San Marcos Personal Injury Lawyers

With a population of over 84,000 people, San Marcos can be prone to accidents. Residents and visitors can fall victim to car accidents, slip and falls, and other accidents caused by negligent third parties.

At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, we endeavor to fight for the rights of such victims. Our San Marcos Personal Injury Lawyers offer superior representation to San Marcos residents who have been injured through no fault of their own.

Are you not sure whether you have a personal injury case? A conversation with our top attorneys can help determine your eligibility for compensation. Feel free to contact us online or call our office at 888-543-9414 to set up a consultation.

Common Personal Injury Cases

Personal injuries in San Marcos can be caused by a wide range of accidents. These include:

• Car Accidents: Around 430 people were injured or killed in car accidents in San Marcos in 2015 alone. 79 percent of these cases included an intoxicated driver. These statistics prove that speeding, drunk driving, and recklessness have ruined many lives. Our attorneys can help you get the best results out of your car accident claim.

• Slip and Fall Accidents: In California, property owners are mandated by law to maintain their properties in a safe condition. This means that they could be held liable for damages if someone gets injured on their property. A personal injury attorney can determine premises liability to get you compensated.

• Truck Accidents: Drivers in San Marcos have to share the road with large commercial trucks that transport goods day and night throughout the area. This exposes them to the risk of truck accidents. With the help of an attorney, you could bring a claim against a truck driver or company for any injuries you suffer.

• Wrongful Death: Wrongful death in California is defined as the death of an individual due to the negligence or wrongful act of another party or entity. Such cases can be brought by the surviving dependents and family members of the deceased for funeral and burial expenses and other damages.

San Marcos Car Accident Lawyers

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you might wonder what an attorney can do to help. Often, they can do more than you when it comes to a case against another party. They have years of experience in personal injury as well as car accident claims. A lawyer can do the following to ensure that you’ll get the compensation you deserve.

Motorcycle and Bicycle Accident Attorneys in San Marcos

Getting into a motorcycle or bicycle accident can be traumatic. Not only have you suffered physical injuries, but you may also be suffering from a loss of income, business opportunities, and time with family.

Medical bills may be piling up without an end in sight. You need a competent and aggressive motorcycle and bicycle attorney in San Marcos who will fight for your rights and get you the money you deserve.

What to Do if You are Involved in a Motorcycle or Bicycle Accident

If you are involved in a bicycle or motorcycle accident, the most important thing is to make sure you are safe. Move your bike from the roadway and call for emergency services. Do not move any people who were hurt in the accident unless they are in immediate danger.

When emergency service personnel arrives, allow them to examine you thoroughly. Remember that you may not feel the effects of your injuries right away, so it is important that you get treatment.

Take photos of the scene before emergency personnel arrives, if possible. Most accidents are cleared away fairly quickly, so you may not be able to return to the scene and take photos later. Photograph any hazards like illegally parked cars, skid marks, and weather conditions.

If there are witnesses present, get their contact information in case you need their testimony for trial later. If you can take a video at the scene, it can be valuable later. All of these facts will be crucial for your motorcycle and bicycle attorney in San Marcos to build a compelling case for maximum compensation.

Damages Available in San Marcos Personal Injury Cases

As a personal injury victim in San Marcos, you can file a claim for economic and non-economic damages. The damages you receive will depend on the nature, severity, and effects of your injuries. Options available include:

• Economic damages – Medical bills, lost wages, lost earning ability, rehabilitation, property repair, medication, nursing care, and medical devices.
• Non-economic damages – Pain and suffering, emotional trauma, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of companionship or consortium, and embarrassment.
• Punitive damages can be awarded where the at-fault party acted out of gross negligence or mischief.

Common Mistakes Made With Personal Injuries

Do not leave the scene of the accident. Even if there are no injuries, wait for emergency personnel and law enforcement to arrive. If you leave the scene before law enforcement arrives, the other party will be able to give their account of the accident without your input.

Do not skip doctor’s appointments. Some people feel fine after their accidents and stop seeing their doctors. Not all injuries are immediately apparent, and some soft tissue injuries may appear later. It can be hard to recover all of the money you need for medical treatment if you stop seeing your doctor and keeping a history of your visits.

Do not accept a settlement offer from the other party, their attorney, or the insurance company. Your adversary will do whatever they can to avoid paying the full amount of your claim. If you cash a check from the other party’s insurance company, you are, in effect, waiving your right to sue for the full amount of damages you are owed.

In some cases, the other party’s insurance company will call you for a “friendly chat” to hear your side of the story. They will then use everything you say against you and use this against you in court. If you receive any communication from the other side, send it to your motorcycle and bicycle accident and injury lawyer in San Marcos immediately.

Obtain Evidence Of Your Accident

When you are trying to prove the other party is responsible for your accident, you’ll need evidence. There must be evidence to back up your claims. This evidence will come from a variety of sources like:

• The police
• Witnesses
• Photographs of the scene

In some cases, your lawyer might have to hire an investigator. One of the hardest parts of a personal injury claim is getting the doctor’s office to respond to your requests. Small offices might not have the staff to respond to medical requests in a timely manner, and hospitals have procedures for requesting records.

If they’re not done correctly, requests can fall by the wayside. Your lawyer will be able to cut through those hassles. The attorney will also review the medical reports to find out whether the doctors put a prognosis or disability in their notes.

Without this, it can be hard for a lawyer to prove a personal injury claim, but the lawyer will know to send a letter to the doctor requesting the information separately.

Talk with Lien Holders on Your Behalf

If you’re receiving benefits from another source like disability or worker’s compensation insurance, that insurer could have a lien that would entitle them to take money from your settlement.

When negotiating with the lienholder, the lawyer may be able to reduce the amount that the insurer takes from the proceeds of the settlement. If the lawyer successfully negotiates for a lower amount, that money will end up in your wallet. It’s vital that you find a lawyer who will be able to negotiate for you.

Negotiate the Settlement Amount

When you’re making a claim for injuries, you’re not only getting medical compensation for bills, you’re also trying to get money for being out of work and for a long-term disability.

This can also be complicated by other factors like whether you were employed at the time. In some instances, a victim might have been hired for a new position they hadn’t started yet. The attorney will be able to negotiate on their client’s behalf in situations that are not straightforward.

Other times, damages might not be easy to calculate. Pain and suffering is a concept that is hard to pinpoint. There’s no exact way to figure the amount of the damages. If the case goes to trial, it depends on nature as well as the extent of the injuries sustained. It also depends on other factors like whether the jury likes you or whether you have a previous criminal record.

Contact El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers Today

Accidents can result in a wide range of repercussions. In some instances, the effects can be life-altering or permanent. This is why our Personal Injury Lawyers San Marcos wants to help you. We can remove the burden of proof from your plate and handle your personal injury claim as you focus on your recovery. All you need to do is call us to get an expert attorney on your case.

Our legal services will help you maximize the compensation you get from the insurance company or negligent party. This will go a long way in ensuring your life goes back to as normal as possible.