If you’ve been injured in an accident , a car accident lawyer in Riverside can assist you by filing an accident lawsuit. By hiring a car accident lawyer to handle your legal issues, you can focus on your recovery. Experts tend to agree that the sooner patients seek medical care for whiplash, the better the outcome is likely to be. Delaying care may increase the risk of suffering from chronic pain and other symptoms. Be sure to keep track of all of your medical expenses for your accident lawsuit.

This video offers an introduction to medical care for whiplash. The orthopedic doctor interviewed here strongly recommends that patients begin physical therapy promptly to strengthen the muscles of the neck and improve range of motion. Heat and cold therapy, chiropractic care, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) might also help.

After being involved in a car accident in Riverside, filing an accident lawsuit can help you recover compensation for your medical bills. However, the full effect of accident-related injuries isn’t always apparent. If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may experience symptoms immediately, followed by complications later down the road. Be sure to keep your accident lawyer apprised of your symptoms, which can include headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, loss of consciousness, and sleep disturbances. Your accident lawsuit may seek compensation for your mental anguish and reduced quality of life because of symptoms such as memory and concentration problems, depression, anxiety, and mood swings.

An accident lawsuit can also seek compensation for the severe complications of TBIs. These can include seizures, profound confusion, coma, and other disorders pertaining to consciousness. Some types of impairment can last for a long time, including slurred speech, agitation, and hostile behavior. Brain trauma patients may suffer from infections like meningitis, cranial nerve damage, paralysis, severe communication impairment, and even degenerative brain diseases.

Commercial drivers are held to higher standards than other drivers. If you are considering filing an accident lawsuit, one of the issues that your accident lawyer in Riverside will assess is whether the truck driver may have violated safety standards. For example, all truck drivers that hold a CDL must have a valid medical card or medical examiner certificate. If the truck driver does not meet the medical requirements but was driving anyway, this issue can point to negligence in an accident lawsuit.

For more information, consult your accident attorney and watch this video. This video discusses the medical requirements that commercial drivers must meet, including having 20/40 correctible vision in each eye. Prospective truck drivers may be denied a CDL if they have insulin-dependent diabetes, very high blood pressure, cardiovascular conditions, or a history of substance abuse.

If you’ve been injured in an accident that was the fault of another party, you may be eligible to file an accident lawsuit with the assistance of an accident attorney in Riverside. Your accident lawsuit will list your damages, which refers to the losses you’ve sustained and the compensation you’re seeking. Generally, a lawsuit can seek two types of damages: economic damages for calculable losses like medical bills and non-economic damages for intangible losses like pain and suffering. However, in some situations, there is a third category of damages that may apply. This is known as punitive damages.

What is the purpose of punitive damages?

Not every accident lawsuit can successfully obtain punitive damages. When a jury does award punitive damages, it is for the purpose of punishing the defendant, hence the word “punitive.” Punitive damages aren’t intended to compensate the plaintiff for his or her losses, although the plaintiff will receive the punitive damages. Instead, it is thought that punitive damages may help serve as a deterrent to prevent egregious conduct from occurring again.

Is there a limit to the amount of punitive damages?

Some states do set limits on the total amount of punitive damages that may be awarded. These limitations are called “caps.” For example, in Colorado, the amount of punitive damages cannot exceed the amount of compensatory damages. However, in California, there is no definitive cap on punitive damages, although the punitive award must be reasonable in comparison to the compensatory damages. Since these laws are subject to change over time, you should consult your accident attorney for the most current information.

Which plaintiffs might be entitled to punitive damages?

Not every plaintiff is entitled to punitive damages. These awards are intended to serve as punishment when a defendant’s conduct is found to be particularly egregious. In California, punitive damages may be available when a defendant’s conduct can be shown to be fraudulent, malicious, or oppressive. For example, the defendant may have displayed a willful disregard for the plaintiff’s safety or rights.

After sustaining injuries in any type of accident, it’s vitally important that you seek medical care right away. An accident causes the release of adrenaline and other hormones, which can temporarily mask your pain and other symptoms. This means that you could be more seriously injured than you initially realize. In addition to protecting your health, there are legal reasons why you should get medical care right away. If you consult an accident lawyer in Riverside , he or she will need access to your medical records before filing an accident lawsuit. The other party may try to impugn your credibility if you delayed seeking medical care; this could compromise the result of your accident lawsuit.

On the other hand, getting medical care right away can support the claims made in your accident lawsuit. When you arrive at the medical center, be sure to inform your medical providers that you were just involved in an accident and that your injuries were caused by it. Be your own patient advocate by proactively asking about imaging studies and other medical tests. Lastly, follow your doctor’s discharge instructions and keep your accident lawyer updated about any changes in your health.

Truck accidents can be among the most serious types of collisions—and the most deadly. The formidable weight and size of a big rig can crush smaller passenger vehicles and inflict catastrophic injuries. If you’re fortunate enough to survive a truck accident, there are some steps you need to take right away. Later on, you can contact an accident lawyer in Riverside to discuss the legal issues that arise from a crash. Your accident attorney may file an accident lawsuit on your behalf against the truck driver, his or her employer, or other defendants.

Call 911

The catastrophic injuries that can result from a trucking accident can lead to the loss of consciousness. However, if you are conscious and able to move, you should reach for your cellphone right away and call 911. Let the emergency dispatcher know that you’ve been involved in a big rig accident. Let the dispatcher know if you appear to be seriously hurt. If you’re able to do so, check on the condition of your passengers.

