An accident in Tustin can happen in the blink of an eye. It is important to know that you are not alone in the aftermath of a harmful incident, such as a car crash on the I-5 or a slip and fall at a shop in The District at Tustin Legacy. You can work with the experienced Tustin personal injury attorneys at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian to understand your legal rights, explore your options for making a financial recovery, seek justice against those accountable, and choose the right route forward for you and your family.
Our Orange County personal injury lawyers have over 75 years of collective courtroom and litigation experience. We will do everything in our power to achieve the case results that you need as your attorneys. Start by contacting us at (949) 831-6611 to request a free consultation.
Why Choose Our Tustin Personal Injury Lawyers
- We have a reputation for always putting clients first. Your personal injury attorney in Tustin will take the time to get to know you, understand your goals and personalize your legal experience.
- Our law firm has obtained close to $2 billion on behalf of our clients. Our long record of success shows our ability to achieve life-changing results for injured accident victims.
- We have received some of the highest honors and awards in the industry, including Top 100 Trial Lawyers, America’s Most Honored Lawyers and Best Law Firms in 2023 by US News & World Report.
- We are nationally recognized California trial attorneys who can take on even the most challenging personal injury cases and deliver life-changing results.
- Our lawyers take personal injury cases in Tustin on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay for our services unless we win your case and secure financial compensation for your losses.
How an Experienced Tustin Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Most personal injury cases in Tustin are filed against insurance companies. Unfortunately, this puts claimants at an immediate disadvantage. Insurance companies are large and powerful corporations with many resources to expend on convincing clients to settle for less than their claims are actually worth. Hiring a personal injury attorney in Tustin can help you level the playing field. Your attorney can advocate for your interests during conversations with insurance claims adjusters and representatives. This can lead to a better case outcome. It can also give you the peace of mind to focus on healing from your injuries. The services offered by your personal injury lawyer may include investigating your accident, determining fault, gathering evidence, evaluating how much your case is worth, hiring highly qualified experts, negotiating a settlement and taking your case to trial, if necessary.
What Is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim refers to a legal cause of action brought by an injured accident victim. It seeks compensation for losses suffered by the victim – such as medical costs and lost wages – to make the victim financially whole again. A personal injury claim allows someone who has been harmed physically, emotionally or financially to seek justice against the responsible party.
What Evidence Can Be Used to Prove a Personal Injury Case?
Proving a personal injury case generally takes evidence of negligence, or someone failing to act with an appropriate degree of care. However, some cases are based on other legal doctrines, such as strict liability, and do not require proof of negligence. Negligence has four elements of proof:
- The defendant (accused party) owed the plaintiff (injured party) a duty of care, or a responsibility to behave in a reasonable manner.
- The defendant breached the duty of care by acting in a way that a reasonably prudent person would not have in the same circumstances.
- The defendant’s breach of duty caused the harm in question. This can refer to actual or proximate cause.
- The plaintiff suffered actual damages as a result of the defendant’s negligent act or omission, such as a bodily injury or property damage.
The burden of proof is “more likely to be true than not true” in a personal injury claim. Meeting this burden may take evidence such as accident reports, police reports, medical records, eyewitness accounts, expert testimony, pictures and videos of the accident scene, cellphone records, and proof of losses.
Our Practice Areas in Tustin, California
At Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian, we have in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in various fields of personal injury law. Our law firm has been representing clients in Southern California and beyond since 1990. Find out if we’re the right fit for your particular case by contacting us. Our practice areas in Tustin include but are not limited to:
- Automobile accidents
- Catastrophic injuries
- Construction accidents
- Criminal acts of violence
- Defective products
- Dog attacks
- Insurance bad faith and coverage
- Medical malpractice
- Motorcycle accidents
- Nursing home abuse
- OCTA accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Wildfire cases
- Workplace accidents
- Wrongful death
Our team has an impressive legacy of representing wildfire victims in California, with nearly 12,000 clients served. We were one of the attorney groups that negotiated an estimated $13.5 billion settlement against PG&E for the North Bay and Paradise Fires. Our team was also behind the first wrongful death case filed in the Las Vegas MGM shooting, and represented almost 200 clients in the $800 million global settlement.
Common Types of Injuries Involved in Claims
Every year, thousands of Californians visit emergency departments with serious injuries from preventable accidents and incidents. An event such as a crash on SR-55 or a workplace disaster at a manufacturing facility can cause a wide variety of injuries, significant medical bills and emotional distress. Our Tustin personal injury lawyers are equipped to handle all types of injuries, such as:
- Amputations or loss of limb
- Bone fractures
- Burn injuries
- Crush injuries
- Internal injuries
- Loss of vision or hearing
- Permanent disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Severe lacerations
- Soft-tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Serious accidents in Tustin can leave a lasting mark on the lives of those involved. At Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian, we understand the toll that major injuries take – not only on the victim, but the victim’s family, as well. We will connect you with top doctors in Orange County to aid in your physical well-being as we pursue a fair financial recovery on your behalf.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer From Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian Cost?
