What to do when someone else’s negligence has harmed you

Getting hurt is never a good thing. A serious injury can disrupt your life and your happiness in terrible ways. You could end up in a hospital or even in outpatient care with years’ worth of physical therapy to worry about. You’ll be expected to pay for all of this in full, even as your income may be reduced by your inability to work as you once could. Serious injuries can have long-term mental health consequences, too. They can destroy lives and families.

All of this feels unfair. It feels even more unfair when the injury that you suffered came as a direct result of someone else’s negligence. You shouldn’t be on the hook for all the consequences of an accident that someone else caused. While nothing can give you back the life that you had, laws in California and across the United States can help you seek justice, With a personal injury law firm on your side, such as Orange County’s Daniel Kim Law, you’ll be able to take the proper steps to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. 

Keep track of the details

Even before you seek legal representation, you should be thinking about your legal options. Your injury could lead to a successful personal injury claim. But if you and your attorney are ever going to be able to make the requisite case, then you’ll need the documentation that helps prove it.

That’s why you should acquire and hold on to any related documentation that you can. That means police reports, medical bills, insurance claims, and more. Keep all of this organized and in one place, because your attorney is most certainly going to want to see it.

Act fast

In California and in other states, there are laws on the books called “statutes of limitations.” As the name suggests, these statutes (laws) limit the time during which certain types of crimes can be prosecuted and certain types of lawsuits can be filed. This means that you only have a certain amount of time to file a lawsuit, and if you don’t, you’ll be out of luck — no matter how unfair your situation is or how much you’ve suffered due to someone else’s negligence.

The sooner you turn to a trained and licensed personal injury attorney, the better. Filing a personal injury lawsuit is not something that you want to get done last-minute, so act fast and give your attorney as much time as possible to build your case and include every bit of the current and likely future damages that you need to be covered.

Choose the right attorney

For much of the personal injury lawsuit process, you will be guided by your attorney. But before that can happen, you will need to find that attorney.

This is an important decision, one that can greatly impact your case. Don’t just call whoever you last saw in a TV advertisement. The only way to find out is to do your research.

That means asking friends, family members, and acquaintances for recommendations. Word-of-mouth is a great way to get a sense of a local attorney’s reputation. You can find reviews online, too, but be aware that they may not be fair or accurate. For an expert opinion, you could try calling the local bar association or checking in with other legal institutions and experts in different areas.

When you find the right fit, head into your initial consultation with all of your documentation. Be prepared to explain your situation and to listen carefully to what the attorney says. If it’s a good fit, then you’ll be ready to get the ball rolling on a personal injury case and earn the compensation you are well-entitled to.