The Ultimate San Francisco Bay Area Personal Injury Guide

The Ultimate San Francisco Bay Area Personal Injury Guide Is a Helpful Question and Answer Resource For Injured Accident Victims

It happens in just a split second; you’ve been in an accident, and you are injured. In the flash of a moment, your life changes. You are suddenly traumatized, and disoriented. Your adrenaline is high, and a flood of thoughts, anxiety, and worry, race through your mind. What should you do after an accident? At The Hassell Law Group, we have helped countless seriously injured accident victims who have suffered injuries recover the substantial compensation they are entitled to for their injuries sustained in all different types of accidents. This article will help you as a step-by-step informational guide for seeking medical attention and protecting your legal rights and financial best interests after an accident in which you or a loved one have been injured.

Key takeaways: While there are many different types of accidents which can cause serious injuries, your two immediate priorities after any accident are always:

1. Notify the Police and seek immediate medical attention. It is advisable to dial 911 and summon the Police and Paramedics directly to the accident scene for treatment and then be seen at a Hospital Emergency Room. Make the Emergency Room doctors aware of the injuries you sustained in the accident and any other symptoms that you are experiencing. Many injuries may not be immediately apparent in the few hours right after the accident, only to become more apparent and far more serious in the days after. Personal injury claims and any compensation that you may be awarded are based largely on your medical treatment, type of injuries, and your medical records related to the accident. Therefore, it is very important to seek immediate medical care right after the accident has occurred, seek continued treatment for each injury until it is resolved, and schedule all follow-up appointments with your doctors and therapists, this will enable you to recover just and proper compensation for your injuries sustained in the accident.
2. Hire a skilled personal injury attorney to represent you. Property owners, business owners, corporations, and insurance companies responsible for paying claims certainly do not have an accident victim’s best interests at heart. In most cases they will seek to reduce your damages and minimize any compensation that you receive or even attempt to blame you for the accident. A skilled Personal Injury Attorney is on your side. A skilled Personal Injury Attorney knows how to prove liability and understands the true economic value of your injuries. Your personal injury lawyer will forcefully advocate for just and proper compensation for the injuries you sustained in the accident. Importantly, insurance industry studies show individuals who are represented by an attorney in personal injury claims receive on average three (3) times greater compensation than self-represented individuals without an attorney.

Common types of personal injury accidents in the San Francisco Bay Area:

There are many different types of accidents that can result in serious bodily injury. These are some of the more common types of accidents:

• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Trip and Fall Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Brain Injury Accidents
• Stairway Accidents
• Tourist Accidents
• Dog Bites, Dog Mauling, and Animal Attacks
• Dangerous Roadway Accidents
• Dangerous Property Condition Accidents
• Construction and Work Site Accidents
• Dangerous Sidewalk and Walkway Accidents
• Wrongful Death Accidents
• Elevator Accidents
• Restaurant Accidents
• Premises Liability Accidents

It is important to note that this article is primarily a guide for non-motor vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle, including car accidents, truck accidents, rideshare accidents, motorcycle accidents, scooter accidents, or a bicycle accident involving a motor vehicle, please read The Ultimate San Francisco Bay Area Car Accident Guide which is a helpful information resource for San Francisco Bay Area motor vehicle accident victims.

What should I do after I have been injured in an accident?

After you are involved in an accident you are likely be traumatized and not know what to do. However, there are things which you should do to protect your legal rights and maximize your financial recovery for your injuries, and things which you should not do as they may be harmful to your accident claim or personal injury case.

The 7 steps you should take after an accident with injuries:

DO:

• Do Dial 911 and summon the Police and Paramedics to the accident scene. Stay at the accident scene and request a Police report of the accident and accept medical treatment at the scene by Paramedics.
• Do take photos and video of any vehicles or dangerous conditions which caused or contributed to the accident. These photos or video may be instrumental in helping your attorney prove liability in your personal injury case.
• Do record the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
• Do seek immediate medical attention. It is best to seek treatment directly at the scene of the accident by Paramedics, followed by treatment at a Hospital Emergency Room. Provide the Paramedics and Emergency Room doctors with a detailed description of your injuries, and any symptoms that you are experiencing.
• Do hire an experienced Personal Injury Attorney to represent you. An experienced Personal Injury Attorney will investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident and take steps to strengthen your claim, protect your legal rights, and position your case for the best possible outcome.
• Do document all physical and emotional after-effects of the accident in a daily journal. Make sure to schedule and then go to all follow up medical appointments. Follow through with any prescribed medical treatments and medications prescribed. Document your injuries, symptoms, wage loss, and pain and suffering. This documentation will be extremely useful in proving your damages in your personal injury case.
• Do refer all insurance company phone calls and communications from insurance adjusters directly to your Personal Injury Attorney.

