Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury accidents change lives. At DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo, our goal is to help accident victims put the pieces back together. Our Orange County personal injury attorneys work hard to obtain clients financial compensation for damages, such as lost wages and medical bills, so they can finally move forward. If you have any type of injury, such as a broken bone or head injury, after an accident in Southern California, please do not hesitate to contact us and request a free consultation. We may be able to help you obtain the recovery and justice you need to achieve peace of mind.

Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

While it is possible to represent yourself during an Orange County personal injury claim, this is generally not in your best interest. Representing yourself could have serious pitfalls. An insurance company in California may take the opportunity to take advantage of you as an unrepresented claimant, for example, and try to offer a settlement that does not equate to your losses. You could also make common mistakes that are likely to reduce your compensatory award, such as missing information on your claim or failing to identify all defendants.

When you hire an attorney, you gain the ability to maximize your financial recovery award. Your lawyer can take control of insurance settlement negotiations for you, making sure a claims adjuster does not offer a lowball amount. Having a professional negotiator take over your claim could force the insurance company to treat you more fairly and result in greater compensation. Hiring a lawyer will also benefit you if your case has to go to trial. If an insurer is not offering a fair settlement, your personal injury lawyer could aggressively advocate for better results in court in Orange County instead.

How Much Does an Injury Lawyer Cost?

Do not let the potential cost of a personal injury lawyer prevent you from discussing your case with one. At the law offices of DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo, our initial consultations are 100% free and no obligation. We can answer your questions without any financial risks to you. During a conversation with one of our trial attorneys, you could learn the cost benefits of hiring an attorney. Although you will have to pay attorney’s fees, the amount a lawyer can secure you compared to what you could receive on your own can make up for legal expenses.

Our lawyers at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo operate on a contingency fee basis. We use this setup to ensure high-quality legal representation is available to every injured accident victim in Orange County. Our personal injury lawyers will not charge a cent for their services unless they succeed in obtaining you a financial award. No settlement or verdict, no legal fees. If we do win compensation on your behalf, you will pay our legal fees directly out of the award won, not out of your pocket. This setup ensures you can always afford a personal injury lawyer.

Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Orange County

A personal injury can happen in many accidents and scenarios. You could suffer a life-changing injury on the road, at a grocery store, at work or right at home. Certain types of accidents, however, lead to personal injury causes of action in California more than others. If you were involved in any of the following accidents in Orange County, you could have grounds to file a civil lawsuit against one or more parties.

• Car accidents
• Commercial truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Slip, trip and fall accidents (premises liability)
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Crime or violent attacks
• Dog bites
• Dangerous premises
• Defective consumer product (product liability)
• Abuse or neglect
• Workplace accidents

Human error causes most accidents, personal injuries and deaths in California. At DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo, our personal injury lawyers can analyze your recent accident for signs of fault or negligence. Our trial lawyers have experience handling many types of personal injury claims, as well as taking injury cases to court and obtaining positive verdicts. We can help you hold a defendant responsible for causing your personal injury using the civil justice system.

How to Prove Your Personal Injury Case

You might have grounds to file a personal injury claim in Orange County if your accident meets certain parameters. Personal injury law generally requires proof of someone else’s negligence for a plaintiff (injured party) to obtain compensation. The California civil courts will look for a preponderance of the evidence proving the defendant (at-fault party) more likely than not caused the plaintiff’s injuries. As the person bringing a personal injury cause of action, you or your attorney will have to prove liability to win your case.

1. The defendant legally owed you a duty to exercise reasonable care, such as a driver’s duty not to cause a car accident. Duties of care can be explicit, such as those given to physicians when they take their oaths, or implied through what a reasonable and prudent person would do in the same situation.
2. The defendant must be guilty of an intentional or negligent breach of his or her duties of care. Most plaintiffs base their personal injury claims on the grounds of negligence. In this case, you or your lawyer would have to prove the defendant’s breach of duty of care – an action or omission another person would not have committed.
3. The defendant’s breach of duty of care must have a direct causal link to your accident and personal injuries. Your lawyer must have enough evidence to establish your injuries most likely would not have happened were it not for the actions or behaviors of the defendant.
4. Claimants in California must have proof of compensable or specific damages to bring personal injury claims. The defendant’s negligence must have given you compensable losses such as medical treatments, legal fees, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional injuries, a disability, physical therapy, or property damages to file.

