When you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, you need a personal injury attorney in California who can protect your rights and help you fight for the compensation you deserve. At Wells Call, our attorneys have over three decades of experience assisting Northern California clients to resolve their personal injury claims. We have a proven record of success and have recovered over half a billion dollars on behalf of our clients.
We understand what a scary and stressful time this may be for you. We care about your well-being and want you to focus on your recovery. Let us put our skills and expertise to work for you while you concentrate on healing and getting back to work.
What Exactly Is a Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury cases involve some type of injury incident caused by someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or international actions. One of the most common types of personal injury claims arises from a car accident. In most car accident cases, the at-fault driver didn’t set out with plans to cause an accident that day. Perhaps they were distracted by something momentarily in the car. In other situations, the at-fault driver was breaking the law by driving recklessly or driving under the influence of alcohol.
A personal injury attorney in California is a licensed lawyer who specializes in helping clients recover financial compensation for injuries and damages. You want to retain an attorney who has experience resolving similar cases. That is especially important if your case does not resolve in the negotiations phase and may need to go to trial.
If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies as a personal injury claim, it’s best to contact our office anyway. We are here to answer your questions, and our knowledgeable legal team will let you know whether you have a case worth pursuing.
Fighting for Justice After a California Car Accident
At Wells Call, we represent car accident victims and their families in Napa Valley, Solano County and throughout Northern California.
Our lawyers have the extensive experience and detailed legal knowledge necessary to handle all types of car accident cases, from the simplest fender bender to the most catastrophic, multi-vehicle collision. We have dealt with:
- Distracted driving/texting while driving,
- Drunk driving accidents,
- Speeding-related accidents,
- Rollovers,
- Rear-end collisions,
- Head-on crashes,
- T-bone accidents and sideswipes, and
- Fatal crashes.
Auto accident claims can involve more than just two private passenger vehicles. We also handle collisions involving:
- Motorcycles,
- Bicyclists,
- Large trucks,
- Rideshare drivers,
- Pedestrians,
- Buses, and
- Trains.
Many of these types of accident claims can be complicated to resolve. You need a personal injury lawyer in California who knows how to protect your interests and fight to recover financial compensation for your damages.
Other Types of Personal Injury Claims in California
Most people only think about hiring a personal injury attorney for car accidents. However, there are numerous other types of personal injury claims we can represent you for. Some of the most common cases we handle include:
- Slip and falls,
- Trip and falls,
- Dog bites,
- Swimming pool accidents,
- Negligent security,
- Defective property,
- Boating accidents,
- Medical malpractice, and
- Wrongful death.
Numerous incidents can give rise to a personal injury claim. Just because your scenario is not listed here doesn’t mean you don’t have a valid personal injury case. That is why it’s important you contact us before deciding to handle your claim on your own.
Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve
Personal injury losses can result in some of the most serious injuries possible, including traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, broken bones, back and neck injuries, spinal cord damage, and other trauma.
As your advocate, we will pursue the compensation you require to start putting your life back together. Depending on your particular situation, we can seek money to cover your:
- Medical bills,
- Future medical expenses,
- Pain and suffering,
- Time off work,
- Loss of earning capacity,
- Diminished quality of life,
- Loss of a loved one, and
- Property damage.
Settlement values in a personal injury claim will vary from case to case. Your case value is directly related to the type of and severity of your injuries. Cases involving relatively minor injuries and a few physical therapy treatments won’t have the same value as one involving a permanent spine injury.
Don’t assume your case is not worth pursuing if your injuries are relatively minor. If someone else is to blame for your injuries and damages, you have the legal right to seek reimbursement.
How an Attorney Can Help Your Personal Injury Case
When you retain our attorneys to represent you in a personal injury case, we will start by conducting a complete and thorough independent investigation. That includes visiting the scene, speaking with witnesses, gathering records and documentation, etc. In some cases, we may need to hire one or more experts.
If the at-fault party’s insurance denies liability in an auto accident, we can retain an accident reconstructionist who can testify as to how the accident occurred. If the insurance company is disputing your injuries in a slip and fall, we can retain a medical expert. The medical expert can testify that your injuries were most likely caused by the fall and that your treatment was reasonable and necessary.
One of the biggest reasons to hire a skilled attorney is for peace of mind. You should be worrying about your recovery, not fighting with an insurance company to get your medical expenses reimbursed. At Wells Call, we will be the ones speaking with the insurance company and demanding fair compensation on your behalf.
In the event we are unable to negotiate a settlement, we will file a lawsuit with the court and start preparing our trial strategy. Most personal injury claims settle before they get to trial. However, it’s crucial to have an attorney representing you with trial experience if your case does go to trial.
Depending on the type of injury claim, you typically have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit in California. If you are representing yourself, you could inadvertently miss the deadline. If you do, the court will most likely bar you from any type of recovery. When you have an attorney representing you, we will make sure a lawsuit is filed on time.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer in California Charge?
Understandably, you might have financial concerns about hiring an attorney. You’ll be pleased to know that almost all personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. What that means is your attorney won’t get paid unless your case settles through negotiations or there is a jury award at trial. Personal injury lawyers typically take a percentage of your settlement to cover fees and costs.
Attorneys will discuss fees and costs at your first consultation. You can ask questions so you feel comfortable knowing what the total cost of your legal services will be. That means you don’t need to worry about paying hourly billing invoices or advancing upfront fees to pursue a personal injury claim.
How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Personal Injury Case?
Every personal injury case is different, which means there is no average timeframe for a case to be resolved. In claims involving disputed liability or multiple defendants, your case may wind up in litigation before it concludes. Cases involving companies and corporations with deep pockets may drag the case out until trial, which could take years.
On the other hand, cases involving DUI drivers may resolve sooner as insurance companies don’t want to put a defendant on the stand with a history of DUI arrests. There’s no guarantee of what type of case will resolve the soonest. When you meet with us, we will explain some possible timeframes based on our previous experience.
Contact a Northern California Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, make sure they are held accountable. You have the legal right to pursue a claim for reimbursement of your damages. Rather than fight on your own, let our skilled Northern California personal injury lawyers help. Contact Wells Call today to schedule an initial consultation. With over 35 years of experience handling personal injury claims in California, we can help you get the compensation you deserve.