Who can recover damages in a motor vehicle accident?
Anyone who is involved in a motor vehicle accident is entitled to bring a lawsuit against an at-fault driver, or any other person or entity who may be at fault.

What damages can I recover in a motor vehicle accident?
The injured person is entitled to recover damages for past and future medical treatment, past and future wage loss, damages for pain, suffering and emotional distress, and, if the injured person can establish bad enough conduct on the part of the defendant, punitive damages (i.e. damages intended to punish the defendant). If the injured person dies, his or her survivors are entitled to recover full compensation for their economic losses that result from the injured person's death, as well as monetary damages which stem from the loss of society, care, and comfort of the decedent.

Who can I sue in an animal bite or animal knock-down case?
If you or any person, whether a minor or adult, has been bitten or knocked down by an animal who has been improperly or inadequately leashed or contained. You can sue for injuries or death caused by an animal bite or knock-down. If you were injured or a family member was injured or killed by any animal, you can sue the person who has or should have had control of the animal. For a person to be responsible they need not be the owner of the animal. However, an owner who retains some control over the animal remains liable even if the animal is partly under the care of others.

What are our rights should my child be injured or killed while riding his bicycle?
Children, particularly young children, are not held to the same standard of care for their own safety as adults. Thus, drivers must be more cautious when they know that children riding bicycles are in the area. Even if your child was negligent, you may be able to recover against anyone responsible for causing the accident, including the driver of the vehicle that hit your child

Who can be held responsible for a burn injury?
Any person whose negligent or intentional misconduct caused the injury can be held responsible to the injured plaintiff. This would include a large list of potential defendants from vehicle drivers, product manufacturers, construction site operators, owners of dangerous private or public property and others.

Can I sue if I am injured or a loved one is killed as a result of a dangerous condition in somebody's home, or business?
Although premises liability cases are most commonly filed against businesses such as stores, they can also be filed against the owner and possessor of a private house or land. Most homeowners have insurance coverage to provide protection against injuries or death caused on their property.

What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse law in California largely focuses on the "Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (EADACPA)". Abuse under an EADACPA claim in a civil action includes "physical abuse, neglect, fiduciary abuse, abandonment, isolation or other treatment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental suffering, the deprivation by a care custodian of goods or services which are necessary to avoid physical harm or mental suffering."

What is medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a physician fails to provide appropriate healthcare according to established medical standards and, as a result of that failure, causes injury to the patient that otherwise would not have occurred. A physician can make a medical mistake by doing something that should not be done, or by failing to do something that should be done.



General Information

What is the time limit (statute of limitations) for me to make a claim for injuries?
Different statutes of limitation govern different types of cases. Under most circumstances, statutes of limitation for children are longer than those for adults. Special statutes of limitation governing the filing of claims against public entities may be as short as six months from the date of injury. Where injury does not manifest itself for many years after an event or exposure (such as during a period of latency after exposure to harmful chemicals) the statute of limitations may not run for many, many years. Because the running of the statute of limitations is dependent upon the facts of an individual case, if you believe that you have a claim where the statute of limitations may be running, we urge you to contact one of our attorneys as soon as possible to arrange for a free consultation. However, as a general rule, a personal injury and/or wrongful death action, under California law, must be brought within two years from the date of the accident, if the accident occurred on or after January 1, 2003; and one year from the date of the accident if the accident occurred prior to January 1, 2003. In cases against public entities, a claim must be filed against the public entity within six months from the date of injury or death.

How much will I recover from a settlement or judgment?
There is no formula or standardized method for evaluating the likely settlement value or jury verdict potential in a given case. Case value is case-specific. It depends upon factors including liability, nature and extent of injuries, nature and extent of permanent disability, economic losses (including lost wages and medical bills), disfigurement, embarrassment, and a host of other considerations. While we can provide ballpark evaluations based upon results in trials and settlements of similar cases, no precise method exists for predicting how much an injured individual will recover in a given case.

Will my case go to trial?
The majority of claims handled by our office settle before trial. Statewide, approximately 8 out of 10 cases settle without court or jury trial. However, because we cannot predict whether or not a case will settle without trial, our attorneys prepare all cases in the same way, assuming that if a reasonable and fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take the matter to trial on behalf of our clients.

Do you handle cases for children?
Much of our work involves claims on behalf of clients under the age of 18. Special rules govern the prosecution of children's cases. Any settlements or judgment are subject to court supervision, and all costs and expenditures must also be approved by a Superior Court judge. Special statutes of limitation govern the prosecution of children's cases. Because the statutes of limitation are different whether the case is one for medical negligence, product liability, vehicular negligence, injuries occurring in the birth process, etc., it is important to contact our office as soon as possible to determine when a child's statute of limitations expires.

What if I have a claim against a city, county, state or other government agency?
Claims against public entities are subject to the California Government Code. This code imposes special administrative claim filing requirements, and provides statutory immunities and other protections to government entities. Chain-Younger has handled thousands of cases against cities, counties, school districts, water districts, states, federal government, federal government agencies, branches of the military, and other government bodies. Because the claims filing period against state and municipal agencies is the shortest of all statutes of limitation (180 days) it is very important that a person who believes he or she has been injured through government action contact an attorney at once.


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