Maison Law Firm is here to help runners who have sustained injuries in Modesto caused by potholes. If you or a family member has suffered a running injury due to a pothole in Modesto, contact Maison Law today. Our team will schedule a free consultation and no-obligation case evaluation to ensure you understand your legal rights and how to secure compensation for the losses and expenses created when you are hurt because of a pothole.
Do I Need a Modesto Lawyer
As the victim of injuries caused by a pothole, you are never legally required to hire a lawyer to represent you when you want to pursue a lawsuit as a result of injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. You have the right to handle the case as best you can on your own and even go to court to face a professional legal team to fight for the compensation you feel you deserve for your injuries and other damages. But the real question to consider is: do you want and deserve the services of a lawyer to ensure a positive outcome for your Modesto running injuries caused by a pothole lawsuit?
Running injuries caused by potholes in Modesto can result in serious harm to the runner, including lifelong issues with damaged bones, joints, and soft tissue. But there are also instances where the injuries are minor and do not require a long, involved lawsuit. The solution that best meets your needs is the one that provides the financial solution you want within the time frame that works best for you. Keep in mind that cases like yours that a Maison Law injury lawyer handles are typically resolved for more compensation or a larger settlement than those managed by the injury victim.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
To get the information and answers you need to determine if a Maison Law injury lawyer is right for your running injuries caused by a pothole lawsuit, request your free consultation at your earliest opportunity. Our personal injury lawyer will help you understand the legal merit of the case, the best-case outcome for you, and how to move forward if you want to pursue legal action to get the compensation needed to cover your losses and expenses.
Even after this fact-finding meeting, you are never obligated to proceed with the lawsuit or hire Maison Law. Our only motivation is to ensure that all runners like yourself have access to reliable information and guidance as you choose your future and a lawsuit that could help cover the cost of vital medical care needed for your running injuries caused by potholes in Modesto.
Common Pothole Injuries Modesto Runners Could Suffer
For avid runners, or those who only take part in this activity for the health perks and added energy, running can become a vital part of your life. Sadly, that enjoyment and all the benefits it provides can quickly come to an end if you find yourself the victim of pothole injuries that can include:
- Broken or dislocated bones in the foot, ankle, or leg
- Broken or shattered bones from a fall caused by the pothole
- Compound fractures or severe lacerations
- The destruction of the soft connective tissue of joints
- Facial injuries to the eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, and delicate skin
- Head trauma that could include a concussion, brain bleed, or other traumatic brain injuries
- Back, neck, or spinal cord damage
While some injuries may be minor, you must receive a complete medical exam after a pothole injury, such as a fall, to ensure no extensive or severe injury is masked by shock and the adrenaline of the incident. Having your injuries well documented by a medical professional could be crucial in supporting your lawsuit for compensation should the matter go to court.
Calculating an Estimated Value for Your Running Injuries Caused by a Pothole
Even if your injuries from the pothole incident appear minor, you could find yourself sore and achy for a few days. That means you might miss a few days of income, have medical bills piling up, and incur other expenses related to treatment and care for your body. Damaged running shoes and clothing can also increase the expenses associated with this incident. And in the worst cases, you will be spending time and money at the hospital for expert medical care in hopes of a fast recovery. Either way, you need to understand the value of a running injuries from potholes in Modesto lawsuit to decide if this is a viable solution for you.
Working with your Maison Law legal team, you will compile all of your economic and non-economic damages to begin evaluating the compensation you will seek. The economic damages are easy to gather and include, as each has a specific dollar value, such as:
- All current and future medical expenses related to the care of your injuries caused by the pothole incident
- The cost of transportation to your medical appointments
- The expenses related to counseling or therapy for any emotional care to address the trauma of the incident
- Your lost income if the injuries prevent you from working while recovering
- Any lost future income if the incident results in a disability that limits your earning potential or career path
The non-economic damages you face are a little more challenging to identify and to assign a dollar value to. These are losses or issues that will impact your overall quality of life after the accident and can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of running or other physical fitness or hobbies
- The lack of ability to contribute to the lives of loved ones as you once did
- Hardships due to the trauma and emotional harm you endured like PTSD, anxiety, nightmares, or trouble sleeping
Who is Liable for my Pothole injuries in Modesto
When you are running on public streets in Modesto, they will be maintained by the city or county in most cases. There might also be a few routes that pass through the city that are the responsibility of the state or federal government. If the pothole injury incident happened in a gated community, an office complex, or in a shopping mall parking lot, the responsible party is typically a business or individual who owns the preprty. It might not be a significant issue when you first think about who is the liable party for the space where you got hurt because of a pothole. But what you will quickly discover is that the liable party in your case will have a huge impact on the time that you have to pursue legal action.
To report a road or sidewalk hazard, contact Modesto’s Public Works Department or use the GoModesto request portal. For the legal background, see Civil Code § 1714, Government Code § 835, the California Law Revision Commission’s report, and our guide to government claims.
The Statute of Limitations for a Pothole-Related Running Injury Lawsuit
In most personal injury cases, the victim has two years from the date of the incident to file their lawsuit with the court. That is the time you will be given if your running injuries caused by a pothole in Modesto happened on private property. However, if the responsible party in your case is a government entity or agency, like the city or federal government, or you fell in the parking lot at the local post office, the time limit for you to take legal action is only six months from the date of the incident.
In both situations, keep in mind that these time limits are strictly enforced. Once the Statute of Limitations has passed, you no longer have the right to pursue a lawsuit and seek compensation for the losses and expenses caused by the incident.
Frequently Asked Questions About Running Injuries Caused by Potholes in Modesto
Are there requirements or regulations regarding the time to repair a pothole?
No, there is no time limit imposed on the city to have a pothole in a city street repaired, nor is there a requirement that a property owner meet if there are potholes in their parking lot. The only guidelines state that the repairs should be completed within a reasonable time.
If I sustain a running injury due to a pothole in a private parking lot, can I sue the owner?
Yes, even parking lots, which are private property in some cases and open to public use in others, require that the owner meet a specific duty of care. These guidelines require the space that can be accessed by others to be maintained in a safe and hazard-free condition. If it is not, then the owner is negligent in their duty of care.
Will my Modesto running injury caused by a pothole lawsuit go to court?
There is never any guarantee that your lawsuit will or will not make its way into a courtroom. But keep in mind that the average number of lawsuits that actually go before a judge is less than 10% of all cases filed with the court. Most cases are resolved through negotiation and settlement before a court, and a judge is involved.
Contact A Pothole Injury Lawyer
If you or a family member has become the victim of a running injury caused by a pothole in Modesto, reach out to Maison Law. One of our lawyers will meet with you for a free consultation and case evaluation to ensure you understand your rights as the victim of personal injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. Once you have all the facts and answers to your questions, you can make a well-informed choice about moving forward with a lawsuit.
If you hire Maison Law to represent you in this matter, we will never require any upfront legal fees or expenses. Instead, we only get paid after the matter is resolved, and you have the compensation or settlement funds needed to cover your legal costs.
