If you have sustained an injury and need to know whether you have a case, and what your claim might be worth, call the Huntington Beach personal injury attorneys of Bisnar Chase at (949) 203-3814 for a free consultation.
We have been helping injury victims across Orange County for more than 45 years. We can help to win the compensation you need to recover from a serious injury, handling every step of your case and providing the superior representation and guidance you need.
At Bisnar Chase, we take pride in caring for our clients. We are committed to helping you recover financially, physically, and emotionally. We have a large staff of highly trained legal professionals who have experience handling cases in a multitude of practice areas, from car accidents to dog bite injuries.
If you are looking for a personal injury attorney near the 92605 area, look no further. Bisnar Chase has a 99% success rate, with more than $900 Million won for our client. We also offer a free case evaluation to every accident victim with no obligations. Do not wait until it is too late: contact us today at our Newport Beach offices near Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach Personal Injury Lawyers
6 Common Huntington Beach Accident Claims
Personal injury claims can range from being minor to fatal. Many personal injury victims who have experienced serious accidents do not know if they even have a strong enough case that will earn them the compensation they need to recover.
Huntington Beach personal injury claims fall into an array of categories. There are specific accident claims that happen quite often in this specific region though.
Frequent incidents that are usually claimed in Huntington Beach include:
Vehicle Collisions
According to City-Data.com there have been 14 fatalities reported due to Huntington Beach car accidents. The cause of these wrongful death incidents?
People who have been held accountable for these fatalities were drunk drivers. Coastline Behavioral Center reported that Huntington Beach is the DUI capital of California. Although authorities have taken measures to decrease the number of DUI-related car accidents in Huntington Beach today, there are still drivers who prove to be reckless.
Traffic Safety Performance has indicated that California has experienced 3,000 car accidents just in one year. Experts say that the best option to take after a night out of drinking is to stay at a trusted friend’s home for the night or contact a ride-sharing service.
Pedestrian Accidents
Huntington Beach, California, is no stranger to pedestrian accidents, many of which occur in crosswalks. ABC7 News reported that “A pedestrian was killed in a Huntington Beach crash.” The victim was identified as a woman in her 50s. One of the main causes of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle is distracted driving.
Motorists who are partaking in activities as small as reaching to change the radio or eating can cause a serious collision. There are instances when a walker can be at fault though. Just like drivers pedestrians do have a responsibility to keep themselves safe.
Pedestrians who ignore crosswalk signals have an increased risk of being injured or losing their life. Some pedestrian safety tips that will help prevent an accident include making eye contact with a driver, only crossing in marked areas, and wearing bright colors so they may be noticeable while walking at night.
Truck crashes
Truck accidents can be devastating because of the size of these vehicles. They can cause a huge amount of damage to property, fellow drivers and vehicles, and even the trucker themselves. Twenty-six-year-old Zachary John Gillespie crashed his 2006 Nissan Titan pickup into a power pole and wall. He was not wearing a seatbelt. He died days later after the crash.
Many truckers underestimate the power and force of a semi or large vehicle. The average weight of a pick-up truck can be up to 3,000 pounds which is one thousand more pounds than a regular four-door vehicle. When operating a large vehicle never be too close to cars and always decrease your speed when turning.
Employment-related injuries
Work injuries cannot only compromise an accident victim’s health but also their ability to provide financially for themselves in the future. Many families also suffer from losing their loved ones. OSHA (occupational safety and health administration) reported that in one year, 5,147 employees died due to job-related injuries.
The industries that contained the most injuries and deaths were construction, transportation, and warehouse-related occupations. If your employer does not have workers’ compensation coverage then you may have the potential to file a claim for a Huntington Beach personal injury.
Dog bites
According to the Orange County Register, dog bites are on the rise. In one year, reports indicated that 2,384 bites occurred. Dog bites can be dangerous because animals have the ability to rupture the skin and if the dog is not vaccinated, spread diseases. Dogs can also spread parasites to humans as well.
If your child has been bitten by a dog immediately after the incident has occurred seek medical attention. Some preventative measures you can take to protect your child from being attacked by an animal can include constant supervision and prohibiting your child from approaching a dog they do not know.
Wrongful deaths
A wrongful death can take place for a multitude of reasons. Common wrongful death claims can involve a child drowning in a pool, a person dying due to a negligent medical professional, or a defective product.
Whatever the case may be a surviving family member has the right to file a lawsuit on their loved one’s behalf. Potential claimants can be a spouse, children, or parents of the deceased.
A family member who has passed due to someone else’s carelessness can gain compensation for funeral expenses, earnings the deceased would have made if they were still alive and medical bills that accumulated before a loved one’s death.
