Whiplash injuries are some of the most common car accident related injuries. Some injuries are very easy to observe, yet others can be harder to diagnose with advanced imaging technology. Typically the whiplash injury happens instantly at the time of the accident, but it can take days or weeks for the effect to be observed. It’s not uncommon for an injury to have delayed symptoms. When muscles are first damaged they go into a spasm which pulls the spine/bone out of their normal position. But later, as the muscle heals, they may – or may not, return to their original strength/position. This abnormal change can cause issues in the future. It’s notoriously difficult to tell which whiplash injuries will cause problems later. Some whiplash injuries can cause discomfort after only a few days. Some cause minor aches/pain, which can be treated by Advil, etc. These injuries are hard to diagnose, and sometimes the damage is too small to see on x-rays or MRI scans.

This can really vary. Your personal injury can create an immense financial burden. Going to court costs time and money. One of the first things to consider is your finances and medical bills. An example of medical bills is your existing treatment, and the cost of future treatment you may require. Another example of financial ramifications is lost wages and income. In some cases, the judge may award punitive damages as well.

One of the most important things to worry about when you have a personal injury claim is the statute of limitations. If you’re the victim, then you may be able to get financial compensation. In order to get compensation, you have to file a lawsuit. You have to file this in a certain period of time. If you don’t, you forfeit your rights to file the personal injury claim and eventually get compensation. This is strict, and there are virtually no exceptions. This is applied to your case from the day you get injured.

After you’re injured, your first step is to get treatment. It means going to the emergency room, and getting a medical evaluation. The opposing insurance company might argue you’re not hurt if you don’t get medical treatment ASAP. If you don’t get treatment ASAP, you’re just providing the insurance company grounds to deny your claim.

We work on a contingency fee basis. We don’t charge any upfront fees. If we don’t win your case, we don’t change anything. We handle virtually all the costs associated with litigating your case, and as a result – you can focus on recovering.

Farar & Lewis LLP is a top rated Los Angeles personal injury law firm with over 40 years of experience. Our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys have recovered over $100 million, in verdicts and settlements. WE believe EACH AND EVERY client deserves concierge service and excellence. Everything we do is focused on giving our clients service, and results. Virtually every single client works with one of our founding partners, which means you’re getting great service. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers have been selected as some of the Top Trial Lawyers in the USA. We offer a risk free consultation, in person – or at your place of business. We can even send one of our team members to your place of business in order to help you and sign you up. Our goal is to be there for you when you need us the most. There’s no upfront fees – we work on a contingency fee basis! Never ever worry about whether you can afford us – we’re on your team. When there’s a legal issue, we’re here to work for you and help you.

Just because the injury appears to be minor, it doesn’t mean it’s not serious. It means you should pursue treatment, and possibly a compensation claims.

Many people avoid hiring Los Angeles personal injury lawyers because they think their injuries are minor – and pursuing treatment + compensation is a waste of time. Many symptoms don’t manifest until much later. The issue is, if you wait too long, you could harm your chances of getting compensation. Insurance companies will challenge the validity and severity of your claims. We’ve got experience handling many claims, throughout the state of California, which have resulted in over $100 million recovered. One of the benefits of working with us is we never charge a fee unless we win your case. It means we’re on your team. There’s no upfront fees, and we only get compensation if we’re able to win your case.

How long does a personal injury case take to finish?

Many people ask about this. If your Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers is super busy, it takes longer to expedite and settle the case and handle the issues surrounding the case. Many smaller law firms take longer to handle cases because they don’t have the staff they need. Because the attorney has fewer resources, he/she spends time doing basic things instead of focusing on your case. IF you hire a bigger personal injury law firm, the firm has enough resources to handle your case.

Another factor that influences how long your case will take to finish is if there is medical treatment involved. It means the bulk of your case is spent waiting for medical treatment to occur. If your medical bills continue to grow, this increases the value of your case. Establishing fault is another potential area that can take time to establish. When liability isn’t clear, it’s easy to assign blame and demand compensation. In some cases, where liability IS NOT clear – your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will need to conduct an investigation. It means your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will need to find witnesses who can support your personal injury claim.

Some people think that “faster is better,” when it comes to personal injury claims, but this is not the truth. If the other side makes a fair, settlement offer, fast – then it might make sense to accept it. This is rarely the case. You should take the time to prepare your case, because it could mean a larger settlement. Some cases can take a few months, and some can take 1-2 years. If your case goes to trial, it could take a lot of time; if you decide to appeal the case then it might go even longer. Your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can evaluate the details of your case and then give you an idea of what to expect. It’s important to remember YOU are a factor in this as well. If you receive settlement offers but reject them, you’re adding to the overall length of the case. Your Los Angeles personal injury lawyers can work with you to help your case move as quickly as possible.

Should I accept the insurance settlement offer?

It really depends! Often, the first offer an insurance company offers is the lowest possible amount they can offer to make you go away. Companies will do this if they think you’re desperate for the money, and will walk away from pursuing greater damages. This is usually the minimum amount of money possible. We don’t recommend you take this without speaking to a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer first. In addition, there are many reasons not to take the immediate settlement offer. For example, if you have future medical bills – the offer being presented may not include compensation for those future bills. In addition, the offer may not include things like loss of income, etc. As a result, you should consider speak to a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

Can pre-existing conditions be covered in California car accidents?

Many people have pre-existing medical conditions. It might be a bad back from an injury in your childhood. It could be a health condition, like anxiety or depression. When you’re involved in a car accident, you might want to know if that pre-existing condition is covered while you’re getting treatment for injuries. The answer to this question, is – it depends. Typically, no pre-existing medical conditions are covered. But there are things to consider before you think about paying for your medical treatment out of pocket.

Typically, the insurance company will do everything possible to prove your injuries aren’t severe, and were not caused by the accident. They are going to look for pre-existing injuries, or other issues which can limit the amount of money you could get from them. Insurance companies simply don’t want to pay you the money you deserve, so they’re going to do everything possible to prove you don’t deserve a larger settlement. Many insurance companies will probe into your medical history. For example, a judge might require you to provide a full medical history to the opposing insurance company in order to prove you don’t have an existing condition. This can either work in your favor, or it won’t. The insurance company might request proof that your injury was the result of an accident, and this might mean a medical expert witness will be needed to counter-testify. It can become a long, drawn out, process. Bottom line, sometimes a lawsuit is the only way to get compensation.