claims should be pursued in compliance with California law. Let’s review some of the varying types of damages eligible for recovery in a personal injury claim:
You may file what are known as special compensatory damages for any financial losses resulting from your injury or incident. Recovering these damages can help with medical bills and the cost of any future care that may be required. Special damages are meant to cover the costs that accumulate when someone is too injured to work (or otherwise a detriment to one’s own economic well-being). Special damages can include rent, mortgage payments, and even costs associated with relocation arrangements required following a serious injury.
General compensatory damages are those which you can collect for experiencing non-economic hardships, including “pain and suffering” and “mental anguish.” As these damages are defined and described using broad terms that cover more abstract misfortunes like diminished quality of life or psychological trauma directly resulting from an incident, it’s important to have a skilled and knowledgeable Long Beach, CA, personal injury lawyer on your side ensuring the maximum damages award is ultimately recovered. These types of serious but less tangible damages can be harder to litigate (or prove via a civil lawsuit), which is why having a highly qualified DLG personal injury attorney in your corner is the advantage you need and the answer to recovering every bit of compensation you deserve.
Punitive damages are rare and in a separate class. In cases where a California court might find that a car accident victim is owed punitive damages, the defendant’s behavior would have to be extraordinarily reprehensible. The legal team would have to demonstrate that the defendant knowingly acted with recklessness, and intended to cause harm.
Wrongful death damages may apply in certain circumstances in which the bereaved is compensated after the loss of a family member. Costs can range from funeral expenses to medical expenses incurred before a loved one’s death.
Dordulian Law Group’s Long Beach personal injury lawyers have the experience to get you the damages award you deserve. Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, suffered a medical malpractice incident, sustained a slip and fall injury, or endured a dog bite attack, our team of experienced professionals will compassionately guide you through such difficult circumstances.
Our attorneys are expertly familiar with the complexities of California personal injury law, with an unwavering commitment to the continued well-being of every single DLG client. Learn more about our services and schedule a free consultation today by calling (562) 502-8822.
The majority of personal injury claims have a two-year filing deadline. The statute of limitations for most California personal injury claims is two years, and takes effect immediately from the date the accident or injury occurred. In order to pursue legal recourse, you must file your personal injury claim within the two-year deadline. Failure to meet the California statute of limitations deadline for personal injury cases could make your claim ineligible for further arbitration (i.e. without legal options).
While the two-year statute of limitations applies to most personal injury claims, there are certain exceptions for specific crimes.
One notable exception that has made headlines of late is California Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218). AB 218 is landmark legislation that extends the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Under AB 218, a three-year clause known as the bill’s “lookback window” allows for all survivors of childhood sexual abuse the opportunity to file a civil claim seeking financial damages, regardless of how long ago the crime occurred.
Until the end of 2022, the standard statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims is temporarily suspended, allowing any survivor the opportunity to file a claim to recover financial damages. For additional information on AB 218 and the statute of limitations in civil and criminal claims, please take a moment to review our blog on the subject.
Long Beach personal injury victims choose Dordulian Law Group because we have the experience and dedication required to help you not only win your case, but recover the maximum available financial damages award for your injuries. We’re here to help you make a full recovery after a tragic accident, and will handle every detail of your claim while you focus on resting and returning to a point of normalcy.
Since founding DLG, Samuel Dordulian and his team have recovered over $200 million for injured clients like you. And with a 98% success rate and over 25 years of experience, you can rest easy knowing that your case is in experienced hands when choosing DLG. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. There is no obligation and our no fee guarantee means you pay nothing until we recover the financial compensation you deserve.