Exchange Information

If you’re fortunate enough to have escaped serious injuries in a truck accident, you may be able to get out of the car and move away from the road. If so, you can check on the truck driver. Assuming that he or she is not catastrophically injured, you can exchange important information. Your accident lawyer will need the truck driver’s full name, contact information, CDL number, and employer, along with his or her insurance information. Similarly, you should provide your basic information to the truck driver. Avoid saying anything that might be interpreted as an admission of fault for the crash. This includes saying, “I’m sorry.”

Document the Scene

If you’re able to move around, it can be very helpful for your accident lawsuit to gather physical evidence at the crash site. Take pictures of the scene, including the damage to the vehicles, skid marks on the road, and traffic signs and signals. Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses in the area. When the police arrive and take your statement, be sure to ask how you can obtain a copy of the police report.

Get Medical Attention

Before you call an accident lawyer after the crash, you should obtain medical attention right away. During the subsequent weeks and months, keep careful records of your medical problems, treatments, and expenses.

A slip and fall accident can result in injuries both mild and severe. On the mild end of the spectrum, individuals may only suffer momentary pain, such as that caused by a stubbed toe. More serious cases can involve sprained ankles, fractured bones, spinal cord damage, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). If you’ve sustained injuries in a slip and fall accident in the Riverside area, you have the right to contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Evaluating Injuries

Your personal injury lawyer will assess your case to determine if certain elements are present. First, victims of slip and fall accidents must have sustained damages or losses directly caused by the accident. If you fell, but weren’t hurt and didn’t require medical care, then you cannot hold someone liable for the accident. Your medical records should be sufficient to prove your damages.

Identifying Hazardous Conditions

Next, your personal injury lawyer will consider whether a hazardous condition was present that caused you to slip or trip. Some common causes of slip and fall accidents include inadequate lighting, uneven floorboards or missing floorboards, the lack of handrails, and the presence of spilled liquid on the floor. However, the mere presence of a hazardous condition isn’t enough to prove negligence in a personal injury case. In order to prove that the property owner or manager was negligent, your lawyer must prove that the individual or an employee caused the hazardous condition or that these individuals knew of the hazardous condition, but did not take action to correct it in a timely fashion. Alternatively, your lawyer may argue that the defendant should have known of the hazardous condition because any reasonable person in the same situation would have discovered it and fixed it.

Assessing Reasonableness

The determination of the degree of reasonableness on behalf of the defendant is often a key issue in slip and fall cases. Many factors may be evaluated to assess the defendant’s reasonableness, including whether the defendant has a history of regularly examining and fixing the property, whether there is evidence of regular maintenance, and whether warning signs or caution tape had been placed in the area.

Motorcycle accident lawyers in Riverside often work with clients who sustained serious injuries in crashes that occurred during inclement weather. Although a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you obtain compensation with an accident lawsuit, it’s definitely preferable to avoid a crash altogether. When a rainstorm strikes, the roadways will be slickest during the first 15 minutes, thanks to the accumulation of motor oil on the roadways. If possible, pull over and wait out the storm or at least the first 15 minutes.

Watch this video for more helpful tips on riding safely in the rain. It recommends wearing waterproof gear to help you stay warm, since it’s hard to drive safely when you’re cold. You should also wear bright clothing and reduce your speed. And remember to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer promptly if you do get into a crash.

A car accident lawsuit filed in Riverside can help victims obtain compensation for all sorts of related losses-from medical bills and lost wages to psychological injuries and disfigurement. In the case of catastrophic injuries , it’s even more important to contact a car accident lawyer as quickly as possible. Individuals who sustain catastrophic injuries tend to accrue significant medical bills very quickly. A car accident attorney can assist individuals who have catastrophic injuries such as extensive third-degree burns that cover much of the body. Burn injuries may require multiple skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries, and they tend to result in lasting disfigurement.

Traumatic brain injuries are another common type of injury caused by car accidents. Since brain injuries can result in lifelong disability, the car accident lawyer may have the victim undergo independent evaluations to develop an estimate of the damages. Other examples of catastrophic injuries include the amputation of a limb, paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury, and the loss of vision or hearing.

As the name suggests, a personal injury case occurs when an individual sustains an injury that is the result of the other party’s actions. In the majority of personal injury cases, the defendant is accused of behaving negligently, rather than intentionally. A personal injury lawyer located in Riverside may handle a range of types of cases, including those that involve motor vehicle accidents and trip and fall accidents.

Auto Accidents

Car accidents are among the most common types of incidents that lead to personal injury lawsuits. Many car accident survivors make the mistake of trying to negotiate with the insurance carrier by themselves, rather than contacting a personal injury lawyer. But since it’s not in the insurance carrier’s best interests to offer a fair settlement, car crash survivors are unlikely to receive just compensation for their losses. In fact, the insurance carrier may try to claim that the victim was at fault for the crash. It’s always a good idea to contact a lawyer. Even if no lawsuit is filed, the personal injury lawyer can effectively negotiate with the insurance carrier on behalf of the victim.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries. Even when a motorcyclist is careful to wear a DOT-approved helmet and other protective gear, getting thrown from a bike can result in permanent disability. For this type of personal injury case, the victim’s attorney may seek compensation for his or her physical injuries, psychological injuries, lost wages, and other damages.

Slip and Fall Incidents

A slip and fall accident can occur anywhere. If a person falls outside of his or her own home, it may be attributable to an act of negligence committed by another party. For example, a building manager may have failed to nail down loose floorboards in the common area of an apartment building, causing a tenant or visitor to trip and fall. These types of cases can be tricky to litigate, so it’s very important that the victims carefully document the scene of the incident, the hazardous condition, and their injuries.