Irvine Personal Injury Lawyers

If you have been injured in a traumatic event such as an auto accident, a slip-and-fall accident, dog attack or an injury caused by a dangerous or defective product etc. You need the most qualified and competent legal representation to help ensure that you are fairly and fully compensated for your significant injuries and losses.

The experienced Irvine personal injury attorneys at Bisnar Chase know and understand what injured victims and their families go through as they try to meet medical expenses and cope with loss of income while recovering physically and getting their lives back together. Our injury attorneys provide compassionate assistance to those who have been through some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Accidents & Negligence in Irvine, California

Irvine is considered one of the safest cities in America having consistently appeared among the top of numerous lists issued by leading publications and websites. The city is also rated as one of the best places to live in the nation. However, it must be said that the acclaim tends to apply to the overall lack of crime-related incidents that happen in the city. The people who live and work in Irvine or even those who visit the city are still vulnerable to accidents and acts of negligence that may result in serious personal injuries.

With its fairly high population density and its rapidly growing prominence as a hub for technology and other commercial ventures, Irvine generates a great deal of traffic and activity. Irvine has some of the most congested freeways passing through it including the 5 and 405 freeways. It is home to multiple shopping centers, trendy retail outlets, restaurants and entertainment venues, in addition to the premier educational institutions that are based in the city.

The term " personal injury" refers to an area of civil law that allows injured individuals to seek compensation for monetary and other losses stemming from a traumatic incident that was caused by someone else's recklessness or intentional conduct. As opposed to criminal proceedings, which are brought by the county's District Attorney, personal injury cases are heard and adjudicated in civil courts.

The victim who alleges the negligence or wrongdoing is referred to as the "plaintiff" while the person or entity that is facing the allegations is referred to as the "defendant". While a defendant in a criminal case is found "guilty", the defendant in a civil personal injury case is found "liable" by a jury for the damages he or she or an entity caused the plaintiff. The defendant in a criminal case faces penalties such as jail or prison time, fines, community service and probation if he or she is convicted of the crime. In a personal injury lawsuit, the defendant is ordered to pay monetary damages.

Personal injury cases are governed by the law of negligence, which dictates the level of reasonable care that is owed from one individual or entity to another in a given situation and the types of conduct that would amount to a breach of that legal duty, leading to liability for injury or death caused by such conduct.

For example, when a driver is behind the wheel, he or she has a legal duty to other drivers as well as bicyclists, pedestrians and others on the roadway to operate the vehicle with reasonable care and caution such as obeying the rules of the road. If a driver caused a serious injury accident say, by exceeding the speed limit or running a red light etc., then he or she will be deemed negligent and therefore, liable for the injuries and damages he or she caused.

Do You Need an Irvine Personal Injury Lawyer?

If you have been injured in an Irvine car accident or some other incident, you are not legally required to have an attorney handle your personal injury claim. In some cases, especially those that do not involve injury, you may be able to file all the required paperwork yourself and represent yourself to the insurance company that's handling the claim. But, if you have been injured and have incurred significant expenses, there is a lot at stake. Getting the compensation you need and rightfully deserve is much more likely if you retain the services of an experienced Irvine personal injury lawyer.

Personal injury claims are not as straightforward as they may appear. Depending on the circumstances of the incident and the nature and extent of your injuries, you may need to bring in expert witnesses and provide evidence in court to prove your case. This is because in personal injury cases, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff. This means that the injured plaintiff must prove that the defendant's negligence resulted in his or her injuries and losses.

A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer will also help you deal with insurance companies, which can be an uphill battle if you are trying to get compensated for your injuries and damages, given their inclination to reject or undervalue claims.

Dealing with the Insurance Company After an Irvine Accident

One mistake that a number of personal injury claimants make is to trust the insurance company. The one thing personal injury lawyers will tell you almost unanimously is this: The insurance company is not your friend. While your insurance adjuster may seem extremely nice and helpful, it is his or her job to protect the interest of the insurance company. They are trained negotiators whose job is to minimize the amount of money paid out on each claim. They won't hesitate to deny the claim or minimize its value.

If the insurance company offers you a quick settlement offer, do not accept it. If you closely examine this offer, you will find that it is not beneficial to you, and certainly works in the insurance company's favor. Insurance companies know that injured victims are vulnerable, which is why they almost always offer a lowball settlement right away. They know that you want to put this behind you as fast as you can and move on with your life. When you accept a settlement without realizing the full extent of your injuries and losses, you may be signing away your rights to seek maximum compensation for your losses.

During this process, it is also important to not give any statements to the insurance company about the specifics of your injuries or disclose any per-existing conditions you may have had. What you tell the insurance company or the statements you provide them after your Irvine injury accident may be used against you.

