Southern California Personal Injury Practice Areas
An accident can change a lot in a very short amount of time. You may be dealing with an injury, medical appointments, time away from work, damaged property, and an insurance company asking questions before you have had a chance to understand what happened.
Dedicated Legal Help After an Accident or Injury
South Coast Injury Law Center helps injured people and their families navigate the legal side of an accident. For more than 30 years, our firm has handled personal injury and litigation matters throughout San Diego County, East County, the Coachella Valley, and surrounding Southern California communities.
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no upfront attorney fees, and you do not pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Every accident is different. The type of injury, how the accident happened, who may be responsible, and the available insurance coverage can all affect a claim.
Our practice areas include:
Car, Motorcycle & Other Vehicle Accidents
Car Accidents
A car accident can leave you with injuries that require weeks, months, or even longer to recover from. Determining what caused the collision is an important part of any injury claim. Distracted driving, speeding, unsafe lane changes, failure to yield, and other forms of negligent driving can all play a role.
We investigate the circumstances surrounding a crash and work with the available evidence, including police reports, photographs, witness information, and other documentation.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle crashes can result in serious injuries because riders have far less protection than people inside passenger vehicles. A collision may involve broken bones, road rash, spinal injuries, head injuries, or other significant trauma.
Insurance claims can also become more complicated when questions arise about how the motorcycle accident occurred. We work to establish the facts of the collision and pursue compensation for the injuries and losses involved.
Truck Accidents
A collision with a commercial truck can be particularly serious because of the size and weight of the vehicle involved. Truck accident cases may also involve trucking companies, commercial insurance policies, maintenance records, driver records, and other evidence that is not typically part of an ordinary car accident claim.
South Coast Injury Law Center handles injury claims involving semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, delivery vehicles, and other commercial vehicles.
Uber & Lyft Accidents
Rideshare accidents can raise questions about which insurance policy applies and what the rideshare driver was doing at the time of the crash.
Whether you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft, another driver involved in a collision with a rideshare vehicle, or otherwise injured in a rideshare-related accident, the details of the incident matter when determining how a claim should be handled.
Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can involve passengers, drivers and occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The legal issues can also differ depending on whether the bus is operated by a public agency or a private company.
Claims involving government-operated transportation may have additional notice and filing requirements, making it important to address the matter promptly.
Bicycle, Pedestrian & E-Scooter Accidents
Bicyclists, pedestrians, and e-scooter riders have little protection when a collision occurs. Even a crash at a relatively low speed can result in significant injuries.
These cases may involve drivers who failed to yield, were distracted, made an unsafe turn, or otherwise failed to exercise reasonable care.
Injuries on Someone Else's Property
Slip, Trip & Fall Accidents
A fall can happen because of a wet floor, uneven pavement, damaged stairs, poor lighting, missing handrails, or another dangerous condition.
Property owners and businesses have responsibilities concerning the safety of their premises. A successful premises liability claim requires looking closely at what condition caused the accident, whether the property owner knew or should have known about it, and what steps were taken to address the hazard.
Bar & Nightclub Injuries
An injury at a bar, nightclub, or other entertainment venue may involve more than the person who caused the immediate physical harm.
Depending on the circumstances, a case may involve questions about security, crowd control, alcohol service, or whether the establishment took reasonable steps to address a foreseeable risk of violence.
We investigate the circumstances surrounding these incidents to determine whether another party may have legal responsibility for the resulting injuries.
Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
California law generally imposes strict liability on a dog owner when the owner's dog bites a person in a public place or while the person is lawfully in a private place. A previous history of aggressive behavior is not required for the statute to apply.
Dog attacks can result in puncture wounds, infections, scarring, nerve damage, and emotional trauma. If you or a family member has been bitten or attacked by a dog, we can review what happened and explain the legal options that may be available.
Construction & Work Site Injuries
Construction Site Accidents
Construction sites present a number of potential hazards, from heavy machinery and scaffolding to falls, electrical hazards, and falling objects.
When someone is injured on a construction site, workers' compensation may be part of the picture. In some situations, however, another person or company may also be legally responsible for the injury. This can include a subcontractor, property owner, equipment manufacturer, or another third party.
Identifying everyone who may be responsible is an important part of investigating a construction accident.
Work Site Third-Party Injuries
California workers' compensation laws generally provide benefits for employees injured on the job. But workers' compensation is not necessarily the only source of recovery in every situation.
If someone other than the injured person's employer contributed to the accident, a separate third-party personal injury claim may be possible. These claims can involve different types of damages than a workers' compensation claim, including compensation for pain and suffering.
Serious & Catastrophic Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury can affect far more than a person's physical health. Depending on the severity of the injury, someone may experience changes involving memory, concentration, communication, mood, or the ability to work and manage everyday activities.
Some symptoms are immediately apparent. Others may not become clear until later.
Brain injury claims require careful consideration of both the immediate effects of the injury and the possibility of ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, lost income, and other long-term consequences.
Product Liability & Defective Products
A product that is defective or unreasonably dangerous can cause serious injuries during ordinary or intended use.
