An unexpected accident can lead to a host of damages, from mounting medical expenses and lost wages to physical pain and emotional trauma. If someone else is responsible for your injury, you may qualify for litigation against the at-fault party. In these situations, Freedman Law can help. For over 20 years, we have helped Central Valley residents hold negligent people and companies accountable. Our Fresno personal injury lawyers can represent your injury claim and fight for your right to a maximum settlement.
Why Select Our Personal Injury Lawyers
With nearly 500 five-star reviews on Google, we are proud to be one of Fresno’s highest-rated personal injury law firms. Our large support staff is available 24/7 to answer telephone calls and our lawyers are ready to meet with you to discuss the specifics of your case.
Our attorneys have recovered over $1.25 billion for our clients. We are not afraid to take your case to trial to ensure you are treated fairly, and we always seek the maximum compensation available in your unique case. From car accidents to burn injury lawsuits in Fresno, we can help.
To limit your out-of-pocket costs, our firm operates on a contingency fee basis. You will not be charged legal fees unless we secure a financial award in your case.
What Types of Claims Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
At Freedman Law, our attorneys hold over 150 years of combined personal injury experience. Our firm focuses solely on personal injury law, which allows us to provide our clients with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to secure maximum compensation.
We handle personal injury claims involving a wide range of accidents, including the following.
Under California law, you can recover two types of compensatory damages in a personal injury lawsuit: economic and non-economic. Economic damages involve financial losses, while non-economic damages refer to your pain and suffering.
Common types of damages in Fresno personal injury claims include the following.
Out-of-pocket losses such as past, current, and future medical bills
Lost wages
Past, current, and future pain & suffering as a result of the injury
Loss of future earnings, if applicable
Specialized treatment such as physical therapy
Property damage
Considering Legal Action? Here Are the Top 3 Things to Know
Navigating a personal injury lawsuit can be a challenge. When approaching your claim, keep the following three factors in mind.
1. Document Everything
Evidence is crucial to proving a personal injury claim. Immediately after the accident, take the following steps to save vital information.
Keep copies of medical bills and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses.
Take photographs of visible signs of injury.
Document all days missed from work and how your everyday life was impacted as a result of your injury.
Remember that if you speak to your doctor, your friends, the police, the insurance company, it can be later used against you in litigation, so make sure to retain an attorney that will help you communicate with these entities.
2. Establish Liability
If it is decided that the plaintiff was harmed and that defendant’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing the harm, the following must also be determined:
How much money will reasonably compensate the plaintiff for the harm. This compensation is called “damages.”
The amount of damages must include an award for each item of harm that was caused by defendant’s wrongful conduct, even if the particular harm could not have been anticipated.
That the plaintiff does not have to prove the exact amount of damages that will provide reasonable compensation for the harm.
There must be no speculation or guessing in awarding damages.
3. Understand the Extent of Your Damages
When filing a personal injury claim, it is crucial to understand the extent of your injuries and damages. Without this information, you could accept a settlement lower than what you need to recover, leading to financial hardship later on.
There are several types of damages that you could claim.
Medical Expenses – Past and Future
Prove the reasonable cost of reasonably necessary medical care that has been received or will need to be received.
Past and Future Lost Earnings
Prove the amount of income they have lost to date or the amount of income they will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury.
Lost Earning Capacity
Prove the amount of money the plaintiff would have been reasonably certain to earn if the injury had not occurred.
Loss of Ability to Provide Household Services
Prove the reasonable value of the services the plaintiff would have been reasonably certain to provide to their household if the injury had not occurred. You must use your judgment to decide a reasonable amount based on the evidence and your common sense.
No Punitive Damages
You must not include in your award any damages to punish or make an example of a defendant. You must award only the damages that fairly compensate plaintiff for their loss.
Arguments of Counsel Not Evidence of Damages
Your award must be based on your reasoned judgment applied to the testimony of the witnesses and the other evidence that has been admitted during trial.
Aggravation of Preexisting Condition or Disability
The plaintiff is not entitled to damages for any physical or emotional condition that he had before the defendant’s conduct occurred. If the plaintiff had a physical or emotional condition that was made worse by the defendant’s wrongful conduct, you must award damages that will reasonably and fairly compensate him for the effect on that condition.
Unusually Susceptible Plaintiff
You must decide the full amount of money that will reasonably and fairly compensate the plaintiff for all damages caused by the wrongful conduct of the defendant, even if the plaintiff was more susceptible to injury than a normally healthy person would have been, and even if a normally healthy person would not have suffered similar injury.
Mitigation of Damages (Personal Injury)
The plaintiff is not entitled to recover damages for harm that defendant proves plaintiff could have avoided with reasonable efforts or expenditures. If the plaintiff made reasonable efforts to avoid harm, then your award should include reasonable amounts that he spent for this purpose.
Causation: Substantial Factor
A substantial factor in causing harm is a factor that a reasonable person would consider to have contributed to the harm. It must be more than a remote or trivial factor. It does not have to be the only cause of the harm. [Conduct is not a substantial factor in causing harm if the same harm would have occurred without that conduct.]
Speak to the Legal Team at Freedman Law Today
If you are injured by a negligent party, you may qualify for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at Freedman Law can advocate aggressively for your best interests, helping you secure the compensation that you deserve. Contact us now or call to schedule your consultation and discuss your case with a Fresno personal injury lawyer.
