Dana Point Personal Injury Lawyer

As a Dana Point personal injury law firm, we deal with heartbreaking situations all the time.

A normal day can be shattered in an instant if you suffer a life-changing injury because of someone else’s negligence. If this happens to you, a Dana Point personal injury lawyer should be your next phone call. At Neale & Fhima, we’re here to help.

Why Choose Neale & Fhima

Our legal team is top-class. Attorney Aaron Fhima is a tough negotiator with a keen legal mind. He has been handling Dana Point personal injury cases for a long time, and he knows the nuances and complexities of state statutes and case law. We put this knowledge to work for you.

Damages You May Be Entitled To

If you’ve suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to various types of damages. These are:

Economic Damages

• Medical and hospital bills
• Cost of future medical care and rehabilitation
• Loss of future earnings potential
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Wrongful death (if the injured person dies).

Non-Economic Damages

• PTSD and emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages can also be awarded in some cases if a defendant’s disregard for the safety of others is deemed to be grossly negligent. These are designed to punish the defendant or wrongdoer and send a warning to other would-be offenders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are personal injury claims common in the U.S.?

According to the National Safety Council, there were around 62 million accidental injuries in the U.S. in 2021. These accidents created over $1.2 billion in costs. Many of these incidents would have given rise to personal injury claims in civil court. California is a consumer-friendly state (compared to some other jurisdictions), so state laws make it a favorable climate for claimants.

Where are Neale & Fhima’s offices located?

Our Dana Point personal injury attorneys serve clients throughout California. Our offices are in Dana Point, Irvine, San Diego, and Los Angeles..

What if I am “not the suing type”?

It is important to remember that personal injury laws exist for a reason. They are designed to protect consumers from being burdened with medical expenses and lost income that arise through no fault of their own. Also, it’s important to remember that the at-fault party’s insurance company will likely have to pay their damages, rather than the individual themselves.

Who can bring a wrongful death claim in California?

You can file a wrongful death claim to receive damages for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and funeral and burial costs on behalf of a deceased family member. Under California law, individuals who can file a wrongful death claim include:

• The spouse or domestic partner of the deceased
• Children of the person who died
• Another person who qualifies by the rules of intestate succession
• The law states that all wrongful death claims must be brought within two years of the person’s death. (CCP 335.1)

If you have additional questions, our Dana Point personal injury lawyers would be happy to provide answers. Call Neale & Fhima at 888-407-2955 for a free consultation.

Neale & Fhima Represents All Kinds of Cases

Personal injury law is a broad discipline, but our lawyers have in-depth experience of all the major case types within it. In this section, we look at some of the most common types of personal injury disputes.

Car Accident Claims

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, there are around 4,000 traffic fatalities in the state annually. Of course, there are thousands and thousands of car crashes that are not deadly but cause serious injuries and financial problems.  Car accidents commonly lead to brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other catastrophic injuries.

Truck Accident Claims

Commercial trucks pose huge risks on California roads. They’re much bigger and heavier than passenger cars, and they have much larger blind spots, so they can cause devastation when they’re not driven carefully.

Wrongful Death Claims

If someone close to you has died because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. These lawsuits can provide a range of damages, including:

• Loss of financial support
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of family support.

Defective Product Claims

If your accident came about because of some issue with the design or manufacture of a product, you may be able to file a defective product lawsuit against the company that manufactured the item, or the retailer you bought it from.

California’s Pure Comparative Negligence Rule

The state of California follows a “pure comparative negligence” process. This means an injury victim can sue for compensation even if they are partially at fault for the accident, although the amount they receive will be decreased.

For example, if you sustain damages worth $100,000 in a slip and fall accident, but you are found to be 40% responsible for the accident, then you will only receive $60,000 in total damages ($100,000 reduced by 40%).

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years in the state of California. The clock starts running on the day the accident occurs. For a wrongful death claim, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the person’s death; in some cases, this can be a significant period of time after the date of the accident or the onset of the injury. If you miss this deadline, a judge can dismiss your case, barring you from recovering financial damages.

Contact Our Dana Point Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Whether you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, workplace accident, or suffered a dog bite, a skilled Dana Point Personal injury lawyer at Neale & Fhima will fight for the compensation you deserve.

To find out more about how we can help, call us for a free consultation at 888-407-2955.