Santa Monica Personal Injury Lawyers
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Our Santa Monica Personal Injury Lawyers Offer Client-Focused Legal Representation
If you were injured somewhere in the city of Santa Monica, whether at home, on the road, or in a public space, our Santa Monica personal injury lawyers are here to help! We can assist you in pursuing compensation for your medical bills, pain & suffering, and related losses. Call us at (888) 488-1391 for a free, no-obligation initial consultation.
The city of Santa Monica is one of the most famous coastal communities in Los Angeles. Santa Monica Bay is one of the most stunning waterfront areas in Southern California. Santa Monica was an idyllic getaway for the famous during the early 20th century.
Residential and commercial development helped Santa Monica become a haven for wealthy celebrities. It attracts tourists from all over the country who enjoy exploring the Santa Monica pier and other landmarks throughout the city.
Approximately 89,000 residents call Santa Monica home. Some of the largest oceanfront homes are located along the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica. Also, the city of Santa Monica is close to Venice, Mar Vista, West L.A., Brentwood, and Pacific Palisades. Many long-term residents enjoy living in Santa Monica due to its close proximity to the popular cities in the greater Los Angeles area.
Santa Monica is featured in many films and television shows. The tourism industry in Santa Monica has grown over the past two decades. Many small and mid-sized businesses are creating more jobs in Santa Monica. Unfortunately, the rising popularity of the city means that more accidents occur each month.
Many people suffer personal injuries during automobile accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents in Santa Monica. Some of these accidents cause individuals to suffer serious bodily injury or death. Suffering personal injuries can be frightening, and it can be frustrating to think that the person who caused your injuries will not suffer any consequences. However, you have the legal right to seek financial compensation for your injuries.
Serious bodily injuries can range from contusions and minor lacerations to spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Unfortunately, some individuals suffer temporary or permanent disability due to the injuries they suffer during an accident.
A Santa Monica personal injury lawyer can help you understand how to gather evidence that will substantiate your claims. Medical bills, lost earnings, and financial insecurity can make recovering from your injuries extremely stressful. By retaining a personal injury lawyer, you can stand up for your legal rights and pursue monetary compensation for your injuries.
The party that caused your injuries likely had automobile liability insurance. The liable party’s insurance company may attempt to deny or delay the payment of your insurance claim. Also, an insurance company may offer you an initial settlement that may not reflect the full extent of your losses.
Having a Santa Monica personal injury lawyer on your side can help you manage negotiations with the insurance company more effectively. If you obtain legal representation, you will have a better understanding of the legal options available to you.
(No guarantee of outcome. Results displayed were dependent on unique facts of that case, and different facts will bring different results.)
Accidents In Santa Monica
From 2006 to 2016, the Santa Monica Police Department documented approximately 280 fatal accidents and accidents involving serious bodily injuries. Every year, nearly one hundred automobile accidents involving bodily injuries occurred from 2001 to 2012. A large number of injuries in Santa Monica affect bicyclists and pedestrians.
Some of the areas that have a high number of accidents include Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica Boulevard, Main Street, Ocean Park Boulevard, and Santa Monica. Pedestrian safety has been addressed by the Santa Monica City Council. In 2016, the city council instituted the Pedestrian Action Plan. The primary goal of this resolution is to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents in the city of Santa Monica.
However, pedestrians suffer bodily injuries during accidents in Santa Monica. One person died in 2017 while crossing Santa Monica Boulevard while exercising. The individual responsible for causing the individual’s death was not intoxicated at the time of the accident. During the same year, five pedestrians died in pedestrian accidents involving automobiles.
It can be difficult to determine who is responsible for causing a victim’s injuries. Therefore, retaining a Santa Monica personal injury lawyer can help you determine which parties may be liable for your injuries.
Personal Injury Lawyers In Santa Monica
If you need to learn more about your legal rights, consider speaking to a personal injury lawyer in Santa Monica. By consulting a legal professional, you can obtain reliable information that you can use to make informed decisions about your legal rights. You may not have experience retaining a personal injury lawyer, but you should not be intimidated by the prospect of having a personal injury lawyer represent you. While you are recovering from your injuries, a personal injury lawyer can handle every aspect of your personal injury case.
