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Suffering an injury resulting from someone else’s negligence can be a frustrating, debilitating, and stressful experience. To make matters worse, you often have to deal with an uncooperative perpetrator and a stingy insurance company after the injury. If you’re worried about securing the full and fair compensation you need to pay off your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and property damages, help is right around the corner.
If you live in the San Mateo area and were injured in an accident, consider Danko Meredith for highly personalized care and expert legal advice. We stand up for the rights of those injured due to the carelessness or wrongful conduct of another, and we work hard in and out of the courtroom to obtain the compensation you and your family need to move forward. Speak with an experienced San Mateo personal injury attorney by sending us a message or calling us (650) 453-3600. We offer a free initial consultation to get your case started.
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If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s careless, reckless, or intentional actions, you may have the right to financial compensation with the help of a San Mateo personal injury lawyer. Though no amount of money could make up for the pain and suffering that stems from a devastating injury, regaining compensation after a personal injury lawsuit may help you take the next step toward making you whole again after the accident.
In simple terms, a personal injury lawsuit is a civil action meant to hold someone accountable for the harm they caused. The responsible person’s insurance company will offer a financial settlement to the injured person for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other ongoing medical expenses.
Likewise, though the term “lawsuit” may outwardly insinuate a stressful and expensive court case, it’s important to note that most cases are settled out of court through informal early settlement negotiations, usually among those personally involved in the dispute, insurers, and lawyers representing both sides. A settlement often results from negotiation, followed by a written agreement where both sides forgo any further legal action, choosing instead to resolve the matter through payment of an agreeable amount of money.
A severe personal injury can have a profound and lasting effect, which may include financial struggles, emotional challenges, and a diminished quality of life. As such, it’s crucial to secure the help of an experienced lawyer who will fight for your rights and remain by your side throughout the legal process. Here are just a few reasons why the knowledgeable attorneys at Danko Meredith should be your top choice:
At Danko Meredith, our injury attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront fees or costs of any kind, and our clients pay our fees only if we win the case. When we win, we deduct our fee percentage directly from the settlement so that the clients don’t have to pay out of pocket. Our San Mateo personal injury lawyers understand that accident victims often find themselves under sudden financial hardship, so we strive to make legal representation affordable for everyone.
We leave no stone unturned, and we care about our clients. By entrusting us with your claims, you can ensure that you’ll be on the road to financial, physical, emotional recovery after the accident.
After sustaining an injury resulting from someone else’s negligence, several financial burdens can begin to accumulate. You have a legal right to proceed with a case against the at-fault party, who’s responsible for paying you for these monetary losses. If you’re considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, you may be wondering, “What’s my case really worth?” The answer comes down to “damages”—figuring out what your injuries have cost you monetarily, physically, and mentally.
The precise amount you’re owed varies from case to case and can depend on any of the moving parts that pertain to your case. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer may be able to determine your anticipated compensation more precisely after looking into the details of your case.
In general, California’s personal injury law empowers accident victims to obtain fair compensation from those who caused or contributed to their injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation expenses, and pain or emotional distress they’ve experienced or will experience in the future. This can make up for the inability to participate in activities such as sports, music, gardening, or other hobbies. Personal injury compensation aims to return the injured person as closely as possible to the life they once enjoyed before their injury.
Our trial law firm represents individuals in almost all types of personal injury claims. We have successfully handled lawsuits involving:
To discuss the viability of your case and whether or not we may be able to represent you, contact us for a free consultation. We’ll listen to the details of your specific accident, investigate the specifics of your case, and determine whether you have grounds for a claim.
If you believe you have grounds for a personal injury claim, it’s important to keep in mind the statute of limitations. Missing your deadline generally means giving up the right to seek damages, as the courts won’t hear a case after the statute of limitations has passed.
In California, you typically have two years from the date of your injury to file your claim. If the date on which you discovered your injuries differs from the accident date, you will generally have two years from the date of discovery. Note, however, that the deadline to file can be as short as six months if the defendant is a government agency.
Determining the particular statute of limitations that applies depends on the specific facts of the case and can be tricky. It’s best to consult accident attorneys experienced in California personal injury law as soon as possible after the accident for the best chances at success.
For a case to succeed, the plaintiff must prove each of these four elements that make up a personal injury claim.
Evidence of each of these elements lays the groundwork for a personal injury claim, but the proof that establishes each element isn’t always apparent from the outset. That’s where an experienced attorney comes in. While you focus on healing, a legal professional may be able to build your case by researching the legal precedent, interviewing witnesses, and subpoenaing documents.
Before you make your first phone call to an injury attorney, gather information and documents relating to your accident and injuries. Your lawyer may ask for a police report, medical records, and any letters you received from any insurance companies. The more information you have about who or what caused your accident, the better.
However, note that while having plenty of information on hand can help an attorney give you an honest and accurate evaluation, it’s most important to be prepared to relay what happened and describe how your injuries impact your life. Your truthful account may be enough to give the attorney an idea of whether you have a valid claim and what the next steps should be. Following an initial consultation, we’ll conduct a full investigation of your accident to gather the necessary evidence. Even if all you have is your story, contact a personal injury lawyer in San Mateo for assistance.
Not all personal injury cases go to trial. In fact, the majority of injury claims settle during pretrial negotiations. However, if the insurance company or other defendant denies the claim or refuses to agree to a fair settlement, the case may need to proceed to trial if you wish to attempt to obtain the compensation to which you’re entitled. The possibility of a trial is the main reason to secure the help of an attorney with trial experience from the get-go.
The San Mateo personal injury attorneys at Danko Meredith have the experience, skill, and resources needed to maximize your chances of obtaining fair compensation from an injury claim arising anywhere in California, including Redwood City, San Mateo, Palo Alto, and the San Francisco Bay area. We’re dedicated to seeing your case through to the end, and our attorneys will fight aggressively for a fair award, no matter the type of accident or injuries you or a family member suffered.
At Danko Meredith, we’ve been named one of the Best Law Firms in America by US News & World Report, and our premier personal injury lawyers are consistently listed among California’s elite. We care about you and will be with you throughout the entirety of the legal process. No matter the complexity or size of the case, we’ll commit our full attention to all of our clients who deserve justice. For a free consultation, give us a call at (650) 453-3600 or complete our contact form today.