Those listed above might be the most common causes of injuries in Huntington Beach, but we cover all kinds of cases. Our team has a 99% success rate, handling everything from bicycle accidents and slip and falls to premises liability injuries and boat accidents off the Huntington Beach coast.
We also handle all other kinds of auto accidents, such as crashes involving buses in Huntington Beach and life-altering motorcycle collisions, and have an outstanding record with product liability cases, in which injuries are caused by defective products.
Southern California Statutes of Limitations on Personal Injury
Accident victims who have been catastrophically injured due to someone else’s negligence have two years to file a personal injury claim. The California statute of limitations states that negligent parties that were at fault in an accident are responsible for the losses the injury victims have faced.
To receive full compensation for a personal injury there are three vital factors that need to be proven in a court of law:
Duty of care
To prove negligence in a personal injury case one of the primary elements that need to be present is that the careless party had an obligation to the injury victim. An example of a party that had a responsibility to the victim could be a doctor, an employer, or a commercial truck driver.
Breach of duty
If the party that was responsible for keeping the claimant safe failed to do so, this can be used as a strong basis for a personal injury lawsuit. Breach of duty refers to the defendant putting others at risk due to negligence or recklessness.
When a driver decides to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of a substance, they are creating a dangerous situation for fellow motorists. When a grocery store manager fails to put a “caution” sign on a wet floor after being informed, this can lead a customer to slip and fall.
Causation
Lastly, what would have to be absolutely proven is that the at-fault party’s actions led to your injuries. If a person is proven to be accountable legally for the damages you have faced, then they will have no choice but to compensate you for your losses.
When you speak to a personal injury attorney in the 92605 Huntington Beach area you will be able to gain insight into how much you can potentially win for your accident claim.
7 Typical Accident Injuries
Unfortunately, countless people suffer personal injuries within Huntington Beach on a yearly basis. Many of those injury victims do not receive the proper information to make an educated decision on how to move forward.
Too often, our Huntington Beach personal injury lawyers speak with victims who have made detrimental mistakes while trying to properly handle their cases and the results can be as devastating as the injuries.
Bisnar Chase’s personal injury attorneys in Huntington Beach have over 45 years of experience, earning millions of dollars for the physical and emotional repercussions accident victims have faced.
Some of the different types of injuries that we have gained recovery for include injuries that involve:
Internal bleeding
Internal bleeding is one of the most dangerous injuries one can experience in an accident. This type of injury is not initially recognizable and can worsen within hours.
Common causes of internal bleeding can involve a person being penetrated suddenly by an object leading to the crushing or tearing of the blood vessels. If blood vessels in a vital part of the body, such as an organ are ruptured a person can bleed to death.
Fractured bones
In accidents, if an injury victim suddenly experiences a slip and fall or is hit by a heavy object they can potentially obtain broken bones. In nursing homes, elderly residents must be watched carefully due to their fragile physical condition.
Slipping and falling for a senior does not just result in a bruise. A senior citizen experiencing a slip and fall can lead to internal bleeding and many can even severely fracture their pelvic area.
PTSD
Nightmares, sudden emotional outbursts, or severe anxiety are some of the many symptoms that people can possibly squire after an accident. Professional help is key to recovery but many do not have the medical insurance or income to seek this type of treatment.
If you or someone you know is exhibiting these types of behaviors after an accident they may be able to receive the medical attention they need by filing a personal injury claim.
Spinal cord injuries
Every year over 11,000 spinal cord injuries take place in the United States. One of the most common areas in the spine that are damaged due to blunt trauma is the vertebral column. The vertebral column is part of the spine that transmits messages from the nervous system to the brain.
People who have suffered damage to the vertebral colon can become partially or entirely paralyzed. Victims who have not been partially or completely paralyzed in an accident can experience extreme pain and discomfort if they have been diagnosed with a herniated disc.
A herniated disc is when the rubbery cushion that is between the bones in the spine is compromised, causing the victim to be in excruciating pain.
Head trauma
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons has reported that 500,000 deaths take place each year due to traumatic brain injuries. Research has also concluded that an estimated 50%-70% of head injuries were caused by motor vehicle accidents.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a major wreck there are predominant symptoms that you need to look out for. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can include dilated pupils, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, or ringing in the ears.
Cuts
People who were involved in a road collision can be left with serious cuts and scrapes due to the debris from the vehicle or being dragged across the highway. In severe cases, skin can be torn from the body.
Surgery for skin damage on the face or body can be costly and can lead a person to be out of work for months so they may recover. Do not try to treat a cut or scrape yourself. Medical professionals have the ability and tools to take debris such as gravel and glass out of the wound so the wound can properly heal.
