Our personal injury attorneys represent clients in Pacific Grove and throughout Monterey County. With many decades of experience in complex, high-stakes cases, our lawyers have the knowledge and skills to help you pursue the full compensation you deserve.

To speak with an aggressive, ethical, and compassionate attorney about your situation, call 1-800-GO-HARRIS for a free initial consultation. Our phoneline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What Kinds of Cases Does Harris Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?

• Bike Accidents
• Large Truck Accidents
• Car Crashes
• Rideshare Service Accidents
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Severe Burn Trauma
• Dog Attacks
• Tour, Public, and Other Bus Accidents
• Airplane and Other Aircraft Accidents
• Boating Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Train Accidents
• Pedestrian Injuries
• Motorcycle Crashes
• Turo Vehicle Accidents
• Scooter Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Other Personal Injuries

Tips to Strengthen Your Personal Injury Claim

You may already know that your statements and actions after a serious accident could impact your ability to recover fair compensation. But even the most cautious claimants often end up making critical mistakes that delay the proceedings or reduce the value of their claims One of our first priorities when we take on a new case is to explain the steps the client should take to strengthen their case. Those steps include:

• Don’t Speak to the Insurance Company: There’s a reason why we put this one at the top of the list. The insurance company is not on your side. Anything you say will be carefully scrutinized and perhaps even misrepresented to challenge your claim. The last thing you want to do is give the insurer a reason to dispute fault or the severity of your injuries, so you should direct any phone calls and emails from the claims adjuster to your Pacific Grove personal injury attorney.

• Store Your Evidence Carefully: You might be certain that another party is responsible for your injuries, but what if that person argues that you caused the accident? When there’s money on the line, you can’t always expect people to be honest. As the saying goes, you should prepare for the worst but hope for the best, and that means carefully storing any evidence you’ve gathered just in case a dispute arises. If you took photos or videos, save them on multiple drives. Scan your medical and financial documents to save them digitally, and store the original copies in a secure place.

• Deactivate Your Social Media Accounts: The vast majority of California residents have at least one social media profile. If this applies to you, it’s important to consider how the insurance adjuster might use your posts—and posts from your friends and family—to dispute your claim. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know how social media posts might be taken out of context and misrepresented, so it’s in your best interests to disable your accounts for the time being. Also, ask your close friends and family to avoid mentioning you or posting photos of you online until your case has been resolved.

• Take Your Healthcare Seriously: Have you visited a doctor yet? This is one of the first questions we’ll ask you during your free initial consultation. Our Pacific Grove personal injury lawyers have seen just how ruthless insurers can be when it comes to disputing claims. One of their more common tactics is arguing that the victim has failed to mitigate their damages. If you don’t take your medical treatment seriously, there’s a very real risk that the insurance company will contend that you should be held partially liable for your damages. As such, you should undergo an immediate medical evaluation if you haven’t already done so. Afterward, follow all your doctor’s instructions, attend all scheduled meetings, fill your prescriptions, and avoid activities that might aggravate your injuries.

• Document the Healing Process: In addition to economic damages like lost income and medical bills, you may also be entitled to non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Because non-economic damages are subjective, it’s important that your attorneys has compelling evidence to prove their existence and their value. Photos of your injuries, medical documentation, and a personal injury journal can all serve as proof that you’ve endured pain and suffering. You should keep a daily journal in the early days of treatment, but once you’ve neared maximum medical improvement, weekly entries should be fine. Be sure to describe the severity of your pain, the impact your injuries are having on daily and social activities, and any medication side effects.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Pacific Grove Personal Injury Lawyers

Our law firm is available 24 hours a day to take your call. We will do everything in our power to help you overcome the hurdles standing between you and a fair settlement. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or use our Contact Page to set up a free case review.