California Personal Injury FAQs

At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t have to pay attorney’s fees upfront. Instead, our fee comes from a percentage of the compensation we recover for you.

If we don’t recover compensation, you generally won’t owe attorney’s fees. We’ll explain our fee structure and how we handle case expenses before you decide to work with us.

You can file an insurance claim without hiring a lawyer. However, insurance companies don’t always agree with injured people about who was at fault or how much a claim is worth.

If you’re dealing with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, or an insurance company that’s questioning your claim, having a lawyer can make the process easier. An attorney can handle the paperwork, gather evidence, and negotiate with the insurer while you focus on getting better.

You can negotiate directly with the other party’s insurance company, but it’s worth being cautious. An early settlement offer might seem helpful when medical bills are piling up, but it may not account for future treatment or time you’ll need away from work.

Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you generally can’t go back and ask for more money for the same claim. Before agreeing to anything, consider having a personal injury lawyer review the offer.

It is not in your best interest to answer questions or make a written or recorded statement without consulting with an attorney. Likewise, you should not sign any documents until an attorney reviews them.

Adjusters protect the best interests of the insurance company. They work to reduce the insurance company’s liability for your claim. In other words, adjusters try to pay as little as possible for your claim.

It is best to allow an attorney to handle all communications, claims, and negotiations with the insurance company for the at-fault party.

Choosing a personal injury lawyer is an important decision. Look for someone who has handled cases like yours, communicates clearly, and takes the time to understand how your injuries have affected your life.

You should also feel comfortable asking questions about fees, the legal process, and what to expect as your case moves forward.

Mission Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered over $150 million for injured clients throughout California. Our California personal injury lawyers have helped people pursue compensation after car accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck collisions, slip-and-fall accidents, and other serious incidents.

We know that an injury can affect much more than your physical health. It can disrupt your work, strain your finances, and make everyday life more difficult. Our goal is to take some of that burden off your shoulders while we handle the legal side of your case.

A car accident can leave you shaken and unsure what to do next. Your first priority should always be making sure you and everyone else involved are safe.

If you’re able to, take these steps:

• Move to a safe location, if possible, and call 911 if anyone is injured.
• Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
• Take photos of the vehicles, damage, and accident scene.
• Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
• Seek medical attention, even if you feel fine at first.
• Notify your insurance company about the accident.

California also has accident reporting requirements that may apply to your crash. Once you’ve addressed your immediate needs, speaking with an attorney can help you understand what to do next.

Medical bills can start arriving long before your car accident claim is resolved. In California, you’re generally responsible for your medical expenses as you receive treatment, even if another driver caused the crash.

Your health insurance or medical payments coverage may help cover some of those costs. If the other driver was at fault, you may be able to recover your medical expenses through a personal injury claim. A lawyer can help you explore your options and pursue reimbursement.

Finding out that the driver who hit you doesn’t have insurance can be frustrating, especially when you’re already dealing with injuries and vehicle repairs.

You may still have options. If you carry uninsured motorist coverage, your own insurance policy may help cover your injuries. You might also be able to pursue a claim directly against the at-fault driver, although collecting compensation can be difficult if they don’t have sufficient assets.

An attorney can review your coverage and help you determine the next steps.

Not every accident requires a lawyer. If the damage is minor, no one was hurt, and the insurance company handles everything fairly, you may be able to resolve the claim yourself.

However, some injuries don’t become noticeable until hours or days after a crash. If you develop symptoms, need medical treatment, or run into problems with the insurance company, it’s worth speaking with an attorney.

A free consultation can help you decide whether legal representation makes sense for your situation.

Motorcyclists have much less protection than people riding in passenger vehicles. Even a crash at a relatively low speed can cause serious injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, and road rash.

Motorcycle accident claims can also be more challenging because riders sometimes face unfair assumptions about how they were driving. An insurance company might try to blame the motorcyclist without fully considering the evidence.

A motorcycle accident lawyer can investigate what happened, address disputed fault, and help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.

