If you are injured because of someone’s negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of sustaining the injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries including payment of medical bills, reimbursement of lost wages and more.
Potential Causes of Injury
Negligence is the basis for a personal injury lawsuit in California. This means the other person failed to act in a reasonable manner. Some of the potential reasons another person may be responsible for your injury include:
- Driving under the influence – if you are involved in a car accident and the other driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and caused the accident, you may have the basis for a personal injury suit.
- Deliberate action of another – you have the right to expect to be safe regardless of whether you are at home or out at a social event. If you are attending an event and someone pulls out a weapon and begins shooting and you are injured, the costs associated with those injuries should be borne by the responsible party.
- Failure to control an animal – if your neighbor does not take proper care of their pet and as a result you are bitten, they are responsible for your injuries and treatment. While many states have what is known as a “one-bite” rule, California holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries a victim sustains as a result of their dog biting another person.
Recovery in Personal Injury Cases
Being injured because of negligence can mean you are losing time from work recovering from your injuries and incurring substantial medical bills. Under California law, you are entitled to recover damages equivalent to the financial losses including medical care at the time of the incident and follow-up care. You may also be able to recover loss of wages and loss of future wages if your injuries are very severe and prevent you from returning to work.
No two personal injury cases are the same and it is important to speak with an attorney as quickly as possible after an injury. This is the only way to preserve your rights under the law. If you have suffered an injury and believe it is because of another person’s negligent or deliberate act, contact a Stockton personal injury attorney at Law Office of Gregory R. Davenport at (209) 955-1999. We serve victims all over California including Stockton, Lodi, Ripon, Tracy, San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County and Sacramento County.
