Injury law (tort law) can be complex. An experienced Irvine injury lawyer understands personal injury law in California and the litigation process. We know how to build the most robust case possible to maximize your compensation.
Our Irvine personal injury lawyers are skilled negotiators. We can negotiate effectively with insurance companies to get fair settlements. Without a lawyer, you may be pressured into accepting an unsatisfactory settlement from the insurance companies.
Our seasoned injury lawyers can take the case to trial if a settlement cannot be reached out of court.
Our injury law firm has the resources to investigate your claim thoroughly. We hire private investigators, reconstruct accident scenes, consult medical experts, and take other steps to build evidence for your case.
There are no upfront fees in your injury lawsuit
Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you only pay if we secure compensation for you. There is little financial risk for you.
Personal Injury Lawyer Irvine
Compassionate Legal Representation
If you have been injured in a traumatic accident such as an auto accident, a slip-and-fall accident, a dog attack, an injury caused by a dangerous or defective product, etc., you need the most qualified and competent legal representation to help ensure that you are fairly and fully compensated for your significant injuries and losses.
An experienced Irvine personal injury lawyer at Bisnar Chase knows and understands what injured victims and their families go through as they try to meet medical expenses and cope with the loss of income while recovering physically and getting their lives back together.
If you have been injured in or near the Irvine area, our accident lawyers can help with settlements and litigation. We are based in Orange County, and our personal injury attorneys provide compassionate assistance to those who have been through perhaps the most challenging time of their lives.
Our team has a 99% success rate and has recovered more than $900 million for our clients with over four decades of experience. We have the skill, resources, and attention to detail to win your case and maximize the value that you could receive. Call (949) 203-3814 for a free consultation.
I recently had the unfortunate need for a personal injury case but was happy I was referred to Bisnar Chase and attorney Gavin Long for my car accident claim, (I was not at fault). From the beginning, the entire process was handled with professionalism and care. Mr. Long provided me with guidance and support every step of the way, and he was always responsive and went above my expectations throughout the negotiations and settlement.
There was a lot I didn’t know about how the process worked, but he was really patient in explaining everything to me. The other person’s insurance offered me $50,000, but Mr. Long kept fighting and got me substantially more. Thank you so much for making an unfortunate situation easier to navigate through! Also, thank you to Renee, who was awesome!
Accidents and Negligence in Irvine, California
Irvine is considered one of the safest cities in America and has consistently appeared at or near the top of numerous lists issued by leading publications and websites. The city is also rated as one of the best places to live in the nation.
However, it must be said that the acclaim tends to apply to the overall lack of crime-related incidents that happen in the city. The people who live and work in Irvine or even those who visit the city are still vulnerable to serious accidents and acts of negligence that may result in serious personal injuries.
Irvine generates excellent traffic and activity with its relatively high population density and rapidly growing prominence as a hub for technology and other commercial ventures.
Irvine has some of the most congested freeways, including the 5 and 405 freeways. It is home to multiple shopping centers, trendy retail outlets, restaurants, and entertainment venues, in addition to the premier educational institutions based in the city.
Irvine is desirable, but the sheer number of people and vehicles only increases the chances of accidents occurring. Turn to an experienced Irvine injury lawyer at Bisnar Chase for assistance if you suffer serious injuries in a careless accident. Call 949-203-3814 for a free case evaluation.
Personal Injuries Falls Under Civil Law
The term “personal injury” refers to an area of civil law that allows injured individuals to seek compensation for monetary and other losses from a traumatic incident caused by someone else’s recklessness or intentional conduct.
As opposed to criminal proceedings, which the county’s District Attorney brings, injury cases are heard and adjudicated in civil courts.
The victim who alleges negligence or wrongdoing is referred to as the “plaintiff,” while the person or entity facing the allegations is referred to as the “defendant.”
In contrast to a civil injury case, where a jury finds a defendant “liable” for the damages he or she or an entity caused the plaintiff, a criminal case finds the defendant “guilty.”
The defendant in a criminal case faces penalties such as jail or prison time, fines, community service, and probation if he or she is convicted of the crime. In a personal injury lawsuit, the defendant is ordered to pay monetary damages.
The law of negligence, which governs personal injury cases, specifies the degree of reasonable care that one person or entity owes to another in a particular situation and the kinds of behavior that would constitute a breach of that legal duty, resulting in liability for injury or death caused by such behavior.
For example, when a driver is behind the wheel, he or she has a legal duty to other drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and others on the roadway to operate the vehicle with reasonable care and caution, such as by obeying the rules of the road.
