FAQ

If you have been injured in any type of accident which was caused by the negligent and careless acts of another person or business entity, you have a legitimate personal injury claim. Under California law, even if you were partially at fault or negligent in causing the accident you can still file a personal injury lawsuit or make a personal injury claim. The value of your case will be reduced by the percentage of fault that can be assessed to you in causing your accident or injury.

At Barry Regar APLC, we provide free case evaluations, so you can meet with an attorney and learn more about your legal options without making any obligations.

The actual potential value of any personal injury claim that is settled out of court is determined by the nature and extent of the accident victim's injuries, the medical expenses, the loss of income, and the pain and suffering that the accident victim endures because of the fault of another person or business entity. The actual monetary amount of any settlement which should represent a fair and reasonable amount of compensation for all injuries and losses suffered by the accident victim cannot realistically be determined until all of the evidence is accumulated.

Every case is different, every client is different. It is our goal to treat each client individually based on the particular facts involved in your case. That is why no attorney should ever attempt to tell a potential client the value of their case until the attorney has a chance to review all the evidence of the accident, all the medical records, all the medical opinions, all the income information, and fully understands how the accident has impacted that potential client's life.

Any accident victim may settle their own case with the negligent party's insurance company without using an attorney. However, if the insurance company is offering you compensation right away it is highly recommended that you discuss their offer with an experienced attorney. The insurance company is always looking out for their best interests, and it is not unusual for them to offer a small compensation package immediately after your accident in order to avoid paying for the full extent of the damages you may be owed.

The insurance adjuster will make the accident victim think he or she is being fairly compensated, but in most cases, the accident victim is "selling their case short." Remember that your immediate medical expenses are not the only thing to consider when accepting a deal. You may also be entitled to compensation for loss of income, future medical expenses, and pain and suffering, among other things. You should never outright turn down an offer, but you should speak with an attorney before agreeing to anything. If the insurance company is pressuring you to make a decision on the spot, that is suspicious and you should absolutely not make a decision based on coercion.

Without any legal training, it is highly unlikely you will be able to receive the maximum amount of compensation you are owed from an injury training. Remember that insurance companies are dealing with these claims on a daily basis. They know how to mitigate the injured’s claim and may even try to convince the court that the accident was your fault.

You need to prove to a court that you were the victim of negligence and that you will need substantial compensation to cover your medical expenses and pain and suffering. This means gathering evidence, investigating the accident details, and navigating the complexities of the court system. Given that you are already injured or tending to the needs of the injured party, trying to do this by yourself can quickly become overwhelming.

We understand you may be hesitant to invest money in an attorney for a lawsuit you might not win. At Barry Regar APLC, we work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we front the litigation costs and you will only be held responsible for attorney fees if we win you compensation.

Our law firm handles all types of personal injury cases arising out of injuries occurring in Southern California, the Coachella Valley, and the individual cities within the Coachella Valley such as Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Cathedral City, La Quinta, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Coachella, etc. We also handle cases occurring in the high desert area such as Yucca Valley and the Morongo Basin.

The type of personal injury cases we handle include, but are not limited to the following:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Wrongful death cases
• Dog bites
• Construction accidents
• Defective products
• Slip, trip and fall accidents

First and foremost, you should get checked out by a doctor as quickly as possible to take care of your immediate medical needs. During this visit, be sure to give your doctor a detailed account of how you’re feeling. There are several injuries that do not manifest until hours or days after the initial accident, so you will your doctor to know about even the slightest twinge you feel so they can quickly identify an injury if you need to return.

With your immediate medical needs taken care of, it is time to look into legal recourse. Find attorneys that offer free consultations, such as Barry Regar APLC, and tell them about the details of your case. We can help you determine if you have a valid injury claim and guide you through your next steps. If possible, collect any photos or videos that were taken during the accident, and obtain the contact information of anyone who may have witnessed the event. All of these may prove valuable evidence if you need to argue your case in court.

Many personal injury accident victims choose their lawyer based on referrals from friends, family members, or professionals who know the identity of a specific personal injury lawyer. Some people choose a lawyer based on advertising that they may have seen either on television, in the phone book, or on the Web. Learning about an attorney's services through advertising is a good first step to finding a lawyer for your particular case. However, before you actually hire a lawyer, you should meet the lawyer in person and ask the lawyer all the questions that you have regarding your case and what that lawyer can do for you. You will likely be working with your attorney for the foreseeable future, so it is important you hire someone you feel comfortable with and are confident they will be looking out for your best interests.

Some questions you may want to ask an attorney during an initial meeting:

• how many personal injury cases they have tried to a jury?
• How many personal injury cases have they handled over the years?
• What were some of their most difficult cases and how did they turn out?

Before you hire a Palm Springs personal injury attorney, you should feel they have the experience, ability, talent, knowledge, and aggressiveness to provide you with the kind of legal representation you will need to get the maximum recovery available in your case.