Riverside Personal Injury Attorney

Personal Injury Lawyer in Riverside, CA

Accidents can have devastating consequences on a victim’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Suffering serious injuries and astronomical expenses after an accident that was not your fault can feel frustrating and unfair. However, a Riverside, CA personal injury attorney can advise you on your rights and legal options for holding the negligent party accountable. You could potentially recover damages such as healthcare costs, lost wages, and more.

The experienced personal injury attorneys at Russell & Lazarus offer highly personalized service tailored to your individual needs. We focus on helping individuals who have suffered serious injuries and families whose loved ones died in a fatal accident. Our firm has a 30-year successful track record of helping victims recover their due. We are committed to fighting for the compensation injured individuals deserve. Learn more about your rights by contacting us today for a free case review, call (888) 539-3154 or text (949) 309-0990.

Examples of Personal Injury Cases in Riverside, CA

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emergency visits due to unintentional injuries totaled 29.4 million in the year 2017 alone. Accident injuries can be costly and life-disrupting. However, victims do not have a case simply because you were involved in an accident. To hold another party responsible for your injuries and damages, they must have negligently or deliberately caused you harm.

Most types of accidents or incidents in which another individual, business, or other entity caused your injuries could qualify for a personal injury case.  However, we commonly see the following types of cases in our practice:

Car and Other Motor Vehicle Accidents 

Figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that most motor vehicle accidents happen due to driver error. If a negligent driver caused your accident and injuries, or the death of your loved one, you could potentially recover compensation. Negligent driving can entail, among other behaviors:

• Drunk driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Distracted driving
• Ignoring traffic signs and signals
• Speeding
• Driving generally recklessly

If you experienced an accident with a truck or other commercial vehicle, you could have legal recourse against a driver, a company, and other potential defendants. A personal injury attorney in Riverside, CA, can determine all liable parties in your accident.

Premises Liability – Slip and Fall 

If you experienced a fall and injuries due to a defect or hazard on public or private property, you could have a personal injury case, and receive compensation for your injuries. Dangerous conditions can include cracks in floors, slippery surfaces, and tripping hazards. Slips and falls can occur in various locations, including offices, restaurants, malls, amusement parks, and apartment buildings.

Dog Bites and Animal Attacks

Pet owners are responsible for keeping their pets under control. Dog bites, especially from large and powerful dogs, can cause permanent disfigurement, dangerous infections, and even death. Moreover, victims of dog attacks can suffer from emotional trauma haunting them for years. If you suffered significant physical and emotional injuries due to an aggressive dog, you should contact a personal injury attorney from Russel & Lazarus to learn about your legal rights. You may be entitled to damages from the dog owner or their insurance company.

Dangerous or Defective Products

Consumer products and medications should be safe to use. However, if a medical device, toy, car part, or other product malfunctions and causes injuries, you could have a case against a manufacturer. Dangerous or defective products occur due to:

• Manufacturing defects
• Design defects
• Lack of instructions and /or warning labels 

Product liability cases can involve complex legal issues. Moreover, you might have to stand up against a powerful corporation and its legal team. For help with your case, contact Russell & Lazarus to speak to a Riverside, CA, personal injury attorney experienced in litigating product liability cases.

Our tenacious attorneys can deal with all types of personal injury cases. If you or a loved one suffered harm due to another’s negligence, recklessness, or deliberate actions, we can be here for you. Contact us today to find out if you could pursue compensation. Call (888) 539-3154 or text (949) 309-0990.

Proving a Personal Injury Case in Riverside, CA

While it may be obvious that another is to blame for your accident and injuries, you will have to provide clear evidence to have a chance at recovering damages.  A Riverside, CA personal injury attorney can help establish the four essential elements of a personal injury lawsuit:

1. The defendant owed you a duty of care.
2. They breached the duty by acting negligently or deliberately causing harm.
3. The breach directly caused your accident and injury.
4. You have damages such as lost income and healthcare bills.

Proving all four elements can be challenging and may require statements from expert witnesses, depending on the complexity of your case.

When To File a Personal Injury Case in Riverside, CA

Finding the right timing for a personal injury case can be vital. On the one hand, victims should not wait too long to file a lawsuit, since according to California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, the time to file generally runs out after two years.

On the other hand, filing too soon does not always work to your advantage either. If you suffered serious and perhaps life-changing injuries in an accident, it can be best to wait with a lawsuit until you have reached maximum medical recovery or recovered fully. If you file a lawsuit too soon, medical providers may not be able to estimate your future medical costs correctly, which could lead to leaving money on the table in settlement negotiations. A personal injury attorney in Riverside, CA, can help with determining when to file your lawsuit.

Frequently Asked Personal Injury Questions

What Damages Are Available in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Damages you could pursue in a personal injury lawsuit will depend on the circumstances of the accident, severity of your injuries, and other facts. However, in general, victims could recover various types of compensation, including but not limited to:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Medical bills and future medical expenses
• Loss of wages and future loss of wages
• Reduction in life quality

Wrongful Death

If your loved one died in an accident that occurred due to another’s negligence, you could potentially file a wrongful death lawsuit and receive damages such as:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of parental guidance (for minor children)
• Loss of inheritance
• Loss of income and benefits from the deceased
• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses before death

Every personal injury case is different, and compensation can vary. However, a Riverside, CA personal injury attorney can help assess your damages and determine the worth of your case.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer in Riverside, CA Cost?

You should not have to worry about attorney’s fees, especially if you are already out of pocket due to astronomical medical bills and other expenses. Most personal injury attorneys, including Russell & Lazarus, work with a so-called “contingency fee agreement,” which means that clients do not have to pay attorneys upfront.

Instead, personal injury lawyers typically take their fee as a percentage of the final settlement if – and only if – they win the case. If you lose the case, you do not have to pay the attorney for any time spent working on your case.

However, while most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, you should always ask your prospective lawyer about fees. Some law firms charge hourly fees or retainers. Hourly fees can amount to hundreds of dollars per hour, and retainers can cost several thousand dollars. Moreover, clients who agree to hourly fees or retainers can end up severely out of pocket if they lose their case.

How Do I Know Whether I Have a Case?

Generally, you could have a case if another carelessly or deliberately caused your injuries. However, specifically, you will have to prove that the other party acted negligently and that you have tangible damages as a result, such as medical bills.

A personal injury attorney will be able to advise you on whether you have a case and could pursue damages from the at-fault party. The dedicated lawyers at Russell & Lazarus can go over your case in detail in a free consultation and determine whether you have legal recourse. We can identify the liable parties in your case and the types of compensation you could receive.

How Can Russell & Lazarus Help Me?

You do not have to struggle on your own to seek justice. Having a personal injury lawyer in your corner can take the weight off your shoulders. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Russell & Lazarus can be with you every step of the way, fighting for what you need and deserve. Ways in which our legal team can help you can include:

• Gathering evidence of another party’s negligence
• Calculating your current damages and estimating your future expenses
• Finding expert witnesses for your case
• Communicating and negotiating with insurance companies
• Fighting for you aggressively at trial

Our dedicated legal team is here to listen to your concerns and answer your questions in a free consultation. Get started with getting justice now and text (949) 309-0990 or call (888) 539-3154.