If a driver caused a severe injury accident by exceeding the speed limit or running a red light, they would be deemed negligent and, therefore, liable for the injuries and damages they caused.
Hiring a Skilled Irvine Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been hurt in Irvine, California, you may need the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer to get the compensation you deserve. However, choosing the right attorney can be a daunting task.
Our Irvine injury lawyers are top-rated and have won hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. We have served Orange County for 46 years.
Why hire a personal injury lawyer?
A personal injury lawyer is an attorney who focuses on helping people who have been hurt in accidents using tort law. They provide legal representation and counsel to their clients and help them recover compensation for their injuries. You’ll want an attorney who focuses on injury law to maximize your compensation.
Why do you need an accident and injury lawyer?
You may need an Irvine personal injury lawyer after an accident for several reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons:
To assess the value of your serious injury claim: an Irvine personal injury attorney can help you determine the value of your claim by evaluating your damages. They can also assess the strength of your case and advise you on whether it is worth pursuing.
To negotiate with insurance companies and negligent parties: Insurance companies are notorious for offering low settlements to accident victims. A personal injury attorney can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and help you get fair compensation.
To file a lawsuit with the insurance companies: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, a personal injury law firm can file a lawsuit and represent you in court.
Negotiating with insurance companies to maximize compensation
We regularly negotiate with insurance companies following accidents and injuries. It’s a delicate balancing act: we aim to secure the maximum reasonable settlement for our injured clients, while insurance companies try to pay as little as possible.
Insurers have teams of experienced adjusters, while accident victims often navigate the claims process for the first time. This power imbalance means individual claimants are at a disadvantage without legal representation.
Our job is to level the playing field. We come to the negotiating table armed with deep knowledge of injury law and years of experience handling these cases.
We will never accept an initial lowball offer from an insurance company. We will methodically present evidence and build a case for why our client deserves more compensation.
Negotiating requires patience and perseverance. We diligently advocate for our clients while avoiding quickly burning bridges with adjusters. Even in adversarial situations, preserving mutual respect improves outcomes.
Can I Act as My Own Personal Injury Attorney?
If you have been injured in an Irvine car accident or another incident, you are not legally required to have a lawyer handle your injury claim.
In some cases, especially those that do not involve injury, you may be able to file all the required paperwork yourself and represent yourself to the insurance company handling the claim.
But if you have been injured and incurred significant expenses, a lot is at stake. Getting the compensation you need and rightfully deserve is much more likely if you retain the services of experienced Irvine personal injury lawyers.
Personal injury claims are not as straightforward as they may appear. Depending on the circumstances of the incident and the nature and extent of your injuries, you may need to bring in expert witnesses and provide evidence in court to prove your case.
This is because the burden of proof is on the plaintiff in injury cases. This means that the injured plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s negligence resulted in his or her injuries and losses.
Knowledgeable personal injury lawyers will also help you deal with insurance companies, which can be an uphill battle if you are trying to get compensated for your injuries and damages, given their inclination to reject or undervalue claims, often leaving money on the table that you are entitled to.
Dealing with the Insurance Company After an Irvine Accident
One mistake that many injury claimants make is to trust the insurance company. The one thing personal injury attorneys will tell you almost unanimously is this: The insurance company is not your friend.
While your insurance adjuster may seem extraordinarily nice and helpful, it is his or her job to protect the insurance company’s interests. They are trained negotiators whose job it is to minimize the amount of money paid out on each claim. They won’t hesitate to deny the claim or minimize its value.
If the insurance company offers you a quick settlement offer, do not accept it. If you closely examine this offer, you will find that it is not beneficial to you and certainly works in the insurance company’s favor.
Insurance companies know that injured victims are vulnerable, which is why they almost always offer a lowball settlement right away.
They know that you want to put this behind you as fast as possible and move on with your life. When you accept a settlement without realizing the full extent of your injuries and losses, you may be signing away your rights to seek maximum compensation for your losses.
During this process, it is also important not to give any statements to the insurance company about the specifics of your injuries or disclose any pre-existing conditions you may have had.
What you tell the insurance company or the statements you provide after your Irvine injury accident may be used against you.
Do not sign anything unless you are absolutely sure you understand what it means or unless your Irvine personal injury attorney has reviewed it.
An experienced Irvine accident lawyer can help with the insurance company on your behalf and ensure you receive fair and total compensation for your injuries and losses. Call 949-203-3814 for a free consultation.
Damages in a California Personal Injury Case
If you have been injured in an Irvine car accident or some other type of traumatic event, you may be able to seek compensation for the injuries, damages, and losses you have sustained.
