CALIFORNIA PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY - CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER
MICHAEL REHM - (800) 978-0754
FREE CONSULTATIONS
A personal injury is an injury to the person's body or mind. Victims of personal injuries caused by the negligent conduct of another person are entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Compensation is usually paid for past and future medical expenses, the future cost of coping with a disability, past wage loss and loss of future earning capacity, and past, present, and future pain and suffering, including emotional distress and mental anguish. Mental injuries that are not accompanied by a physical injury to the body are only compensable under limited circumstances.
In California, a person who negligently causes a victim's injury is liable for paying compensation, even if the victim was partially at fault. Compensation is reduced in proportion to the victim's fault. For example, if the victim was 20% at fault for failing to foresee and avoid a potential accident, the victim will receive 80% of full compensation.
Personal injuries arise under a variety of circumstances. Here are the most common reasons that injury victims visit a personal injury lawyer in California.
California Car Accidents
An injury caused by a car crash occurs every two minutes on California roads and highways. More than 250,000 people are injured in California car accidents every year (more than 277,000 in 2017). Almost 4,000 people die every year in California crashes.
California Truck Accidents
Given their weight, collisions with large trucks at highway speeds are more likely to be fatal than collisions between two passenger cars. In 2019, 485 people died in California collisions with a large truck. Another 6,250 victims were injured in California large truck accidents.
California Motorcycle Accidents
From 2014 to 2019, an average of 14,619 motorcycle riders and passengers were injured in California traffic accidents. During that same time span, an average of 529 motorcycle crash victims died. Motorcycle riders are 29 times more likely to die in a collision than occupants of four-wheel vehicles.
California Bicycle Accidents
More than 11,000 bicycle riders are injured each year in California collisions. About 150 bicyclists are killed each year in California traffic accidents. Accident victims span all age groups, but collisions disproportionately injure and kill victims between the ages of 15 and 24.
California Pedestrian Accidents
California traffic accidents injure 14,000 to more than 15,000 pedestrians each year. Recent years have seen nearly 1,000 pedestrian deaths. Since pedestrians are not inside an enclosure, pedestrian accidents often cause more serious injuries than car accidents. Disabling injuries are a consequence of too many collisions with pedestrians.
California Aviation Accidents
Small aircraft crashes and injuries caused by falls in commercial aircraft can be the responsibility of the pilot, the flight crew, or the aircraft manufacturer. Attorney Michael Rehm can investigate the circumstances and determine which party is responsible for an aviation injury or death.
California Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Property owners are responsible for hazardous conditions that cause visitors and customers to fall. Wet floors in a supermarket, oily floors in a rapid oil-change business, uneven sidewalks near mall entrances, parking lot potholes, and defective escalators are among the many property hazards that lead to slip-and-fall claims against businesses that fail to inspect their property or to correct dangerous conditions.
California Dog Bites
Insurance companies paid more than $135 million in 2020 to resolve 2,103 dog bite claims in California. California law holds dog owners accountable for injuries their dogs inflict on people who are lawfully on their property and to people who are bitten in public places. Dog bites that cause facial scarring or dangerous infections account for most large insurance settlements.
California Wrongful Death
California law allows injury victims to bring a claim for damages when their death is caused by the negligent acts of a business or another person. Careless drivers, hazardous property conditions, and negligent handling of firearms are among the many causes of a wrongful death. California Wrongful Death Lawyer Michael Rehm can help family members understand their eligibility to bring a claim and how the proceeds must be distributed.
Catastrophic Injury Accidents in California
Catastrophic injuries are those that result in permanent, life-changing disabilities or death. Spinal injuries often cause full or partial paralysis. Traumatic brain injuries can affect memory, rational thought, and personality. Amputations may end a career. Burn injuries can inflict a lifetime of disfigurement and pain. Personal Injury Lawyer Michael Rehm help victims of catastrophic injuries recover their lives by obtaining compensation for lost earning capacity and the future expense of coping with a disabling condition.
California Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injuries change lives. Uninsured medical expenses are burdensome. Injuries cause suffering and depression, impair relationships with friends and family, and affect income. California Personal Injury Attorney Michael Rehm can help injury victims, as well as families of deceased victims, obtain justice.
Call (800) 978-0754 for a free consultation from Michael Rehm and find out how the law applies to the unique facts of your case.