Law Offices of Tim D Wright - Personal Injury Law Firm in North Hollywood, CA

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If you've been injured because of someone else's negligence, you have the right to demand financial compensation for the losses you've endured. However, pursuing a personal injury claim is no easy task. Offenders and their insurance providers are backed by armies of lawyers prepared to defend their clients. Who's looking out for you?

At Tim D. Wright, we defend personal injury victims. Where possible, we settle cases out of court so our clients can get back to their lives. If needed, however, we assemble a litigation strategy and take the case to trial. In either case, we stand by our clients from start to finish so they can focus on recovering.

What Is Personal Injury?

The essence of a personal injury case is negligence. When another individual, business, or even a governmental agency acts irresponsibly, others can get injured. The injury is often physical, but it can also be psychological or emotional too.

"Negligence" is a legal term that means failure to exercise a proper degree of care under the circumstances. Another way of putting it is failing to behave as a reasonably sensible person would. Negligence can be displayed through a person's actions (like speeding or driving drunk) or through an exclusion (such as failing to remove a known hazard from one's business property).

To win a personal injury case, the victim needs to prove that the defendant was negligent. There are four particular components that are required under California law:

• Duty of care– The offender must have owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. Sometimes a duty arises out of a personal relationship between the parties, such as physician and patient. However this isn't always necessary. For instance, when you drive on a highway, you owe a duty to other drivers not to be reckless.
• Breach– Next, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the offender breached the duty of care. This is where the defendant's negligent acts and/or omissions are brought out. It also covers situations where the at-fault party breaks a law or engages in deliberate wrongdoing. Breach is usually the most disputed part of a personal injury lawsuit.
• Causation– The offender's breach needs to really result in injury to the plaintiff. If the defendant acted negligently but didn't hurt the plaintiff, this element fails.
• Damages– These are the losses for which the plaintiff will seek financial compensation. A few of the most common damages are medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. The nature and quantity of damages are fiercely disputed in most personal injury cases.

Possible Damages In a Personal Injury Case

The goal of a personal injury lawsuit is to make the plaintiff whole through financial compensation. This compensation is known as damages, and some examples are:

• Medical costs– This broad category can consist of everything from hospital bills and prescription drugs to physical therapy and unique adaptive equipment to help with a victim's daily tasks.
• Lost wages– While you recover or are hospitalized for your injuries, you will lose time from work and, with it, potentially considerable amounts of money. You can ask a court to grant you damages to cover this lost income.
• Lost earning capacity– Your occupational prospects might be cut short or severely restricted after a personal injury. An expert witness can help approximate the future income you will lose out on as a result.
• Pain and suffering– These damages account for the pain and psychological trauma you will likely experience for some time to come. Although hard to measure, they are necessary for catastrophic injury cases.
• Loss of pleasure of day-to-day life– It might not be possible to enjoy your typical day-to-day activities, hobbies, and other passions after a bad injury. These damages help compensate you for the loss.
• Loss of consortium– This category refers to the deprivation of the benefits of a family relationship. It includes the loss of support, society, companionship, and sexual relationship between spouses brought on by the injury.
• Punitive (exemplary) damages– In rare cases, an at-fault party can be subject to punitive damages. These are meant to punish the wrongful party and deter others from participating in similar conduct.

Are There Time Limits to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Your right to take legal action against a negligent party will not last forever. In California, personal injury claims are subject to what's called a statute of limitations. This sets a deadline for plaintiffs to file their claims before they lose the right to do so. For a personal injury, the statute of limitations is two years. In most cases, the clock begins to run when the injury occurs.

However, it's ideal not to delay taking action on your claim. Witnesses' memories can fade over time, evidence will be harder to obtain, and you might fail to remember crucial information if you wait too long. If you or a loved one have been hurt, reach out to a dedicated North Hollywood personal injury attorney.

How Can the Personal Injury Lawyers of Tim D. Wright Assist Me?

Suing a defendant usually means suing an insurance company, like a motor vehicle insurer. Regardless, you can count on the offender's attorneys pushing back on your claims or making settlement offers that come nowhere near to covering your losses. You need a lawyer who not only knows California personal injury law, but knows how to establish a fair value for your claim.

At Tim D. Wright, we've helped countless personal injury clients get the compensation they require to recover. We won't accept unjust deals and will defend you from start to finish. Give us a call or fill out the contact form today to get started on your claim.

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For more information about Personal Injury Attorneys in North Hollywood, California, contact Law Offices of Tim D. Wright at (323) 379-9995 or visit our website at​​ TimWrightLaw.com for a Free Consultation!