If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident? we are here to help you.In this blog post, we are going to discuss about Best Personal Injury Attorney in San Francisco Dolan Law, We aim to make it easier for you to find the best and #1 top-rated car accident lawyer in your area. Hope this blog post will solve your problem and gives you valuable information.
Personal injury is a legal term that describes financial and physical damages resulting from reckless, careless, or intentional wrongdoing.
You must prove the following three things to be eligible for compensation from a government agency, corporation, or individual who has injured you.
- The extent of your damage
- How did the harm come about?
- The other party was responsible (at fault).
Legal responsibility, also known as "liability," does not require that you prove the government agency, person, or corporation responsible intended to harm your rights. To prove liability, you must show negligence. This is conduct that was dangerous and unreasonable in the circumstances.
California law allows a person with a personal injury to recover monetary damages.
- Past and future physical and mental pain, suffering, mental anguish, and physical impairment
- Past and future hospital, incidental, and medical expenses
- Past and future lost earnings and lost wages;
- In cases of grave wrongdoing, punitive damages may be awarded.
Family members can seek compensation if a person dies as a result of negligence by another.
What types of vehicle collisions can a personal injury attorney in San Francisco help with?
Many types of vehicle collisions can lead to injury. A personal injury lawyer will not be able to give you a complete list. It is best to contact a lawyer when there is an accident that causes injury. These can take many forms: a vehicle colliding directly with a pedestrian, a car colliding on a bicycle, or a vehicle colliding against another vehicle.
California is home to many vehicles, including trucks, buses, and cars that crash daily on its roads and highways. Motor vehicle accidents are often caused by negligence or recklessness on the part of one driver. The Dolan Law Firm is experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle collisions.
Motorbike or auto accidents
- Illegal U-Turns
- Make Left Turns in Front of Other Vehicles
- Rear-end collisions
Failure to yield
Road Rage
Bicycle accidents
Bicycle dooring
- Left Turns in Front of a Bicycle
- Rear-end collisions
Failure to yield
Road Rage
Pedestrian accidents
Crosswalk
- Turn Left to cross the pedestrian crossing
- Rear-end collisions
Road Rage
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF COLLISIONS?
Collisions usually occur because at least one person is not paying enough attention to the road around them. Sometimes people get so comfortable driving that they forget how dangerous and large a vehicle is. Even at low speeds, an accident that would be called a "fender bender” between two vehicles can result in injury. The slightest collision can cause serious injury if a car crashes into a pedestrian or two-wheel vehicle.
These are some of the most common causes:
- Speeding, racing;
- Run red lights
- Distracted driving includes texting and using a smartphone app while driving.
- Motorcyclist accidents are often caused by sudden lane changes that you don't see.
- I didn't see a bicycle or a motorcycle;
- Illegal U-turns
- When it is unsafe, make left turns at intersections to avoid oncoming traffic;
- Eyes looking left when turning right are a common reason for cars striking pedestrians crossing the street.
- Sudden stops or failure to yield the right-of-way are two common causes of bicyclists being hit by cars.
- Secured loans on semi-trucks and pickup trucks
- Driving while under the influence of recreational drugs or alcohol
- Driving while under the influence of prescription drugs
- People suffering from sleep apnea or fatigue can cause fatigued driving after long hours.
You may be able to sue if you or someone you know was involved in an auto collision that was partially or entirely your fault. Personal injury lawsuits may be filed by car accident victims who have been injured by negligent drivers. An experienced personal injury lawyer can review your case if you are injured in a car accident. There may be medical bills, lost earnings, or other expenses that are not your fault.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A POLICE REPORT IS FOUND ON ME AT FAULT
You must know that the investigation does not end when a traffic collision report identifies one party as the cause. Sometimes the police get the wrong information, misunderstand witnesses, or miss what happened. A negative police report may not help determine the truth of an accident. However, it can help the insurance company understand the situation better. The police report conclusions are seldom if ever allowed, to be used as evidence at trial. Even if you are found at fault by the police, you should consult a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. Independently review the facts and determine who is the believable party.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Collision Caused by the Fault of Another Person?
