Huntington Beach Personal Injury Lawyers

Why You Need a Local Lawyer

It can be challenging to navigate a personal injury case without local legal knowledge. In Huntington Beach, accidents aren’t limited to car crashes. People can experience various personal injuries, like slip-and-falls, dog bites, injuries from defective products bought locally, or workplace incidents at nearby construction sites. Each type of accident involves different evidence, responsible parties, and legal complexities.

Insurance companies typically try to minimize compensation or shift blame onto victims, regardless of the injury type. A local personal injury attorney protects you because they know exactly how to counter these tactics and meet strict deadlines like California’s two-year statute of limitations(or the shorter six-month period when government entities might be responsible).

Your attorney can also quickly connect you to trusted medical specialists familiar with documenting various injury types, thoroughly investigate your unique case circumstances, and communicate clearly with you from start to finish.

Common Cases We Handle

Every personal injury case is unique, but there are common types of cases we handle regularly in Huntington Beach:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle collisions
• Bicycle injuries
• Bus accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) accidents
• Delivery van and commercial vehicle crashes
• Trucking accidents
• Slip-and-fall and premises liability
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Workplace and construction accidents
• Injuries from defective products
• Wrongful death

If your accident type isn’t listed here, contact us for a FREE CASE EVALUATION to see how we can assist you.

Why Choose Thompson Law?

As one of the best personal injury law firms in the area, Thompson Law has a team of experienced and dedicated personal injury attorneys who are ready to fight for your legal rights.

At Thompson Law, we understand the emotional distress that comes with serious injuries, and we are committed to providing you with the best legal representation possible. Our trial lawyers are not afraid to take your case to court if necessary and have successfully secured billions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages for our clients.

We have extensive experience working with insurance companies, large corporations, and medical professionals, and we know how to get you the results you deserve. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not have to pay anything until we win your case.

Don’t let a personal injury case ruin your life. Contact Thompson Law’s Huntington Beach personal injury lawyers today and schedule a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss your legal options. Our team of dedicated injury attorneys will provide you with the legal advice and representation you need to get the compensation you deserve.

What Happens When You Work With a Personal Injury Lawyer

When you partner with a personal injury lawyer, you’ll have someone guiding you through each step, taking the burden off your shoulders, and handling the complexities of your claim. Here’s what to expect as your case moves forward:

1. Our Huntington Beach personal injury attorney reviews your accident details and outlines your options.
2. We arrange prompt medical exams and secure all treatment records.
3. Our team collects police reports, photos, video, and witness statements.
4. Our lawyers inspect the scene, consult experts, and analyze data to build your case.
5. We prepare and file all claims, then manage communications with insurers or agencies.
6. We craft a detailed demand package and press for full compensation.
7. If negotiations stall, we file a lawsuit and oversee discovery, depositions, and motions.
8. Our personal injury lawyer in Huntington Beach guides you through settlement discussions or takes your case before a judge or jury.

Damages You May Recover in a Personal Injury Case

Damages in personal injury cases fall into economic and non-economic categories:

Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other out-of-pocket costs. You may recover various kinds of damages in a personal injury case, such as:

• Medical expenses covering past treatments, ongoing care, and future rehabilitation.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity for time away from work or long-term disability.
• Property damage for vehicle repairs, replacement costs, and ruined personal items.

Non-economic damages, also called general damages, compensate for pain, suffering, and emotional distress. We calculate these using approaches like the multiplier method or the per diem method for pain and suffering.

In cases of especially reckless or malicious conduct, you might also recover punitive damages for injury cases.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Determining fault lets you claim against the right party. In Huntington Beach, we often see these defendants face lawsuits:

• Drivers and vehicle operators speeding on PCH, distracted drivers texting at stoplights, or drunk drivers on Beach Boulevard.
• Employers of commercial drivers who send fatigued or untrained workers on delivery or transport routes around the county.
• Rideshare and delivery services like Uber, Lyft or local couriers when drivers cause crashes on Pacific Coast Highway or Main Street.
• Property owners and managers of shopping centers, hotels, or private residences who fail to fix hazards like broken handrails or wet floors.
• Manufacturers and retailers of defective auto parts, machinery or consumer goods sold in local stores.
• Government agencies responsible for road maintenance, traffic signals, sidewalks and public areas. Claims must start with a notice of claim within six months.

An experienced Thompson Law Huntington Beach personal injury lawyer will identify every potential defendant to build a complete case. Get your FREE CASE REVIEW with our team today!

Key Huntington Beach Laws to Know

California law sets firm deadlines and rules you must follow. At Thompson Law, we make sure your case meets every requirement. Here are some of the laws you need to be aware of for your case:

Statute of Limitations

Under California’s Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a city, county or other public entity may be at fault, you must first submit a written claim within six months under the Government Claims Act (Gov. Code § 911.2). Missing these deadlines almost always means losing your right to compensation.

Pure Comparative Negligence

California follows the rule in Civil Code § 1431.2, allowing you to recover damages even if you share fault. For example, if you’re 25% at fault and recover $100,000, your award adjusts to $75,000. This law ensures partial responsibility doesn’t bar you from compensation.

Unlimited Damage Awards

Most personal injury claims face no statutory cap on economic or non-economic damages. Unlike medical-malpractice cases (which may have limited non-economic damage caps under Civ. Code § 3333.2), your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress are fully recoverable.

Government Claims Act

Before suing public entities for defective roads, sidewalks or traffic signals, you must file a notice of claim under Government Code §§ 810–996.6. This notice triggers a review period, after which you can proceed to court. Our Huntington Beach personal injury attorneys handle every step to ensure timely compliance.

