Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys
A car crash, a slip-and-fall, or a construction injury can put you out of work for months. Rather than pay for someone else’s mistake, let us file a lawsuit and ask for fair compensation for you.
If Another Person Was to Blame for Your Accident, Call Us
A serious injury can have a life-altering impact on you and your entire family. You may end up suffering from severe pain, facing mounting medical bills, and missing a significant amount of work. But what if the injury wasn’t your fault? What if it was due to the wrongful act of another person? Why should you be stuck with these financial losses? That’s where the skilled legal team at Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie can help you.
For more than four decades, our experienced attorneys have helped Southern California injury victims and their families recover money so that they can concentrate on healing and moving on with their lives. If you or a loved one has been injured because of the negligence of another party, contact our Newport Beach office for a free consultation by calling (949) 752-7474 today.
Client Recommendation
"Wow! What an amazing, professional team that represented me for my personal injury case. Everyone in that office knew their job...Thank you for restoring me and my family back to whole again!!"
— J. M.
What Is Negligence?
In the simplest terms, negligence can be described as the failure to exercise the care toward others that a reasonable person WOULD exercise under the same circumstances. For instance, a reasonable person would not endanger the safety of others by texting while driving, driving recklessly, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The same could be said about a person who allows an unsafe condition to exist on their property, such as not putting a fence around the pool in their backyard in a neighborhood full of children. That is certainly not the kind of chance a reasonable person would take.
Negligence is not limited to individuals. A company that sells a product that has been inadequately tested and ends up injuring a consumer is also guilty of negligence. All of these examples illustrate what is legally termed a “breach of duty of care.”
California’s Comparative Negligence Law
Sometimes, both parties involved in an accident may share some of the fault. Suppose you are driving toward a four-way intersection when a car approaching from a perpendicular angle runs a red light. You see the car and hit your brakes, but you are unable to stop in time. In such a scenario, it’s clear that the other driver carries a majority of the fault for the collision. However, an investigation may find that you were speeding and that your tires were almost completely bald at the time of the crash. A jury may determine that you were 20% at fault for the accident, because had you not been speeding and had your tires been in decent condition, you would have been able to stop in time and avoid the collision.
California practices what is called “comparative negligence,” also referred to as “comparative fault.” This means that the injured person can still seek compensation for his losses, even if he was partly responsible for those losses. In the case above, you were found to be 20% responsible for the accident, and the other driver was deemed to be 80% at fault. If the total cost of your injuries and property loss was $100,000, you would only be able to collect $80,000 ($100,000 minus 20% equals $80,000).
A few states practice what is called “contributory negligence,” which means that if a person is even 1% at fault, he can collect no compensation at all. Fortunately, California is a comparative negligence state.
What Are Common Causes of Personal Injuries?
Serious injuries can come from a variety of sources and vary in how they impact a victim’s life, from broken bones to brain damage. Many cases involving personal injuries occur because of:
Slip and Fall: While a tumble doesn’t sound too dangerous, slip and falls are among some of the most common and most hazardous ways to become injured. Falling backward leaves you unable to catch yourself or protect vital parts of your body such as your head and neck. Breaks and fractures are very common with slip and falls. If you slip because someone didn’t put up a “wet floor” sign, that would count at negligence.
Vehicle Accidents: Roads are dangerous, and you never know what’s going to happen when you leave for your daily commute. Thousands are injured or killed in car accidents in California every year. Unfortunately, we cannot control the actions of other drivers on the road, but we can fight for compensation if you have been injured by another driver’s poor decisions.
Dog Bites: Dogs are man’s best friend, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous. Dog bites are all too common, and often lead to severe injury. Dogs’ original purpose was to help humans hunt, after all. Holding someone liable for the actions of their pet can make you feel guilty, but it’s important that all pet owners are responsible and have control of their animals at all times.
Bicycle Accident: Bikes are a great way to get some exercise and visit the best sights in California. But sometimes the best of days can turn deadly. Bikes are small and silent, making it difficult for car drivers to notice them. When involved in an accident, bike riders are often left severely injured as bikes provide no protection.
