Basics of a Personal Injury Dispute in Los Angeles, CA
Personal injury disputes are among the most common civil dispute. Despite their ubiquity, they are quite varied. Personal injury cases can include accidents ranging from slip and fall to motor vehicle collisions, and more. If you have an injury from an accident in Los Angeles, then California law may give you a right to sue the defendant and recover damages. Here at 1-800-THE-LAW2, we can help you connect to an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer for guidance.
Contact 1-800-THE-LAW2 for a free and confidential consultation today with one of our personal injury attorneys near you. We look forward to assisting you.
Are You Entitled to Punitive Damages?
Multimillion dollar personal injury cases tend to dominate the public consciousness. In truth, however, these cases are not common. Multimillion dollar personal injury cases in the Bay area require extreme facts, and in many scenarios, involve a punitive damages award. If your legal case involves a punitive damages award, then it is possible to receive handsome compensation by the defendant.
How Are Damages Calculated?
Damages available in a personal injury lawsuit in Los Angeles may include:
- Wage loss
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property loss
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of guidance
- And more
These damages provide compensation for a range of losses that resulted in personal injuries from an accident. Not all personal injury cases in the Los Angeles, CA area will involve every type of damage, however. For example, in a situation where you do not have employment at the time of the accident, wage loss damages do not apply.
Punitive Damages Work Somewhat Differently.
In some personal injury cases, the defendant has engaged in malicious, willful, and egregious misconduct. The Los Angeles Court feels it would be beneficial to society to financially punish the defendant, and in turn, discourage California residents from engaging in similar behavior. The bonus damages the court imposes in these circumstances are called, “punitive damages.”
Punitive damages are awarded in addition to the above listed compensatory damage categories. They are a “bonus,” to calculate punitive damages, multiply the total compensatory damages amount. The amount can be up to seven times, in some cases. Thus, in Los Angeles, a personal injury case worth $200,000 in damages can lead to a $1.6 million dollar recovery. The breakdown in damages for this example is: $1.4 million in punitive damages, and $200,000 in compensatory damages.
If your legal case potentially involves a claim for punitive damages, then it’s important to work with your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer to assert the legal claim.
Why Do Most Personal Injury Cases Settle?
Despite the preponderance of TV shows that make it seem that civil litigation centers around court trials, the reality in LA is that the large majority of personal injury disputes find resolution long before trial.
Why?
Trial can be expensive, uncertain, and disruptive to the lives of all parties involved in the dispute. Most parties would much rather have the case resolved before trial. Personal injury settlement is a way of reducing the expense, uncertainty, and disruption. It allows parties to present their arguments, then agree on a “reasonable” compensation amount. It, in turn, can make hostile litigation unnecessary.
During settlement negotiation, an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer understands how to develop and present the evidence so as to maximize the personal injury settlement amount. Success will depend on how persuasive your personal injury case is, in other words, how likely it is that you would “win” if the civil case were to proceed to trial.
Contact 1-800-THE-LAW2 for a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer
If you believe that you have an actionable claim for damages, we encourage you to get in touch with a qualified Los Angeles personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Hiring an injury attorney at an early stage ensures that you will have the guidance you need at an optimal time. Meaning – before insurance companies and the defendant has an opportunity to undermine your claims and identify weaknesses in your legal narrative.
Contact 1-800-THE-LAW2 for a free and confidential consultation with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer in our network. We will connect you to a skilled personal injury attorney in 10 minutes or less. Call in now to get started.