The 8 steps that should be avoided after an accident in which you have sustained injuries:

DO NOT:

• Do not discuss the accident with the other party or other parties involved in the accident, or make any statements about the accident, except to the Police and your Personal Injury Attorney.
• Do not admit fault. Accident fault is complex, and sometimes a Court is necessary to determine the fault in an accident case. You may not be at fault for the accident even if you initially think you are at fault. Never admit fault in an accident claim. Doing so can damage your insurance claim and personal injury case. Let the accident investigators, insurers, and your Personal Injury Attorney determine fault.
• Do not talk to the other party’s insurance company(or give a recorded statement to your own insurance company) or any other party involved in the accident.
• Do not make any statements to any insurance company unless your Personal Injury Attorney has agreed to it and is present. Refer all insurance company inquiries directly to your Personal Injury Attorney.
• Do not discard damaged property such as your vehicle or bicycle, and ripped or bloodied clothing, broken eyeglasses, or any other personal items broken or damaged in the accident. These items are key evidence that can support your personal injury and property damage claim and may also be useful in determining who is at fault for the accident.
• Do not provide a recorded statement to any insurance company, even your own. You are not legally obligated to provide a recorded statement and certainly not obligated to do so without your Personal Injury Attorney present.
• Do not speak with any insurance adjuster or other insurance company representatives. An insurance adjuster may be friendly but is certainly not your friend. Their job is to look after the insurance company’s bottom line and pay you as little money as possible to settle your accident claim. Refer all insurance adjusters directly to your Personal Injury Attorney.
• Do not post or blog any information about the accident or your injuries on any social media platform. Any written or video statements you make on any public forum may be considered evidence in your injury case and can be twisted or misconstrued by the insurance company and could damage your personal injury claim. It is best to limit anything you say on social media until your claim has been resolved.

FAQ Personal Injury Accident Questions and Answers:

How do I know if I have a personal injury claim?

If you were injured in the accident due to the fault or negligence of another person or entity, or if you were only partially at fault for the accident, you likely have a valid personal injury claim. You will need to discuss the specifics of your case with a Personal Injury Attorney who can determine the validity of your claim and the value of your case.

How can a Personal Injury Attorney help with your Accident Claim?

An insurance settlement or monetary damages paid from a claim or lawsuit can address the financial toll of an accident and monetarily compensate you for your pain and suffering, however the process of recovering this compensation is not easy. This is one of the most valuable ways that a Personal Injury Attorney can help you. By taking over the insurance claim, settlement negotiations, and any litigation, your attorney will expertly handle the entire accident claim and legal process so that you can focus your time and energy on recovering from your injuries.

Gathering and preserving evidence, identifying your damages, and documenting them, will help build a solid case so you obtain the most advantageous case outcome possible. However, keep in mind that if you do not reach a settlement with the insurance company, your case will require a lawsuit be filed before your statutory claim deadline runs out. While 95% of accident and personal injury cases settle without a court trial, the insurance company and their lawyers will attempt to build a strong defense against any claims that you’ve made. Representing yourself in an insurance claim or lawsuit is always ill-advised. Having an expert Personal Injury Attorney fighting for you gives you the best chance for maximum financial recovery from your personal injury claim. An Insurance Industry study found that individuals who are represented by an attorney receive on average a settlement which is three (3) times more than those individuals who are self-represented. 

When should I hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

While California has a two (2) year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim, obtaining legal representation right away after an accident has occurred will provide you with the very best opportunity for a successful resolution of your claim. Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney immediately after your accident will give you the best chance of maximizing your financial compensation for any personal injury and property damages that you have sustained in the accident.

How do I choose a Personal Injury Attorney?

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney to advocate on your behalf will level the playing field, and help you recover just and proper compensation for your injuries. Many people might think that the decision to hire an attorney after an accident is an easy one but picking the best Personal Injury Attorney requires careful thought. There are certain things you will always want to look for when evaluating Personal Injury Attorneys. First, consider their experience. You will want to look at not just how much legal experience they have but also what type of cases and law they’ve practiced within that time frame. For example, San Francisco based Hassell Law Group exclusively practices personal injury law, and their legal team has over 85 years of combined legal experience. Experience matters when dealing with billion-dollar insurance companies. Choosing the right Personal Injury Attorney can dramatically increase your chances of a successful outcome and receiving substantial compensation for your personal injury claim.

In addition to experience, you should also consider the attorney’s success rate and whether or not the attorney has taken cases to trial and won. Settlements are a reasonable option in most personal injury cases, but litigation and even a trial is sometimes necessary to obtain fair and just compensation for injured accident victims. You will want an attorney highly experienced with litigation and trial and well-versed in how to win cases in that arena.

An attorney’s reputation should also be an essential aspect of your decision process. This is partly dictated by their success rate, but also by their client reviews, working relationships, and their standing with their state bar. Take the time to read reviews from past clients or ask for references from firms that you are considering hiring. Does the attorney receive a large number of positive reviews from former clients on review sites such as Avvo, Google Reviews, and Yelp? If so, this is a good indication that they are well respected in their field and have excellent skill, credibility, and integrity. You may also want to visit the California State Bar website to check for an attorney’s disciplinary actions or client complaints. Choosing the right Personal Injury Lawyer is key to the successful resolution of your case.

Where can I get a Free Case Evaluation and Free Consultation for my San Francisco Bay Area Personal Injury Claim?

We offer injured San Francisco Bay Area Accident Victims a Free Consultation, and you pay No Attorney’s Fees Unless We Recover Money For You

At The Hassell Law Group, our legal team are experts in personal injury law with over 100 years of combined legal experience. We stand up to aggressive insurance companies and have a long established record of obtaining award-winning case results for our clients. We fight every step of the way to achieve the best possible financial outcome for our injured clients. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee is contingent on your case’s outcome. There is no risk in hiring our law firm. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. We welcome your questions, and our legal team looks forward to helping you obtain just and proper compensation for your personal injury claim.

 

The general information provided in this guide should not be considered legal advice and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult directly with an attorney. If you contact us by telephone, email, letter, or by contact form submission through this website, please note that such communication does not create or constitute an attorney client relationship. We cannot act as your attorney until we are hired as your attorney by a formal written agreement.