Yes, you can file a personal injury lawsuit in California if you are not a legal citizen. California personal injury laws protect every victim, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
These laws ensure that injured victims can seek support without fear that they’ll be deported or have their immigration status used against their case. These rights also protect families who have had a loved one claimed in a wrongful death accident. Those families can file wrongful death claims without fear relatives of the victims will face deportation.
These are important protections that a Maison Law California Immigration Lawyer can help you or your family secure after a frightening accident. Your Maison Law representative would also demand the most in compensation available for you and your family after an accident.
Protections for Illegal Immigrants Hurt in California Accidents
The laws in place to safeguard illegal immigrants after accidents were confirmed when California lawmakers approved AB 2159 in 2017. These laws ensure that all California residents can file a personal injury claim after an accident without fear of retaliation and deportation. The bill and other laws guarantee these protections for illegal immigrants and those who are working toward citizenship.
- The victim’s citizenship status cannot be investigated by the lawyers involved in either side of a personal injury case.
- Attorneys can’t bring up your immigration status during your case.
- Any compensation awarded for lost earnings would consider potential income in the U.S. and not in the person’s country of origin.
What’s more, there are penalties for at-fault parties who illegally try to use immigration status to avoid having to take responsibility for their actions. Employers may not fire employees simply because they filed a personal injury claim. Your lawyer would help you file a lawsuit over any violation of the law. You and your family would potentially be able to earn even more in compensation if this case were successful.
Compensation Available to Illegal Immigrants in Personal Injury Cases
A personal injury case is possible if someone’s negligence creates a hazard that causes you harm. If you can show a landlord, a business owner, or another driver contributed to or caused your accident and property damage and injuries, you can file a personal injury claim.
A personal injury claim should seek support for you and your family for every hardship you’ve endured and will face in the future. Those hardships can include:
- Hospital bills now and for the care expected to be needed in the future.
- Long-term support if you suffer a permanent disability.
- The physical pain you suffer in recovery and perhaps much longer.
- The emotional trauma you experience in the accident and in a difficult recovery.
- All income and benefits you’ve lost while missing time at work.
- Property damage.
Families who must mourn the loss of a loved one due to a careless accident are empowered to seek support for the future through wrongful death claims.
Families would seek help with these costs and many non-economic damages:
- Money to help with paying funeral and burial costs.
- Money to help pay any remaining medical bills and emergency response fees.
- Support for the future when the family won’t have access to the income the victim has supported them with.
- Support for the emotional difficulties family members will continue to encounter. This can include the loss of the guidance and care the deceased can no longer provide.
Illegal Immigrants Should Seek Compensation After an Accident
People living in California should never be afraid to seek justice after an accident due to their fears over deportation. Victims hurt by the carelessness of others may face massive hospital bills at a time when they are too injured to return to work and earn a paycheck.
These victims need help and California law makes sure they receive it without fear for their futures. Maison Law can investigate your accident and secure the evidence necessary to hold an at-fault party completely responsible. Please contact us to take advantage of a free, confidential case consultation.
There’s no obligation, but if you decide we can help protect your family and earn you more, you won’t need any money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for your family. Then, our fee is paid out of the settlement money you receive from the insurance company.
