Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer
Orange County personal injury lawyers understand how profoundly life can change after a serious accident. When you are injured as a result of another party’s negligence, you may face significant physical pain, emotional distress, and escalating financial burdens.
If you’ve been injured, California law protects your right to hold negligent parties accountable. However, navigating this process without skilled legal representation can be daunting.
The experienced personal injury attorneys at Bentley & More LLP are committed to guiding you through every stage of your case, managing the legal complexities, and pursuing the full compensation you are entitled to under the law.
To schedule a free and confidential consultation, please call (949) 870‑3800 today.
How Our Orange County Personal Injury Lawyers Build a Strong Case for You
Recovering from a serious injury often feels overwhelming, especially when facing large insurance companies focused on protecting their profits by minimizing payouts.
At Bentley & More LLP, our mission is to even the playing field. We are trial lawyers who represent individuals, not institutions, and we rely on our extensive resources, deep legal experience, and a clear focus on ensuring our clients are heard.
From the moment you hire us, we begin building your case without delay. We immediately begin a detailed investigation into the events that led to your injury because key evidence can quickly disappear or be altered.
We move quickly to gather and preserve information, whether that means obtaining surveillance footage from a business in Irvine, securing vehicle data after a collision in Anaheim, or collecting witness accounts from a construction accident in Santa Ana. While we handle these steps, we also take over all communication with the insurance companies so you can concentrate fully on your recovery.
As experienced trial attorneys, we prepare every case as though it will go before a jury. This approach is very different from firms that focus only on quick settlements. Insurance companies pay attention to which lawyers are truly prepared to take cases to trial.
Because we see cases through to the end, our clients gain strong leverage in negotiations and insurers know we won’t accept offers that fall short of fair compensation. Through meticulous preparation and steadfast advocacy, we have earned the trust of personal injury clients throughout Orange County.
Understanding Negligence in California Personal Injury Claims
Most personal injury cases center on the concept of negligence, or failing to use reasonable care to prevent harm to others. To succeed in a personal injury lawsuit, your attorney must show that another party was legally responsible for your injuries by proving four important elements.
An experienced Orange County injury attorney from our firm will develop a case that clearly addresses each of these points.
- Duty of Care: The first step is showing that the person or organization responsible for your injury (the defendant) had a legal duty of care. This means they were expected to act with a level of caution that would prevent harm to others.
- Breach of Duty: Next, we must demonstrate that the defendant failed to meet that duty. A breach occurs when someone’s actions or lack of action fall below the standard of reasonable care, such as a driver running a red light or a property owner ignoring a dangerous spill.
- Causation: We then work to show a clear connection between the breach of duty and your injury. In other words, we establish that your injury would not have happened if the defendant had acted with proper care.
- Damages: Finally, we must show that you suffered measurable harm, or damages, as a result. This may include financial losses like medical expenses as well as harms such as physical pain.
Under California Civil Code § 1714, every person is responsible for the results of their actions and for any injury caused by a lack of ordinary care or skill. Proving these four elements forms the foundation of a strong personal injury claim.
Types of Personal Injury Cases Our Orange County Lawyers Handle
Personal injury law applies in many situations where someone’s carelessness or misconduct causes harm to another person. Our Orange County personal injury lawyers bring extensive experience to many kinds of challenging, high‑value cases.
Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Orange County
The freeways of Southern California, including the I‑5, I‑405, and SR‑55, see thousands of collisions every year. While some accidents are minor, others lead to life‑changing injuries.
We represent clients in car accidents, commercial truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents, drunk driving incidents, and rideshare collisions involving Uber or Lyft.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tens of thousands of people lose their lives in traffic crashes annually. Our firm works to hold negligent drivers and their insurers responsible through careful investigation and strong legal action.
Premises Liability Lawyers for Slip and Fall Accidents in Orange County
Property owners are expected to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail to do so, people can suffer serious harm and working with an experienced Premises Liability lawyer can help victims pursue justice.
Premises liability cases commonly involve slip‑and‑fall or trip‑and‑fall accidents that occur in locations such as retail stores, restaurants, apartment complexes, and other public or private properties, as referenced in California Civil Code § 1714. In evaluating these cases, we assess whether the property owner knew, or reasonably should have known, about the hazardous condition.
Construction Accident Attorneys Handling Severe Injuries in Orange County
Construction sites present significant dangers, and accidents on these sites often result in serious injuries. An injured worker may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a separate personal injury claim against a negligent general contractor, subcontractor, or equipment manufacturer. Working with an experienced Construction Accident lawyer can help ensure that all potential claims are identified and pursued effectively.
Our team regularly handles these complex cases, including falls, machinery accidents, and electrocutions, which OSHA recognizes as leading causes of construction site fatalities.