When Property Owners Fail to Maintain Safe Premises

Public spaces and private properties must stay safe. Common premises hazards in Huntington Beach include uneven sidewalks near the pier, loose tiles at beachfront shops, and poor lighting in parking garages. To hold an owner liable, we establish:

• Duty of Care:  Owners must inspect and repair walking surfaces, staircases, pool areas and entryways.
• Knowledge of Hazard:  Proof that they knew or should have known about risks from inspection reports, past complaints, or visible damage.
• Duty to Warn: Signs or barriers are required for spills, construction zones or dangerous conditions.
• Evidence Preservation:  Photos of the hazard, maintenance logs, incident reports and witness accounts.

Our Huntington Beach personal injury attorneys use local experience to uncover evidence, consult safety experts and prove owner negligence to secure compensation for your medical bills, lost income and pain.

Not Sure If You Have a Valid Injury Claim?

Deciding if you have a strong personal injury case involves more than a simple yes or no. Our Huntington Beach personal injury lawyers consider the following things to help you understand how valid is your claim:

• Is there evidence, like video footage, eyewitness accounts, or official reports, that someone else’s negligence caused your injury?
• Do your injuries go beyond a few aches? We look at medical diagnoses, treatment plans, and recovery timelines to gauge impact.
• Does the at-fault party carry sufficient coverage or assets to pay for your damages? Knowing available resources helps craft a realistic strategy.
• Could the other side argue you share fault or that an unforeseeable event caused the accident? We assess risks to prepare strong counterarguments.
• We estimate the time, costs, and effort needed and compare them to likely recovery to make sure pursuing a claim makes sense.

If you’re unsure, reach out for a FREE CASE EVALUATION. Our team at Thompson Law will review your situation at no obligation and clarify your legal options.

Importance of Medical Records & Police Reports for Your Case

At Thompson Law, we know strong documentation can make or break your claim. That starts with medical and police records. Here’s how we guide you through collecting and using them:

Why See a Doctor Immediately

Injuries like fractures, concussions, whiplash and deep muscle or ligament tears may not always cause immediate, obvious pain. We encourage you to get a medical exam within 24–48 hours so your injuries link directly to the accident. Early treatment notes establish a clear timeline and prevent insurers from arguing your harm came from something else.

Huntington Beach Medical Care Options

You have trusted choices close by. Hoag Hospital’s emergency department handles serious trauma and specialist referrals. HB Urgent Care offers quick evaluations for moderate injuries. We can also connect you with local orthopedic surgeons, imaging centers and physical therapists who will document your progress and accept letters of protection if you’re worried about up-front costs.

Why You Need an Official Accident Report

An HBPD incident report gives you an independent, third-party account of what happened, like names of involved drivers, road or property conditions and initial witness statements. Courts and insurers give heavy weight to these reports when determining fault and damages.

How to Obtain Your HBPD Report

1. Visit the Records Division at 2000 Main Street or go online to the HBPD portal.
2. Fill out the Incident Report Request with your report number and accident date.
3. Provide a copy of your driver’s license or ID.
4. Pay the small processing fee, reports typically arrive in 5–7 business days.

What to Do With Your Records After

Once we have your medical records and police report, our team:

• Matches every treatment date to accident details so there’s no question your injuries stemmed from the crash.
• Flags any inconsistencies between witness statements and officer notes, then gathers supporting evidence like camera footage or expert analyses.
• Organizes all documents into a compelling demand package that shows insurers the full scope of your losses.
• Keeps digital and physical copies safe and backed up, so nothing gets lost if your case goes to trial.

When we handle these steps for you, we make sure nothing slips through the cracks and help you secure the fullest recovery possible. Contact us today to get a FREE CASE REVIEW.

Do You Need a Lawyer for Minor Injuries?

Even seemingly minor soft-tissue injuries can worsen without proper documentation and treatment. A personal injury lawyer in Huntington Beach ensures every injury is recorded, hidden costs are tracked, and insurers can’t undervalue your claim. Reach out today to get a FREE CONSULTATION about your case.

Take Action Now and Protect Your Rights

Every moment you wait can make gathering evidence harder. At Thompson Law, we stand prepared to handle the details so you can focus on healing. Reach out now for a NO-COST, NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION. Our Huntington Beach team answers calls 24/7, arranges medical care, and begins building your claim immediately. Take the first step toward recovery today!

FAQs About Personal Injury Cases in Huntington Beach

What if my injury doesn’t show symptoms right away?

Some injuries like soft-tissue damage or concussions can take days to surface. We help you recognize warning signs, secure prompt exams, and amend your claim if new issues emerge.

Can I switch lawyers mid-case if I’m unhappy?

Yes. California rules allow you to change representation. We’ll talk through your options and make the transition seamless, preserving deadlines and protecting your rights.

How do I pay medical providers before settlement?

Our team can negotiate letters of protection so doctors and therapists treat you now and accept payment from your settlement proceeds.

Will I have to go to court in Huntington Beach?

Most cases resolve through negotiation, but if trial is necessary, our attorneys will guide you through every courtroom step nearby at the Orange County Central Justice Center.

How do I track my case’s progress?

You’ll have a dedicated case manager and secure online portal access for updates on filings, negotiations, medical bills, and next steps.

What happens if the at-fault party has no insurance?

We explore uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage through your own policy, pursue personal assets, or file claims against other responsible parties if possible.

Is there a deadline to collect my medical records?

Medical providers retain records for varying periods, but earlier requests ensure complete documentation. We handle all record retrieval promptly to support your claim.