Lost or chipped teeth
Injury victims do not have to suffer from the embarrassment that comes with missing or chipped teeth after an accident. After an incident, many people think that teeth are solely cosmetic and may not know that they can receive compensation for dental reconstruction.
Missing teeth can leave people unable to chew properly and may cause extensive damage to the jaw for those who grind their teeth at night.
Not only that but missing teeth can also lead a person to be depressed. When you hire a personal injury lawyer in Huntington Beach, CA you will be able to potentially be able to gain the recovery you would need for dental reconstruction.
No Win No Fee Personal Injury Lawyers
This type of offer offered by a personal injury law firm is known as a contingency fee.
Throughout your case, in order to win you as much compensation as possible, your Huntington Beach personal injury attorney will need to compile a team of paralegals and investigators for your injury case.
These expenses are known as litigation costs. Your recovery will not only pay for your losses but also compensate the law firm for the costs accumulated.
Orange County Shared Fault Laws
One of the most important questions in a personal injury case is “who was responsible for the accident?” Once this question is answered and proven the claims process will be easier to maneuver through.
What if both parties were at fault for an accident or injury though? Can both parties file for compensation for their injuries as well?
The state of California enforces a comparative law for all parties and all possible circumstances that can take place in an accident.
Comparative fault states that both people who were involved in the incident have the ability to file for compensation. Different states vary with comparative negligence in terms of how much each party will receive for their injuries.
Damages You Can Recover for Your Accident Claim
The compensation you receive for the damages you have after an accident is paid by the negligent party (defendant) insurance company. The amount that you will receive for your personal injury case will depend on the number of injuries that you have experienced after the incident.
There are two types of damages you can receive after a personal injury which are compensatory and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages are the physical losses that a person has accumulated after a wreck which has an exact dollar amount attached. This can include medical bills, lost wages, or property damage. Punitive damages take longer and are more complex to determine.
Punitive damages that are often awarded by insurance companies can encompass emotional pain and suffering a person has experienced since the collision.
Top-Rated Huntington Beach Personal Injury Attorneys
If you have suffered personal injuries in Huntington Beach due to beach accidents, bicycle accidents, auto collisions, premises liability, or a motorcycle accident, it is to your benefit to consult a Huntington Beach personal injury law firm.
Your accident attorney will explain the legal issues of your personal injury case and fight for damages owed to you. While there are many personal injury and accident attorneys claiming to have your best interests at heart, it is helpful to keep in mind that the best law firms will always offer a free consultation on your case.
Law firms with strong records of successfully handling personal injury lawsuits meantime may also offer a no-fee guarantee meaning that you don’t have to pay them unless they win your case.
If you need help immediately, call one of our experienced personal injury lawyers in Huntington Beach now at (949) 203-3814 and we will schedule a consultation the same day or by the next business day at the latest.
Huntington Beach demographics
Huntington Beach is a coastal city located in Orange County with a population of around 200,000. This website provides a grade for the city in various categories such as public schools, housing, nightlife, diversity, and weather.
Huntington Beach received an overall grade of A- with an A grade for weather, A- for nightlife, B+ for housing, and B for both public schools and diversity.
The city is known for its beaches, surfing, and outdoor recreational activities and was rated the best place to retire ranked #101 of 822 rankings.
The median home value in Huntington Beach is $857,500 with a median household income of $90,380.
Huntington Beach has a lower crime rate than the national average. In terms of violent crime, the rate in Huntington Beach is 1.3 per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the national average of 4 per 1,000 residents.
In terms of property crime, the rate in Huntington Beach is 20.5 per 1,000 residents, which is also lower than the national average of 24 per 1,000 residents.
Overall, Huntington Beach is rated as safer than 52% of cities in the United States.
In addition, the city has a high percentage of residents who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, with 38% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree and 19% holding a graduate degree.
Most Dangerous Intersection in Huntington Beach**
Last 5 Years:
- 81 Accidents
- 75 Injuries
- 0 Deaths
City of Huntington Beach
- Population: 197575
- Avg Annual Auto Injuries per 1,000: 9
- Huntington Beach Crime Index* 184.5
Nearby Cities Crime Indices*:
- Fountain Valley: 153
- Westminster: 229.8
- Costa Mesa: 214.3
- Garden Grove: 181
* Crime index data taken from city-data.com. The national average is 315.5. The crime index is calculated using the population and severity of crimes vs the frequency of crimes committed.
More Unsafe Intersections in Huntington Beach**
- Accidents: 115
- Injuries: 65
- Deaths: 0
- Accidents: 100
- Injuries: 63
- Deaths: 0
- Accidents: 93
- Injuries: 50
- Deaths: 0
** All intersection data is taken from the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System and is measured over the last 5 years of local and arterial street car accidents (non-highway). The data is not updated in real time.