Insurance companies will be more likely to offer a reasonable settlement amount if you can demonstrate that you are serious about enforcing your legal rights. Having a lawyer on your side can help you communicate effectively with the insurance company. A Santa Monica personal injury lawyer can help you gather documentary evidence, such as photographs, videos, and witness statements, that will help you substantiate your legal claims.
Finding The Right Personal Injury Lawyers In Santa Monica
Many insurance company representatives may offer a quick settlement. However, these early offers often do not reflect the full extent of your losses, including long-term medical costs, lost wages, or ongoing pain and suffering. A personal injury lawyer in Santa Monica can negotiate with the insurance company representatives and prepare for trial if the case proceeds to court.
An experienced lawyer understands how insurance companies operate and their processes. Having legal representation signals that your claim is being taken seriously and that your rights are being protected.
Key documents, such as the traffic collision report, medical records, and evidence of lost income, are essential for building a strong case. An attorney will work to organize and present these facts in a way that clearly supports your claim and the compensation you are seeking.
Obtaining Medical Treatment For Your Injuries
Your Santa Monica personal injury lawyer can help you find doctors and medical specialists who can treat your injuries. Also, you may need to have your injuries diagnosed by an experienced physician.
You may not have the financial means to pay for all the medical treatment you need after suffering injuries during an accident. A personal injury lawyer can help you seek financial compensation from the liable party’s insurance company so you can pay your medical expenses.
It is also possible for you to receive medical treatment on a lien basis, meaning that you do not pay any upfront costs for your medical treatment. The medical bills you accrue are paid out of the settlement proceeds that you get at the conclusion of your personal injury case. For lawyers who work on a contingency fee basis, you do not owe any attorney’s fees unless you obtain a settlement or judgment in your favor. However, you may still be responsible for certain case-related costs.
Settlement Negotiations With Insurance Companies
A settlement demand package will contain the evidence you use to substantiate your claims. Higher settlement offers are typically associated with more comprehensive demand packages. Every case is unique, but in general, a strong demand package will benefit settlement negotiations. A personal injury lawyer from Santa Monica can help develop a case strategy on your behalf.
Gathering the evidence, formulating a clear narrative, and humanizing your experience will help you build a strong claim. You may have suffered temporary or permanent disability due to your injuries. Under these circumstances, you want to present a well-supported case.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses and may evaluate claims conservatively. It is common for initial settlement offers to be lower than the full amount of documented damages, especially before all losses are fully identified.
As the client, you can choose to accept or reject any settlement offer presented by an insurance company. It is possible that your case will go to trial if it does not settle. You need to set forth the strongest case you can so that the insurance company recognizes the basis for resolving the case.
Settlements And Pre-Litigation
The majority of civil cases are resolved through settlement negotiations. It is possible that your personal injury lawyer will file a civil lawsuit. If a case settles after a complaint has been filed, the client signs a settlement release that dismisses the legal claims against the defendant.
After receiving a settlement check, a Santa Monica personal injury lawyer will negotiate with your medical providers to reduce outstanding medical bills. By doing so, you can pay less out of your settlement. Lien negotiators can help you avoid overpaying for your medical treatment.
Initiating A Civil Lawsuit
It may be that the responsible party’s insurance policy will not cover the costs of your medical expenses and other damages. If so, a personal injury lawyer will file a complaint, which is a legal document that initiates a civil lawsuit. Insurance companies cannot ignore civil lawsuits, and it costs insurance companies money to engage in litigation.
After you file a civil lawsuit, an insurance company may present you with a better settlement offer. A Santa Monica personal injury lawyer will represent your case until it settles or goes to trial. In most circumstances, civil lawsuits settle before trial.
You do not have to accept a low settlement offer because you do not want to engage in litigation. Having a skilled Santa Monica personal injury lawyer advocate for you means that you can focus on healing from your injuries. You do not have to deal with voluminous paperwork and court deadlines.
Depositions And Discovery
Oral depositions and written discovery are two of the most important parts of a civil lawsuit. Requests for documents, interrogatories, and requests for admission are typical discovery documents. Parties use these discovery tools to gather evidence and assess the facts associated with a case.