Accidents involving large commercial trucks are often more complicated than crashes between passenger vehicles. Because trucks are so much bigger and heavier, these collisions can cause severe injuries and extensive damage.

Truck accident cases may also involve trucking companies, commercial insurance policies, and federal safety regulations. Important evidence can include driver logs, maintenance records, and information stored in the truck’s electronic systems.

An attorney familiar with truck accident claims can help investigate the crash and identify who may be responsible.

The truck driver isn’t always the only person responsible for a truck accident. Depending on what caused the crash, several parties may share liability.

These can include:

• The truck driver: If speeding, distraction, fatigue, or another negligent action caused the accident
• The trucking company: If its negligence contributed to the crash or it’s legally responsible for the driver’s actions
• Maintenance providers: If poor repairs or neglected maintenance led to a mechanical problem
• Cargo loading companies: If improperly secured or overloaded cargo contributed to the collision
• Truck or parts manufacturers: If a defective component caused the accident

Determining who is responsible can take a thorough investigation. Identifying all liable parties can also make a difference in the compensation available for your injuries.

Some 18-wheeler accident cases settle within a few months, while others take a year or longer. It depends on how serious your injuries are, whether fault is disputed, and how willing the insurance companies are to negotiate.

If you’re still receiving treatment, it may be important to wait until your doctors have a clearer picture of your recovery before settling. Cases involving multiple defendants or that go to trial can take longer.

Your attorney can explain what to expect based on the details of your case.

Property owners and others responsible for maintaining a property have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep it safe. If someone fails to address a dangerous condition and you get hurt as a result, they may be held responsible.

For example, a grocery store could be liable if an employee knew about a spill but failed to clean it up or warn customers. However, not every fall means the property owner was negligent.

A slip-and-fall lawyer can review what happened and help determine whether you have a valid premises liability claim.

If you’ve been hurt in a slip-and-fall accident, getting medical attention should be your first priority. Even if you think your injuries are minor, having them checked by a doctor can help protect your health.

If possible, take pictures of the hazard that caused your fall, report the incident to the property owner or manager, and collect contact information from witnesses.

Keep copies of your medical records, bills, and any communications about the accident. These details may be important if you decide to pursue compensation.

If you’re injured while doing your job in California, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Most employees are covered, and you generally don’t have to prove that your employer caused the accident.

Depending on your injury, benefits may cover medical treatment, a portion of your lost wages, and certain disability-related expenses.

It’s important to report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. If your claim is denied or you’re unsure what benefits you should receive, an attorney can help you understand your options.

In most situations, California workers’ compensation laws prevent employees from suing their employers for ordinary negligence related to a covered workplace injury. Instead, injured workers typically seek benefits through the workers’ compensation system.

However, there are exceptions. You may also have a separate personal injury claim if someone other than your employer caused your injury, such as a negligent contractor, driver, or equipment manufacturer.

A lawyer can review your accident and determine whether you have grounds for a claim beyond workers’ compensation.

Losing someone you love is difficult enough. When their death could have been prevented, your family may also be left with questions about what happened and who is responsible.

A wrongful death claim allows certain surviving family members and other eligible individuals to seek compensation when a person dies because of someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions.

In California, compensation may include funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship, care, and guidance. While no amount of money can replace a loved one, a wrongful death claim can help ease the financial burden and hold the responsible party accountable.

California law allows certain family members and other eligible individuals to file a wrongful death claim. These may include the deceased person’s spouse, domestic partner, children, and certain other relatives.

In some cases, people who depended financially on the deceased may also qualify.

The rules can be complicated, especially when several family members are involved. A wrongful death attorney can help you understand who is eligible to file and what compensation may be available.

In most cases, California gives eligible family members two years from the date of their loved one’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

However, certain situations have shorter deadlines, including some claims involving government agencies. Other exceptions may also apply.

You don’t have to rush into making legal decisions while grieving, but speaking with an attorney early can help protect your family’s rights and preserve important evidence.