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Personal Injury

Agoura Hills Personal Injury Lawyers: Get the Compensation You Deserve

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Key Elements of a Personal Injury Claim

In a personal injury claim, you must establish that the other person’s negligence harmed you.

For any personal injury claim to be successful, your claim must include the following elements:

  • The defendant had a legal duty to use reasonable care to prevent harm to you.
  • The defendant violated that legal duty.
  • The defendant’s violation of the legal duty caused you harm.

Understanding Your Legal Duty

The legal duty in motor vehicle claims is to use reasonable care in driving a vehicle. Drivers must keep a lookout for pedestrians, obstacles, and other vehicles. They must also control the speed and movement of their vehicles. The failure to use reasonable care in driving a vehicle is a violation of that legal duty.

The legal duty in medical malpractice claims is to use the level of skill, knowledge, and care in diagnosis and treatment that other reasonably careful medical practitioners would use in the same or similar circumstances. The level of skill, knowledge, and care is “the standard of care.” The standard of care is determined based on the testimony of experts. Violation of that legal duty is a “breach” of the standard of care.

Overcoming Challenges in Proving Negligence

To establish liability, you must prove that the defendant violated their legal duty to use reasonable care to prevent injury to you. However, it is challenging to prove that the defendant engaged in the kind of actions or omissions that constitute a violation of that duty or a breach of the standard of care. Defendants and their insurance companies do not usually admit negligence willingly.

You must also prove that the violation of the legal duty caused your injuries. For instance, if you were involved in a bicycle accident but were not wearing a helmet at the time, the defendant and their insurance company will claim that you caused your injuries because you were not wearing a helmet. You have the burden to prove that the injuries would have occurred even if you were wearing a helmet, and that your injuries were therefore a direct result of the defendant’s negligence.

Call Effres & Effres at (818) 222-9720, or contact us online, to get started with your claim.

What a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Do for You

Personal injury lawyers handle cases where an incident has occurred that has resulted in injury or harm to an individual. They work closely with their clients to understand the nature of the incident, assess the damages, and determine the best course of action to pursue legal recourse.

One of the primary responsibilities of a personal injury lawyer is to investigate the incident and gather evidence to support their client's case. This can involve interviewing witnesses, reviewing medical records and police reports, and consulting with expert witnesses to establish liability and damages. The lawyer may also negotiate with insurance companies and other parties to reach a settlement that adequately compensates their client for their losses.

In some cases, a personal injury lawyer may need to file a lawsuit and represent their client in court. This involves presenting evidence and arguments and advocating for their client's rights and interests. Personal injury lawyers must be skilled in legal research, writing, and oral advocacy, as well as have a deep understanding of the relevant laws and regulations.

A personal injury lawyer serves as an advocate and legal advisor for individuals who have been injured due to the negligence or wrongdoing of others. They work to ensure their clients receive fair compensation for their injuries and losses, while also providing emotional support and guidance throughout the legal process.

Serving the Greater Los Angeles Area & San Fernando Valley

When you become the victim of an accident, everything immediately grows more complicated and confusing. It is all too easy to get overwhelmed by all the complexities of contending with the legal side of things while you are simultaneously trying to recover from your injury.

Insurance companies have been known to take advantage of this situation by attempting to offer a paltry settlement to the victims in hopes that they will accept it without thinking. However, once you are dealing with an injury, you will be surprised by how hard of a financial hit you may take-medical bills, lost wages at work, and other costs can quickly pile up.

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Our Clients' Success Stories

  • "Thanks for changing our lives & every lives ours touches."
    Dear Steven, Thanks for Everything! Hope you & your family are well. Our day care is almost open. We get our full license on Friday & construction is almost done. Thanks for changing our lives & every lives ours touches. Big Loves
    - J & Famiy
  • "I would have no hesitation referring your firm to others."
    Dear Mr. Effres, I received your letter regarding regrets that you will not be able to take my case. Thank you. I understand your decision and am grateful for the excellent advice and the time you spent listening, guiding and helping me towards the decisions I need to make. I would have no hesitation referring your firm to others. May you and your firm prosper in the pursuit of truth and justice. Sincerely, S.C. by S. C.
    - S.C.
  • "He is by far the best in the country for representing these types of malpractice cases."
    Attorney Steven Effres is a class act. He treats every single case with diligence, attention, compassion, and professionalism. After researching attorneys who specialized in dental malpractice, I found attorney Effres. I believe the Lord led me to this particular attorney. My husband and I are both medical professionals and I cannot begin to explain how thorough and educated he was on my case matter, lingual nerve injuries. His website bio demonstrates his success with these cases, but my experience has enlightened me. He is by far the best in the country for representing these types of malpractice cases. Establishing a case with Steven is like joining a family through marriage. Through the good and bad, he will be with you each step of the way, guiding you through your case. Not to mention, his staff is no less. You can expect your case to be attended to by each of his employees in the same manner.
    - L.H.
  • "They were on top of it since the beginning. They always answered my phone calls and emails quick."
    Will recommend Steve and Justin to anybody in need of a great lawyer. They were on top of it since the beginning. They always answered my phone calls and emails quick. Frequent phone calls with updates on my case, late work hours. Ready to kick ass.
    - O.M.

    Put 35+ Years Of Experience In Your Corner

    At Effres & Effres, our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys know you are going through enough as it is. Legal fees would just be one more stressful thing to handle. However, we believe you deserve access to skilled representation, no matter what your financial situation is like. That is why we not only offer free initial consultations, but we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will not be required to pay any legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.

    We want to help you in any way that we can. Contact us if you have any questions about how to get started. We offer our services for residents throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, and all surrounding counties.

    Call (818) 222-9720 now to speak to a member of our team at Effres & Effres.

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