Personal Injury

To obtain and use witness statements, you must identify witnesses promptly, get their written accounts, and later use formal legal procedures like depositions if a lawsuit is filed. These statements a...

To resolve a dispute over medical costs with an insurer, you must provide detailed evidence justifying the treatment, negotiate directly with the adjuster, and be prepared to file a lawsuit if a fair ...

To add a loss of consortium claim for your spouse, you must join them as a plaintiff in your personal injury lawsuit by filing an Amended Complaint with the court. This new claim alleges that the defe...

To prove a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a California personal injury claim, you must present comprehensive medical evidence and expert testimony that directly links the accident to your injury and ...

To establish a dangerous road condition claim, you must prove the government entity controlled the property, a dangerous condition existed that they knew or should have known about, and this condition...

In California, the school or daycare facility is generally legally responsible for your child's injury if it was caused by the facility's negligence or a failure to provide a safe environment. Here ar...

Collecting your personal injury judgment involves using court-issued orders to legally seize the debtor's assets, such as wages or property, until the debt is paid. This process begins after the court...

The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) limits the amount of money you can recover for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, in a California medical malpractice lawsuit. The law...

You can find and verify a California attorney's license status and public disciplinary history on the State Bar of California's official website. This public record system is the most reliable source ...

If you were injured as a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car, you must prioritize your health and safety while preserving key evidence for a potential claim. The following steps outline the critical ac...

To strengthen your personal injury claim, you must diligently attend all medical appointments and systematically collect every document related to your treatment and expenses. This documentation is th...

To file an injury claim against a California government entity, you must first file a formal Government Claim within six months of the injury. This is a strict and mandatory prerequisite before you ca...

To file a complaint against an insurance company, you submit a Request for Assistance (RFA) form with the California Department of Insurance (CDI), which prompts an official investigation. Here is a ...

Mediation is a confidential negotiation process where a neutral third party helps you and the opposing party try to reach a voluntary settlement for your personal injury claim. If an agreement is reac...

To make a claim, you must notify the homeowner of your injury and then formally report the incident to their insurance company to begin the claims process. Here are the steps to take to make a claim ...

If your insurance company is unfairly delaying or denying your claim, you can take specific actions to enforce your rights under California law. Here are the steps you should take to address potential...

There is no rigid formula for calculating non-economic damages; they are determined through negotiation based on the severity and impact of the injury, supported by strong evidence. Here are the commo...

To formally reject a settlement offer and proceed toward trial, you must clearly communicate the rejection to the opposing party and continue to meet all court-ordered litigation deadlines. Here is t...

You can obtain the at-fault party's insurance policy limits by making a formal pre-litigation demand or by filing a lawsuit and using the discovery process. Insurers are generally not required to disc...

If you were injured by a drunk driver in California, you can pursue both criminal restitution and a civil claim for punitive damages, which go beyond standard accident compensation. Taking specific ac...

To preserve crucial evidence for a California injury claim, you must immediately secure and document the item and formally notify all parties that the evidence must be saved. Failing to do so can seve...

The procedure for a deposition involves formally notifying all parties of the scheduled date, time, and location, and then thoroughly preparing the witness to provide testimony. Here's how to schedule...

To respond to interrogatories, you must provide written, truthful answers under oath and any legal objections to the questions within 30 days of when they were served. Here is how to respond to writt...

If you are injured in a car accident while driving for work, you generally have two potential claims: a workers' compensation claim and a personal injury claim against the at-fault third party. Here i...

To file a claim for an injury caused by a rideshare driver, you must report the accident to both the police and the rideshare company, and then pursue a claim against the applicable insurance policy. ...

As an injured passenger, you can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver's car insurance policy to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages, even if that driver is a fr...

To prove emotional distress damages in California, you must provide credible evidence demonstrating the nature, severity, and duration of your mental suffering caused by the defendant's actions. The g...

Serving a lawsuit involves formally delivering a copy of the court-filed Summons and Complaint to the defendant according to strict legal rules. This process, called "service of process," gives the de...

To handle a medical lien, you must formally notify the lienholder of your settlement, verify the charges, and negotiate a legally permissible final payment amount before receiving your funds. Here ar...

In California, you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Here is how to determine and meet your specific deadline. Step 1: Identify the Date of Inju...

To prove a property owner was negligent, you must show they failed to use reasonable care to keep their property safe and that this failure directly caused your injury. Here are the steps to build you...

If a defective product injures you in California, you should seek immediate medical care, preserve the product as evidence, and document the incident thoroughly. Here are the key steps to take to prot...

To obtain your medical records and billing statements for a personal injury claim, you must submit a formal written request to each of your healthcare providers. California law grants you the right to...

Before signing a contingency fee agreement, you must ask specific questions to fully understand the lawyer's fee percentage, how case costs are handled, and who will manage your case. Here are the key...

To properly handle medical bills and subrogation, you must track all costs, notify your insurer of the claim, and negotiate a reduced reimbursement amount from your settlement based on specific Califo...

To file a personal injury lawsuit in California small claims court, you must file a claim form, pay a fee, and formally notify the person you are suing. The monetary limit for an individual is $12,500...

To respond to a low settlement offer, you should formally reject it in writing and provide a counter-demand supported by evidence of your damages. Do not cash any check or sign any release form, as th...

In California, a court must approve any personal injury settlement for a minor to ensure the agreement is fair and the money is protected for the child's benefit. This process is known as a "Minor's C...

Under California's "pure comparative negligence" rule, your settlement amount is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover damages even if you were mostly responsible. Here is how...

A personal injury demand letter in California should clearly state the facts of the incident, detail your injuries and all related financial losses, and make a specific monetary demand to settle your ...

To formally notify a property owner of a slip and fall injury in California, you should send a detailed written notice of your claim via certified mail to the property owner and their insurance compan...

You must report a car accident to the California DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage exceeded $1,000 for any single person. This duty applies regardless of who wa...

You can obtain your police traffic collision report by submitting a request to the law enforcement agency that responded to your accident. The process typically involves proving you are an involved pa...

Handle the first call from the other party's insurance adjuster by providing only basic identifying information, politely declining to discuss fault or injuries, and refusing to give a recorded statem...

To preserve your legal rights after a dog bite in California, you must immediately seek medical care, report the incident to local authorities, and collect key evidence about the dog and its owner. H...

To calculate past lost wages, you must document the exact income you missed. To calculate future loss of earning capacity, you must project how your injuries will reduce your ability to earn money ove...

To make a Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) claim, you must promptly notify your own insurance company, provide them with evidence of your damages, and formally prove the other driver was at fault...

To file a personal injury claim against a California city or county, you must first present a formal written claim directly to the responsible public entity within six months of your injury. This is a...

If the at-fault driver in your California car accident is uninsured, you must file a claim with your own insurance company under your Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. This specific coverage is design...

To properly document a car accident scene in California, you must safely gather immediate evidence, exchange information with all involved parties, and file official reports with law enforcement and t...