Monday, May 30, 2022
Can you work if you are receiving Social Security Disability benefits?
Friday, May 27, 2022
3 Ways to Know It's a Scam Call
Learn how to identify a scam call and protect yourself from becoming a fraud victim.
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
What Kind Of Lawyer Do I Need?
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Should I Hire a California Attorney for My Personal Injury Claim?
Personal injury lawsuits can be extremely stressful and overwhelming, especially when the law is not clear or the legal issues are complicated. Therefore, if you have been injured in an accident and want to file a lawsuit, you should strongly consider hiring a California personal injury lawyer before proceeding with your case.
An experienced California personal injury lawyer will already be familiar with the law and various legal issues that arise in such cases. Your lawyer will also be able to predict the probability of your case being successful as well as the types of damages you could potentially receive if you prevail.
Additionally, your lawyer can also discuss other options for legal recourse and can help you make an educated decision about whether to follow through with a trial. If you decide to move forward with a trial, your lawyer can also provide representation in court.
Let Hodson & Mullin Attorneys help you... contact us to get started.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
What Types of Damages Can a Judge Award an Injured Plaintiff in California?
There are many types of damages that a judge can award to a prevailing plaintiff in a California personal injury case. Damages awards are typically divided into three main categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages awards.
Since punitive damages are rarely awarded and will be discussed in further detail below, the remainder of this section will focus on the kinds of economic and non-economic damages that an injured plaintiff can receive instead.
Economic damages are used to reimburse the plaintiff for actual, measurable losses caused by an injury. Some common types of economic damages in California personal injury cases may include:
- Lost wages and future earnings;
- Loss of earning capacity;
- Repair or replacement of property; and/or
- Compensation for medical expenses (both future and past).
On the other hand, non-economic damages are a form of compensation, but they are meant to cover injuries that are unquantifiable or difficult to measure. Some common types of non-economic damages in California personal injury cases may include:
- Emotional distress;
- Pain and suffering;
- Disability or disfigurement;
- Loss of enjoyment of life; and/or
- Loss of reputation.
Sunday, May 15, 2022
How Do I Establish My Personal Injury Claim in California?
California personal injury lawsuits are based on acts that cause physical, financial, or emotional injury to a plaintiff. In other words, most personal injury lawsuits have a basis in tort law, as opposed to criminal. Thus, these are normally civil cases held between private parties.
Some examples of causes of action that California personal injury lawsuits may be brought under include:
- Negligence (e.g., breach of duty);
- Intentional torts (e.g., assault, battery, etc.);
- Premise liability;
- Breach of warranty or contract; and
- Strict liability.
So, for instance, if a plaintiff purchases a product from a seller who promises that the product provides specific benefits or is of a certain quality and the product does not live up to those claims, then the plaintiff may sue the seller for breach of warranty.
Hodson & Mullin Attorneys can help you successfully navigate the system.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
When Should I Bring My Personal Injury Claim in California?
Each state has a law that prescribes the amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit for a particular type of claim. This law is called a “statute of limitations”. Depending on the facts of a case, the statute of limitations for California personal injury claims is two years from the date of the incident, or alternatively, from the date that an injury is discovered. When an injury is not discovered until later on, the law that applies is known as the “discovery of harm” rule.
Additionally, the length of time may also be subject to change based on the type of injury suffered and by location. For example, the amount of time prescribed to file a personal injury lawsuit for injuries resulting from a slip and fall incident may not only vary by county in California, but also from the period of time a person may have to file a personal injury lawsuit for injuries relating to an auto accident.
Monday, May 9, 2022
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
According to California personal injury laws, a personal injury claim refers to a type of civil lawsuit that is filed when a person suffers harm or loss resulting from an emotional, physical, or psychological injury. In California, any individual can be held liable for intentionally or negligently causing harm to another person.
Some examples of common personal injury cases include slip and fall accidents, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death suits, premise liability, and products liability claims. In such cases, an injured party may be able to sue another person or entity for damages if they can prove that the other party intentionally or negligently caused their injuries.
For instance, a person can take legal action against a company for injuries received from a defective product. If the person can successfully prove that they suffered actual harm because of the company’s defective product, then they will most likely be able to collect a certain amount of damages.
One important thing to keep in mind about personal injury claims in California is that the state follows a comparative fault system. Thus, if the plaintiff was responsible for causing any part of their injury, then their damages award will be reduced by the percentage attributed to their portion of fault.
For example, suppose two drivers get into a car crash and one of them sues the other in court. If during trial it is revealed that the defendant driver is 80% at fault for the accident and the plaintiff driver is 20% at fault for the accident, then the plaintiff will receive 20% less than the amount of damages they would have received if the plaintiff had been 0% at fault for the accident.
As is evident from the above information, personal injury cases can become quite complicated because they have so many moving parts (e.g., the case itself, elements of proof, damages calculations, etc.). Therefore, if you have suffered an injury and need to file a claim, you should contact a local personal injury lawyer before your ability to bring a lawsuit expires.
Friday, May 6, 2022
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
At Hodson & Mullin, we know disabled people need help. Faced with a possible lifetime of great physical pain and a frightening financial future, many are so overwhelmed they don't know where to turn. At Hodson & Mullin we not only understand, we effectively steer our eligible clients through the Social Security Disability application and appeal processes, with countless successful cases over the decades.
At our firm, a highly experienced legal assistant will spend a great deal of time working with you and gathering records and information to perfect your claim, but your legal questions will be answered by an experienced attorney.
We are registered with the Social Security Administration and when necessary, we appear at actual hearings throughout Northern California to present our clients’ cases effectively, with an eye toward the most favorable outcomes.
Most of our experienced legal assistants are fluent in both English and Spanish, so language is never a barrier to obtaining results.
We are happy to meet with you for an initial consultation without charge to you, and you incur no costs at all unless and until your case is resolved and you receive a settlement or benefits. Schedule an appointment with us today at our Vacaville or Fairfield offices!