Product liability cases may involve automobiles and their components, consumer products, medical devices, industrial equipment, or other products. Depending on the circumstances, potential claims may involve a manufacturing defect, design defect, or inadequate warnings or instructions.
These cases often require examining how the product was designed, manufactured, sold, and used
Wrongful Death
When someone dies because of another person's negligence or wrongful conduct, the loss extends far beyond the immediate financial consequences.
A wrongful death claim may allow eligible surviving family members to seek compensation for losses associated with the death, which can include funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship, care, and guidance.
No legal claim can undo the loss of a loved one. The purpose of a wrongful death case is to address the losses the surviving family members have experienced and hold the responsible party accountable under California law.
Important California Personal Injury Laws
California's Statute of Limitations
California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 generally gives an injured person two years from the date of a personal injury to bring a lawsuit. A two-year period also generally applies to wrongful death actions.
There are exceptions, and different deadlines may apply depending on the circumstances of the claim.
Claims involving a government entity can be subject to much shorter deadlines. For example, California Government Code section 911.2 generally requires an administrative claim to be presented within six months for certain claims against public entities.
Because missing a filing deadline can affect your legal rights, it is important to have an attorney review your situation as soon as possible.
California's Comparative Fault Rule
An insurance company may argue that an injured person was partly responsible for an accident. Under California's pure comparative negligence rule, a person's own percentage of fault can reduce the amount of compensation recovered, but being partially at fault does not automatically prevent recovery.
For example, if a jury determines that someone sustained $100,000 in damages but was 20% responsible for the accident, the person's recovery could be reduced by 20%.
The question of fault depends on the facts and evidence in the individual case.
What Compensation May Be Available?
The damages available in a personal injury case depend on the circumstances and the losses involved.
Potential economic damages may include:
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Medical treatment and related expenses
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Future medical care
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Lost wages
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Reduced earning capacity
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Rehabilitation and therapy
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Property damage
Non-economic damages may include:
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Physical pain and suffering
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Emotional distress
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Loss of enjoyment of life
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Physical impairment
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Scarring or disfigurement
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Loss of consortium in appropriate cases
Not every claim involves every category of damages, and the amount of compensation depends on the individual circumstances.
What Happens After a Personal Injury?
There is no single timeline that applies to every injury claim. A straightforward accident with limited injuries may move differently from a case involving extensive medical treatment or disputed liability.
Generally, the process may involve several stages.
1. Initial Case Review
The first step is understanding what happened. We review the circumstances of the accident, the injuries involved, potential liability, and available insurance information.
2. Investigation
Evidence can become harder to locate as time passes. Depending on the case, an investigation may include police reports, photographs, video, witness statements, medical records, vehicle information, and other documentation.
3. Medical Treatment
Your health comes first. Medical records and treatment history can also help document the nature and extent of your injuries. In cases involving significant injuries, the long-term effects may need to be evaluated before the value of a claim can be fully understood.
4. Settlement Discussions
Once the available information and damages have been evaluated, a demand may be presented to the insurance company. Negotiations can follow as the parties work toward resolving the claim.
5. Litigation
Not every case settles before a lawsuit is filed. If litigation becomes necessary, the case may proceed through discovery, negotiations, mediation, and potentially trial.
Why Choose South Coast Injury Law Center?
Choosing a personal injury attorney is a significant decision. Experience with the type of case you are facing, familiarity with the local courts and insurance process, and clear communication throughout the claim can all matter.
South Coast Injury Law Center brings more than three decades of litigation experience to personal injury cases. Founding attorney Anthony E. Kalikas has been admitted to the California State Bar since 1991.
The firm also offers:
24/7 availability
24/7 availability for prospective clients
Free consultations
Free consultations to discuss your potential claim
No upfront fees
Contingency fee representation, so there are no upfront attorney fees
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
South Coast Injury Law Center handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay an attorney fee upfront. Instead, the firm's fee is based on an agreed-upon percentage of the recovery if compensation is obtained.
The specific terms of the fee agreement should be discussed with the firm before representation begins.
How do I know if I have a personal injury case?
A personal injury claim generally involves an injury caused by another person's or entity's failure to meet a legal duty, along with resulting damages.
That does not mean every accident automatically creates a viable lawsuit. Liability, causation, the nature of the injuries, available insurance, and other facts all matter.
A consultation can help determine whether your circumstances may support a claim.
What should I do after an accident?
If you have been injured, seek appropriate medical attention first.
When possible, document the scene with photographs or video, obtain contact information for witnesses, and report the accident to the appropriate authorities. Keep records of medical treatment and other expenses related to the injury.
It is also wise to speak with a personal injury attorney before providing a recorded statement to an insurance company.
How long does a personal injury case take?
There is no standard timeline. The length of a case can depend on the severity of the injuries, the amount of medical treatment required, whether liability is disputed, the insurance coverage involved, and whether a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Some claims resolve within a few months. More complicated cases, particularly those involving serious injuries or litigation, can take considerably longer.