What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

A personal injury lawyer represents people who have been hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, working to recover the compensation they are owed. That work can include many tasks, such as investigating the accident, negotiating with insurance companies, and presenting the case at trial when necessary.

What Happens During a Free Case Review

Before any legal work begins, a personal injury lawyer meets with you to learn about your accident, your injuries, and what you are hoping to accomplish. That first conversation is free and comes with no obligation to move forward.

During the case review, your attorney listens to what happened, asks questions about your medical care and any insurance contact you have already had, and gives you an honest assessment of your options. You leave with a clearer picture of where you stand and what the legal process would look like for your situation.

Representing You Throughout the Process

A personal injury lawyer acts as your voice throughout the insurance claims process. Instead of arguing with insurance adjusters or filing paperwork on your own, you have someone handling the legal side while you concentrate on your recovery.

Building the Evidence

Strong claims are built on solid evidence, and gathering that proof takes time and careful attention to detail. The right injury attorney digs into the facts of the accident to figure out exactly what happened and who was responsible:

• Police and incident reports
• Photos and video from the scene
• Witness statements
• Medical records and bills
• Expert opinions from accident reconstructionists

The types of evidence needed will vary depending on the type and location of the accident, among other factors. Personal injury lawyers know where to look to build a strong foundation for a case based on admissible evidence. 

Calculating the Full Value of Your Claim

Putting a real number on your losses means looking beyond medical bills. There are accepted methods of calculating complex damages, including non-economic and future anticipated losses. A lawyer adds up every cost the accident has caused and will cause down the road, which may include:

• Past, current, and future medical costs
• Lost wages and earning capacity
• Property damage
• Physical pain
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Physical impairment
• Disfigurement

Serious injuries can make everyday tasks difficult or out of reach. A person recovering from a crash may struggle to shower, get dressed, cook meals, or sleep through the night. Hobbies, sports, and time with family can become painful or hard to manage during a long recovery.

Handling Insurance Communications

Insurance adjusters handle these claims for a living, and their goal is to pay as little as possible. A personal injury lawyer takes over those phone calls, responds to recorded statement requests, and pushes back on offers that do not reflect the full extent of your losses.

Providing Trial Representation When Needed

Most personal injury cases settle out of court, but some have to be decided by a jury. When that happens, a lawyer files the lawsuit, handles discovery, prepares witnesses, and presents the case at trial. Orange County cases often proceed through the Orange County Superior Court at the Civil Complex Center in Santa Ana, where jury trials can stretch over several days or weeks.

Common Types of Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury law covers a wide array of incidents where someone has been hurt through no fault of their own. Claims can arise from almost any situation involving negligent behavior, such as:

• Car accident and truck crash claims
• Motorcycle and bicycle collisions
• Slip and fall injuries
• Dog bites
• Construction accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Defective product injuries
• Wrongful death claims

Speak to Our Santa Ana Personal Injury Lawyer Today

At Cardona Law Firm, injury attorney Christian Cardona handles your case personally and is directly involved from the first conversation to the final resolution.

Our firm offers 24/7 after-hours answering so you can reach us when something comes up, and in-person meetings are always available so you can sit down face-to-face with your lawyer.

Our staff also speaks Spanish to help ensure every client has access to the representation they need. When you are ready to talk, call (800) 511-9191 or reach out through our online form to schedule your free case review.