Here are some of the damages you may be able to seek if you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence:
Medical expenses
Medical costs are often a significant part of the expenses injured victims face. Medical expenses include the cost of emergency transportation, hospitalization, surgeries, medication, medical equipment, etc.
Injured victims and their families often struggle as these costs pile up. This situation is made worse because the injured victims lose their ability to work and earn an income.
Loss of income
When you are injured, it becomes difficult or sometimes impossible, to continue working. Sometimes, you need days, weeks, or months off to make sure you fully recover from your injuries.
For many, this means they lose a significant portion of their household income or receive diminished income because they are on disability.
For some who have suffered catastrophic injuries such as brain trauma or spinal cord damage, this could mean losing their jobs and livelihoods.
These losses should be included in your injury claim, including loss of future income and loss of the ability to work or earn a livelihood.
Rehabilitation costs
Many who suffer serious injuries don’t just require hospitalization but also need rehabilitative treatment, such as physical and occupational therapy.
For example, you may be hospitalized for a week or so if you have suffered multiple bone fractures in a car accident.
Still, you will need physical therapy and other services to ensure you can walk properly again. Regaining balance, strength, and mobility can often take weeks or even months. The cost of rehabilitative therapy sessions could also add up quickly, and health insurance usually does not fully cover these expenses.
Pain and suffering
Known as “non-economic damages,” pain and suffering refer to the physical and mental suffering you endure in the aftermath of a traumatic event.
An Irvine personal injury lawyer can help evaluate your circumstances and determine an amount that would be appropriate for these types of damages.
Punitive damages
In injury and product defect cases, punitive damages are sometimes awarded by judges and juries when the conduct on the part of the defendant is particularly outrageous or egregious.
For example, if a product manufacturer knew that their products were defective and dangerous and had the potential to cause serious injury or death but did nothing about it, they could be slapped with punitive damages.
The purpose of awarding punitive damages to plaintiffs is to not just punish the defendants for their actions (or sometimes, lack of action) but also to deter such egregious behavior in the future.
To determine if you are entitled to financial compensation for your damages, call a seasoned Irvine personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. There is no fee if we don’t win. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis so we are motivated to win.
How Do You Pick the Right California Lawyer for Your Case?
California injury law is a very specialized area of practice. Personal injury laws are complex and constantly evolving. A law firm that handles all types of cases or someone who does not have experience dealing with insurance companies is not equipped to deal with a complex injury case.
The decisions you make during this period can significantly impact the outcome of your case and, possibly, your financial future. If necessary, you may also need lawyers to take your case to trial.
While the majority of injury cases do get settled out of court, there are times when you may need to take them to a jury trial.
You should consider an Irvine personal injury lawyer with a track record of securing large verdicts and settlements. You must meet with the lawyers you plan to hire to represent you and ask how many million-dollar settlements or verdicts they have obtained.
This is especially true if you have suffered catastrophic injuries that have left you with permanent disabilities. Find out if your law firm is a member of local and state trial lawyer associations.
This implies that a member is constantly benefiting from a collaborative environment and is probably well-liked by other professionals in the field.
Make sure your law firm has sufficient resources to handle your case. Serious injury cases are expensive to prepare. Experts such as doctors, economists, accident reconstruction specialists, or life care planners may have to be hired. Witnesses must be prepared to give depositions under oath.
Personal Injury FAQs
Questions to ask a personal injury lawyer: Before hiring a personal injury attorney, it is essential to ask them some questions to ensure they are the right fit for your case. Here are some questions to ask:
What is your experience with personal injury cases?
We have been representing injured plaintiffs in Orange County since 1978 and have won over $900M for our clients. Our attorneys are trial lawyers with decades of experience. Contact our personal injury attorneys in Irvine for a free consultation.
What is your legal fee structure?
Our Irvine personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if you win your injury lawsuit. Make sure you understand the fee structure before hiring a lawyer.
Our fee structure is an average of 33%, which is standard. The fees can be higher if the case is complex and requires experts, evidence storage, etc. Your consultation is free, and since we work on a contingency basis, there is no cost until the case is settled.
Who will be handling my case?
We do not farm out any of our cases. A trial lawyer in-house handles all personal injury cases.
How long does it take to settle my personal injury claim?
The time it takes to settle your personal injury claim can take anywhere from a few months to two years, depending on what is involved in the case. The more complex the case is, or the more resistant your insurance company is, the more it will decide how long it will take.
If your Irvine personal injury attorney moves quickly to settle your case, be wary. The goal should be to get the best possible outcome and maximum compensation, not to settle it quickly.
What types of cases does your law firm handle?
