A serious injury or death in the family can put your whole life on hold as you deal with the pain, emotional trauma, and financial consequences. If you're facing medical bills and other expenses due to another person's negligence or intentional wrongdoing, turn to the Greenfield personal injury lawyers at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers. We understand how costly a sudden accident can be. Our lawyers are passionate about helping the injured and their loved ones navigate the legal system and fight for the compensation they need to regain their financial footing. We’ve won more than $300 million for clients throughout California. Call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to set up a free case review.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle:

• Car Accidents
• Motorbike Collisions
• Public, Tour, and Other Bus Accidents
• Pedestrian Injuries
• Large Truck Accidents
• Boat Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Train Accidents
• Turo Accidents
• Accidents Involving Rideshare Vehicles
• Airplane and Other Aircraft Accidents
• Scooter Accidents
• Premises Liability
• Slips and Falls
• Bicycle Accidents
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Serious Burns
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Wrongful Death
• Other Personal Injuries

How Is Liability Determined After an Accident?

The answer to this question depends on the specific facts of your case. In most personal injury cases, liability is established by proving the defendant breached a duty of care owed to the injured party, resulting in the injured party’s damages. This breach of duty is called “negligence.” However, negligence isn’t the only basis on which a personal injury claim can be filed. You can also pursue damages from someone who intentionally harmed you, and if strict liability applies to your case, you won’t have to prove negligence or intent as a precondition to obtaining a financial recovery. If your injury was caused by the defendant’s negligence, your Greenfield personal injury attorney will have to gather evidence to prove:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care;
• That duty of care was breached; and
• The breach of duty resulted in your damages.

In a car accident claim, for example, proving a duty of care existed simply requires you to demonstrate that the defendant was driving when the crash occurred. This is usually straightforward and may only require the police report, but if the defendant denies being behind the wheel, your Greenfield personal injury attorney may also use witness testimony, surveillance footage, and other evidence to establish that a duty of care existed. The next step is proving the duty of care was breached. Going with the car accident example, and assuming the crash was caused by another driver’s negligence, proving the breach of duty would require evidence that the defendant broke a traffic law or otherwise behaved recklessly. Valuable evidence might include the crash report, dashcam footage, witness testimony, expert testimony, cell phone records, and breathalyzer test results. Much of this evidence may be time-sensitive, and it might be necessary to apply legal pressure to obtain cell phone records and other documentation. For this reason, it’s important to speak with a Greenfield personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. After establishing a breach of duty, your attorney will have to prove causation—i.e. that the breach of duty was the proximate cause of your damages. Evidence of causation might include videos and photos of property damage and injuries, medical documentation, and expert witness testimony. Of course, the approach your attorney takes when investigating your case and the evidence that will be needed to prove your claim will depend on the specific cause of your injuries. There can be a world of difference in how an attorney investigates a slip and fall, car accident, or dog bite. At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we have many decades of experience representing clients in a wide array of cases, so we know how to tailor our approach to the unique circumstances of your claim.

Damages Available in Greenfield Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury victims in California can seek compensation for their economic and non-economic damages, which may include:

• Healthcare expenses;
• Lost income and lost earning capacity;
• Repairs to property;
• Domestic help and other economic damages;
• Loss of consortium;
• Pain and suffering;
• Emotional distress; and
• Loss of life enjoyment.

If the person who injured you acted with fraud, malice, or oppression, your Greenfield personal injury attorney might also advise you to seek punitive damages.

Discuss Your Case with One of Our Greenfield Personal Injury Lawyers Today

It might seem absurd to think the insurance company would misrepresent your statements, scrutinize your social media accounts, put you under surveillance, and take other steps to dispute your claim. But if you’re seeking a significant amount of compensation, the insurer may go to great lengths to challenge your case. The attorneys at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers can level the playing field and defend your interests. We’ll make sure you are treated fairly, and we won’t settle for anything less than you deserve. Call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or use our Contact Form to set up a free consultation.