Pasadena Personal Injury Lawyer

Pasadena Personal Injury Attorney

In the event that you have suffered injury or damages due to an accident or incident that was caused by another party’s negligent, intentional, or reckless actions, you may have the grounds to pursue a personal injury claim. At Duque & Price, a Pasadena personal injury lawyer can help you pursue legal action to see justice and restoration after your accident. Our attorneys, case managers, and investigators are adept legal professionals ready to assist you.

Whether you are a resident or visitor of Pasadena, California, and surrounding areas, it is important that you know how to access the legal support that is available to you following a personal injury. Duque & Price is made up of professionals who are determined to assist you in navigating the road to recovery and restoration after an accident that was not your fault.

Personal Injury Law Explained

Personal injury law, otherwise known as tort law, is the legal space that addresses individual injuries and damages that occurred due to the neglectful, intentional, or accidental action of another party. These accidents and incidents can emerge from a wide range of settings. Below is a list of the types of personal injury incidents that may happen:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Injuries
• Dog Bites
• Product Defects
• Defamation
• Animal Attacks
• Wrongful Death

At Duque & Price, we offer legal care for individuals who have suffered injury due to the above incidents and more. With every case a client brings to us, we provide excellent counsel and attention to ensure they understand their options and proceed with the ideal route. We have supported thousands of accident victims in California and are eager to support you.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

There are several ways that a personal injury attorney can support their clients in recovering a full settlement amount while fighting for their rights. With their proficient understanding of local laws that impact personal injury in Pasadena and their dedication to uplifting their clients’ rights and desired outcomes, the support of an attorney should not be overlooked. Below are specific ways they assist their clients throughout the claims process:

• Case Consultation and Evaluation: When initially meeting with an attorney, they will thoroughly listen to the details of your case and provide an assessment of whether or not your case is viable for a claim. Upon this initial meeting, they will provide unbiased advice on how to proceed in your unique circumstance and ensure that you have a full understanding of your rights.
• Help With Paperwork and Administrative Concerns: Throughout the entire legal process, an attorney will play a practical role in the case through case management and administration. They will handle the essential tasks related to your claim, such as filling out and filing important documentation on time, communicating between the court, opposing parties, insurance companies, and much more.
• Legal Understanding and Strategy: An attorney offers a deep understanding of local laws and regulations that impact the viability of your claim, and they will employ this knowledge to support your claim. They will establish a solid legal strategy that provides truthful evidence from a detailed investigation and a compelling argument as to why you, as their client, deserve a full and fair settlement for all of your losses.
• Negotiation and Litigation Representation: One of the chief aspects of an attorney’s role during a personal injury claim is their ability to represent their client’s rights and desired ends through compelling negotiation. If negotiations are unsuccessful and the case moves to litigation, an attorney will represent their client in court in front of a judge and jury.
• Advocacy: The advocacy an attorney can provide is unparalleled. They can fight for your interests throughout the entire claims process and will ensure their client’s fair and just treatment. With an attorney as your advocate, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands and can focus more energy on healing both physically and mentally from your accident.

Proving Fault in a Personal Injury Claim

Within personal injury law, establishing fault for an accident is an essential requirement in an injured party’s successful claim. For a personal injury claim to win in court, the plaintiff must prove how the defendant breached their duty of care and caused an accident or incident due to their negligence or intentional actions.

It is the plaintiff’s job to establish that there was indeed a duty of care the defendant owed them and that their failure to maintain this duty led to the incident that caused the injury. A duty of care is understood as the legal obligation an individual holds to act reasonably and to prevent the harm of others.

In the example of premises liability, a landlord holds a duty of care to keep the premises habitable and implement reasonable safety measures. If the landlord fails to uphold their duty of care, and it leads to conditions in the property that result in a tenant injury, the landlord can be held accountable through a personal injury claim for failing to perform their duty to the resident. They may be responsible for paying for the damages their tenant suffered.

The process of proving fault generally involves a detailed investigation process that examines evidence such as police reports, eyewitness testimony, documentation, and more to support the client’s claim. The plaintiff will use this evidence to prove their experience of the incident or accident in negotiations and litigation.

Pasadena Personal Injury Statistics

In the recent United States Census data, Pasadena is reported to have a population of 134,221 residents, which makes it one of the most populous cities in Los Angeles County and in the top 50 populous cities in the state of California. In the city, over 940 individuals were either injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2019.