Product Liability Lawyers for Defective Products in Orange County
Manufacturers have a legal obligation to design and produce products that are safe when used as intended. When a product is defective and causes harm, the manufacturer can be held strictly liable under product liability laws and working with an experienced product liability lawyer can be critical to protecting your rights.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission sets and enforces many of the safety standards that manufacturers are expected to follow, and violations often play a key role in these cases.
Our firm has earned a national reputation for pursuing complex product liability claims, including those involving faulty auto parts, unsafe industrial machinery, and incidents such as e‑cigarette explosions.
Orange County Wrongful Death Attorneys Helping Families Seek Justice
Losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligence is one of the hardest challenges a family can face. In these situations, certain family members have the right to file a wrongful death claim under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 to seek accountability and pursue financial support for the losses they have suffered. An experienced wrongful death lawyer can guide you through this process, ensuring your rights are protected and helping you pursue the compensation your family deserves.
An Orange County personal injury attorney from our firm will guide your family through each step of this process with care and strong advocacy.
How Our Lawyers Calculate the Full Value of Your Injury Claim
Too often, injury victims settle for compensation that does not reflect the true extent of their losses. Insurance companies often make quick settlement offers that fail to reflect the long-term impact of a serious injury.
Experienced Orange County personal injury lawyers carefully evaluate every aspect of your case to determine its full value. A trusted law firm in Orange County will review both your financial losses and the personal impact on your life.
Economic Damages in Orange County Personal Injury Cases
Economic damages cover the clear, measurable costs that result from your injury. These include past and future medical expenses, lost income, and any loss of future earning ability. They can be proven through records such as medical bills, receipts, pay stubs, and tax documents.
Non‑Economic Damages: Pain and Suffering Compensation
Non-economic damages address the life-changing effects that do not come with receipts or invoices. They can include physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship for a spouse. Although harder to quantify, these damages often make up a substantial portion of a full and just settlement.
Punitive Damages in California Personal Injury Lawsuits
In unusual cases where the person responsible acted with extreme misconduct, a court may award punitive damages. These are not designed to compensate you but to punish wrongful behavior and prevent it from happening again. Under California Civil Code § 3294, punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of malice, oppression, or fraud.
Key California Personal Injury Laws You Should Know
Personal injury claims in California are governed by specific rules and deadlines. Working with an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney can help you navigate these requirements and protect your right to compensation.
California Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims
California law gives you only a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, most claims must be filed within two years of the injury date. Missing this deadline can result in losing your right to recover compensation. Some exceptions exist, such as cases where an injury was not immediately discovered, but they are narrow. Claims against government agencies often have even shorter deadlines, sometimes as little as six months.
How California’s Pure Comparative Negligence Law Affects Your Claim
Insurance companies often try to shift blame to reduce what they pay. California follows a pure comparative negligence system, which means you can still recover damages even if you are partly at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 10% responsible for an accident, you can still recover 90% of your total damages.
By working with a knowledgeable Orange County personal injury lawyer, you can better understand these laws and pursue the full compensation you are entitled to under California law.
Steps to Take After an Accident in Orange County
If you have been injured in an accident, the steps you take in the hours and days that follow can make a significant difference in your health and your potential claim. Acting quickly and carefully can help protect your rights and strengthen your case. Consider the following actions:
- Seek medical attention right away. Even if you feel fine, some injuries are not immediately obvious. A prompt medical evaluation creates important records and helps safeguard your health.
- Document the scene. If it is safe to do so, take photos or videos of the location, vehicles, equipment, or hazards involved. Capture details such as weather conditions, road signs, or visible injuries.
- Collect witness information. Obtain names, phone numbers, and email addresses from anyone who saw what happened. Their statements can be valuable evidence later.
- Keep records of everything. Save copies of medical bills, repair estimates, correspondence from insurance companies, and notes about your symptoms or time missed from work.
- Limit your communication with insurers. Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly after the accident. Avoid giving detailed statements, recorded interviews, or signing anything until you have spoken with an experienced attorney.
By following these steps and reaching out to trusted Orange County personal injury lawyers, you can focus on your recovery while protecting your ability to pursue full and fair compensation.
Contact Our Orange County Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Recovery after a serious injury is never easy, but you don’t have to face the process by yourself. When a negligent party is held responsible, it can provide the financial support you need to rebuild your life while also encouraging safer choices and greater accountability throughout the community.
Orange County Personal Injury Attorney, Greg Bentley
Pursuing a claim does more than seek justice for what happened. It helps restore stability and gives you a sense of control over your future. With experienced attorneys guiding you, each step becomes clearer and easier to manage.
At Bentley & More LLP, we are dedicated to protecting your rights and crafting a strong legal strategy to advance your case. A single phone call can be the first step toward achieving the resolution you deserve, and our team is ready to listen and provide the guidance you need.
Contact us today at (949) 870‑3800 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your situation and explore how we can help.
Client Testimonial
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Bentley & More for the past 5-6 years. Their drive and compassion to earn great results for their clients is obvious to everyone who works with them.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with the firm to help serve their clients.” – Nicole S. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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