While the phrase ‘personal injury’ is commonly heard, few are aware of the meaning until they are hurt by someone else. If you’ve been hurt because of another person’s negligent or careless behavior, a Modesto personal injury attorney from Curtis Legal Group will help you get on the road to a full recovery.
Personal Injury: What Is It?
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Personal injuries arise when individuals act negligently or carelessly, causing harm to others. Personal injury lawsuits allow harmed parties to recover damages, which compensate them for any losses.
Personal injury claims are typically resolved outside of the courtroom through negotiations, but in some instances, these cases do go to trial. Personal Injury Lawyers in Modesto handle all details of these claims, working tirelessly to get clients the compensation they deserve. No matter what kind of case you’re dealing with, we want to help. Call us today.
Types of Cases Handled by Our Firm
Personal injury law encompasses several claim types, and Curtis Law Group handles a wide range of cases. The sections below explain some of our most common personal injury claim types; if we don’t see your kind of case below, it’s likely that we can still help. Don’t wait—get the help you need today by calling and scheduling a consultation with a Modesto personal injury attorney.
Auto Accidents
Auto accidents are quite common on Modesto’s crowded highways. Aside from the costs of injury treatment and rehabilitation, collisions often cause significant property damage. If you’re in an accident, our lawyers can help you get compensation for all the damages you’ve suffered. No matter whether an accident is serious or minor, it’s important to seek legal advice. Call or click today to schedule a no-obligation initial consultation with a Modesto injury attorney.
Dog Bites
While dogs are man’s best friend, they’re still wild at heart—which means they sometimes attack other animals and humans. If you are bitten by someone else’s dog, that person is liable for any losses you suffer. It’s important to report dog bites to the local health department so the animal can be screened for rabies. When dogs bite, we’re there to help. Contact our Modesto personal injury team for help getting the compensation you need.
Premises Liability
Business owners are responsible for ensuring the safety of their premises, but they sometimes fail in that regard. For instance, a slip-and-fall injury caused by a slippery floor may lead to a claim under the state’s premises liability law.
If a person owns and manages a space where others are invited in, visitors have a reasonable expectation that the space will be safe. In some instances, the duty of care even extends to trespassers. A Modesto personal injury lawyer will assess your case’s facts and determine the strength and validity of the claim.
Wrongful Death
Sometimes, personal injuries are fatal. If a family member loses their life in an accident, survivors may be able to file a wrongful death claim. The damages in these claims are typically much higher than those in other injury cases. If you’ve lost a loved one because of someone else’s actions, you may be able to receive:
- The decedent’s future income
- Their medical insurance and benefits
- Grief counseling
- Other non-economic damages
When loved ones die because of others’ behavior, a Modesto personal injury attorney can help families get the compensation they need to move on.
Medical Malpractice
Physicians and other providers must treat patients according to a certain standard of care. Doctors are only human, though, and they sometimes make mistakes. If a doctor’s omissions or actions cause injury, clients and their families may be eligible to receive damages for medical malpractice. In cases involving fatal injuries, wrongful death claims are also possible.
The injuries suffered by medical malpractice victims are often severe. Because they’re so significant, it’s important for families to seek legal advice as soon as the potential for such a claim arises.
Construction Site Accidents
Employers must maintain safe workspaces for employees. If they do not do so, they’re responsible for any injuries and losses those workers suffer. Injuries can happen in any workplace, but some environments are riskier than others.
With dangerous tools and heavy equipment around, construction sites are some of the state’s most dangerous workplaces. Our team of attorneys has considerable experience helping victims recover from construction site injuries.
Product Liability
As consumers, we have the right to use products with the expectation that they will be safe for the intended purpose. If you’ve bought a hair dryer, for instance, you should be able to use it without the fear of scalp or hair burns. If such an accident occurs, the hair dryer’s manufacturer may be held responsible for the injury. Product liability statutes apply to most consumer products, including:
- Over the counter and prescription drugs
- Toys
- Food
- Automobiles
- Electronics
- Kitchen appliances and utensils
Regardless of the type of product involved, the rules are the same. Manufacturers must provide products that are safe to use as intended. If these products are misused, however, a product liability claim may not be possible. If you’ve suffered injuries because of a faulty product, let our firm’s attorneys review the case and see how they can help.
California’s Statute of Limitations
Anyone who has suffered an injury because of another person’s actions is eligible to pursue compensation from the responsible party. They can’t, however, wait too long to file a claim.
To prevent unnecessary delays, California has created statutes of limitations—sometimes called time limits—for personal injury claims. If a case is not filed before time is up, any future filings on the same matter can be dismissed in court.
Almost all personal injury claims filed in California have a two-year statute of limitations, and the clock starts ticking when the injury occurs. However, not all conditions are readily apparent. For injuries discovered after an event, the time limit is just one year.
For instance, a doctor may have prescribed a dangerous drug several years ago, but a patient may not have suffered any ill effects until the current year. They’d still have a year to bring a claim, starting the day symptoms appeared.
Personal injury cases don’t always involve physical harm; in some cases, they involve property damage. Californians have three years to file a claim after they’ve lost property because of someone else’s wrongful actions.
If a person files a claim against a county, city, or state government agency, they have just six months to act. Furthermore, they must follow numerous rules for a successful case. Claims against government entities are complex, and it’s wise to have legal representation in such matters.
The statute of limitations may be tolled—or suspended—in certain circumstances. If you go to prison and don’t have access to an attorney, the statute would be suspended until your release date.
What Type of Damages Are Available in Personal Injury Claims in Modesto?
Every personal injury claim is different, and several types of damages are available. Awards depend on factors such as case circumstances and the nature of the victim’s injuries. Damages typically include:
- Lost income
- Medical bills
- Loss of earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of companionship and consortium
In some cases, plaintiffs may be eligible to receive punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish someone for egregious behavior, and they are assessed against at-fault parties whose malicious or intentional actions caused a plaintiff’s harm.
Our experienced legal team can handle any type of personal injury case. Whether you’re coping with the aftermath of a truck accident, a sexual assault, or a workplace accident, we’re here to help by calculating an appropriate level of damages and working toward a fair and reasonable resolution.
Injuries Can Happen Almost Anywhere—Are You Ready?
Accidents can happen anywhere, and Modesto’s people aren’t the type to sit around and wait for them to occur. After all, there’s a lot to see and do in the city, from watching high school football games to visiting the Certified Farmer’s market on weekends. Life moves fast in Modesto, and people don’t have time to let injuries slow them down.
Unfortunately, injuries are a fact of life. When they do happen, the team at Curtis Legal Group will help injured victims work within the system and get the compensation to which they are entitled. Injuries can happen anytime, anywhere—and when they do, having a legal firm with experience and knowledge is crucial to achieving a favorable outcome.
Contact a Modesto Personal Injury Attorney Who Can Get the Job Done
After a careless, reckless, malicious, or intentional act causes serious injury to a resident of the Central Valley, they should have legal help in their corner. Contact Curtis Legal Group for a no-obligation case evaluation and consultation. We take a personalized, hands-on approach to each case, and we believe that all clients should work directly with their attorneys, get honest recommendations, and the attention that their case deserves. Request additional information via our online contact form or call today to schedule a meeting with a Modesto personal injury attorney.