California Personal Injury Lawyers
Experienced California Personal Injury Lawyers – GJEL Accident Attorneys
Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis & Larsen, also known as GJEL Accident Attorneys, is a dedicated personal injury practice with multiple locations in California. They have decades of combined experience helping victims recover damages, both through settlements and trials. The wins for clients over the years amount to more than $950 million in damages.
Many factors come into play when California personal injury victims choose to work with GJEL Accident Attorneys:
- A success rate of nearly 100%
- More than $950 million total recovered for clients
- Assistance with medical care and vehicle or property repairs
- Free consultations
- Contingency payment plans
- Five experienced personal injury attorneys with major wins
California Law Office Headquarters
GJEL Accident Attorneys serve clients all over northern California, with offices in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Clara, Fresno, Sonoma, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Solano Counties. The headquarters are in San Francisco:
220 Montgomery St.
Suite 2100
San Francisco, CA 94105
When Should I Hire a California Personal Injury Lawyer?
Getting hurt or becoming sick from someone else’s actions or inactions puts you in a difficult position. You may be unsure of what to do about it, if taking legal action is appropriate, or if you have any chance of recovering any of the costs. This is when a personal injury lawyer can help.
Consider hiring a California personal injury lawyer if you:
- Have been in an accident that caused a serious injury or damages
- Aren’t sure what you should do after an accident or injury
- Have been contacted by an insurance adjuster
- Have been offered a settlement
- If you have a lot of expenses as the result of an accident
When looking for a lawyer to help you after an injury, make sure you choose an individual or law firm specializing in personal injury. This is a unique part of the law, and you will get the best outcome and more damages with a lawyer who has relevant experience.
Working with Your Personal Injury Legal Team
Choose your California personal injury lawyer with care. Do your research, ask for references and client referrals, request a free consultation, and insist on contingency payments. Once you have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, and feel good about your choice, it’s time to get to work.
- Prepare all your materials for the initial consultation, including medical bills and reports, an accident or police report if you have one, witness notes and your own notes on the incident, and contact and insurance information for everyone involved.
- List all of the questions you have for your attorney before meeting for the first time.
- Be prepared to answer the lawyer’s questions too. They need as much information from you as possible, even if it is uncomfortable to talk about. Remember that your lawyer is on your side.
- Make sure you get the time to ask all the questions you have, including about fees, what your case is worth, and the timeline.
- Bring someone you trust with you to meetings to help remember details. They can help you make difficult decisions with the advice of your lawyer.
Personal Injury Laws to Know in California
The laws that govern personal injury cases vary by state. It helps to know what California law allows and limits when facing this type of lawsuit. Your lawyer can clarify, but understand the basics:
Damages Caps
Damages refers to the money that you recover from the person or group responsible for the incident. You likely incurred economic costs, such as medical bills, but also non-economic costs like emotional or physical pain.
States often cap the amount you can recover to keep the costs of litigation down. For instance, if the injury is the result of medical malpractice, you can recover no more than $250,000 in non-economic damages in California. California law also bars recovering any non-economic damages from vehicle accidents, with the exception of a driving under the influence conviction for the person who caused the accident.[1]
The Filing Deadline for Personal Injury Lawsuits
These lawsuits are time-limited, based on the state’s statute of limitations. This is how long after an accident you have to take legal action. In California, the statute is two years. Certain situations may allow you to start the clock later or extend the deadline.[2]
Comparative Negligence
Be aware that, in California, if the defendant can prove you had some fault in the accident, your damages may be reduced. This doesn’t mean you cannot recover any compensation, but it may be less than you want.
Dog Bites and Strict Liability
California is a strict liability state for dog bites. This means that your burden of proof of negligence is low. A dog owner can be found liable for your damages even if their dog never showed aggression or attacked anyone before you.
If you have been hurt in California because of someone else’s negligence, contact a personal injury lawyer. The right legal expert can make sense of California laws and help you understand your rights. They will give you the best possible chance of recovering damages.
For city-specific information, visit the following pages: