Maison Law can help you if you’ve been hurt in an accident in Fresno.
Whether you’re driving along Highway 41, Highway 99, shopping at River Park or Fashion Fair Mall, or spending the afternoon at Woodward Park, the last thing you expect is to go through a serious injury. But when it does happen, it brings a lot of uncertainty about what comes next. We can help you through it. Set up a free consultation today to learn more.
Fresno Personal Injury Claims Process
Step 1
Call Us For A Free Consultation
Call us 24/7 with No Obligations.
Step 2
Describe Your Accident Details
We will then discuss your legal options and decide whether to move your case forward.
Step 3
Retain Maison Law w/ No Upfront Fees
We work on contingency. No attorney fees unless you win your case.
Step 4
Receive Your Compensation
We will fight for you to earn the highest possible payout for your damages.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
That’s usually one of the first questions people ask after an accident. And there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. If your injuries are minor and you feel like you’re getting a fair shake from the insurance company, you can probably handle things yourself.
But that’s not how many injury claims go. Instead, you’re trying to heal while answering calls from insurance adjusters, scheduling doctor’s appointments, missing work, and wondering who’s actually going to pay for everything. That’s usually when having a lawyer starts to make sense. Our team at Maison Law can step in and help by:
- Looking into exactly how the accident happened and figuring out who may be responsible.
- Collecting medical records, police reports, photos, witness statements, and other evidence that supports your claim.
- Handling the insurance company so you don’t have to keep repeating your story.
- Explaining your options every step of the way, including whether filing a lawsuit makes sense.
You always have the choice to handle your own claim. Plenty of people do. But once the paperwork starts piling up and the insurance company begins making offers, it can quickly become more stressful than most people expect.
What Types of Things Can Help Me After My Accident?
One of the biggest mistakes people make after an accident is assuming they’ll remember everything. The truth is, a lot happens in a short amount of time. Cars get moved and repaired, a broken piece of sidewalk gets fixed, or a store cleans up a spill. That’s why it helps to get information while you can, like:
- Photos and videos. Take pictures of the vehicles, property damage, road conditions, unsafe areas, visible injuries, or anything else that helps explain what happened.
- Witness information. If someone saw the accident, ask for their name and phone number. A neutral witness can make a big difference if there’s a disagreement later.
- Information from the other people involved. Depending on the accident, that could include insurance information, license plate numbers, driver’s license information, or the name of the business or property owner.
Once you’re home, the focus shifts to keeping records that show how the accident has affected your life. A good start is writing down everything you remember while it’s still fresh. Even small details can become important later. Then, in the days and weeks after, try to keep track of:
- Medical records and medical bills
- Police reports or incident reports
- Prescription receipts
- Physical therapy records
- Pay stubs, tax returns, and other proof of lost income
- Receipts for expenses related to your injuries
The good news is you don’t need to have all of this figured out on day one. Most people don’t. Just keep anything connected to the accident. It gives you a much better starting point if you decide to file a claim.
Kinds of Accidents That Happen in Fresno
Fresno is one of the busiest cities in the Central Valley. Between commuters, commercial trucks, students, shoppers, and people traveling throughout the area every day, accidents happen in all kinds of places. Some of the more common locations include:
No one leaves home expecting to become part of one of these statistics. But if it happens to you, one of the next questions becomes who’s responsible.
How Liability Works After an Accident
This is where things can get confusing. You might know exactly what happened, but figuring out who’s legally responsible isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
Generally speaking, a successful personal injury claim comes down to showing that someone acted carelessly. In legal terms, that’s called negligence. To prove it, you generally have to show:
- They had a responsibility to act reasonably
- They failed to do that
- Their actions caused your injuries
- Your injuries led to real losses
That sounds straightforward, but again, it’s not as clean in real life. So it’s easier to think about in terms of what typically happens, where:
- A distracted driver causes a car accident on Highway 41.
- Someone is speeding through an intersection on Shaw Avenue.
- A store employee ignores a spill that causes you to fall.
- A landlord doesn’t repair broken stairs or uneven walkways.
- A property owner doesn’t provide safe conditions for visitors.
- A company makes and sells a defective product.
- A government agency doesn’t properly maintain a public roadway.
Every accident is different. Sometimes one person is responsible. Other times, responsibility is shared between several people or businesses. The important thing is figuring out who had the responsibility to keep you safe and whether they failed to do it.
How You Can Get Financial Help for Your Injuries
After an accident, most people aren’t thinking about lawsuits. They’re thinking about paying their bills and just getting back to normal, if that’s even possible.
That’s where the claims process comes in. California law gives you the ability to file an injury claim and get financial support—called damages—in two main ways:
- Filing an insurance claim. This is where most cases begin. The insurance company will investigate what happened, review your records, and decide whether to make you a settlement offer. The problem is that the first offer is often lower than what your claim is actually worth. Insurance companies are businesses, and their goal is usually to settle claims for as little as possible.
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit. If the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, filing a lawsuit may be the next step. That doesn’t automatically mean you’ll end up in court. In fact, many lawsuits settle before a trial ever happens. Filing a lawsuit gives us the opportunity to gather additional evidence, question witnesses, work with experts if necessary, and continue negotiating from a stronger position.
Whether your case settles with the insurance company or through a lawsuit, the goal is the same: getting financial help for everything this accident has cost you. That usually includes:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost income or a loss of future earning ability
- Repair/replacement costs for your car or other damaged property
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages if you’ve lost a loved one
Every claim is different because every injury is different. The amount you can recover depends on your injuries, your treatment, and how the accident has affected your life. California also gives you a limited amount of time to file most personal injury claims, so it’s usually best to explore your options sooner rather than later.
What Our Clients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, plaintiffs settle accident cases out of court in Fresno. While there’s always a possibility of going to trial, most people prefer the convenience of settling claims via insurance providers. A skilled Fresno personal injury attorney could help victims understand the likelihood that their case will go to trial.
The majority of Fresno injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means you won’t have to pay attorneys unless you win your case. While every attorney office has a different fee structure, most Fresno lawyers charge about 33.3 percent for their services.
After an injury accident in Fresno that was caused by someone else, you are entitled to compensation for all damages you incur. These can include medical bills, missed time from work, pain and suffering, and damaged property.
Contact Maison Law | Fresno Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured due to the carelessness of another person, business, or government entity in Fresno, the Personal Injury Lawyers at Maison Law can help. We understand how to deal with insurance companies and protect your right to fair compensation. Unlike other law firms, we offer a personalized legal plan for your personal injury case. And if liability is in question, then we will take immediate legal action to minimize your fault or remove it from your case entirely.
See what legal options are available to you by contacting Maison Law today for a free consultation and case review.
