Miller & Steele Law Firm is a personal injury law firm serving Oceanside and surrounding areas. Our firm exclusively represents injured victims, so we understand the stress as well as the physical and financial challenges you face when someone hurts you. We are here to help.
With more than 70 years of collective experience, our legal team has helped clients recover millions in damages. We have represented clients in more than 100 jury trials, as well as negotiated on behalf of many clients outside of court, to get compensation that California law provides to those who have suffered harm or who have lost a loved one.
If you or someone you care about was damaged due to the negligence or intentional wrongdoing of others, we are ready to fight for you. Give our Oceanside injury attorney a call or contact us at (760) 439-2210 to schedule a free consultation or read on to learn about some of the types of cases we can help you navigate.
What Can Miller & Steele Do For You?
Miller & Steele Law Firm has recovered more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements for over 3,000 clients. Our firm understands the law and treats every case with the importance it serves. Throughout your claim, we will be there every step of the way to help you:
- Gather evidence to build a strong case. From finding expert witnesses to interviewing those on the scene to gathering police reports and beyond, we will make sure the evidence shows both how your injuries happened and the extent of the damage done.
- Identifying defendants. Sometimes, it’s not just the person who hurt you who can be held accountable. For example, trucking companies can be liable for the negligent actions of their drivers on-the-job. By identifying all possible defendants, we can work to ensure there’s enough insurance coverage to pay for all your losses.
- Negotiating a settlement. Many cases settle outside of court, as doing so can be less stressful. We are skilled negotiators who have gone toe-to-toe with the biggest insurance companies, making them pay the full amount our clients deserve.
- Litigating your case. We are comfortable in a courtroom and are ready to help you make a compelling claim if no settlement can be reached.
Throughout all these steps, and more, we’ll communicate often, treat your case with the compassion and importance it deserves, and do what it takes to win.
Types of Injury Claims In Oceanside
California Civil Code Section 1714 makes clear that everyone is responsible for their negligent or intentional wrongful conduct that causes harm to others. There are many different situations when carelessness or bad acts could cause damages you are entitled to be compensated for.
Miller & Steele only represents injured victims and we have provided skilled legal assistance to clients injured by the following types of incidents:
- Bicycle accidents
- Car accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Premises liability claims
- Slip and fall incidents
- Truck accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
Whenever you or someone you love was involved in these accidents or any incident resulting from the negligence of others, you should have an Oceanside car accident lawyer on your side to help you understand how to navigate the legal system and get compensation for your resulting losses.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury or tort cases are concerned with awarding accident victims money for the economic and non-economic damages they suffered because of someone else’s carelessness. Courts cannot reverse time and prevent the accident from occurring. Therefore, the only remedy they may have is ordering the responsible party to pay for the harm they caused.
Economic damages include costs that you directly incur because of the accident, such as:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Property damage and replacement costs
- Lost wages, income, and earning capacity
Non-economic damages compensate accident victims for intangible losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Discomfort
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
An experienced Oceanside truck accident attorney can evaluate your case and determine all the damages you can pursue.
Who Is Responsible for My Injuries?
California Civil Code Section 1714 states, “Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of their willful acts but also for an injury occasioned to another by their want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their property or person.” According to this law, a person who causes harm to another through their careless actions can be responsible for paying damages to the victim.
Under this legal doctrine, various parties could be responsible for personal injuries, including:
- Motorists
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Product manufacturers
- Property owners
- Property management companies
- Occupiers of real property
- Government entities
- Dog owners
In some personal injury accidents, more than one party may be to blame. If the victim contributed to their injuries, California’s pure comparative negligence rule applies. Under this rule, an accident victim can still pursue compensation for their damages – even if they were mostly at fault for the accident – as long as someone else shares some of the blame. Unlike other states that limit a victim’s right to recover if they are more than 50 or 51% responsible for the accident, California law allows accident victims to seek compensation from the other at-fault party or parties, even if the victim was 99% at fault for the accident. Damages are reduced according to the percentage of fault attributed to them, as outlined in California Civil Code Section 1431.2.
What Is the Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in California?
Like all states, California establishes deadlines by which affected parties have to take certain legal actions, called statutes of limitations. The statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in California is generally two years from the accident date. If this deadline passes and you have not filed your case, you can lose your opportunity to be awarded compensation from the court.
You can protect your right to financial compensation by contacting an experienced Oceanside personal injury lawyer who can take prompt legal action. Your lawyer will need time to investigate your case, gather compelling evidence, and negotiate an out-of-court settlement, so don’t delay.
Get Help From An Oceanside Personal Injury Attorney Today
When you need an attorney you can trust after you were harmed, you need an Oceanside personal injury attorney at Miller & Steele Law Firm. Give us a call at (760) 439-2210 today to schedule your free consultation and learn more about how we can help you.