While Bakersfield has a lot to offer for residents and visitors alike, one thing that people don't come to Bakersfield for is to suffer an injury as the result of someone else's negligence. Unfortunately, hundreds of people are injured each year due to negligence. In many circumstances, the person can seek compensation from a liability insurance policy held by the at-fault party for the monetary expenses and psychological impacts they incurred due to the injury.
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The most common cause of accidents is human error. This is true regardless of the type of accident that resulted in injury. Kash Legal has experience in handling personal injury claims involving the following types of accidents:
There are many other types of accidents that can result in personal injury. If the accident that caused your injury isn’t listed here, the Kash Legal team can still likely help you with your claim.
Most personal injury claims in Bakersfield begin with a claim filed against an applicable liability insurance policy held by the at-fault party. For example, a car accident claim would usually be filed against an at-fault party’s auto liability policy, while a dog bite claim would generally be filed against the homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy held by the dog’s owner.
Upon receiving your claim, the insurance provider will assign a claims adjuster to analyze the claim and determine what compensation is owed to you. It is important to remember that the claims adjuster works for the insurance company and their purpose is not about ensuring that you have the compensation you need after an injury. Their purpose is to save the insurance company money by finding reasons to deny or reduce the value to the claim. After analyzing your claim, the claims adjuster can either opt to pay the claim in full, deny the claim or make an offer to settle the claim out of court for less than its established value.
If the adjuster chooses to offer a settlement, don’t be surprised if the offer is far below the value of your claim. Your attorney can negotiate with the adjuster in order to get them to increase their offer. However, if the adjuster refuses to pay the claim or make an offer that you agree to accept, your claim can be filed as a personal injury lawsuit in civil court and a judge or jury will make decisions concerning liability and compensation.
In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date on which the accident occurred. What this means is that your claim must be filed in court by this date in order for you to have the right to use the court system when seeking compensation for your injury. This is an extremely important deadline, as most insurers will not settle a claim if the statute of limitations expires. One of the many services a Bakersfield personal injury lawyer will provide for you is management of the timeline of your case in order to protect your right to file a lawsuit.
In California, common carriers are businesses or entities responsible for transporting people or goods. They perform many needed public services that help the public get around and receive necessities. However, because of their great responsibility, anyone who falls under the common carrier umbrella is held to a higher standard of care. When your personal injury accident results from a common carrier’s negligence, you likely won’t just be filing a claim against the driver’s insurance. A common carrier claim will likely mean facing up against corporations and municipalities. It will be critical to have a strong representation in Bakersfield that will even the playing field and ensure you’re not taken advantage of by large businesses or governmental entities.
Being in any type of accident can result in severe injuries that require extensive and even long-term care, which is why victims who are injured by a negligent party are able to file for compensation. Common types of injuries that victims of personal injury accidents suffer include:
Understanding the extent of your injuries is critical to assessing the value of your claim. The compensation you may receive goes beyond medical bills. It also takes into account the injury’s impact on your quality of life. It’s critical to seek medical attention and thoroughly investigate your injuries. Your doctors may perform X-ray scans, CT scans, spinal taps, and MRI scans to find any abnormalities in your body. These tests will be key evidence in your claim.
People who have been injured in an accident in Bakersfield often avoid hiring a personal injury lawyer to assist them with their claim because they worry that they can’t afford the attorney’s fees. Unlike other types of attorneys who charge a retainer or bill their clients by the hour, many personal injury lawyers work on a contingent fee basis. What this means is that you do not have to pay your attorney for their services until you win your case, either through a negotiated settlement or a personal injury lawsuit.
When you begin working with your Bakersfield personal injury lawyer, they will enter into a contingent fee agreement with you that spells out the services that are to be provided and designates a percentage of the settlement or award you receive for your claim as payment for your attorney’s services. At the conclusion of your case, your attorney will receive the proceeds of your settlement or award and deposit them into a trust. From that trust, payment for the attorney’s fees will be withdrawn as well as payment for any medical liens placed on your award by health care providers or health insurers. After these items have been paid for, the remainder of the proceeds will be turned over to you.
If you’ve suffered an injury in Bakersfield as a result of someone else’s carelessness or recklessness, the team at Kash Legal understands that the stress of being injured and the mounting expenses can be overwhelming. The last thing you need to worry about is navigating California’s personal injury claims process alone. With Kash Legal on your side, you don’t have to.
Let our experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyers evaluate your claim for free and provide answers to the legal questions you have about your case. We can also provide more details on the personal injury claims process and the type of services we are able to provide to assist you with your claim. Contact us by calling (888) 527-4128 or by filling out our contact form.
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