Motorcycle Accident: California has the highest number of registered motorcycles across the United States and it is the only state to legally allows lane splitting. Unfortunately, because motorcycles are so common here, they also come with a high rate of accidents, and with no seatbelt, airbags, or protective layer of metal around the driver and passengers, motorcycle accidents are among some of the deadliest.
Wrongful Death: This is a type of claim brought forward when someone has been killed due to someone else’s negligence, which can result in pain and suffering for the victim’s family. These cases are common in car accidents, truck accidents, and workplace accidents. They can leave a family devastated, both emotionally and financially.
Important Steps to Take After an Accident involving Personal Injuries
After an accident involving personal injuries, it is easy to panic. You may be scared, confused, and in pain.
However, it is critical to stay calm and take the necessary steps. Remember that your actions after an accident can impact a future personal injury claim.
Seek Medical Attention
First, seek medical attention. At the scene of the accident, call an ambulance. Go to a healthcare clinic, your general physician, or go the emergency room.
Insurance companies often do not consider getting medical attention over 72 hours after the injury as relevant to the accident.
Get Legal Representation
After receiving medical attention, contact us to help you with your claim and get the compensation you deserve by being representing by an experienced personal injury attorney in Orange County.
Do Not Speak About Your Case
You should only discuss your case with your doctor and personal injury attorney in Orange County. Your attorney must be present whenever you speak about your claim, whether to the opposing attorney or insurance agent.
Collect Documentation and Evidence
You need to provide documentation and evidence to prove that you were injured because of someone else’s negligence.
You can collect documents and records related to the claim including photographs, medical records, the witnesses’ contact information, police reports, etc. It is also important not to forget to write a memo or note that details what occurred before, during, and after the accident to help you recall the events later.
One of Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie’s personal injury attorneys in Orange County can plan to be with you every step of the way.
The Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County You Need When You Need It
When you are injured due to an accident, each aspect of your life can be affected. From incurring significant medical bills to missing days at work, an accident is a disruptive event that could affect your financial and physical well-being.
Whether you are an injury victim because of a car accident, truck accident, bicycle accident or dog bite you deserve fair compensation for the damages resulting from serious injuries. It is a smart idea to immediately retain an experienced attorney to represent you for your personal injuries against the responsible party to seek the best possible result after a severe injury.
Get The Compensation and Representation You Deserve
Our personal injury law firm in Orange County specializes in accident-related injuries and personal injury claims. Our personal injury attorneys offer the legal advice you need to win your personal injury case and receive the full value of the compensation you deserve. We provide our clients with reliable advice and we can show you all the tactics, practice areas, and options that are in your best interests after an injury.
What Compensation May Be Available in a Personal Injury Claim?
Depending on the severity of your injuries and the impact they have on your life, you may seek compensation for any of the following damages from the liable party and insurance company:
- Present and future medical bills related to your injuries.
- Pain and suffering.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Loss of a limb.
- Permanent injury or disability.
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation.
- Mental anguish and emotional trauma.
- Lost wages.
- Loss of career or earning capacity.
- Household and vehicle modifications to accommodate your injuries (wheelchair ramps and lifts, etc.).
- Hedonic damages for loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive damages, if the liable party’s misconduct went beyond mere negligence.
- And more.
In a personal injury claim, you won’t be dealing with the liable party directly. You’ll be dealing with his or her insurance company. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and they employ lawyers whose job is to deny or diminish claims against their clients. Our Costa Mesa personal injury lawyers at Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie have successfully represented many Orange County victims over the last 40-plus years, and won them substantial settlements and verdicts.
Let us put that experience behind your claim, so that you can get the compensation you deserve. Call our Newport Beach office for a free case evaluation at (949) 752-7474. We handle cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay no upfront costs or fees. We only get paid if we win your case.
Additional Information
- Medical Liens: How an Attorney Can Help You Get Treatment
- What Is Loss of Enjoyment?
- How to Pay for Medical Bills While a Claim Is Pending
- COVID-19 and Injury Claims: What You Need to Know!
Call (888) 752-7474, or send over our free case
review form, even if you're not sure. We're here to help.
You were wonderful throughout my case. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain the process so that I could feel comfortable. When I was hurt, I really did not know where to turn and Suzanne was comforting and knowledgable. Thanks again for all you did.
- H.P.