Do not sign anything unless you are absolutely sure you understand what it means or unless your personal injury lawyer has reviewed it. An experienced Irvine personal injury attorney can help deal with the insurance company on your behalf and make sure you receive fair and full compensation for your injuries and losses.

Damages in an Irvine Personal Injury Case

If you have been injured in an Irvine car accident or some other type of traumatic event, you may be able to seek compensation for the injuries, damages and losses you have sustained. Here are some of the damages you may be able to seek if you have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence:

Medical expenses: These are often a major part of the expenses injured victims face. Medical expenses include the cost of emergency transportation, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, medical equipment, etc. Injured victims and their families often struggle as these costs pile up. This situation is made worse by the fact that the injured victims lose their ability to work and earn an income.

Loss of income: When you are injured, it becomes difficult or sometimes impossible to continue working. Sometimes, you need days, weeks or months off to make sure you fully recover from your injuries. For many, this means, they lose a significant portion of their household income or receive diminished income because they are on disability. For some who have suffered catastrophic injuries such as brain trauma or spinal cord damage, this could mean losing their jobs and even livelihoods. These losses should be included in your personal injury claim including loss of future income and loss of the ability to work or earn a livelihood.

Rehabilitation costs: Many who suffer serious injuries don't just require hospitalization, but also need rehabilitative treatment such as physical and occupational therapy. For example, if you have suffered multiple bone fractures in a car accident, you may be hospitalized for a week or so, but you will need physical therapy and other services to make sure you are able to walk properly again. Regaining balance, strength and mobility often takes weeks or even months. The cost of rehabilitative therapy sessions could also add up pretty quickly and these expenses are usually not covered fully by health insurance.

Pain and suffering: Known as "non-economic damages," pain and suffering refers to the physical pain and mental suffering you endure in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Your Irvine personal injury lawyer can help evaluate your circumstances and determine an amount that would be appropriate for these types of damages.

Punitive damages: In personal injury and product defect cases, punitive damages are sometimes awarded by judges and juries when the conduct on the part of the defendant is particularly outrageous or egregious. For example, if a product manufacturer knew that their products were defective and dangerous and had the potential to cause serious injury or death, but did nothing about it, they could be slapped with punitive damages. The purpose of awarding punitive damages to plaintiffs is to not just punish the defendants for their actions (or sometimes, lack of action), but also to deter such egregious behavior in the future.

How Do You Pick the Right California Lawyer for Your Case?

California Personal injury law is a very specialized area of practice. Personal injury laws are complex and always evolving. An attorney who handles all types of cases or someone who does not have experience dealing with insurance companies is not equipped to deal with a complex personal injury case.

The decisions you make during this period can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case and possibly, your financial future. You may also need an attorney who can take your case to trial, if necessary. While a majority of personal injury cases do get settled out of court, there are times when you may need to take it to a jury trial.

You should consider a personal injury lawyer who has a track record of obtaining large verdicts and settlements . It is important that you meet with the lawyer you plan to hire to represent you and ask how many million-dollar settlements or verdicts they have obtained. This is especially true if you have suffered catastrophic injuries that have left you with permanent disabilities. Find out if your attorney is a member of local and state trial lawyer associations. This means that as a member he or she is constantly benefiting from a collaborative environment and is likely to be well regarded by others in the field.

Make sure your attorney has sufficient resources to take your case. Serious personal injury cases are expensive to prepare. Experts such as doctors, economists, accident reconstruction specialists or life care planners may have to be hired. Witnesses must be prepared to give depositions under oath.

The experienced Irvine personal injury lawyers at Bisnar Chase represent Orange County individuals who have been seriously or catastrophically injured or have lost a family member due to an accident or a defective product. Our California law firm comprises six attorneys who are split up into four litigation teams. Each of these teams is led by an experienced personal injury trial lawyer and includes a combination of paralegals and legal assistants. Our attorneys routinely win awards for professional excellence.

At Bisnar Chase, we have four decades of experience and a formidable track record of success. We passionately represent each and every one of our injured clients and firmly believe that we can provide quality guidance and recover fair compensation for you.

We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation in the form of verdicts and settlements for more than 96 percent of our clients. We have spent decades in and out of the courtroom fighting for justice and advocating for average citizens and consumers. We have the knowledge, experience and the resources it takes to fight for your rights and help you get maximum compensation for your losses.

We also provide a no-win-no-fee guarantee, which means you do not pay anything unless we recover compensation for you. Initial consultations are always free. With more than $500 Million won including punitive damages and thousands of victims represented, our firm is one of California's toughest injury law firms. Please call 949-203-3814 for a free consultation.

We are located in N. B. and serve Irvine, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Westminster surrounding areas.
1301 Dove St. #120
Newport Beach, CA 92660

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