Accidents happen to everyone, often with no real lasting consequences. However, some accidents result in injuries with long-lasting and even life-altering consequences. In many situations, an accident may be entirely someone else’s fault. Fortunately, you have assistance available from a dependable San Diego personal injury lawyer at Phillips Law Group, where we have decades of experience fighting — and winning — on behalf of people just like you.
You may have grounds to file a civil suit against anyone responsible for your injuries and demand civil compensation for your ensuing damages. Without a seasoned attorney’s help, though, receiving a favorable outcome can be virtually impossible.
How to Hold Someone Else Liable for a Personal Injury
According to California Civil Code §1714, every person in the Golden State is responsible for any physical harm they cause to another person, both through willful acts and from “want of ordinary care or skill.” In other words, if someone causes another person’s injury by acting in a reckless or careless way, even unintentionally, they are legally and financially liable for losses the injured person sustains.
It is worth emphasizing here that civil claims built around this legal theory of negligence are entirely separate from criminal cases arising from the same incident. The fact that someone was — or was not — criminally charged with or convicted of a crime after an accident has no direct bearing on the outcome of a related civil claim. In fact, as a personal injury attorney can explain, it is possible for someone to be found civilly liable for an injury in San Diego even if they are explicitly acquitted of any criminal wrongdoing related to that injury.
Recovering Fairly Within Filing Deadlines
Another key difference between personal injury claims and criminal cases is that the former is meant to restore an injured person to their pre-accident condition as much as possible, whereas the latter is meant to punish someone who broke the law. With that in mind, compensable damages in a personal injury claim can include both financial and personal losses stemming from an accident, including things like:
- Medical bills
- Lost work income, benefits, and future earning capacity
- Personal property damage and injury- or accident-related expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and psychological trauma
- Lost quality of life and other effects of permanent disability/disfigurement, if applicable
It is important to contact a skilled lawyer sooner rather than later after sustaining an injury in San Diego because California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 gives most injury victims a maximum of two years to file suit after initially getting hurt.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
At Phillips Law Group, our San Diego attorneys handle a variety of personal injury claims, including but not limited to:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle wrecks
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Slips and falls
- Dog bites
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
- Dangerous drugs
- Defective products
When injuries are fatal, our team can also help a family file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their loved one.
Contact a San Diego Personal Injury Attorney for Help
Getting hurt in an accident you did not cause can be both frustrating and life-altering, as can the process of demanding civil recovery. Even if you have past experience with civil litigation, getting a favorable result from your personal injury claim is not something you should manage on your own.
A San Diego personal injury lawyer from Phillips Law Group can give you the custom-tailored legal guidance you need to effectively pursue the compensation you deserve. Get in touch with a member of our team today to discuss your legal options.
Initial consultations are free, and you are under no obligation to work with us after our first meeting. Do not hesitate to reach out today! We look forward to working with you and helping you seek justice.
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