Were you injured because of someone else’s negligence in El Segundo, California? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact our law firm, J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (323) 284-2834 for a free consultation with an experienced El Segundo personal injury lawyer.
After an accident, you may be facing medical expenses, time away from work, and uncertainty about what to do next. Our law firm can help you understand your legal rights and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to receive.
Why Choose J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers to Handle My El Segundo Personal Injury Case?
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence in El Segundo, CA, choosing the right legal team can make a difference in how your case is handled. J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to protect your rights and help you pursue fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Our El Segundo personal injury attorneys have 20 years of combined experience handling personal injury claims. We understand the challenges injured people face and can guide you through each stage of the legal process.
Our attorney has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients. We can evaluate the circumstances of your accident, explain your options, and advocate for your best interests throughout your claim.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help with your case.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
You may have a personal injury case if you were hurt because another person, business, or organization acted negligently. Generally, you will need to show that the other party owed you a duty of care, failed to meet that duty, and caused an accident that resulted in injuries and damages.
Because every situation is different, speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether you have a valid claim and what legal options may be available.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help protect your rights and give you support throughout the claims process. Insurance companies often have experienced adjusters and attorneys working to minimize what they pay, so having your own legal advocate can be important.
A personal injury lawyer can help you:
- Level the playing field: An attorney can handle negotiations with insurance companies and advocate for fair compensation on your behalf.
- Work with experts: Your lawyer may consult medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, economists, and other experts when necessary to strengthen your case.
- Respond when you’re blamed: Insurance companies may argue that you caused or contributed to the accident. An attorney can gather evidence and challenge unfair allegations of fault.
- Give you time to rest: Your lawyer can handle the legal details while you focus on your medical treatment and recovery.
Having legal representation can make the claims process less overwhelming and help you protect your interests.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
There is no standard amount that every personal injury case is worth. The value of your claim will depend on the specific circumstances of your accident, your injuries, and how they affect your life.
Factors that may influence the value of your case include:
- The severity and nature of your injuries
- How long it takes you to recover
- Whether your injuries cause permanent limitations
- The strength of the evidence in your case
- Whether liability is clear or disputed
- Whether you share responsibility for the accident
- The credibility and availability of witnesses
- The parties involved in the accident
- The amount of available insurance coverage
- Whether your case settles or proceeds to trial
An attorney can review these factors and provide a better understanding of what your personal injury case may be worth.
What Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
Accident victims may be entitled to recover compensation for the financial, physical, and emotional consequences of their injuries. Depending on the circumstances, damages may include economic damages, non-economic damages, and, in limited cases, punitive damages.
Economic damages compensate you for the financial losses caused by your accident and injuries. These losses typically have a specific dollar value and can often be established through bills, receipts, wage statements, and other records.
Economic damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Both past and reasonably anticipated future financial losses may be considered when determining your economic damages.
Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that do not have a specific financial value. They address the personal ways your injuries may affect your physical comfort, emotional well-being, and everyday life.
Non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Physical impairment
- Inconvenience
- Loss of consortium
The value of these damages depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, your recovery, and their long-term impact on your life.
Punitive damages are different from economic and non-economic damages because they are intended to punish especially wrongful conduct and deter similar behavior. In California, punitive damages may be available when there is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with oppression, fraud, or malice.
They are not available in every personal injury case and usually require more than ordinary negligence.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Partially At Fault for an Accident in California?
Yes. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can typically recover compensation even if you share responsibility for an accident. However, your compensation may be reduced according to your percentage of fault.
For example, if you have $100,000 in damages but are found 20% responsible for the accident, your recovery could be reduced to $80,000. Unlike states that prevent recovery once an injured person reaches a certain percentage of fault, California allows you to seek compensation even if you were mostly responsible.
Because fault directly affects how much you can recover, insurance companies may try to place more blame on you. Evidence from the accident can be important when determining how responsibility should be divided.
We Handle All Types of Personal Injury Cases in El Segundo
Personal injury cases can arise from many different types of accidents. J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers represents people injured because of negligence throughout El Segundo and the surrounding communities.
We can help with cases involving the following:
Car Accidents
Car crashes can cause serious injuries and leave victims facing unexpected financial and personal challenges. Our El Segundo car accident lawyers can help you pursue compensation when another driver causes a collision through speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, unsafe turns, or other negligent behavior.
