Applicable personal injury laws in Los Angeles are based primarily on precedent or case histories, not statutes. However, they cover a broad spectrum: slip and falls (Premises Liability), motorcycle accidents, car and truck accidents, dog bites, head and spinal injuries, and construction accidents to name a few. You can find personal injury lawyers who specialize in one or more of these segments.
The basic principle in personal injury law is that no person should cause injury to another, either through their action or their negligence. That is part of the duty of a citizen. Negligence can be referred to as the failure or omission to take prudent or reasonable care. For example, a store owner who fails to keep his floor reasonably clean could be liable for damages if a customer slips and falls. Claims can cover not only any physical injuries sustained, but also mental and emotional agony.
The law requires that in order to obtain a favorable verdict on your claim, the plaintiff (the victim filing the claim) must prove that the injury you sustained was caused by the other person’s negligence of duty. Sometimes the victim may also be partially responsible for the accident. In such cases the percentage of fault could be considered.
Motorcycle accidents form a specialized branch of personal injury cases because the type of damages and the circumstances of the cases are often different from other forms of accidents. If the victim does not have liability insurance, they can only get limited damages. This is a headache for Los Angeles lawyers, because many cyclists don’t pay attention to this.
It is convenient to present the claim as soon as possible. The statutes of limitation also apply to personal injury cases. An adult must file the claim within two years from the date the injury occurred. In the case of minors, the limit is two years from the date they turn eighteen. But if the defendant is a government department or agency, the time limit is only six months.