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Bakersfield Personal Injury Lawyers

When you are injured in an accident, your whole life can drastically be impacted. You may suffer from mental, emotional, and physical pain and trauma. On top of being in pain, the medical bills can seem to add up all while your loss of wages put a heavy burden on your shoulders. If you have been injured in Bakersfield, CA because of someone else’s negligence, we will help you hold that person or entity accountable.

While many people are careful to abide by these rules and take precautionary measures when driving, accidents still can and do occur. Some of these accidents can leave victims suffering from serious, and even deadly injuries that can take a significant physical, financial, and emotional toll on not only victims but also their family members. Fortunately, accident victims who were injured as a result of someone else’s negligent or reckless conduct can recover damages from the at-fault party by filing a personal injury suit against them in court. A Bakersfield personal injury lawyer from Chain | Cohn | Clark can help you seek compensation for your losses.

Our Location in Bakersfield

What Is Personal Injury?

Personal injury is any injury that affects your physical, mental, and emotional well-being due to another person’s negligence. Personal injury law covers a multitude of circumstances including any injury sustained from car accidents, abuse and harm, dog bites, wrongful death, and many more. The negligent party, or the defendant, could be a single person who we are fighting against, or it could be an entire company, corporation, or even a government entity.

Whoever the defendant may be, personal injury cases must prove liability. The negligent party must have injured you must have a certain responsibility called duty of care. Their obligation to safety wasn’t fulfilled, which resulted in your injury.

Your Bakersfield personal injury lawyer at Chain | Cohn | Clark is here to provide you the personal attention you need and deserve after your injury. We understand how difficult and frustrating this time is, and are here to help you get the maximum compensation that you deserve.

Types of Bakersfield Personal Injury Cases Our Firm Handles

Car Accidents

Car accidents in Bakersfield are one of the primary causes of serious injury in the U.S. The 2020 California Annual Report states that there were 36,560 car accident-related fatalities in 2019. Even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) found that more fatalities were happening in Bakersfield during California’s stay-at-home order. As of March 2021, CHP responded to 14 fatalities. Bakersfield auto accident lawyers at our firm can help you and your loved ones recover damages after being injured or killed in a car accident.

A Bakersfield car accident can happen suddenly. Some forms of car accidents are more notorious for causing serious personal injury than others, including:

  • Head-on collisions, in which two vehicles collided head-on while traveling in opposite directions
  • Side-impact or t-bone crashes, which often occur in intersections and involve one car colliding with the side of another vehicle
  • Rollover and roof crush accidents, which are especially common amongst top-heavy SUVs, and can result in an injured party being trapped in a vehicle while awaiting help
  • Rear-end collisions, which can cause serious neck and back injuries, even when they occur at low speeds
  • Sideswipes, which occur when the side of one vehicle scrapes along the side of another car

Car accidents are tragic and most of the time, they can be avoided. They can oftentimes be linked to another driver’s negligence. When a driver is distracted, driving intoxicated, acting aggressively and recklessly, or falling asleep at the wheel, that driver is acting out of negligence. Your Bakersfield car accident lawyer at Chain | Cohn | Clark will fight for your deserved compensation.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents can cause lifelong injury and suffering. Being a motorcyclist in Bakersfield, you have much less protection than people in cars in the event of an accident. If you’ve been in a Bakersfield motorcycle accident, call the experienced personal injury lawyers at our law firm. We can help you get back on the bike by getting you the compensation you need for recovery. We’ve recovered up to $10 million in a single case for a client injured in a motorcycle accident with millions of more dollars in past cases throughout the years.

Big Rig Accidents

One of the common accidents a severe injury can happen is in under-ride crashes, which occur when a smaller vehicle rear-ends a much larger commercial truck, or big rig, and slides beneath it, shearing off the roof of the car. If you were injured by a big rig, there are many layers to pursuing a lawsuit.

Big Rig accidents are much different than your average car accident claim. Attempting a settlement without an attorney can be detrimental to your justice. Trucking companies have established insurance companies that want to pay out the least amount of money. On top of that, there are multiple parties that could be involved and at fault such as the driver, the truck manufacturer, the truck rental company, the owner of the shipped products, and more. Thankfully, the experienced Bakersfield big rig accident lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark are seasoned in taking on big rig accidents and are here to take on the major companies involved.

Bus Accidents

We represent clients Who have been injured in bus accidents with public transportation and private companies. Whether you have been injured by Bakersfield’s Golden Empire Transit or by a private bus, we can help you get the compensation you deserve from a Bakersfield bus accident.