Truck Accidents
Commercial truck crashes often cause severe injuries because of the size and weight of these vehicles. Our El Segundo truck accident lawyers can investigate the circumstances of your crash and determine whether a truck driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, or another party may be responsible.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists have little protection in collisions, increasing the risk of serious injury. Our El Segundo motorcycle accident lawyers can help if you were injured by a careless driver. We can gather evidence, address disputes over fault, and pursue compensation for your accident-related losses.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians can suffer life-changing injuries when struck by cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Our pedestrian accident lawyers can investigate whether speeding, distracted driving, failure to yield, or another form of negligence contributed to your accident and help you pursue compensation from responsible parties.
Slip & Fall Accidents
Property owners may be responsible when dangerous conditions cause lawful visitors to suffer injuries. Our slip and fall accident lawyers can evaluate whether hazards such as spills, uneven flooring, poor lighting, or damaged walkways contributed to your fall and resulting injuries.
Wrongful Death
Losing a family member because of someone else’s negligence can have lasting emotional and financial consequences. Our wrongful death lawyers can help eligible surviving family members understand their rights and pursue compensation and accountability from those responsible for their loved one’s death.
What Are Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases?
Accidents can cause many different injuries, ranging from relatively minor conditions to permanent disabilities. The type and severity of your injuries can affect your medical treatment, recovery time, and personal injury claim.
Common injuries include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Internal organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Amputations
- Scarring and disfigurement
Even injuries that initially seem minor can worsen over time, making it important to seek medical attention after an accident.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Personal Injury?
The party responsible for a personal injury depends on how and where the accident occurred. In some cases, more than one person or organization may share liability for an injured person’s losses.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- Negligent drivers
- Employers
- Property owners
- Businesses
- Manufacturers
- Contractors
- Government entities
- Other individuals or organizations whose negligence contributed to the accident
Identifying every potentially responsible party can be important because it may affect your legal options and the compensation available in your case.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay upfront attorney’s fees. Instead, your lawyer receives an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation recovered in your case.
If there is no recovery, you usually do not owe attorney’s fees. You can also discuss fees and potential case costs during your free consultation.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
The steps you take after an accident can affect your health and your ability to pursue a personal injury claim.
If you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, consider taking the following steps:
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Report the accident to the appropriate person or authorities.
- Take photographs and videos of the accident scene.
- Collect contact information from witnesses.
- Keep copies of medical bills, records, and other documents.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies without understanding your rights.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations.
- Speak with a personal injury lawyer about your legal options.
Taking these steps can help protect important evidence and create documentation that may support your personal injury claim.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?
A personal injury lawyer can handle the legal details of your claim while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Your attorney can protect your rights and help you pursue fair compensation from the responsible parties.
A personal injury lawyer can:
- Investigate how your accident happened
- Gather and preserve important evidence
- Identify potentially responsible parties
- Review medical records and other documentation
- Calculate the value of your damages
- Handle communications with insurance companies
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- Respond to allegations that you caused the accident
- File a lawsuit and take your case to trial when necessary
Having an attorney handle these responsibilities can reduce your burden and help you navigate the personal injury claims process.
Personal Injury FAQs
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Accident in California?
In California, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. However, exceptions can shorten or extend the filing period depending on the circumstances, including cases involving government entities or delayed discovery of an injury.
Missing the applicable deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation, so it is important to act promptly.
What Is Negligence, and How Do I Prove It?
Negligence occurs when someone fails to use reasonable care and causes another person to suffer harm. Most personal injury claims require you to prove four basic elements: the defendant owed you a duty of care, they breached that duty, the breach caused your injuries, and you suffered damages as a result.
Evidence such as photographs, videos, accident reports, witness statements, medical records, and expert testimony may help establish these elements.
Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Most personal injury cases are resolved through a settlement rather than a trial. However, a trial may become necessary if the parties disagree about liability, the value of your damages, or the amount of compensation you should receive.
Your attorney can negotiate on your behalf while preparing your case for court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
How Long Will My Injury Case Take?
There is no set timeline for resolving a personal injury case. Some claims settle within a few months, while more complicated cases can take a year or longer. The timeline may depend on the severity of your injuries, how long you need medical treatment, whether liability is disputed, and whether the case goes to trial.
Your attorney can provide a better estimate after reviewing the specific circumstances of your claim.
Contact Our Experienced El Segundo Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help
If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence in El Segundo, California, you do not have to navigate the legal process on your own. J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers can review the circumstances of your accident, explain your legal options, and help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
Our experienced El Segundo personal injury lawyers are prepared to protect your rights throughout the claims process. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help with your case.