Oakland Personal Injury Lawyer

Advice from Oakland Personal Injury Attorneys on Steps You Could Take to Protect Your Rights

Insurance companies are notorious for undervaluing injury claims. Insurance adjusters and insurance company lawyers know that they will save their clients money if they delay settling a claim. Sadly, insurance company insiders are not concerned about the victim’s losses.

When insurance companies delay paying a claim or dispute the claim, they drag their feet to make their situation better. Fading memories and missing witnesses hurt the accident victim more than the insurance company.  

After an accident, you should consider taking the following steps to protect your rights:

• Seek medical assistance if you are hurt;
• Limit the people you talk to about the crash, and do not apologize for the accident;
• Preserve the scene by taking photographs of the area and the vehicles involved;
• Identify as many witnesses at the scene as possible;
• Get the police report as soon as possible;
• Keep all your medical appointments;
• Record your daily experiences and compare them to your life before the accident in a journal or notebook;
• Keep copies of all documents related to the accident; and
• Do not speak to any insurance company representative about the accident until you speak with a qualified Oakland personal injury attorney first.

Carefully documenting the accident scene and your experiences after the accident will help you remember important details.

How a Personal Injury Attorney in Oakland Values Your Claim

Determining the value of your claim requires great skill and experience. The true value of your accident claim is greater than the amount of medical bills you piled up or the number of paychecks you missed. 

The value of a claim depends on many factors, such as:

• The nature of your injury;
• How the injury occurred;
• The amount of medical bills;
• The amount of future medical expenses;
• Any out-of-pocket medical costs;
• Lost wages or salary;
• Your loss of future income;
• The length of recovery;
• Your potential to fully recover from the injury;
• The effect the injuries have on your personal life;
• The effect your injuries have on your enjoyment of life; and
• The amount of pain and suffering you endured.

Not every factor applies to all cases. We emphasize the aspects that give you the best chance for maximum recovery in every case.

Injury Claims Filed on Behalf of Our Clients

Some of our clients suffered horrible, catastrophic injuries as a result of another’s negligence. Fortunately, we have the experience and skill necessary to handle complex Oakland personal injury cases. Our clients received damage awards for many types of injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries,
• Broken or fractured bones,
• Full or partial amputations,
• Paralysis,
• Dislocated joints,
• Severe lacerations requiring plastic surgery,
• Permanent scarring,
• Spinal cord injuries,
• Nerve damage,
• Loss of sight,
• Severe burns,
• Whiplash,
• Strains and sprains, and
• Wrongful death.

Some of our clients suffered permanent injuries at the hands of a careless person. We used our vast resources and superior litigation skills to deliver justice for them and all our clients. 

Claims Process for a Personal Injury Claim in Oakland

Having the skill to identify all parties responsible for your accident is vital to maximizing your financial award. 

During your initial, free consultation with us, we discuss how your accident happened. Then, we analyze your situation closely to identify all sources of liability. We also try to identify which parties have insurance policies that could contribute to your damage award. 

From there, we will gather all of the evidence we need to pursue your claim aggressively. We rely on you to bring whatever evidence you have with you. We will actively pursue other sources of information through our investigation based on what you provide us.

We will use our resources for your benefit. We will use one of our medical experts or financial experts as needed. We rely on experts in various cases to give us a clear picture of how your injury will affect your life moving forward.

Once we complete our investigation, we will be ready to file a demand against all relevant insurance policies.

Contacting Insurance Companies on Your Behalf

Part of being a successful personal injury attorney in Oakland involves understanding the insurance business. Understanding how insurance companies evaluate claims helps our clients receive fair and just compensation. 

We suggest that you speak with us before talking to any insurance company representative. We will make sure that we protect your rights. Remember, the insurance companies are not on your side. An insurance company cannot use your words against you if you do not speak to them.

Avoid Agreeing to a Quick Settlement

Some insurance adjusters might try to convince you to take their offer for a quick settlement. Their offers usually appear fair. However, you should be wary of an insurance company’s offer of a quick settlement.

You will forfeit your rights to pursue full and fair compensation if you accept the offer. The insurance company will make you sign a release of all claims to get your settlement check. You cannot demand any additional settlement at the point if the money you receive is not enough.

You should advise all insurance company representatives to speak with your Oakland personal injury lawyer about your claim. We will handle all of the negotiations with insurance companies for you.

Going to Court

We settle most of our clients’ cases before going to court. Sometimes our clients must file a claim in court to get the justice they seek. Remember that you must file your claim in court before the two-year statute of limitations runs out.

Filing a case in court does not mean that your case will go to trial. We explore all avenues of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation and arbitration. In the end, juries hear very few cases, even though we prepare every case as if we were going to trial.

We have extensive personal injury trial experience. If trial becomes necessary in your case, we will prepare a compelling case and ask the court to hold all parties responsible for your losses. Our Oakland personal injury attorneys do not send your file to another firm for trial.

Get the Help You Need and the Justice You Seek

Wesley Wakeford and his staff with The Wakeford Law Firm fight with passion, dedication, and commitment to delivering results for you. As an experienced personal injury attorney in Oakland, Wes understands that hard work makes the difference. The results speak volumes: our firm has won millions in compensation for our clients.

Contact the award-winning Oakland personal injury attorney Wesley Wakeford and The Wakeford Law Firm today for a free, no-hassle consultation.