Experiencing an injury in an accident can have a significant impact on your daily life. Not only do you endure physical pain and health challenges, but you will also likely suffer emotional distress. On top of that, there are financial consequences to consider.
Simply put, injuries mean medical treatment and bills. Sometimes, this results in long stints of physical therapy so you can regain strength and mobility. And the longer physical therapy lasts, the more charges you run up. That’s why it’s extremely important to understand what your legal options are.
At Maison Law, our California personal injury lawyers are here to help. We will carefully review your case to see if negligence was involved and figure out the right amount of compensation you should get. Our lawyers will support you throughout the legal process, so you can focus on getting better. We are committed to helping you and our other injured clients hold the responsible parties accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation to get started.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Are There in California?
Unfortunately, accidents and injuries are quite common in California, which is a place with lots of people and different activities.
According to data from the California Department of Public Health, there were 296,252 injuries in the state in 2021. As more people come to California, it’s likely that the number of injuries will go up.
At our firm, we handle different types of personal injury cases. Personal injury claims can be complicated, but they usually involve getting hurt because someone else was negligent or didn’t act in a way that put others in danger. This, in turn, caused an accident to occur and you to have physical, financial, and emotional damages. Over the years, we have developed a proven system of success in dealing with the following types of cases:
- Car accidents
- DUI accidents (accidents involving drunk driving)
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Trip and fall accidents
- Ridesharing accidents (accidents involving services like Uber or Lyft)
- Motorcycle accidents
- Premises liability accidents
- Dog bites
- Burn accidents
- Construction accidents
- Traumatic injury accidents
- Vaccine injury accidents
No matter what kind of accident or injury you’ve had, there is a process to protect your claim. This is important because an insurance company will be involved, and they want to save money by minimizing the amount they have to pay you.
Injuries That Require Physical Therapy in California
Not only can an accident occur at any time in California, virtually any injury can rise to the level of needing medical care and physical therapy. Generally speaking, though, there are certain types of injuries that more frequently require physical therapy and rehabilitation:
- Orthopedic injuries – This includes fractures, sprains, strains, and joint dislocations that often require physical therapy to regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
- Spinal cord injuries – These injuries can result in paralysis or loss of sensation. Physical therapy aims to improve the mobility, balance, and functional abilities of individuals with spinal cord injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – Physical therapy plays a crucial role in assisting individuals with TBI in regaining motor skills, coordination, balance, and cognitive functions.
- Work-related injuries – Injuries sustained in the workplace, such as repetitive strain injuries or back injuries, may require physical therapy to restore function and facilitate a safe return to work.
- Vehicle accident injuries – Injuries resulting from car accidents, such as whiplash, fractures, or soft tissue injuries, may require physical therapy to reduce pain, restore function, and improve mobility.
It’s important to know that the need for physical therapy depends on how bad the injury is and what kind of injury it is. With any injury, it’s extremely important to determine the full extent of your damages. The best chance you have at recovering financially is by exploring your legal options.
What If You Can’t Pay Your Physical Therapy Bills After An Accident in California?
Being injured and going to physical therapy represents one of the most common outcomes of an accident in California. These costs, in legal terms, are known as “damages”. Aside from physical therapy costs, other damages that can be recovered include things like:
- The other costs of your medical care, including ambulance fees, hospital bills, doctor’s visits, surgery, prescription drugs, and medical equipment.
- The income you lose because you are unable to work due to your injuries, as well as income you would have earned if you had not been injured, but now can’t earn because of your injuries.
- The cost to repair or replace your vehicle or other property that was damaged in the accident.
- The physical and emotional pain and discomfort you experience as a result of your injuries.
- The emotional distress you experience as a result of the accident, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
- The decrease in your ability to enjoy life as a result of your injuries. This may include things like being unable to participate in your favorite activities, spending time with loved ones, or working.
- Permanent marks or changes to your appearance as a result of your injuries.
Most of the time, your insurance coverage can help with some of these costs, but by and large, your best chance at making a financial recovery rests on pursuing your legal options.
Legal Options After Being Injured in California
For most accident victims in California, the financial and mental strain of their injuries quickly becomes overwhelming. Thankfully, California law allows you to file a claim for compensation against the responsible party–represented by their insurance company, typically. When it comes to making a personal injury claim, you generally have two choices: filing an insurance claim or filing a lawsuit.
- Insurance Claim – If you get hurt in an accident, the insurance company of the person responsible for the accident gets involved. They check your claim and make an offer to pay you based on what they think it’s worth. Choosing to settle the claim without going to court can be good because it’s usually faster and cheaper, but there are also downsides like possible delays and getting less money than you deserve.
- Lawsuit – If you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, it means taking your case to court. This usually takes longer, but it could lead to more money for you. During the lawsuit, you’ll have more involvement, but our team will handle things like filling out legal papers, responding to evidence requests, and talking to the other side. Our goal is to get a fair settlement, but if necessary, we’ll get your case ready for a trial.
No matter what option you choose, our team will keep you up-to-date and work with you to achieve the best possible outcome. It’s important to understand that there is no guarantee of a favorable outcome if your personal injury case goes to court. Litigation can be a lengthy process, extending months or even years beyond the initial claim. However, it is a crucial option if you want to seek the benefits and support you rightfully deserve under California law.
Experience and Dedication From California Personal Injury Lawyers
If you’re injured in an accident in California, it’s really important to have trustworthy legal help and guidance. At Maison, our team of dedicated and experienced personal injury lawyers understands the urgency of taking swift action to safeguard your well-being and legal rights. You don’t have to face these difficulties by yourself when you’re hurt.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to find out more about how we can assist you. We’re here to support you throughout your recovery from the injury.
