It only takes one careless moment to change your life. A driver glances at their phone, a store owner forgets to mop some water, or a dog owner doesn’t secure their pet. Now you’re left with pain, medical bills, and a long list of questions no one seems to be answering. In this moment, you need a team that won’t hesitate to step in and help you reclaim control.
You deserve a Santa Clarita personal injury lawyer. The Law Offices of Steers & Associates has over four decades of combined experience helping Californians reclaim control after devastating accidents. We know how to hold negligent parties accountable. If you’re looking for legal clarity, compassionate support, and a team that delivers results, we’re ready to help.
What Is a Personal Injury?
A personal injury is any harm caused by another person’s negligence or intentional act. A person or entity is negligent when they fail to act with the care another reasonable person or entity would have in a similar situation, and that failure causes injury.
Personal injury claims may arise from incidents such as:
- Motor vehicle accidents (cars, motorcycles, trucks, bicycles, and rideshares);
- Slip-and-fall accidents;
- Dog bites;
- Pedestrian collisions; and
- Other accidents that cause traumatic injuries.
Whether your injuries are moderate or severe, a personal injury claim can help cover your losses and hold the at-fault party accountable.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
Taking the proper steps after an accident helps protect both your health and your legal claim. Here’s how to respond effectively in the minutes, hours, and days following an injury.
Call 911
Always contact law enforcement if you’re in a car crash or another type of accident. A police report can serve as a foundational piece of evidence when filing an insurance claim or lawsuit. The 911 dispatcher will also send emergency medical personnel to the scene.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Some injuries, like concussions or internal damage, may not present symptoms right away. So, being seen by paramedics at the scene or by your doctor as soon as possible is imperative. Also, medical documentation links your injuries directly to the accident, which is crucial in any legal claim.
Report the Accident
For slip-and-fall or premises liability incidents, notify the property owner or store manager and ensure they create an official report. In rideshare cases involving companies like Uber or Lyft, report the incident using the in-app feature so it’s logged with the company.
Gather Evidence
Use your phone to take photos or videos of the accident scene, property damage, visible injuries, and any conditions that may have contributed (such as a wet floor, poor lighting, or broken equipment). If there are witnesses, politely ask for their contact information and a brief statement.
Avoid Making Statements to Insurance Adjusters
Insurance companies may contact you quickly. Their goal is to minimize payouts, not to help you. Avoid giving recorded statements or signing anything without consulting a team of personal injury attorneys in Santa Clarita.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
The earlier you involve an experienced Santa Clarita personal injury attorney, the more effectively they can preserve evidence, communicate with insurers, and build your case. Prompt legal representation often makes a significant difference in your outcome.
You only have two years after a personal injury accident to file a claim for damages. You can no longer recover compensation if you miss this deadline, absent certain exceptions. So, the sooner you speak with a lawyer, the sooner they can protect your rights.
How Do I Prove a Personal Injury Claim?
To succeed in a personal injury claim, you must prove that the other party was negligent. Proving negligence requires showing four elements.
Duty of Care
You must establish that the at-fault party owed you a legal duty, which means they were responsible for acting with care under the circumstances. The specific nature of that duty depends on the type of relationship and the setting in which the injury occurred. For example, drivers owe everyone on the road a duty to operate their vehicles safely, obey traffic laws, and stay sober behind the wheel.
Establishing the correct duty of care is the first step in proving negligence, and it helps shape the rest of your legal claim.
Breach of Duty
Next, you must show that the person breached that duty. A breach might involve texting while driving, failing to clean up a spill, or leaving a hazard unmarked. This step focuses on what the person did or failed to do.
Causation
You must then prove that the breach of duty directly caused your injuries. This element links the negligent behavior to the harm you suffered. Witness statements, accident reconstruction, and expert testimony often help demonstrate causation.
Damages
Finally, you must show that you suffered actual harm, such as physical injury, financial loss, or emotional distress, as a result of the accident. Without demonstrable damages, there is no basis for compensation.
What Damages Are Recoverable?
The law allows personal injury victims to seek compensation for various losses. These damages help you recover financially and move forward.
Medical Expenses
You may be entitled to compensation for medical-related costs. These costs include emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, follow-up visits, medications, physical therapy, counseling, and any future treatment you may need.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
If your injury caused you to miss work, you can seek compensation for your lost income. If your injuries limit your ability to work in the future, you may also be eligible for loss of earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages compensate for an injury's physical pain and emotional impact. These damages can include:
- Physical pain and discomfort resulting from the injury itself or ongoing treatment,
- Emotional distress,
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and
- Lingering psychological trauma.
Though harder to quantify than medical bills, pain and suffering are real injuries, and California law recognizes your right to recover for these deeply personal injuries.
Property Damage
If your personal property was damaged in the incident, such as your vehicle in a motor vehicle crash, you may be able to recover the cost to repair or replace those items.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
When injuries prevent you from participating in activities you once enjoyed, such as hobbies, sports, family outings, or even simple daily routines, you may be entitled to compensation for this loss. This damage reflects the diminished quality of life that often follows a serious accident. For example, if you can no longer go hiking with your children, play an instrument, or perform basic tasks without pain, those limitations can form the basis of a claim.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases where the defendant is deemed to have acted with oppression, fraud, or malice, the court may award punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, which reimburse you for losses, punitive damages aim to punish the defendant and deter similar misconduct in the future.
Contact a Santa Clarita Injury Lawyer Today
You shouldn’t have to navigate recovery and legal challenges on your own. At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, we’re committed to helping you confidently move forward. We take pride in offering straightforward legal advice, direct communication, and a personalized approach to every case.
We understand how overwhelming this time can be. That’s why we make it easy to get started. Our consultations are always free, and there’s no fee unless we recover for you. Our legal team is ready to listen, answer your questions, and help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Reach out today to speak with a Santa Clarita personal injury lawyer prepared to fight for you.