Depositions are taken under oath, but they take place outside of court. Many depositions are recorded by a videographer. Typically, a court reporter will type everything said during the deposition. Many attorneys use depositions for cross-examination at trial. Both parties will be thinking strategically about how they can gather information during depositions.
Discovery is one of the longest phases of a civil lawsuit. Expert witnesses are often involved in cases that require technical knowledge or an advanced understanding of specific phenomena. Many parties may be deposed during the discovery phase. Oftentimes, both parties will object to specific statements made during depositions, a normal part of litigation, and the parties must object to preserve the objections at trial and on appeal if one party chooses to appeal the case.
Many people find depositions intimidating and stressful. Although they can last up to seven hours, they are essentially a conversation during which one party attempts to learn information from another party or a witness. If a case does not settle before trial, depositions can be used to impeach witnesses at trial. Insurance companies may be willing to use alternative dispute resolution to resolve the case. Mediation and arbitration are two of the most common forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Arbitration And Mediation
A mandatory settlement conference is generally a part of the litigation process. Courts want cases to settle so that valuable judicial resources can be preserved for the most important cases. Mediators and arbitrators are neutral individuals who will evaluate each side of a case. The vast majority of mediators undergo extensive and ongoing training that helps them resolve disputes between parties. Each party may need to listen to the mediator or arbitrator explain important aspects of the case. Arbitration can be binding or non-binding. If binding arbitration is entered, it will end the civil lawsuit.
Jury Trials
The final stage of a civil lawsuit is a jury trial. Jurors are citizens who perform a civic duty. Judges will typically protect jurors and make sure that they understand their duties. A Santa Monica personal injury lawyer will spend time focusing on how to make sure that the jurors understand the most important aspects of your civil case.
Jurors are supposed to be unbiased, and a personal injury lawyer will present your case to these jurors. However, it is possible that a juror may have biases or prejudices that are not detected during jury selection. Jurors are supposed to assess the facts in a neutral and emotionally detached manner. If you are in federal court, you will need a unanimous verdict to prevail in your case. A personal injury lawyer will work diligently to present your case clearly and strategically, helping the jury understand the key facts and arguments in your favor.
Accidents And Serious Bodily Injuries
Serious bodily injuries affect not only injured victims but also their family members. Some injured victims need to pay for 24-hour medical care, surgical procedures, and rehabilitative treatment. Also, injured victims may need extensive home healthcare if they are paraplegics or quadriplegics due to their injuries. Oftentimes, an expert witness will create a life-care plan that sets forth the lifetime medical costs an injured victim will need. You may have a legal right to seek financial compensation for your injuries.
It is possible that you have lost the ability to engage in the career you had prior to suffering injuries during an accident. Also, you may be able to seek financial compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life and your pain and suffering.
The following are common injuries that victims suffer during accidents:
- Amputations — Many individuals’ limbs have suffered injuries during automobile accidents and other types of accidents. Sometimes these injuries require that the victim’s limbs be amputated. These injuries can cause severe psychological distress and physical impairment. Physical therapy and rehabilitation may be necessary for an amputee to deal with their injuries.
- Severe Burns — Accident victims are often burned during automobile accidents. Also, defective products and workplace injuries commonly cause severe burns. Skin grafts, surgeries, and other forms of treatment are necessary to help victims recover from burn injuries. Under most circumstances, burns may become infected and cause disfigurement and scarring.
- Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis — Spinal cord injuries may occur during automobile accidents and other types of accidents. The spinal cord can suffer an injury in many different scenarios. Gunshot wounds and automobile accidents can both cause an injured victim to suffer paralysis. Permanent disability may cause injured victims to require extensive medical care for the remainder of their lives.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries — Many different types of accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries. Motorcycle accident victims, pedestrian accident victims, and automobile accident victims may all suffer traumatic brain injuries. Oftentimes, helmets do not prevent victims from suffering traumatic brain injuries. Some of the symptoms associated with traumatic brain injuries include personality changes, loss of memory, and an inability to function in daily life. A traumatic brain injury may affect a victim for the rest of their life.