In Los Angeles County, where Pasadena is located, 28,661 total personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage claims were filed in the fiscal year of 2020-2021. The leading cause of death throughout the state in 2021 was heart disease, followed by cancer, Covid-19, and preventable injury. The state had a preventable injury-related death rate of 53.2 per 100,000 residents.

Average Personal Injury Settlement Amounts in Pasadena

After suffering a personal injury in Pasadena, it is natural to want to discover how much you may receive in a settlement should you pursue a legal claim. There are many figures and amounts available that claim to represent the amount you may receive in a settlement, but these numbers often do not take into consideration the varied factors and individualized circumstances of each case.

Each personal injury claim is highly individual, and two similar car accident injuries can lead to substantially different settlement amounts due to various factors. These factors include economic losses like medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, ongoing treatment, damage repair costs, and more. More factors include non-economic damages like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, emotional distress, and more.

Due to these highly unique factors, it is not helpful to rely on an average amount on which to base your understanding. Instead, you should seek the support of a personal injury attorney who can provide an accurate assessment of the losses you have suffered and a more accurate estimated settlement amount.

How to Respond to a Personal Injury Incident

In the moments following a personal injury, it is normal to experience panic, be overwhelmed, and not know how to react. There are several simple steps to follow after an accident, which can not only ensure your further safety but also help set your case up for a legal claim if it is needed.

• Assess Injuries and Move to a Safe Location: Immediately following an accident, it is important to assess your bodily injuries and those of the people around you. To prevent further injuries and damages, try to move to a safe location if necessary and possible. For example, if you were involved in a car accident on a busy freeway, try to find a safe way to the side of the road.
• Contact Medical Assistance and Local Law Enforcement: If there have been any injuries, contact emergency medical services immediately. You should also call local law enforcement to report the accident. It is required in most jurisdictions to report an accident if it leads to any injury or damage, so make sure there is a police report on file.
• Exchange Contact Information: Exchange contact information with other parties, including names, phone numbers, insurance information, and other relevant details.
• Document the Accident Scene: Photos, videos, or detailed written accounts of the accident scene can be helpful pieces of evidence.
• Contact Insurance: Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible and provide details of your accident.
• Contact a Personal Injury Attorney: Initiate a conversation with a local personal injury attorney to learn how they can help you with your next steps.

FAQs

Q: What Is Defined as a Personal Injury?

A: Any incident or accident that was caused by another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional action that led to an individual’s injury or damage is defined as a personal injury. Personal injury law offers a legal space for harmed and injured parties to seek justice and legal action against the at-fault party. By filing a claim, they can retrieve damage recovery to compensate for their injuries and economic and non-economic losses related to the incident.

Q: What Types of Damages Are Difficult to Prove?

A: Damages that are difficult to prove are non-economic losses. These losses are challenging to demonstrate because they tend to be intangible and not immediately obvious. For instance, pain and suffering, emotional distress and trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, and more are not easily quantifiable damages. It is essential to partner with an experienced attorney to assist in proving the extent of these highly subjective injuries.

Q: How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case in California?

A: The length of time it takes to settle a personal injury case in California can range anywhere from a few months to several years. The timeline of a personal injury claim is highly individual and unique to each case. In the event of a simple claim with agreed-upon terms, settlement negotiations, and fault, the claim can move swiftly. If the claim is highly contested and requires several attempts at negotiations and litigation, it can be a lengthy process.

Q: Do I Have to Pay Taxes on a Personal Injury Settlement in California?

A: You usually do not have to pay taxes on a personal injury settlement in California, but there are some portions of a settlement that may be considered taxable income. Compensation for injuries and non-economic damages is not taxable, but compensation for lost wages can be taxed. Punitive damages are also taxable, and you must report them to the IRS as income.

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in California?

A: The statute of limitations for personal injury in California is typically two years from the date of the accident or incident. A statute of limitations is a legal deadline for filing a claim or initiating legal action against an at-fault party. This means that if you have been injured in a personal injury accident, you have two years from the date of the accident or one year from the date that you discovered your injury to pursue legal action.

Contact a Pasadena and Surrounding Areas Personal Injury Lawyer Today

At Duque & Price, our legal team offers excellent and strategic legal representation for clients who have suffered a personal injury. We believe that if you have had the unfortunate experience of a personal injury, you deserve the opportunity to seek justice and recovery for the damages you have lost. We hope to step in and offer you unbiased counsel and fierce representation in negotiations and litigation.

Reach out today to set up a consultation and learn how we at Duque & Price can partner with you.