When we say we operate on a contingency fee basis, this means we charge $0 upfront. You will not be charged a penny in attorney’s fees unless and until we secure financial compensation on your behalf. Contingency fees are dependent upon us winning your case. If we don’t achieve a monetary recovery from an insurance company or defendant on your behalf, you won’t pay. If we do win your personal injury case, we will charge our fee as a percentage of the settlement or judgment award obtained. The amount of the percentage will depend on your case, but is typically around one-third (33.33 percent). Our mission is to help clients restore their lives as much as possible after accidents by providing high-quality legal representation without any financial risk.
California Personal Injury Laws
Correctly handling your personal injury case and protecting your rights along the way requires at least a basic understanding of California’s personal injury laws. As your attorneys, we can provide important insights into these laws and how to navigate them in pursuit of justice. Key laws to know include:
- Fault law. California uses an “at-fault” car insurance system, meaning the driver at fault for causing the collision can be held financially responsible.
- Strict liability. The legal theory of strict liability typically applies to defective product and dog bite injury cases in California. It is generally not necessary to prove negligence to win compensation in these cases.
- Pure comparative negligence. Accident victims in California can be found partially at fault for their injuries and still receive financial compensation. The amount awarded will be diminished in proportion to their degree of fault.
- Statute of limitations. There is a strict deadline of two years on most California personal injury claims, under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If you miss your statute of limitations, you will generally be barred from pursuing your claim.
- California Tort Claims Act. Personal injury cases against government entities have a special set of rules and requirements under state law. This includes a much shorter statute of limitations of just six months.
Navigating all of the personal injury laws that affect your case can be difficult without assistance from an experienced attorney in California. Choose a lawyer who is local to Orange County for vital knowledge of local and municipal laws that may apply to your case, as well.
Financial Compensation Available for Personal Injury Clients in Tustin
California law allows for the recovery of economic, noneconomic and punitive damages in a personal injury case. Economic damages pay a victim back for the monetary losses suffered from the accident, such as past and future medical bills, property damage, lost wages, lost future earnings due to a disability, and various out-of-pocket costs. Noneconomic damages pay for the intangible ways that a victim has been impacted by the accident. The value of these damages will depend on factors such as the severity of the injuries. Your list of noneconomic damages may include things like physical pain, emotional distress, loss of consortium, mental anguish, depression, anxiety, inconvenience and post-traumatic stress disorder. Unlike the other two types of damages, punitive damages are not awarded to compensate an accident victim but as a form of punishment against the defendant for especially egregious or wrongful acts. In California, punitive damages may be available if it can be proven that a defendant is guilty of fraud, oppression or malice in connection to the incident.
Tips for Dealing With Insurance Companies
From the moment you contact an insurance company to file a personal injury claim in Tustin, it will try to find ways to take advantage of you. Insurance companies are for-profit; they always put their bottom lines above clients. Protect yourself during conversations with insurance claims adjusters with the following “don’ts”:
- Don’t speak to an insurance claims adjuster until you’ve seen a doctor and documented everything. Get your police report, medical records, photos and other details ready first.
- Don’t give away too many details about your accident or injuries in initial conversations. Keep your answers to questions succinct.
- Don’t apologize for the incident or admit fault. Don’t speculate about who you believe is to blame. Wait for an official investigation to determine the cause of your injuries.
- Don’t agree to give the insurance adjuster a recorded statement. This is often used against clients later to paint them as unreliable witnesses.
- Don’t accept a fast settlement without bringing the agreement to an attorney. Initial settlement offers are typically set low.
- Don’t sign anything sent to you by an insurance company before consulting with a Tustin personal injury lawyer about your rights.
For the duration of your case, you should also be careful what you post on social media. You could unintentionally hurt your claim by posting something an insurer can use against you. Photos of yourself enjoying time with friends, for example, could be used to argue that you are not experiencing enough pain and suffering to warrant financial damages.
Personal Injury Resources for Victims in Tustin
- Foothill Regional Medical Center 14662 Newport Ave Tustin, CA 92780 (714) 619-7700
- UCI Health Urgent Care Center 19200 Jamboree Rd Suite 4200 Irvine, CA 92612 (714) 456-7002
- Orange County Victims of Crime Resource Center 300 Centennial Way Tustin, CA 92780 (800) 842-8467
- Orange County Superior Court Civil Complex 751 W Santa Ana Blvd Santa Ana, CA 92701 (657) 622-6878
- Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian Personal Injury Law Firm 26 Corporate Plaza Suite 250 Newport Beach, CA 92660 Toll-free: (833) 758-0785
Contact Us for a Free Personal Injury Case Review in Tustin
You can seek justice if you have recently been injured in an accident in Tustin or anywhere in Southern California that was caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless acts. The personal injury lawyers from Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian are prepared to help you with every stage of the recovery process, from finding the right doctor for your medical needs to holding one or more parties accountable. We understand what you’re going through and are here to help you through this difficult time. Learn more about the difference we can make to your case and how we pursue justice on behalf of our clients. Contact us by sending us a brief message or calling our Orange County office location at (949) 831-6611 any time. We will get back to you right away to schedule your free initial case consultation.