A serious injury can impact you physically and emotionally and can affect your personal and professional lives. I am personal injury attorney Jared Pursley, and I help individuals in Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos and the nearby communities get back on the right path after a serious injury.

If you or a family member has suffered a brain injury in a slip-and-fall, was injured in a car accident or experienced any type of personal injury, you have the right under the law to pursue compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages and more. Contact an experienced Carlsbad personal injury lawyer who will fight tirelessly to make that happen.

California Personal Injury FAQ

No two personal injury cases are the same. Every case benefits from a personal consultation with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney. However, some questions come up frequently. Below are some general answers to some of the most common personal injury questions.

What is a personal injury claim?

A personal injury claim is filed when you are injured because of someone else’s actions. Most often the injury occurs because the other individual was acting negligently or recklessly.

Who will pay for my injuries after a car crash?

The individual who caused the accident is responsible to compensate you for your injuries. Most California residents carry auto insurance and these policies make money available after an auto accident. Keep in mind there could be other people or businesses liable for your injuries. The person who caused the accident may have been on the job or driving another person’s vehicle. In those situations, there may be more than one insurance policy to file a claim against to compensate you for your injuries.

How long do I have to file an insurance claim?

In California, you have 2 years from the date of the accident to either settle your insurance claim with the at-fault party or file a lawsuit. If you do not settle your claim or file a lawsuit within that 2-year time frame, your personal injury claim will no longer exist, no matter how strong your claim was.

What money is paid if I win my personal injury case?

The money an at-fault driver, property owner or another defendant must pay if you win a personal injury case is called “damages.” In California, these are divided into two categories, economic and noneconomic.

Economic damages are bills you received or things that can be measured, like

• Medical treatment
• Replacement costs
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity

Non-economic damages are harder to measure. They cover:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Inconvenience
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium (companionship and support)

In rare cases, you may also be awarded punitive damages for a defendant’s extremely outrageous acts. These are designed to keep the defendant (usually a company) from acting the same way again in the future.

How does a personal injury lawyer get paid?

The Pursley Law Firm handles all personal injury cases on a contingency basis. That means your personal injury lawyer gets paid out of the money you collect in a settlement or verdict. If you don’t win, we don’t get paid.

Should I hire a lawyer after my accident?

The sooner you start working with a personal injury lawyer after an accident, the better. Not only will the Pursley Law Firm assist you in dealing with the insurance companies, police, medical providers, etc., hiring a personal injury attorney as soon as possible will help in maximizing the value of your personal injury claim.

Does breed matter in a dog bite case?

California law does not specify breed in dog bite cases. Whether you were bit by a pit bull or a chihuahua, the owner is still responsible for your injuries. However, some homeowners insurance policies exclude certain dog breeds from coverage. In those cases, you may have to collect from the dog owner directly.

Who is responsible for a slip-and-fall injury?

Premises liability lawsuits for slip-and-fall injuries can be filed against:

• Property owners
• Landlords
• Commercial or retail businesses
• Renters or tenants
• Property managers

Figuring out who had the responsibility to maintain the property can be one of the toughest parts of a personal injury case. Your premises liability attorney will help you investigate who owned the property, and who maintained it so that you can be sure the right people and companies are involved.

What To Expect When You Reach Out To Pursley Law Firm

If you were injured in an accident, this may be your first time hiring an attorney. Attorney Jared Pursley at Pursley Law Firm is here to help.

Find out what to expect from the moment you contact him until your case is closed.

1. Free Consultation With A Personal Injury Attorney

Once you’ve taken the first step and contacted Pursley Law Firm, you can schedule a free consultation over the phone or in person to review your potential personal injury claim where you can Attorney Jared Pursley can discuss your accident and injuries in detail. If you have a police report or other documents relating to your accident, it is a good idea to have them with you.

After your free consultation, Jared Pursley will help you understand your rights and your options as an injured plaintiff. You can expect complete transparency from Pursley Law Firm. Jared will take the time to guide you, explaining the possibilities moving forward and any next steps you may have to take.

The ultimate goal is to provide you with a complete understanding of your case so that you will have a concrete plan of action and a clear grasp of your case’s potential outcomes.

2. Connecting You With The Right Treatments

An important step in any personal injury case is getting the proper treatment for your injuries. Whether you carry health insurance or not, Jared Pursley will help connect you with the proper treatment providers so that you receive the proper care right away.

Often after an accident, many injured parties avoid seeing a doctor or having tests done because of the cost. Other times, the victims of car crashes or slip-and-fall injuries may not know how badly they have been hurt for days or even weeks after the accident. Having a clear picture of your injury is important to your personal injury claim, as well as your general well-being.

Jared will immediately connect you with doctors and medical providers who can evaluate you and treat your injuries, in some cases without any upfront cost to you.

3. Dealing With The Insurance Companies

In most personal injury cases, any compensation you receive for your injuries will come from the responsible party’s insurance company. Often, these companies can become combative during the personal injury claim process, causing you additional stress. You shouldn’t have to deal with the insurance company alone.

When you call Pursley Law Firm, Attorney Jared Pursley we help you identify the responsible parties, and any companies that insure those parties. We will contact them to file your claim and handle communications on your behalf so that you can focus on your own recovery with as little worry as possible.

4. Keeping You Informed

As your personal injury claim progresses, Pursley Law Firm will keep you informed every step of the way. Jared will continue to explain your rights and options, which may change throughout the personal injury claim process.

If the insurance company extends an offer to settle your claim once it is filed, Jared can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf (with your consent) to ensure that you receive fair and just compensation for your injuries.

5. Going To Trial

Attorney Jared Pursley works tirelessly to resolve your personal injury claim as efficiently as possible. Sometimes this is done via negotiation.

Sometimes, insurance companies do not present an offer that is reasonable and just, which means going to trial. If that is the case, the next step in your personal injury claim will be to file a lawsuit in civil court. You can be confident that Jared will continue to support you throughout every stage of the process.

From start to finish, Jared Pursley will ensure you feel informed and in control of your personal injury case every step of the way.