An unexpected accident caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless act can change your life forever. While money may not guarantee that you make a full medical recovery, it can provide a sense of justice and offer much-needed financial relief for years to come.
Aitken * Aitken * Cohn has an established reputation in the Orange County legal community for successfully representing personal injury victims over the past 50 years. Our Orange County personal injury attorneys can help you fight to maximize your financial recovery from those who are responsible for your pain and suffering.
Why Choose Aitken * Aitken * Cohn?
The success of our hardworking team of Orange County personal injury attorneys is a result of experience, a fierce passion for justice, and unwavering advocacy.
- We provide exceptional legal representation to meet our clients’ needs and help them restore their quality of life.
- We can offer large-firm resources, with individualized attention to each case.
- We are willing to take our cases to trial to fight for the maximum possible compensation.
- We understand how costly an injury can be, which is why we represent personal injury victims on a contingency fee basis. We only get paid when you do.
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury, contact us online or by phone at (866) 434-1424 to learn how we can help. We offer free initial, no-obligation consultations, and have offices conveniently located in Santa Ana, Riverside, and San Clemente.
What Does “Personal Injury” Mean?
When someone is harmed by a person, government body, business, or insurance company there are laws in place to help victims recover. These laws also serve to prevent such wrongdoing in the future. Even though California’s personal injury laws exist to protect you, they can be complicated, and earning the justice and compensation you deserve can be an uphill battle. Working with a law firm that has experience and resources can help you win even if you are up against a large corporation or government agency.
At Aitken * Aitken * Cohn we have a track record to prove that we have the experience and resources necessary to help you. As top-rated personal injury litigators, we are experts in gathering and presenting the evidence needed to prove that the other party was at fault, or liable. However, our work does not end with an investigation, our personal injury lawyers will tirelessly advocate for you whether at trial or through sophisticated settlement negotiations.
How Do I Know if I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Orange County?
If any of the following situations apply to your case, working with an Orange County personal injury lawyer will significantly increase your chances of recovering fair compensation.
Your Injury Is Severe
A severe injury can result in long-term disability, leaving you unable to work and provide for your family. If that is the case, a personal injury lawyer has the resources to support you through the resolution of your claim and will protect your financial future.
The Insurance Company Acts in Bad Faith
The unfortunate truth is that insurance companies are not on your side after an accident. Oftentimes, they refuse to pay a fair amount or deny valid claims altogether.
Liability Isn’t Clear
Where the fault lies isn’t always obvious in a personal injury case, and the other party may be attempting to shift the blame onto you. An experienced lawyer can investigate on your behalf, and gather evidence to help you secure a favorable settlement, even if you were partially at fault.
You Have Questions
If, at any point, you are unclear on your rights or are just in need of some legal advice, speaking to an Orange County personal injury lawyer is your best option.
How Much is a Personal Injury Claim Worth?
“How much is my case worth?” is a common question when deciding to pursue a personal injury case. Each case is different, so there is no exact answer, but the following variables will be considered:
- Liability: The number one factor that adds value to a personal injury case is liability. In other words, whether or not the at-fault party can be proven liable for the incident, either fully or in part. An injured party must show that the defendant (responsible party) was careless (negligent) and that this carelessness (negligence) caused the injury. If the evidence of liability is strong, then a case is that much more valuable.
In contrast, if you are partially to blame, your percentage of liability will reduce the amount of compensation you receive. California is a comparative negligence state, which means more than one party can be held liable for accident-related injuries.
- Damages: The second factor is the number of damages that you incurred (your losses). There are three basic types of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Whether or not there’s any economic loss, such as current and future time away from work up, out-of-pocket payments for medical costs, diminished earning capacity, and other accident-related expenses will impact a claim’s value. If there are no financial losses, there is no case.
Depending upon the type and severity of the injury, you may be able to claim non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, or loss of quality of life. Non-economic damages are subjective, requiring an experienced attorney to estimate their worth. Punitive damages are awarded in cases that involve egregious, or particularly reckless acts by the defendant. Compensation may then be awarded as punishment, and to warn against similar conduct by them and others.