Personal Injury Cases In Santa Monica
Personal injury cases may involve different types of accidents. The following are common accidents related to personal injury cases in Santa Monica:
- Wrongful Death — In wrongful death cases, a person dies due to the negligence or recklessness of another party.
- Dog Bites — Senior citizens and children are often victims of dog bites. It can be difficult to determine when a dog is likely to attack another person.
- Slip-and-Fall — Slip-and-fall cases involve premises liability and often take place in stores, restaurants, and workplaces. Also, many slip-and-fall cases take place in apartment complexes in Santa Monica.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries — Traumatic brain injuries can occur during automobile accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents. Victims often deal with the effects of a traumatic brain injury for the rest of their lives.
- Severe Burn Injuries — Severe burns can take months or even years to heal. You can seek financial compensation for these injuries.
- Spinal Cord Injuries — Spinal cord injuries often occur during automobile accidents. Drivers and passengers may suffer temporary or permanent disability due to spinal cord injuries.
- Train Accident Injuries — Passengers aboard a train may suffer personal injuries under many different circumstances.
- Airplane Accident Injuries — Airplane accidents are rare, but passengers can still suffer injuries during many different types of airplane accidents. Private planes, chartered planes, corporate planes, and commercial planes are some of the types of planes on which people suffer personal injuries.
- Scooter Injuries — Electric scooters can be dangerous due to manufacturing defects or design defects. These accidents may give rise to product liability cases.
- Pedestrian Accidents — Pedestrians can suffer injuries at any time they are exposed to automobiles and other vehicles. Many pedestrian accident victims suffer serious bodily injuries or death.
- Turo Accidents — Vehicle-sharing platforms may give rise to different types of accidents.
- Uber Accidents — Accidents involving rideshare companies can involve many different types of insurance policies. If you were a passenger or driver involved in an accident with a rideshare company, you need to be informed of your legal rights.
- Motorcycle Accidents — Suffering personal injuries during a motorcycle accident can be a devastating experience. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand which parties may be liable for your injuries.
- Truck Accidents — Truck accidents often cause catastrophic injuries. You may have suffered injuries due to the negligence of an employee. In this case, the employer may be liable for your injuries.
- Bus Accidents — Many different types of buses may be involved in accidents that cause personal injuries. Private buses, school buses, and public transit buses may all be liable in different types of bus accident cases.
- Defective Products — Manufacturing defects and design defects may cause a user to suffer personal injuries. The manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer may all be liable in product liability cases.
- Boating Accidents — Boating accidents often involve inexperienced operators or intoxicated operators. Suffering personal injuries during a boating accident can be devastating. Spinal cord injuries and neck fractures are common during boating accidents.
- Motorcycle Accidents and Bicycle Accidents — Motorcyclists and bicyclists may be struck by automobiles. These types of causes often cause serious bodily injury or death.
- Premises Accidents — Owners and occupiers of land must keep the land safe for licensees and invitees. If you were a trespasser, you may or may not have a legal claim against the property owner. A personal injury lawyer can assess the facts of your case and inform you of your legal rights.
- Automobile Accidents — Negligence is the core principle involved in car accident cases. The four elements of negligence are duty, breach, causation, and damages. To prevail on a negligence claim, your car accident lawyer must prove that the other driver breached their duty and that this breach caused your injuries.
Seeing A Doctor If You Only Suffered Minor Injuries
You may believe you suffered only minor injuries, but it is important to realize that the symptoms associated with your injuries may not become noticeable until weeks or months after the date of the injury. You want to create a written record of the nature of your injuries and your medical treatment.
Insurance companies may question whether your injuries are not serious. If you suffered a brain injury or whiplash, you may not experience noticeable symptoms immediately after the accident. You may only have a slight headache. If you see a physician, however, they might discover that you are suffering from a traumatic brain injury.
Insurance companies will closely review the timeline of your care. It may be that the insurance company interprets delayed treatment as a sign that you did not suffer any injuries during the accident. Also, insurance companies may raise arguments about other potential causes of your injuries. You should establish a written record of your medical treatment immediately after the date of the accident.
You must establish the four elements of negligence to prevail on a negligence claim, meaning that you must prove the other party was negligent. If you obtain medical treatment, you will have more evidence to establish the defendant’s liability. By receiving medical treatment, you will have a clearer understanding of the nature and extent of your injuries.