Pedestrian Accidents

It is too often that we read on KGET of Bakersfield residents who get injured on the streets who do not know their rights. The pedestrian attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark can help you understand pedestrian rights as we are knowledgeable and well-versed in this area of law.

Bicycle Accidents

The city of Bakersfield has a growing bicyclist community along with bike lanes and routes that Kern County is working on improving to make sustainable and safe travel. Unfortunately, more bikers are now getting injured or killed in accidents. The experienced bicycle attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark can help you understand your legal rights as a bicyclist and recover from injuries sustained in a Bakersfield bicycle accident.

Sexual Abuse

If you or a loved one has been sexually abused or assaulted, our sexual abuse lawyers are here to support you and fight for you. Over the years in Bakersfield, we have provided legal representation for sex abuse by teachers, law enforcement, neighbors, coaches, and religious workers. In recent news, our attorney Matthew Clark spoke on a case that involved an inappropriate relationship between a coach and a student.

Bakersfield residents have been victims of sex abuse and we refuse to let those in power continue to hold power over the survivors of sexual assault. Our Bakersfield sex abuse attorneys have recovered up to $ 1 million for a sexual abuse case. We are dedicated to fighting for your rights inside and outside of the courtroom.

Elder Abuse

Elder abuse and neglect is a crime that is, unfortunately, increasing with time. According to the Kern County Aging & Adult Services, crime is increasing as our older adult population increases because of people’s vulnerability and the lack of crime being reported. If you suspect that your loved one in Bakersfield is the victim of elder abuse, your elder abuse lawyers are here for you.

Telltale signs of elder abuse include:

  • Change in personality and participation
  • Withdrawal from interactions
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Bruising
  • Fractures
  • Skin tears and scratches

Elder abuse can also take shape in many forms. It is a broad legal area that can include:

  • Failure to provide a safe environment
  • Failure to provide a clean space for an elderly person
  • Exploitation
  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Abandonment
  • Not providing the necessary health care such as prescribed medication

Elder abuse is not confined to one form of abuse either. An elderly loved one may be experiencing emotional trauma because of sexual abuse, or physical injury due to negligence because of an exploitative situation. If you suspect your loved one is the victim of Bakersfield elder abuse, a Chain | Cohn | Clark elder abuse lawyer or medical malpractice attorney in Bakersfield is here to defend them. We firmly believe that no person deserves to be taken advantage of, and will fight for justice when someone is.

Dog Bite

Dog bites in Bakersfield can leave a victim traumatized and with severe injuries. In Bakersfield and the rest of California, dog owners are liable for injuries that their dog or animal caused on another person. Animal attacks can cause internal bleeding, brain and spinal cord injuries, disfigurement, and in some cases death.

In some cases, it is not even necessary to prove negligence in order to recover damages. For instance, under California Civil Code 3342, residents who are bitten by another person’s dog while they were lawfully on public or private property can automatically recover damages in Kern County. This is because California’s dog bite law is a strict liability statute, which means that the animal’s owner can be held liable regardless of fault. Call our dog bite attorneys in Bakersfield if you or a loved one has been injured in an animal attack.

Brain Injury

If you or a loved one has been in an accident and has suffered a brain injury, contact your Bakersfield brain injury attorney right away. Brain injuries can lead to lifelong injuries, chronic pain, and even death. Depending on the region of the brain that was injured and how severe the damage is, so many potential aftereffects can happen. Brain injuries can also result in a lot of hospital visits and rehabilitation.

We cover brain injuries that happen in workers’ compensation cases, on playgrounds, in car accidents, big rig accidents, and more.  James A. Yoro, our worker’s comp attorney in Bakersfield, CA, recovered $4.5 million for a farm that suffered brain injuries after he was hit by a truck while on his tractor. If you have suffered a brain injury, let us help you get the damages you deserve so you can focus on healing.

Explosion Lawyer

If you have been injured because of an explosion, you have the right to fair compensation. Explosions can happen because of somebody’s intent or negligence. We have been representing burn victims in Bakersfield for decades. In the recent past, we have represented clients in the massive PG&E gas line explosion. If you or a loved one have been burned, injured, or killed in an explosion, We have the investigative resources and legal experience to be your Bakersfield explosion lawyer.

Police Misconduct

If you or a loved one has experienced police brutality or misconduct in Bakersfield, the Bakersfield police misconduct lawyers at Chain | Cohn | Clark are here to defend you. In our past police misconduct cases, we have helped clients recover $3.4 million dollars for excessive force, $6 million for civil rights, and $8.8 million for wrongful death. Though a majority of the police officers in Bakersfield join the force to serve and protect, there are incidences of unwarranted brutality that happen where you may seek damages because of an officer’s excessive force.