These are the four main elements of proof required for most California personal injury claims. Some claims, however, do not require proof of a breach of duty. An attorney from DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo can help you prove these elements using evidence related to your case. We can investigate for signs of fault and supporting evidence, such as photos, videos, eyewitness statements, police records, cellphone records and medical documents. Our lawyers could also hire experts to testify on your behalf.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

After an accident injures you, contact the insurance company of the allegedly at-fault party to pursue a claim to damages. After an auto accident, for example, file a claim against the driver you believe caused the collision. The insurance company will then assign a claims adjuster to your case. The adjuster is in charge of reviewing your case and any evidence or documentation you submit. The adjuster may also assess things in person, such as the damage to a vehicle. The adjuster will then recommend to the insurance company whether or not to accept your claim.

You may receive a phone call from the insurance adjuster as soon as the day after your accident. Be wary when talking to an adjuster. You do not have to talk to him or her at all if you do not wish; a lawyer from DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Using a lawyer to negotiate with a claims adjuster can be beneficial, as it can allow you to combat common bad faith tactics such as offering a lowball settlement or denying your claim without giving a valid reason.

If you wish to talk to a claims adjuster, be careful what you say. Do not admit fault for your accident or injuries and do not permit the adjuster to record a statement from you. Recording a statement is a strategy an insurance company may use to obtain information it could hold against you later. Keep your answers to questions concise and honest. Do not offer any information the claims adjuster does not request. When in doubt, use our negotiators to deal with insurance companies instead.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in CA?

As the victim of an Orange County personal injury accident, you do not have an unlimited amount of time to bring a cause of action against one or multiple defendants. California’s statute of limitations restricts your right to file to a specific deadline. The time limits on a personal injury claim in California is two years, meaning you will have two years from the date of your accident, injury, or illness to file a personal injury suit. You might have more than two years if you did not discover your damages until later, in which case the clock will start ticking on the date of discovery rather than the date of the accident.

If you lost a loved one and wish to pursue a wrongful death claim in California, you have two years from the date of the deceased person’s death to file. This may or may not match the date of the fatal accident. A few exceptions exist to the general statute of limitations, such as for minor victims. Talk to our attorneys to learn your specific deadline. Act quickly – if you miss your statute of limitations, the courts will more than likely bar you from financial recovery.

Common Types of Injuries We Handle

At DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo, our personal injury attorneys have years of experience helping injured victims. We have helped hundreds of clients successfully resolve their claims and receive positive outcomes. Our legal team has experience assisting clients with many types of injuries, including catastrophic and life-changing personal injuries.

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Bone fractures
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Lacerations
• Burns
• Internal injuries
• Emotional injuries
• Wrongful death

After any injury or illness diagnosis from a physician after an accident in Orange County, contact us to schedule a free initial consultation. One of our lawyers will meet with you at a place that is convenient for you to listen to your story. We will answer your questions and let you know if we believe you have grounds for a personal injury case. We accept claims involving many different types of injuries.

The Timeline of a Personal Injury Case

Your personal injury claim will start with the insurance process, as well as gathering evidence. If you have a straightforward claim and the insurer is treating you fairly as a client, you could achieve a settlement within about three months. If, however, you have serious injuries or other complications, your claim could take longer. With a serious injury, for example, you may have to wait until the date of maximum medical improvement to accept a settlement and resolve your case. A personal injury claim that has to go to trial in California could take one year or longer to complete. Each case is unique. Contact an attorney at our personal injury law firm for a more accurate timeline of your injury claim.

Why Choose DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo?

• Our clients experience the DAM Firm difference. We have a reputation in Orange County for personalized legal services, aggressive strategies and real results.
• Our personal injury lawyers have years of experience representing clients. We have been in business in Southern California since 1979.
• Our attorneys are most proud of the life-changing results won for clients. However, we also have many awards and accolades, including the 2018 U.S. News Best Law Firms list.
• Our lawyers are committed to open communication. You will never have to wonder about the status of your case. We answer client correspondence promptly and take calls 24/7.
• Our Orange County personal injury lawyers work for $0 upfront. You will not have to pay your attorney at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo out of pocket, win or lose.

What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for You?

Hiring the right personal injury lawyer could transform your case and legal experience. A lawyer can improve your chances of winning full and fair compensation for your damages. Achieving maximum compensation can enable you and your family to move forward with financial stability after a traumatic accident. A lawyer can also provide invaluable peace of mind when you and your loved ones need it the most. Your lawyer can handle all the legal elements of your case while you focus on healing. Learn all the ways an attorney at DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo can help you during an Orange County personal injury claim. Contact us online or call (714) 783-2205 today to schedule a free case review.

We serve clients all throughout Orange County and the surrounding areas, including Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Irvine, and more.

“Great experience working with this law firm. They kept me up to date on the process of the case and explained to me in great detail each step and all of the documents. Would 10/10 recommend them to anyone seeking legal counsel as they are their staff are highly professional and make others feel welcome.” – Edwin Duran