Also, a physician can refer you to specialists who may need to administer tests to ascertain the current state of your injuries. You do not want to delay your medical treatment and create gaps in your records that the insurance company may use to argue that you did not suffer injuries during the accident.
Mitigating damages is an important factor in all personal injury cases. You do not want to let your injuries fester and become more severe. The insurance company may argue that you failed to mitigate your damages. Under certain circumstances, you have a duty to seek medical treatment for your injuries.
You might receive a lower settlement offer because you did not obtain medical treatment immediately after suffering injuries during an accident. A personal injury lawyer can provide you with relevant information regarding mitigating damages and how insurance companies may use this issue when evaluating your case.
The Economic Value Of A Personal Injury Case
All personal injury cases are unique. Several different factors can affect the value of any personal injury case. What follows are three of the most important elements that are relevant to evaluating the value of a personal injury case.
Pain And Suffering
Non-economic damages are generally not quantifiable. These types of damages may add up to a large amount depending on the nature and extent of your injuries. Pain and suffering can be calculated using many different methodologies. A multiplier may be used to ascertain the amount of pain and suffering you endure due to your injuries. Also, a per diem approach is used by many personal injury lawyers. Under this method, a value is associated with each day you experience pain and suffering as a result of the accident.
Medical Bills
Medical bills are a large part of the economic value of your personal injury case. The costs of medical treatment can be astronomical. Medical procedures such as surgeries and transplants may be necessary if you suffered serious bodily injury due to an accident. After receiving medical treatment, you may need to continue seeing physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists. A personal injury lawyer will take into account all of your medical expenses when negotiating with the insurance company.
Property Damage
You may have suffered the loss of personal property during an accident. These economic losses need to be added to the total amount of your damages. You may have lost your automobile during the accident, or you may have lost your personal property during an accident. The repair value or the replacement value of this property may be claimed as damages in your personal injury case. Keeping track of receipts, repair bills, and invoices can help you substantiate your losses.
(No guarantee of outcome. Results displayed were dependent on unique facts of that case, and different facts will bring different results.)
Using Social Media After Filing An Insurance Claim
You may want to express your thoughts and feelings on social media after you suffer injuries during an accident. However, it is advisable to refrain from using social media after you have suffered an injury in an accident. Do not post any messages or images related to your personal injury claims. You do not want insurance company representatives to peruse your social media profiles and claim that you are not actually injured or that you are not seeking medical treatment for your injuries. Below are tips to keep in mind if you continue to use social media applications after being involved in an accident.
Do Not Post Photographs
You may not know when you are going to recover from your injuries. It is possible that you are in physical pain from the moment you wake up until the moment you fall asleep at night. However, you do not want to post any photographs that can suggest to insurance companies that your injuries are not severe.
Spending time outside in the garden or at the park with your loved ones may make your injuries feel less burdensome. However, if you post photographs of these events on your social media pages, then the insurance company might claim that you are well and not suffering from any injuries whatsoever. You do not want to be accused of pretending to be injured. These problems can affect the ultimate outcome of your personal injury case.
Never Accept Friend Requests
Investigators for the insurance company may send you friend requests. Do not accept friend requests after you suffer injuries during an accident. You do not want to risk harming your personal injury case by accepting friend requests. You should be strategic about what you share on social media after you file your legal claims.
Never Discuss Your Legal Claims
You do not want to risk an insurance company representative seeing your social media profiles. Discussing your case on social media may affect your case by providing the insurance company with information they can reference during their review. It is advisable to refrain from using social media applications until after your case is settled. Protecting yourself at this early stage is essential because the insurance company may closely examine available information when evaluating your claim.
Contact Arash Law’s Personal Injury Lawyers In Santa Monica
Arash Law, founded by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., helps injured victims seek financial compensation for their injuries. We have decades of experience representing clients in personal injury cases. We provide personalized legal support and will advocate for your rights throughout the process. Our Santa Monica personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means we don’t charge attorneys’ fees unless compensation is obtained. Clients may still be responsible for case-related costs regardless of the outcome.
Call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation.
