Santa Ana Personal Injury Lawyer

Santa Ana Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been in a Santa Ana accident that led to injuries, then you are likely feeling overwhelmed and reeling from the aftermath of your accident, especially if it was caused by the neglect or wrongdoing of another party. Fortunately, a skilled and experienced Santa Ana personal injury lawyer is here to assist you with getting the compensation you are entitled to after your accident. A seasoned attorney from our firm can help you recover medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs.

At Duque & Price, our compassionate legal professionals understand how painful an accident can be. We are here to help the claims process go as smoothly as possible. With decades of personal injury law experience, our legal team has the mentality and skillset to represent your case. From leveraging fierce negotiation skills with insurance companies to demonstrating clear evidence for your case in court, our lawyers can help you obtain an optimal settlement.

Santa Ana Personal Injury Statistics

Santa Ana is located in Orange County, where it serves as the second-most populous city in the county and is the county seat. While general personal injury statistics are not available for the city of Santa Ana, the statistics for Orange County reflect the patterns of personal injury and the nature of the accidents in the area. Unintentional injuries are caused by incidents such as traffic accidents, slip and fall accidents, and poison consumption.

According to the CDPH Vital Statistics Death Statistical Master Files, in 2020, there were 1,150 deaths in Orange County that were the direct result of an unintentional injury. Based on the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development’s inpatient discharge data, there were a total of 15,533 non-fatal hospitalizations in Orange County that were caused by unintentional injuries in 2015.

Of the 2015 non-fatal hospitalizations in Orange County, the majority of them (8,746) were caused by falls. Other leading causes were unintentional injuries due to motor vehicle accidents, poisoning, natural/environmental accidents, and being struck by an object. By staying informed about the common forms of unintentional injuries, people in Santa Ana can take adequate steps to ensure their safety and avoid such accidents.

Common Injuries Seen in Santa Ana Personal Injury Cases

There are a wide variety of injuries that can occur as a result of a personal injury accident. These can vary based on the nature of the injury, the type of accident that occurred, the affected body part, and the severity of the injury. Injuries commonly seen by the legal professionals at Duque & Price include:

• Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissue injuries may be harder to detect due to the difficulty of finding such injuries with diagnostic imaging. They include injuries that affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These injuries can be strains, sprains, or contusions. Symptoms can include swelling, pain, and difficulty of movement.
• Cuts and Burns: Cuts and lacerations include deep tears of the skin and tissue beneath, while burns also affect the skin. Both cuts and burns can lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement, which can impact the quality of the victim’s life.
• Fractures: Bone fractures are commonly a result of high-impact accidents, such as slip and fall accidents, car accidents, and construction accident injuries. Broken bones commonly seen include the arms, legs, nose, collarbone, and rib cage.
• Whiplash: Whiplash is a minor neck injury that results from a sudden jerking motion, and it is often observed in traffic accident victims. Whiplash symptoms often include stiffness or pain in the neck, in addition to dizziness or headaches.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries are serious brain injuries that can result from a sudden force or collision with the head. These can range from more minor concussions to serious brain damage that results in cognitive or physical disability.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: These serious injuries are caused by damage to the spinal cord. They can lead to partial or complete paralysis, which is characterized by a loss of movement and sensation in the body. Spinal cord injuries are commonly caused by traffic accidents, slip and falls, and violent acts.
• Internal Injuries: Internal injuries are complex, as they involve damage to intricate organ systems. Such accidents are usually a result of blunt force trauma, and they can include complications such as organ perforation, internal bleeding, and other forms of damage to organs like the kidneys or liver.
• Psychological Injuries: As personal injury accidents can be extremely distressing due to their life-threatening or hazardous nature, they can often lead to psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety.

If you have faced any of these injuries or other kinds of injuries, such as joint, dental, or back injuries, a compassionate and skilled personal injury lawyer from Duque & Price can help you get the compensation you are entitled to, which can cover the medical expenses associated with your injuries. Furthermore, if you have scarring or disfigurements or are dealing with pain and suffering due to your injuries, our legal team can help you pursue compensation for these damages as well.

What Compensation Can I Get From My Santa Ana Personal Injury Settlement?

If you were injured in an accident caused by another party’s recklessness, negligence, or wrongdoing, then you are likely entitled to compensation under California law. The types of compensation that you may be specifically able to receive are dependent on the details of your case, including the severity of your injuries and whether you were out of work as a result. A dedicated lawyer from Duque & Price can help you recover the following:

• Medical Expenses: This covers all the costs associated with diagnosing, treating, and caring for the injuries associated with your accident.
• Lost Wages: If you were out of work due to your injuries, a dedicated personal injury lawyer can help you recover lost wages.
• Property Damages: You can recover funds to replace or repair property that was damaged due to your accident.
• Scarring and Disfigurement: This compensation is granted to accident victims who have suffered disfigurement or scarring as a result of their accident.
• Pain and Suffering: Pain and suffering compensation is for individuals who continue to experience physical pain and emotional suffering due to their accident.