California law allows individuals who are injured in an accident or crash as a result of the negligence of another person, corporation, or public agency to recover damages. A personal injury lawsuit can recover only a limited amount of damages.
SPECIAL DAMAGES
Special Damages refer to economic damage or expenses beyond your means. These damages are often easy to calculate. These include:
- Past Medical Bills – This would include copays and the full cost of any health insurance.
- Future Medical Bills: This would include future surgery and other medical needs that may be required due to the collision.
- Past Loss of Wages - If an accident caused you to be absent from work for a while, you should include the lost wages in any claim.
- Future Income Loss - Sometimes, a serious accident can affect your ability to earn income in the future.
- Property Damage - This would include repairs to cars or bikes, helmets, gloves, and phones, as well as damage to glasses, phones, and other property.
GENERAL DAMAGES
- Suffering and Pain- This refers to immediate pain and any medical treatment, as well as ongoing pain during healing.
- Emotional distress- Although it can be used interchangeably to describe pain and suffering, the term can also be used to refer to more emotionally damaging events. Emotional distress is when we can't work for some time or are forced to rely upon others for basic tasks. The law allows for recovery.
- Both pain and suffering, and emotional distress damages, are available for the past (from the date of the collision to the date of resolution), as well as the future (distress with a possibility to occur in the future).
WRONGFUL DEATH DAMAGES
- Certain close relatives are entitled to compensation if a person dies as a result of the actions of another. While there is no right to compensation for grief or sadness, the deceased may be compensated for financial losses. For the loss of companionship, training, and society that is now absent from one's life after the death of a family member.
- You can now seek damages for the suffering and pain suffered by the deceased before death. If the death occurred gradually, the next of kin can file a claim for damages for general damages.
PUNITIVE DAMAGES
- In a car accident, punitive damages cannot be generally recovered. These damages are not intended to be awarded to the victim of the accident. They are meant to look at the wrong actor, punish them, and deter others from doing the same. These damages cannot be recovered in an auto accident or similar situation if the behavior was willful or wanton. This would exclude someone who didn't see the light or looked at their phone briefly. However, it may include someone who was driving under the influence or racing with other cars. Importantly, any punitive damage claim can make it difficult to recover insurance. Intentional acts are not covered by insurance. To be eligible for punitive damages, you must have something similar to an intentional act.
Is it possible to claim pain and suffering without the help of a lawyer?
Although it is not necessary to hire an attorney for a personal injury claim for emotional distress or pain and suffering (PDS), insurance companies will tend to reduce any recovery unless the person has a case and is represented. An attorney can help you understand the costs of medical services, both monetary and emotional. There may be pain associated with the injuries sustained. Sometimes, one might need to be absent from work for a time or have assistance with daily living activities. When our identity is altered in this way, it can cause emotional trauma. When we aren't the same person we were before an injury, our self-esteem suffers. A personal injury lawyer will ensure that your story is told to the insurance company, that all claims are filed, and that you can fight back against them to get the compensation you deserve. Dolan Law Firm offers a free consultation.
Will a personal injury lawyer refer me to a doctor or can I go to my doctor?
This question is often asked. There will be different opinions from different lawyers. We recommend that you seek the treatment you need from your doctor and get insurance. After a motor vehicle accident, your job is to heal. You and your healthcare providers are the best people to do this. We can help you find doctors who may be able or willing to perform the treatment.
The Dolan Law firm has the experience and resources to bring justice for those injured in pedestrian, car, motorcycle, or bicycle crashes
Since 1995, the Dolan Law Firm is recognized as one of the most respected personal injury law firms in California. It has represented thousands of people injured in accidents with cars, bikes, motorcycles, trucks, and other vehicles, as well as pedestrians who were hit by cars.
