Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer

Potentially Liable Parties

The parties liable for your accident depend on how and where the accident occurred. Below are the most common types of accidents that occur at Long Beach and the potential parties liable for each.

Slip and Falls

There are quite a few parks and playgrounds in Long Beach, which means the city has quite a lot to maintain. Sometimes the city slips up with its maintenance duties; if you suffer a substantial injury after falling at Long Beach, you deserve compensation. Common causes of slip and fall accidents in Long Beach include:

• Loose boards or uneven walkways
• Trash or other debris in walkways
• Potholes and cracks in parking lots and pavement
• Snow, ice, or other weather accumulation
• Broken handrails or fencing
• Slippery substances left spilled on the ground
• Broken playground equipment

Assault

Sometimes injuries at the beach are no accident. Whether you are relaxing on the beach, walking the boardwalk, using an outdoor shower, or returning to your car in the parking garage, altercations with other beach visitors could happen.

If you were assaulted, mugged, or threatened with violence at Long Beach, you may be entitled to compensation from the person who assaulted you or possibly even Long Beach for failing to provide adequate security.

Car Accidents

Everyone has to get to the beach somehow. Many people take public transportation, of course, but plenty still drive to the beach. This means there is a real risk of accidents from collisions between cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

If a drunk, negligent, or distracted driver at Long Beach caused your accident, you deserve fair compensation with the help of a Long Beach accident attorney.

Depending on whether your accident occurred on property owned by the government or property owned by a private person, one or more parties may be liable for your injury. Property owners have a duty to keep their property free from dangerous conditions. This means if you are injured from such a dangerous condition, the property owner will be liable.

In some cases, the property owner and the person who created the dangerous condition are two separate people. This can happen if a private business, such as a concession stand, is located on government property. For example, if you slip and fall on a slippery surface next to a concession stand, both the owner of the stand and the government could be liable for your injury.

Determining liability for an accident at Long Beach can be difficult, but you must be able to determine and prove it to have a valid claim. The attorneys at Goldstein & Bashner will examine your accident and determine all liable parties.

Filing Your Claim

There are different steps you will need to take depending on whether the person at fault for your injury was a government entity or a private citizen.

Government Entity

If the City of Long Beach is responsible for your injuries, you must first file a Notice of Claim. You have 90 days from the day you were injured to file.

During the claims process, you will likely need to sit for a deposition. Your attorney can prep you for the deposition and ensure you do not do or say anything to jeopardize your claim.

Individual

A case against an individual is a typical injury claim (i.e., you determine liability, prove negligence, negotiate a settlement, settle, or go to court), but that does not mean it will be easy.

In both cases, you will need to show how the defendant was at fault for your injury.

Proving Negligence

Once you determine who is to blame for your accident at Long Beach, you still have to prove that the party was at fault. To prove fault, you or your Long Beach injury attorney needs to prove that the party owed you a duty of care, that it breached that duty, and that the breach caused your accident and injuries.

You will need to collect several pieces of information to prove that the other party was negligent, including:

• Eyewitness testimony
• Contact information for those witnesses
• Photographs from the scene of the accident
• Surveillance footage from any nearby stores or traffic cameras
• A medical report detailing the injuries you sustained

Our Long Beach injury attorneys know what evidence will best bolster your case. We can help you gather the necessary evidence and use it to build the strongest possible case.

Potential Damages

If the party at fault agrees to settle or you win your case in court, you can expect to receive compensation for your injuries, including the cost of your medical bills and expenses. This could be past due bills and the future cost of medical treatment, such as physical therapy, surgery, or prescription drugs.

Compensation may also be available if your injuries prevent you from returning to work. This includes lost wages or reduced earning capacity if you must take a lower-paying job. You might also be entitled to damages for pain and suffering.

A Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

In the blink of an eye, a simple day at the beach could turn into an accident that prevents you from leaving your bed. If this happens, you could have trouble supporting your family and making ends meet.

The party at fault for your accident deserves to pay for the damage it caused.

The Long Beach personal injury attorneys at Goldstein & Bashner have helped people just like you to recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. Remember, if the county or city is at fault, there are special steps you need to take to preserve your right to compensation. You must take these steps quickly, so it is imperative that you do not delay.

Contact us today for a free consultation.