Wrongful Death

Though no amount of compensation can make up for the wrongful death of a loved one, it can alleviate the financial burdens that come with such a loss. Your wrongful death attorney in Bakersfield at our law office understands the hardships that come from the death of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence. We can support you to get the finances you deserve in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Types of Compensation for Bakersfield Personal Injury Cases

Getting injured because of someone else’s negligence costs you not only your mental and emotional well-being but financial loss as well. We want to make sure that you receive the maximum compensation you can get in order to focus on your recovery. When it comes to personal injury cases in Bakersfield, there are two main forms of damages you can receive: economic and non-economic.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are any tangible finances that need to be covered. They are easily calculated because they are typically numerical financial costs. Anything that was billed or is inherently associated with money can be considered economic damages. These include:

  • Lost wages
  • Medical bills
  • Property damage
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Transportation costs
  • Therapy
  • Additional medical care
  • And more

Non-Economic Damages

Personal losses are more challenging to put a compensation cost to. Some damages sustained cannot be replaced, but receiving compensation can benefit you for your losses. Non-economic damages are for compensating the more intangible injuries such as:

  • Psychological trauma
  • PTSD
  • Physical disfigurement
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship
  • Emotional distress
  • Effects of your personal injury on your overall enjoyment of life and well-being

Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate since you cannot always put a price tag on an injury. With our resources and knowledge on how to handle a personal injury case, we are equipped to get you the maximum amount of compensation you deserve to heal after your accident.

Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Many people attempt to take on lawsuits individually without the help or consultation of a personal injury lawyer. Though this may seem like the least expensive option upfront, in reality, The cost is much greater if you fight your lawsuit alone. A personal injury lawyer has the experience and knowledge of personal injury law and quart room proceedings. You will save both time and money by choosing to hire a personal injury lawyer.

Your personal injury lawyer at Chain Cohn Clark has the experience of going up against large corporations and businesses who have intimidating insurance agents who want to give the least amount of payout. A personal injury lawyer knows how to negotiate with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers in order for you to get your maximum compensation. We are ready and willing to take on a lawsuit in the courtroom. By not hiring a personal injury lawyer, you risk an even greater loss in the long run. We can help you get the financial compensation you deserve, so you can focus on healing after your injury.

Benefits of Working With a Bakersfield Personal Injury Lawyer

The personal injury lawyers at our firm are dedicated to your justice. What we value most is personal attention to you and your case in and out of the quart room. We will be there from the very beginning to the very end of the case and beyond. Working with a personal injury lawyer in Bakersfield at Chain | Cohn | Clark means that you have seasoned, well-equipped lawyers who are here to put you first. We know that in and outs of personal injury law and fighting for your rights and settlement procedures and in the quart room. We are here to help you receive the maximum compensation you deserve so that you can focus on continuing life after an injury.

How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

Choosing a Bakersfield personal injury lawyer is a big step in beginning your lawsuit process. You want to make sure that you choose a lawyer who has your best interest in mind. That means someone who is willing to go to trial for you and not settle for anything less than you deserve. Making sure your attorney not only has lots of experience but has great results is important. Read our case results to see how our personal injury attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark have recovered millions of dollars for Bakersfield clients. We’ve worked on all personal injury cases, from a Bakersfield Construction Accident to medical malpractice to car accidents. Find a knowledgeable lawyer who knows the ins and outs of personal injury law.

What Can You Expect When Working with Chain Cohn Clark

When you work with experienced personal injury attorneys at Chain Cohn Clark, you can expect personal attention and maximum compensation. The attorneys at our firm are community-oriented and care deeply about the people of Bakersfield, CA.

When you come into our Bakersfield law office, you can expect a free consultation where we will review your case and discuss options for the next steps. We have the resources available to make sure you have a thorough investigation, expert witnesses, and legal knowledge of what goes into a personal injury case and trial. In addition, we do not get paid until you do. We understand the hardships that a person may go through after being injured because of someone else’s negligence. You can expect the Bakersfield attorneys at our law office to fight for your justice.

Building Your Case with Chain Cohn Clark

From the initial consultation to the very end of your case, we put to practice the resources available to build the strongest case in your favor. We will speak with insurance adjusters so that you will not get lowballed, and show your case with solid evidence.

Stages of Personal Injury Case

Your personal injury case is unique to your injury, accident, and circumstance. Yet, between all types of personal injury cases, there are typical stages of a personal injury case.

The Injured Plaintiff Hires an Attorney

After an injury happens, the plaintiff, or the injured person, will need to reach out to an attorney. There will be a consultation with a personal injury lawyer to discuss the injury and if there may be the potential for a case.

