PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS IN FONTANA, CA

The potential value of your personal injury claim depends on many unique circumstances surrounding your case. Because of this, we recommend scheduling a free case evaluation with our Fontana personal injury lawyers. We can review your situation and give you a better estimate of the compensation you may be able to recover.

Generally, however, you will pursue economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include measurable financial losses such as past and future medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages account for more subjective losses like physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life due to your injuries.

In addition to your damages, other factors that can influence the value of your claim include, but are not limited to:

• Nature and severity of your injuries. You can typically expect more severe injuries to result in higher compensation.
• Degree of fault in the accident. The percentage of fault assigned to you in the accident, if any, can reduce the amount of compensation you can recover.
• Insurance policy limits. The coverage limits of applicable insurance policies can affect the maximum amount you can recover.

The actions you take immediately after an accident and during the claims process can significantly impact the outcome of your claim. Our Fontana personal injury attorneys recommend the following steps and tips to help maximize your claim:

• Seek immediate medical attention after the accident. You should get a full medical evaluation as soon as possible after an accident, even if you feel fine or your symptoms seem minor. Prompt medical documentation establishes a clear link between the accident and your injuries, which is critical for your claim.
• Do not speculate about the accident. Refrain from speculating about the accident with the insurance companies. The insurance adjuster may ask you how you think it happened or what you were doing leading up to the accident. Stick to the facts only. The insurance company will seek ways to misconstrue your statements and minimize your claim.
• Avoid social media. Do not post about the accident or your injuries on social media. We recommend avoiding social media altogether. Insurance companies often monitor claimants' social media accounts. The insurance company will use any information to downplay your injuries and undermine your claim.

In California, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is generally two years from the date of the injury. In most cases, this means you have two years from the accident date to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.

However, there are rare exceptions to the statute of limitations that can extend or shorten the time limit. For example, the following scenarios may affect how long you have to file:

• The injured party is a minor
• Your injury was not immediately discovered
• The other party is a government entity

It is critical that you do not miss your deadline. If you fail to file before the statute of limitations expires, you may be time-barred from seeking compensation for your injuries.

We recommend consulting with a Fontana personal injury attorney from our firm about your situation. We can determine how the statute of limitations applies to your case, so you do not lose your right to seek compensation.