Additionally, you may be entitled to further compensation for other damages, such as loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, or punitive damages. A dedicated personal injury attorney from Duque & Price can evaluate your case, including the extent of your damages, and help you determine what type of compensation you are entitled to.

Do I Need a Santa Ana Personal Injury Lawyer?

While being aware of the common causes of personal injury accidents in Santa Ana can help residents take adequate safety precautions, this does not guarantee that they can avoid an accident. Unfortunately, there are a myriad of negligent and irresponsible actors out there who can cause accidents, even if the other parties involved are on high alert and exercising precautions. A personal injury lawyer can help you prove this negligence through the relevant legal processes.

If you were injured due to the negligence or hostile acts of another party, you are entitled under state law to get compensation for your damages. A Santa Ana personal injury lawyer can analyze the details of your case, helping determine the nature and extent of the damages associated with your case. They can then create a legal strategy that aids you in recovering the money that you have lost due to the expenses related to your accident.

A key part of the claims process is proving the fault of the other party, which can be achieved through gathering evidence, such as witness testimony, photos, and video footage. By proving the liability of the other party or parties and adequately demonstrating the extent of your economic and non-economic damages, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the legal system to ultimately obtain an optimal settlement for you.

Therefore, if you have been injured in an accident that may have been the fault of another person or organization, it is advised to work with a personal injury lawyer. A compassionate personal injury lawyer from Duque & Price can leverage their experience and deep knowledge of personal injury law in the area and state. They can ensure that your rights are protected and that you get access to the compensation and benefits you are entitled to under the law.

Average Personal Injury Settlement Amounts in Santa Ana

The average personal injury settlement amount in Santa Ana is dependent on various factors, such as:

• The nature and severity of your injuries
• The amount of evidence showing the liability of the other party
• The experience of your legal representation
• The amount of time that you are out of work
• Your salary prior to the accident

By working directly with a Santa Ana personal injury lawyer, you can get a better understanding of the settlement amount that you are entitled to.

Individuals facing more minor injuries, such as a minor concussion or whiplash, can expect to receive lower settlement amounts compared to the average. This is due to having fewer medical bills and less expected time off work. More serious injuries, such as spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries, can result in a long-lasting or temporary disability that tremendously impacts the victim’s life, therefore leading to greater settlements.

FAQs

Can a Personal Injury Settlement Be Garnished in California?

In California, personal injury settlements are generally protected from garnishment from creditors. This allows individuals to use the compensation awarded to them for critical medical expenses and rehabilitation. However, there are key considerations to take into account. If an individual has government debts, such as unpaid federal student loans or taxes, their settlement will not be protected from garnishment. Furthermore, if the individual owes child support or alimony payments, their personal injury settlement can be garnished.

Is a Personal Injury Settlement Considered Separate Property in California?

In a California marriage, whether a personal injury settlement is considered to be community property or separate property is dependent on different factors, such as when the injury happened and the nature of the awarded damages. If the settlement was awarded before the marriage, it will likely be considered separate property. However, if it was received during the marriage, it will likely be community property. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand if your settlement is community or separate property.

What Is the Hardest Injury to Treat?

Generally, the injuries that are the hardest to treat include those that:

• Involve complex systems of the body.
• Have long-lasting consequences.
• Require drawn-out and comprehensive treatment plans.

Injuries that are challenging to treat include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Multi-trauma injuries
• Organ damage
• Severe fractures and burns

If you have suffered such an injury due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, it’s important to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

What Is the Most Painful Type of Injury?

While it can be difficult to identify which type of injury is the most painful due to the subjective nature of pain, injuries that are more painful generally are dependent on the affected body part, the nature of the injury, and the patient’s level of pain tolerance. If you have been injured in an accident caused by the wrongdoing or recklessness of another individual, you may be able to file a claim for compensation for any pain and suffering associated with your injuries.

Get Compensation for Your Injuries Now With a Santa Ana Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have suffered injuries due to an accident caused by another party, you should get in contact with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. They can evaluate your case, help you gather evidence, and work to get the compensation you are entitled to before it is too late. A skilled and experienced Santa Ana personal injury lawyer from Duque & Price is here to help you navigate the claims process and get your compensation. Contact us today to get started.