California Personal Injury Lawyer
Representing Injured Victims of Negligence
The personal injury attorneys at Potter Handy Law Firm have helped plaintiffs recover millions of dollars in damages.
Injuries incurred by wrongdoing, negligence, or carelessness, there is a likelihood that you will be entitled to pursue legal action.
In most cases, however, these lawsuits tend to be the best course of action for “catastrophic injury” or injuries that permanently affect an individual’s ability to function and live normally. Typically, these types of injuries are disfiguring or cause disability.
The most common catastrophic injuries include:
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Severe burns
- Crushing injuries
- Dismemberment
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
Serious injuries can result in differing degrees of paralysis, reduced cognitive capacity, physical disability, and chronic pain for survivors. Severe accidents can cause mental, physical, and financial complications for a lifetime.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause almost any type of injury. While some of these injuries will heal over time, others may lead to ongoing pain and disability.
Common causes of car accidents:
- Speeding
- Road Defects
- Fatigued Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Inexperienced Drivers
- Poor Weather Conditions
- Defective Automotive Equipment
- Road Construction Zone Accidents
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Common injuries from car accidents include:
- Fractures
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Ruptured Discs
- Wrongful Death
- Dislocated Joints
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Psychological Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Burns and Lacerations
- Torso and Pelvis Trauma
- Arm, Feet, and Leg Injuries
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents can lead to various injuries. These injuries range in severity and can cause long-lasting issues for victims, and in some cases, they can be fatal.
We can begin by filing a claim against the party responsible for the accident, so you can recover economic and non-economic damages. With our help, you can focus on healing from your injuries while we concentrate on getting you a fair settlement or judgment.
Common injuries from bicycle accidents include:
- Fractures
- Road Rash
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Ruptured Discs
- Wrongful Death
- Dislocated Joints
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Psychological Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Torso and Pelvis Trauma
- Arm, Feet, and Leg Injuries
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accident injuries are often extremely serious and can be fatal.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents:
- Speeding
- Road Defects
- Fatigued Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Inexperienced Drivers
- Poor Weather Conditions
- Defective Automotive Equipment
- Road Construction Zone Accidents
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Common injuries from motorcycle accidents include:
- Fractures
- Road Rash
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Ruptured Discs
- Wrongful Death
- Dislocated Joints
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Psychological Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Burns and Lacerations
- Torso and Pelvis Trauma
- Arm, Feet, and Leg Injuries
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can cause almost any type of injury. While some of these injuries will heal over time, others may lead to ongoing pain, disability, and death.
Common causes of truck accidents:
- Speeding
- Fatigued Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Inexperienced Drivers
- Poor Weather Conditions
- Defective Automotive Equipment
- Road Construction Zone Accidents
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Common injuries from truck accidents include:
- Fractures
- Road Rash
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Ruptured Discs
- Wrongful Death
- Dislocated Joints
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Psychological Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Burns and Lacerations
- Torso and Pelvis Trauma
- Arm, Feet, and Leg Injuries
Premises Liability Accidents
Premises liability accidents can cause almost any type of injury. While some of these injuries will heal over time, others may lead to ongoing pain, disability, and death.
Premises liability is a subsection of personal injury law that focuses on the injuries a person might sustain when he or she is on someone else’s property.
Examples of premises liability accidents:
- Slip and Fall
- Pool Accidents
- Animal Attacks
- Acts of Violence
- Negligent Security
- Negligent Maintenance
- Amusement Park Accidents
- Construction Site Accidents
- Elevator/Escalator Accidents
- College Campus/Dormitory Accidents
- Airbnb or Other Home Share Accidents
Common injuries from premises liability accidents include:
- Fractures
- Neck Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Ruptured Discs
- Wrongful Death
- Dislocated Joints
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Psychological Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Burns and Lacerations
- Torso and Pelvis Trauma
- Arm, Feet, and Leg Injuries
Wrongful Death Accidents
Often a fatal injury happens immediately, but sometimes it can take weeks, months, or even years before a person succumbs to his or her illness or injury.
We will help you navigate the process and advocate for your loved one by filing a claim against the party responsible for the wrongful death.
Common causes of wrongful deaths:
- Falls
- Drowning
- Car Accidents
- Acts of Violence
- Fires and Burns
- Truck Accidents
- Toxic Exposures
- Crushing Injuries
- Defective Products
- Spinal Cord Damage
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Accidental Poisonings
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Construction Site Injuries
Potter Handy Law Firm – Personal Injury Top Cases
- Dog bite
- Brain injury
- Car accidents
- Wrongful death
- Premises liability
Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations is the deadline for filing a lawsuit. Most lawsuits MUST be filed within a certain amount of time. In general, once the statute of limitations on a case “runs out,” the legal claim is not valid any longer.
Personal injury: Two years from the injury. If the injury was not discovered right away, then it is 1 year from the date the injury was discovered.
Figuring out when the statute of limitations runs out on a claim is not easy. If you have any doubts about how to calculate the time you have, talk to a lawyer.
What Personal Injury Damages Can I Recover in California?
California personal injury law permits recovery for many types of damages, including (without limitation):
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Long-term care
- Wrongful death
- Punitive damages
- Pain and suffering
- Injury to reputation
- Lost earning capacity
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Negligent infliction of emotional distress
Personal Injury Lawyer in California – No Upfront Fees or Costs
Unlike some firms, we charge clients no upfront costs or fees. We do not receive a dime unless and until you settle your claim or win at trial. Our legal team operates by contingency fee.
While we will fight to get you the biggest settlement possible, we will never pressure you to settle your claim quickly just to make a quick buck. With years of courtroom experience, we are not afraid to take a good case to trial in front of a jury.
If you have been injured in California and you think someone else might be to blame, we invite you to call us to discuss your case with a caring California personal injury attorney.