Berkeley Personal Injury Attorneys
Helping Injured Victims in Berkeley, CA and Beyond
When you are injured in an accident, you may be left with a number of questions and concerns. How will you pay for your medical bills? How will you support your family if you are unable to work? How will you be able to move on with your life? At Crane Flores, LLP, we understand the challenges you are facing, and we are here to help.
Our Berkeley personal injury lawyers have been serving the community since 1985. We have a proven track record of success, having recovered millions of dollars for our clients. We are prepared to put our extensive experience and resources to work for you.
Call (805) 628-4967 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation with our team.
How Our Firm Can Help You
At Crane Flores, LLP, we are committed to providing our clients with the compassionate, personalized legal guidance they deserve. We understand that every case is unique, which is why we take the time to listen to your story and understand your goals. Our Berkeley personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and options, and we can guide you through every stage of the legal process.
We handle all types of personal injury cases, including those involving:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Premises liability
- Wrongful death
We have helped clients who have suffered all types of injuries, from minor to severe. No matter how complex your case may be, we have the skills, resources, and experience to handle it.
We can help you seek compensation for all types of injuries, including:
- Catastrophic injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burn injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is a legal action that allows an injured victim to seek compensation for their damages. In order to have grounds for a personal injury claim, you must be able to prove that another person or party was negligent and that their negligence caused or contributed to your injuries.
There are four main elements of negligence:
- The at-fault party owed you a duty of care
- The at-fault party breached their duty of care
- The at-fault party’s breach of duty caused or contributed to your injuries
- You suffered damages as a result of your injuries
For example, all drivers owe others on the road a duty of care to drive safely and follow the rules of the road. If a driver is texting while driving and rear-ends your vehicle, they have breached their duty of care. If you suffer injuries as a result of the accident, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in California?
Every state has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of the injury. This means that you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.
If you fail to file a claim within this time frame, you will likely lose your right to recover compensation.
There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations. For example, if you did not discover your injuries until a later date, you may have one year from the date of discovery to file a claim. Additionally, if the at-fault party is a government entity, you will have a much shorter time frame to file a claim. In most cases, you will have just six months from the date of the accident to file a claim against the government.
Because the statute of limitations is so strict, it is important that you get started on your claim as soon as possible. The sooner you contact our Berkeley personal injury lawyers, the sooner we can get to work on your case.
What Types of Compensation Are Available?
If you have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. In California, there are two main types of damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages are intended to compensate you for your financial losses, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are intended to compensate you for your non-financial losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
- Disability
In some cases, you may also be able to recover punitive damages. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, which are intended to compensate you for your losses, punitive damages are intended to punish the at-fault party for their actions and deter others from engaging in similar behavior. In order to recover punitive damages, you must be able to prove that the at-fault party acted with fraud, malice, or oppression.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer
After an accident, you may be contacted by the at-fault party’s insurance company. The insurance adjuster may seem friendly and concerned about your well-being, but it is important to remember that the insurance company is not on your side. Their goal is to pay you as little as possible, and they will do everything they can to minimize your claim.
When you hire our personal injury attorneys in Berkeley, we can handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf. We can negotiate with the insurance adjuster to seek a fair settlement that covers all of your damages. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, we are prepared to take your case to court. Our lawyers are skilled litigators, and we have a proven track record of success in the courtroom.
How to Get Started on Your Case
If you have been injured in an accident, it is important to get started on your case as soon as possible. The sooner you contact our personal injury lawyers in Berkeley, the sooner we can get to work on your case. We can conduct a thorough investigation into your accident, gather evidence, and identify all potentially liable parties. We can also help you understand your rights and options, and we can guide you through every stage of the legal process.
Call (805) 628-4967 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our team.