We know firsthand how financially devastating a serious accident in a car can be. We will treat you with compassion, respect, and kindness. We will support you throughout the entire legal process. We know that litigation can be scary and overwhelming for many people. Our goal is to help you heal, not distract you from it. We will guide each client through the law so that they are familiar with the pros and cons.
We are well-known for taking complex cases to trial and winning. We often achieve recoveries that are higher than the industry average. Our clients receive the following:
- Individualized, attentive legal representation by the highly skilled crash and accident lawyers with an outstanding track record of success.
- Significant investigative, financial, and technological resources that no single attorney or small firm can offer;
- Access to accident reconstruction specialists to determine the cause of the accident.
- Access to economic experts and biomechanics to assess the extent of your injuries, calculate the cost of future medical care, and any loss of wages or diminished earning ability due to the crash.
Best Rated California, Bay Area, and San Francisco Personal Injury Attorney
The Dolan Law Firm has been representing personal injury victims in California for over 25 years. We have secured hundreds of millions in damages for clients throughout California, including the San Francisco Bay Area.
The SF Weekly has rated Chris Dolan San Francisco’s Best Injury Lawyer. Our firm has been rated a Best Law Firm by US News and Best Lawyers. The Better Business Bureau has awarded us an A+ rating for our representation of clients in personal injury or wrongful death cases.
We offer the following benefits to our clients who are victims of personal injury or accidents:
- Our clients are our advocates. We are principled and relentless in our pursuit of them. Each client receives superior legal representation, supported by significant financial and technological resources. This is something that no small or individual lawyer can offer.
- Each case is thoroughly investigated by us. We have access to top accident reconstruction and biomechanics specialists for brain, spine, and neck injuries.
- Our reputation is for taking complex and difficult cases to trial and winning. We can obtain settlements and verdicts that exceed industry averages.
- Chris Dolan, our founder, and chief trial attorney oversees all serious injury cases that our firm handles. Multiple publications have repeatedly named Chris as one of the best trial lawyers in California.
Personal Injury in Motor Vehicle Accidents
If you have been severely injured in an auto accident, it's important to consult a San Francisco personal injury lawyer who not only knows the law but has a track record of success in representing victims of motor vehicle injuries. Our auto accident lawyers have a track record of success in cases such as:
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Cars hit bicyclists
- Pedestrians Hit By Cars
- Uber & Lyft Crashes
Personal Injury: Serious Injuries & Wrongful Death
We can handle any case, no matter how complex. Chris Dolan, a San Francisco personal injury attorney, and his team have achieved record verdicts or settlements for their clients in cases that involved:
- Amputations
- Animal Attacks & Dog Bites
- Brain injuries
- Caustic burns and burn injuries
- Premises liability: Also known as Slip and Fall lawsuits. This applies when a dangerous condition has caused the injury.
- Defective Products
- Medical Malpractice
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Third-party liability
- Tourist injuries
- Wrongful death
Get in touch with an experienced personal injury lawyer
The Dolan Law firm is dedicated to representing clients and pursuing justice. Chris Dolan, the founder, and lead trial counsel have been repeatedly named one of the best personal injuries attorneys in San Francisco Bay Area. Chris Dolan and other trial lawyers from the Dolan Law Firm have secured hundreds of millions in settlements and verdicts for their clients.
We are here for you. Our team will review your case, completely confidentially and without any obligation. Each client receives personal, attentive service of the highest standard. Our clients are treated as family. We will be there for you through the entire legal process. We do not charge an hourly rate and are only paid if your case is won.
Call us at 1-888-452-4752 for a free case evaluation or fill out our contact form
We have the expertise and resources to investigate your case thoroughly. If you are unable or unwilling to travel to our offices in San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles, we will visit you at home.
You are encouraged to visit our Testimonials page to see how our clients have resolved their claims.
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