Richmond is one of the most beautiful cities in California in which to live, sitting on a larger area of waterfront than any other city in the Bay Area. With San Francisco nearby, Richmond offers a combination of a great climate, access to the outdoors, and plenty of entertainment options in the vicinity.
But as wonderful as Richmond is, no city–or the people within it–is completely free of problems. Indeed, there are thousands of car accidents, slip and falls, and other serious injuries reported in Richmond every year.
If you have suffered an injury in Richmond, CA, our injury lawyers want to help you. After suffering an injury as a result of the actions of another, you have rights, including the right to seek compensation for the full extent of your injuries. Our lawyers are here to not only guide you through the process, but also fight for your rights.
Our Richmond Injury Practice Areas
There are a myriad of ways in which a person can be injured. Our lawyers understand this, and are highly experienced in a wide range of practice areas, allowing us to represent you no matter the type of accident in which you’ve been involved. Over the years, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on the behalf of our clients, and have experience in the following personal injury practice areas:
- Car accidents;
- Large truck accidents;
- Motorcycle accidents;
- Bicycle and pedestrian crashes;
- Elder abuse and nursing home neglect;
- Slip and fall accidents;
- Wrongful death;
- Medical malpractice;
- Premises liability cases;
- Defective product cases; and
- More.
If you have been injured in Richmond and believe that someone else was to blame for your accident, don’t hesitate to call our injury attorneys immediately.
Liability for an Accident and Injury in California
Following an accident caused by the actions of another party, you may not know what your rights are. In California, you have the right to bring forth a personal injury claim for damages when another’s breach of the duty of care owed to you results in injury and other losses. A “breach of the duty of care” typically refers to an act of negligence – the failure to act with a reasonable degree of care.
What is considered “reasonable” is dependent upon the situation and the parties involved. For example, a property owner has a duty to maintain their property in a safe condition, and the failure to do this is considered unreasonable. The driver of a car also has a duty to operate their vehicle safely and responsibly, which means that something like texting while driving is considered unreasonable. If a party does something that is negligent and leads to another’s harm, they can be held liable for all damages that result.
As a note, California maintains a rule of comparative negligence, which means that while you will still be allowed to pursue damages against another party if you contributed to your accident and injuries, your recovery award will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault. Indeed, you can only hold another party liable for their percent of negligence.
Damages Recoverable in a Personal Injury Action
If you bring forth a personal injury action and are able to prove that your injuries would not have occurred but for the actions of the party against whom you are filing a claim, you may seek compensation for the full extent of damages available. This includes:
- Economic damages. Economic damages are actual financial losses that you have suffered. Examples of economic damages include property damage costs, medical expenses, and the value of your lost wages and loss of earning capacity.
- Noneconomic damages. Noneconomic damages are harder to calculate because these damages are intangible, and refer to the value of noneconomic harm you have suffered. The value of your pain, suffering, emotional anguish, psychological distress, and diminished quality of life are examples of noneconomic damages.
- Punitive damages. Punitive damages are not compensatory; instead, they are designed to punish a defendant for an egregious action. Per California code, punitive damages are available when the defendant acted with oppression, fraud, or malice.
Our attorneys work hard to improve your chances of recovering your full compensation amount. Not only do we work with experts who can determine the value of your claim, but we also negotiate your settlement.
Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
If you are injured, it is important that you act quickly. If you fail to file a suit within two years’ time from the date of your accident, you will be barred from recovery per California’s statute of limitations, which is found in the Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1.
The statute of limitations is not the only reason you should act quickly, though. In addition to filing your claim within the legal time limit, acting quickly also improves the chances that evidence essential to your claim is preserved. This can ultimately have a positive effect on your case and settlement. Please be advised that your potential case is governed by a statute of limitations (a limited time period in which you must begin a lawsuit). Statutes of limitations differ depending on the type of case involved. Some of these time periods may be as short as six months, while others can be as long as two years. We do not have enough information to identify which statute of limitations applies in your case. You should consult with a lawyer, the California Code of Civil Procedure, internet resources, and/or visit your law library to identify the applicable statute of limitations for your matter.
Our Injury Lawyers in Richmond, CA Are Here to Represent You
Filing a personal injury claim on your own can be an intimidating process. You may not understand the law, or your rights under it. What’s more, as you focus on your recovery, you may not have the time or the ability to open an investigation into your accident and determine what happened, who’s to blame, and what actions to take next.
When you hire our accident lawyers, we manage all elements of your injury claim from the investigation to settlement negotiations to litigation. We have 15 highly skilled lawyers as part of our team, and have a strong reputation of excellence in the community. To schedule your free case review, please call our law firm today. You can also get in touch with us by using the online form on our website to tell us more about your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, and never charge upfront fees.
