Experienced Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer
Whether you live, work, or were visiting the beautiful city of Long Beach and were injured in an accident, you have legal rights and options. Sometimes, an accident is just that: an accident. But often, they are caused by another person’s negligent behavior.
If so, you seek to hold them accountable for the harm you and your family may have suffered. At Weinberg Law Offices, we are committed to standing up for what is right, and we will fight to get you the justice and compensation you deserve.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
While you are probably familiar with the general term “personal injury,” you may not precisely know what a personal injury lawyer is and how they can help you. Personal injury refers to many types of accidents, situations, and injuries.
Almost any injury caused by someone else’s negligence or conduct can be the basis for a valid personal injury case.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
One of the most common personal injury claims involves motor vehicle accidents. If another individual negligence caused your crash and resulting injuries, speaking with a Long Beach personal injury lawyer to discuss your options is important.
Motor vehicle accidents occur because of another driver (e.g., distracted or drunk driving), dangerous road conditions (e.g., potholes), defective parts, and more. No matter the cause of your motor vehicle wreck, we can help.
Premise Liability
Premise liability claims involve accidents that occur on another person’s property. These claims can arise from a variety of incidents, including:
- A slip and fall,
- Construction site negligence,
- Roof or stair collapse,
- Swimming pool drownings,
- Escalator or elevator accident, and
- Dog bites.
Premise liability cases can be complex and require proving several elements of the claim to be successful. People are generally obliged to keep their premises and property safe and warn of potentially dangerous conditions. If you or a loved one experienced an injury due to a hazardous condition on someone else’s property, our personal injury lawyer in Long Beach can assist you.
Product Liability
We rely on dozens of products daily, including electronics, machines, and appliances. Sometimes, a defect in the product’s manufacturing process or design can cause substantial injuries. Manufacturers must also be warned of potential dangers when using the product.
If a malfunctioning product hurts you, consult an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately. Often, the defendants (i.e., product manufacturers) are large corporations with dispensable money and highly equipped legal terms. You need a sharp advocate who is unafraid to take on these giants. Our Long Beach personal injury lawyers are never afraid to take on these defendants.
Other types of claims personal injury lawyers handle include:
- Nursing home negligence,
- Bicycle accidents,
- Catastrophic injury,
- Boating accidents,
- Pedestrian injuries,
- Negligent security, and
- Wrongful death.
If you were hurt in any of these situations or something else entirely, we strongly encourage you to meet with a Long Beach personal injury lawyer for advice and guidance. We can help you determine if you have a valid claim and discuss a plan of action to get you what you deserve.
What Do Personal Injury Cases Involve?
While some personal injury cases can be simple, most are complex. They usually involve multiple parties, insurance policies, lengthy investigations, and extensive negotiation before filing a lawsuit. Hiring an attorney is not legally required, but we recommend you do so.
Trying to navigate a personal injury claim while recovering from a serious accident and devastating injuries can be overwhelming and complicated. The average personal injury case involves many steps, including:
- Investigating the claim;
- Gathering evidence and requesting documents and records;
- Initiating a claim;
- Negotiating with insurance companies;
- Filing a civil lawsuit;
- Requesting, reviewing, and conducting discovery;
- Consulting medical and other experts;
- Mediation and arbitration;
- Motion practice; and
- Litigating through trial.
These steps are wrought with legal rules, requirements, and procedures that most people are unfamiliar with. However, a seasoned personal injury attorney does each of these steps day in and day out. We can streamline the process for you and maximize your award.
Types of Damages in Personal Injury Cases
One of the first questions clients ask is, How much compensation can I receive? Unfortunately, it is not a simple question because personal injury settlements or awards can result in various damages. Even cases involving similar situations can range substantially in the amount of recoverable damages. The type of case, nature of the injuries, insurance policies, and much more will factor in the damages available.
A successful personal injury plaintiff can typically seek economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate the victim for their actual losses due to their injury. They include compensation for:
- Past and future medical bills,
- Lost wages,
- Cost of repair or replacement of property (e.g., car), and
- Lost value of household services.
Gathering and analyzing your medical bills, receipts, records, invoices, and estimates related to your accident can help you understand your economic damage.
Noneconomic Damages
A successful plaintiff may also seek noneconomic damages to compensate them for their intangible losses such as:
- Pain and suffering,
- Emotional and mental distress,
- Loss of consortium, and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Noneconomic damages are often the subject of significant negotiation and debate and can be more challenging to prove. Having a top personal injury lawyer Long Beach on your side can mean the difference in maximum compensation.
Punitive Damages
In rare instances, if a defendant acted with oppression, fraud, or malice, the court may award punitive or exemplary damages to the plaintiff. These punish the defendant for their egregious behavior instead of compensating a victim for their harm.
California Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations prescribes the time to initiate a legal proceeding. In California, for personal injury cases, you typically have two years from the accident date to file your lawsuit with the court. Like many legal rules, there are exceptions to the general two-year rule that may extend or shorten the time you have to bring your claim.
Consulting a Long Beach personal injury attorney quickly after your accident is essential to preserve your legal rights. It is best to relay this information to your attorney while the events are still fresh in your mind.
It also means potential witness recollection will be fresh in their minds, and evidence is more likely to be readily available. The sooner you act, the more evidence you can preserve. A knowledgeable and skilled lawyer will assist you with gathering and preserving necessary evidence.
Tips for Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
There are dozens of top-rated personal injury lawyers in the Long Beach area, and choosing one can be daunting.
Our advice for hiring a personal injury lawyer includes the following five tips:
- Ask your closest friends and family for recommendations,
- Look at online reviews and ratings,
- Find an attorney local to you,
- Contact the California or local bar associations for referrals, and
- Schedule free consultations.
Using these tips to narrow down a list of potential attorneys you are considering for your case will help you find the right person to fight for you and your family.
Top Personal Injury Attorney | Long Beach, CA
At Weinberg Law Offices, we provide dedicated, compassionate, and aggressive advocacy to each client who walks through our door. No matter the size of your case, we will stop at nothing to ensure that you get the compensation you are entitled to recover. Contact us today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Disclaimer: This content should not be construed as legal advice.