Watsonville Personal Injury Lawyers

Type of Cases Handled by Our Watsonville Personal Injury Attorneys

Our law firm handles a wide range of complex personal injury cases. If you are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, we have likely handled similar cases in the past. These are a few areas we cover regularly:

• Car accidents;
• Truck accident;
• Drunk driving accidents;
• Motorcycle accidents;
• Distracted driving accidents;
• Bicycle accidents;
• Wrongful death;
• Pedestrian accidents;
• Product liability;
• Sexual assault and harassment;
• Medical malpractice;
• Premise liability;
• Dog bites; and
• other animal attacks.

Despite the volume of cases we’ve seen over the years, our Watsonville personal injury lawyers understand that every single case is unique.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

California personal injury laws can be complex. There are several steps leading up to filing your personal injury lawsuit, and they differ depending on the type of claim you are bringing. Here is the basic rundown of the process for most personal injury lawsuits.

1. Document everything related to your accident or the incident. This includes times, witnesses, and any other details or evidence you can gather.
2. See a doctor even if you don’t think you need to. In cases involving physical injury, visit a medical professional as soon as possible to make sure that everything gets recorded.
3. Consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer regarding the facts and merits of your case. This is the most important step to ensuring you have the greatest chance of success.
4. Determine guilty parties if they are not already known. It is often obvious who was negligent. But in some cases, such as product liability, medical malpractice, and premise liability, there may be multiple responsible parties.
5. File a personal liability claim with your insurance. This step applies to motor vehicle accidents, some animal bites, slip and fall claims, and other physical injuries that may be covered by insurance. In many cases, your attorney may be able to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company and avoid filing a personal injury lawsuit.
6. Determine where to file your personal injury claim. This step can be necessary, depending on the nature of your case. Our Watsonville personal injury Attorneys cover multiple jurisdictions and make suggestions for venues based on the facts of your case.
7. The statute of limitations for personal injury in California extends two years from when the incident occurred or when you first discovered you were injured.
8. There are some situations where an extension could be applicable. In most cases, it is a good idea to file as soon as possible, but certainly, before the statute of limitations for personal injury expires.
9. California requires that the plaintiff file a demand letter before filing a personal injury lawsuit. This letter details what the plaintiff is requesting and the legal grounds for the request.
10. After the demand letter, negotiations typically begin. Your attorney will work with all opposing parties to attempt to work out a settlement in lieu of going to court. This works in the majority of cases.
11. The final step is to file your personal injury lawsuit in the appropriate jurisdiction. Negotiations can continue after you’ve filed suit, but the case may go to trial if the parties cannot settle.

These steps are much easier with the help of our skilled Watsonville personal injury lawyers, who understand how to navigate the complex legal system.

What Kind of Compensation Will You Receive

California personal injury victims may be eligible to receive both economic and non-economic damages, depending on the case.

Economic damages are meant to restore the victim to where they were financially before the accident or occurrence that caused the damage. Compensation may include medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and more.

Non-economic damages consider the mental and emotional hardship endured by the victim. These damages may include pain and suffering, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and more.

Let Us Help

At Silva Injury Law, we pride ourselves in providing compassionate advocacy that gets results. We know you’re hurting, and we know how to help. Our lawyers have won numerous awards for their dedicated service, including founding attorney Michael J. Silva’s inclusion on the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 list. So reach out to us today so we can get started helping make your recovery easier.