Our law firm handles a variety of injury and accident cases, including:
- motor vehicle accident
- dog bite claim
- pedestrian accident
- motorcycle accident
- truck accident
- wrongful death
- class action
- employment law and wage/hour cases
defective products - toxic torts
- pharmaceutical injuries (drugs, devices)
What types of injuries can I claim for my personal injury case?
- emotional distress
- pain and suffering
- medical bills
- property damage
- lost income
- catastrophic injury costs
- punitive damages
- economic and non-economic damages
What if I was in a car accident and was partly to blame?
In California, we have comparative negligence. That means you can still receive compensation for your car accident, even if you were partially responsible. The injury claim will be reduced according to your liability for causing the car accident.
What are some of the more common injuries you see in injury cases you handle in Orange County?
- spinal cord injury
- traumatic brain injury
- wrongful death
- broken bones and fractures
- internal organ damage
- severe injury to the chest or back
- paralysis
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in California?
The statute of limitations in California is two years from the injury date. It’s essential to contact an Irvine personal injury lawyer immediately after your accident to protect your rights.
You will want to start processing your insurance claim as soon as possible to protect all the elements of your injury case and secure monetary compensation.
Contact our skilled Irvine personal injury Lawyer
Our Irvine personal injury lawyers have secured millions for our clients and may be able to help you, too.
There is no shortage of legal advice for personal injury law in Southern California, so look to our experienced and top-rated law firm for the best representation and to have your medical expenses, non-economic damages, and property damage covered.
An experienced Irvine personal injury attorney at Bisnar Chase represents Orange County individuals who have been seriously or catastrophically injured or have lost a family member due to a serious accident or a defective product.
Our California law firm comprises a team of experienced personal injury trial lawyers who have extensive experience in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. Our law firm routinely wins awards for professional excellence.
Advocates with expertise
At Bisnar Chase, we have four decades of experience and a formidable track record of success. We passionately represent every one of our injured clients and firmly believe that we can provide quality guidance and recover fair compensation for you.
We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation in verdicts and settlements for 99% of our clients—a success rate we are proud of. We have spent decades in and out of the courtroom fighting for justice and advocating for average citizens and consumers.
We have the knowledge, experience, and resources to fight for your rights and help you get maximum compensation for your losses.
We also provide a no-win-no-fee guarantee, which means you do not pay anything unless we recover compensation. Initial consultations are always free. With over $900 million won, including punitive damages, and thousands of victims represented, our firm is one of California’s toughest injury law firms.
If you are in Orange County in or around Irvine, California, please call (949) 203-3814 for a free case review. We are located in Newport Beach and pridefully offer superior representation to clients across the Orange County communities. Let us fight for you.
Irvine, California Injury and Accident Statistics
- In 2019, there were 3,063 reported motor vehicle accidents in the city of Irvine, according to official police data. This was a 7% increase from the prior year. Of those 3,063 collisions in 2019, more than 1,600 resulted in some type of reported injury. Nine accidents resulted in fatalities.
- The most dangerous intersections for auto accidents in Irvine include Jamboree Road and Michelson Drive, Culver Drive and Irvine Center Drive, and Alton Parkway and Sand Canyon Avenue.
- Common causes of motor vehicle accidents in Irvine include distracted driving, drunk driving, reckless driving, and speeding.
- Besides auto accidents, common personal injury incidents in Irvine include slip and falls, dog bites, bicycle accidents, and injuries stemming from negligent security or unsafe property conditions.
- Irvine’s population swells during the weekday work commute. Over 247,000 people work in Irvine on weekdays, in addition to over 280,000 residents. More people on roads and worksites increases injury risks.
- As a major employment hub, Irvine sees many workplace accidents each year. Common workplace injuries include repetitive strain injuries, machine-related injuries, falls, and injuries from workplace violence.
Source: Irvine Police Department’s Traffic Collision Reports for 2019 and 2018. There are no statistics for 2020-2023 as of Nov. 2023.
Most Dangerous Intersection in Irvine
Last 5 Years:
- 40 Accidents
- 37 Injuries
- 0 Deaths
City of Irvine
- Population: 236716
- Avg Annual Auto Injuries per 1,000: 6
- Irvine Crime Index* 89.6
Nearby Cities Crime Indices:
- Tustin: 129.3
- Laguna Woods: 54.2
- Santa Ana: 200.6
- Aliso Viejo: 47.5
Crime index data was 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 Irvine**
- Accidents: 39
- Injuries: 27
- Deaths: 0
- Accidents: 39
- Injuries: 22
- Deaths: 0
- Accidents: 38
- Injuries: 22
- 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.