After the initial consultation, the personal injury attorney will set up an investigation into the injury and determine whether the plaintiff has the right insurance to make a claim. Once the attorney finishes their investigation, an attorney-client fee agreement is signed.

A Complaint Is Filed and Served

The Bakersfield personal injury attorney will then file a personal injury complaint to the corresponding court. The plaintiff’s lawyer will then serve the defendant with the complaint against them. The complaint is a legal document that establishes what day the dependent must appear in court and acknowledges that the defendant is aware of the lawsuit.

The Defendant Hires a Lawyer

In the months leading up to the trial, the defendant will find a personal injury defense lawyer. Defense attorneys are paid hourly. If insurance applies to the case, the defendant will need to notify their insurance company who may be the ones to hire a lawyer on the defendant’s behalf.

Pre-Trial

The pre-trial stage includes the discovery period, where both sides provide each other with evidence and witness information. Both plaintiff and defendant will appear in court, most often on more than one occasion, to talk with the judge about how the case and trial will proceed. Depositions are scheduled during this period as well.

The discovery period along with court visits can last between a few months to over a year. During this time, the actual trial date can keep getting pushed back. There will be settlement conferences to discuss what can and cannot be allowed at the trial and in jury selection.

The Trial

Depending on the details of your case, your personal injury lawsuit trial can last several days. In Bakersfield, the judge or jury determines who is at fault for the cause of the personal injury. If the defendant is found at fault, the damage amount is set for how much the defendant needs to pay.

If the defendant is found at fault, they can initiate an appeals process. If they are not found at fault, then the plaintiff can start an appeals process. This can last for months and even up to years.

Settlement

If there is an appeals process and the defendant is found at fault, they will need to pay the damages determined at the trial or the appeal. However, it is typical that most personal injury cases are settled even before a trial. In fact, a settlement can happen during any stage of a personal injury lawsuit. Settlements can even happen before a complaint is filed. If at any point during your case period a settlement can be agreed upon, your case will come to a close.

Bakersfield Personal Injury FAQ

Personal injuries can affect every part of your life. When your injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence, you may not even know where to start. It’s common to feel frustration and distress, especially when you don’t know the legalities of personal injury. Here are some of the FAQs that we get from clients who have suffered because of the negligence of another person, corporation, business, or government entity.

How long will it take to settle a personal injury case?

Personal injury cases are unique to every person. The length of your case may differ from someone’s case you know because of the different details, circumstances, and witnesses. Personal injury cases may last between a few months to multiple years. If your case goes to trial, it will last longer than a settlement.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim?

According to the California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim. However, the sooner you file the lawsuit, the more your evidence is preserved. Especially when it comes to big rig accidents, it’s important to start the discovery process right away so that all documentation can be preserved.

There are also exceptions to the California statute of limitations. Be sure to speak with your Bakersfield personal injury attorney to see how long you have to file a claim. For example, if you want to file a claim against the government, you have only six months to file a claim.

What do you need to prepare for trial?

The number one component of proving someone is liable during a trial is evidence. Before the trial, we will make sure that all evidence we collected to build the case is organized and documented.

Before your trial, make sure you write down the details of your experience from your own perspective. This will help you remember the details of your case and may prove to help in collecting evidence.

What to expect from the insurance company?

It’s typical for insurance companies to try to pay the least amount they can for your coverage. When you do get into an accident, you will have to report your claim to your insurance company. They may request an accident report and do their own investigation into the case to determine who is at fault and how much they are willing to pay. Even if you believe you are not at fault, your insurer has the right to make its own position regarding liability.

When you make a claim against another person or entity, it is usually their insurance that covers the payments. Your insurance may cover initial medical damages which you will have to pay back once you reach a settlement with the defendant’s insurance. Some notable cases against companies that we have won against include:

  • Rios v. West Coast Casing, LLC, $8 million for a pedestrian accident
  • Murphy v. Jakov Dulcich and Sons, LLC, 4.75 million for a motorcycle accident
  • Melgar v. M. Cataran, Inc, 4.5 million for worker’s compensation

Contact an Experienced Bakersfield Personal Injury Lawyer at Chain Cohn Clark Today

If you have been injured in Bakersfield because of another person’s negligence, contact your Bakersfield personal injury lawyer today. Being injured in an accident can leave a victim feeling powerless and unsure of how to move on with his or her life. Having a thorough grasp of one’s legal options can help ease a substantial portion of this burden, so if you were recently injured in an accident that was not your fault, contact an an experienced Bakersfield lawyer at Chain | Cohn | Clark who can assist you. Call today at 661.323.4000 and request a free consultation, our legal team is ready to help.

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