- Policy Limits: The last factor is the type of insurance the at-fault party has, and their policy limits. The fact that the responsible party has liability insurance coverage does not guarantee your losses will be fully covered. Your personal injury claim may exceed the allowable coverage, leaving you unable to pay your remaining medical bills and lost wages. For a judgment to exceed the policy, the injuries or property damage must be catastrophic or life-changing. However, an Orange County personal injury attorney may be able to determine additional options for collecting compensation.
The only way to know the value of your specific case is to speak to an Orange County personal injury lawyer, who can provide you with an honest assessment. Which will ensure you do not settle for less.
Orange County Personal Injury Cases We Handle
We handle a wide range of personal injury matters, including cases related to:
Car Accidents
More than 20,000 victims were injured or killed in Orange County car accidents in 2018. The aftermath of a collision can be extremely stressful and complex for those involved. Our Orange County car accident lawyers can help you, and your family obtains the compensation you need to recover.
Pedestrian Accidents
California is becoming increasingly dangerous for pedestrians, with many of these accidents occurring at intersections. Because pedestrians are virtually unprotected, accidents tend to result in severe injuries and often death. An Orange County pedestrian accident attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Medical Malpractice
Medical errors remain a third-leading cause of death in the US Medical professionals are held to a certain standard of care, that if deviated from, can make them liable for any resulting injuries. These devastating mistakes often include surgical errors, medication mistakes, misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, birth injuries, and more. Orange County medical malpractice attorneys understand how these mistakes can change your life.
Wrongful Death
If the loss of your loved one was directly caused by another party’s negligence, our Orange County wrongful death attorneys can help you pursue a wrongful death claim for compensation, to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Medical Malpractice
Medical errors remain a third-leading cause of death in the US Medical professionals are held to a certain standard of care, that if deviated from, can make them liable for any resulting injuries. These devastating mistakes often include surgical errors, medication mistakes, misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, birth injuries, and more. Orange County medical malpractice attorneys understand how these mistakes can change your life.
Wrongful Death
If the loss of your loved one was directly caused by another party’s negligence, our Orange County wrongful death attorneys can help you pursue a wrongful death claim for compensation, to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries commonly occur in personal injury accidents, typically due to a sharp blow to the head. A brain injury can leave a victim suffering from significant physical and cognitive disabilities, in addition to serious financial strain. An Orange County brain injury lawyer can help you get the financial compensation needed for future medical needs.
Burn Injuries
Severe burn injuries can occur in a variety of ways, and close to half a million of them require treatment medical attention each year across the US Victims are often left with scars, emotional trauma, and in some cases permanent physical limitations.
Bicycle Accidents
Drivers are required to give individuals on bicycles the same rights of way and respect as other vehicles, but collisions often occur because one or more drivers behaved negligently. Our Orange County bicycle accident lawyers are intimately familiar with California’s biking and bike lane laws – and how they can apply in your case to hold a negligent driver accountable.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Property owners are required to maintain a safe environment for visitors to their property. If you suffer injuries in a slip and fall on another person’s property, the owner or manager may be liable for injuries that arise due to their negligence.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Suffering a spinal cord injury is often catastrophic for the injured person, and for their families. Despite months of medical care and rehabilitation, many victims have lifelong disabilities. The most common causes of spinal injury are vehicle accidents, followed by falls, acts of violence (eg gunshot wounds), and high-impact sports and recreation activities.
Workplace Injuries
Accidents can happen in any job, and approximately 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses occurred in 2019. If you suffer a workplace injury in California, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and in some cases, compensation from a negligent third party ( eg defective equipment manufacturer).
Construction Accidents
Construction workers are especially susceptible to serious construction accident injuries. Construction companies, contractors, owners, etc. are required to protect their workers, and if they don’t follow the law, they should be held responsible.
Dog Bites
An estimated 4.7 million people sustain dog bites each year in the US Victims may suffer serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment, while also forcing them to deal with lifelong physical and emotional scarring. Some victims – usually children – may tragically lose their lives from a dog attack.
Drowning Injuries
Unfortunately, drowning accidents are not uncommon, especially among children. They often occur when the pool’s owner/operator acts negligently in some way, such as failing to provide adequate supervision, a safe environment, or install proper barriers around the pool, etc.