It’s common for personal injury victims to become frustrated by obstacles such as an insurance company’s refusal to offer a fair settlement or the lack of necessary medical treatment due to financial issues.
A personal injury lawyer can help you understand your claim options if you have been injured in an accident.
Our experienced team at Ernst Law Group is committed to helping victims move forward with their lives after being injured due to someone else’s negligence. Our personal injury lawyer in San Luis Obispo will guide you through the claims process, which may include taking your case to court.
Why choose Ernst Law Group?
No up-front payment
Our lawyers do not require upfront payment. We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means that payment is based on a percentage of the compensation we help you recover through your claim.
Therefore, you never have to pay us a cent until we win your case. This incentivizes us to win and secure the largest payout possible for you.
We look out for our own
When you choose Ernst Law Group as your personal injury attorney, we will look out for your best interests and make sure that nothing is left on the table when settling or litigating your claim.
One call does it all. Our San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyer can easily handle any claim for you.
Every case is prepared for trial from the beginning
Not all cases go to trial, but we prepare every case as though it will. We will handle all paperwork and negotiations on your behalf.
And if a settlement cannot be reached, we will litigate your claim in court to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
We pursue maximum compensation for your injuries.
At Ernst Law Group, compensation is not just about your sustained physical injuries. Our injury attorneys have a strong record of securing settlements on behalf of our clients. You can see examples of our success in the Case Results, where we highlight verdicts and settlements that demonstrate our commitment to maximizing recovery for injured victims.
Trusted personal Injury lawyers protecting your rights in San Luis Obispo
When you’re hurt, everything feels overwhelming. Dealing with legal problems is probably the last thing you want to face. That’s where we step in. At Ernst Law Group, we’ve spent decades standing up in court for real people. If you were injured in a car wreck, at work, or because a doctor made a serious mistake, we’ll guide you through the process and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.
Our practice areas
Car Accidents
Whether it’s a fender bender or a serious car accident, you shouldn’t be left dealing with the aftermath on your own. We help people across San Luis Obispo get the money they need for medical care, lost wages, and long-term recovery.
Wrongful Death
Losing someone you love because of another person’s carelessness is heartbreaking. Our team in San Luis Obispo stands beside families during the hardest times, working to bring justice through a wrongful death claim.
Product Liability
If you or someone you know was injured due to product liability, the company behind it should answer for the damage. We take on manufacturers and sellers who put unsafe items on the market without proper warnings or instructions.
Truck Accidents
Truck crashes often lead to life-changing injuries. We go after negligent drivers, companies, and anyone else involved. Our team knows how to dig into records and build a strong case after a crash on San Luis Obispo roads.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face serious risks every time they hit the road. When a motorcycle accident happens because of a careless driver or dangerous road condition, we step in to protect your rights and pursue full compensation for your injuries.
Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Brain injuries can change everything in an instant. We help individuals and families in San Luis Obispo take legal action after a head or spinal cord injury caused by accidents, falls, or violent impacts. We are fighting for the resources needed to heal and move forward.
Dog Bites
Dog bites or attacks can be traumatic and legally complicated. We represent bite victims in San Luis Obispo, especially children and older adults, and work to prove responsibility and recover fair damages.
How do we determine fault in a personal injury accident?
When injuries occur due to the negligence of another, there may be more than one party liable.
Victims should seek compensation from all parties involved in the accident that caused their injuries.
First, to find anyone liable for your injury, you must first determine fault. To do so, you will need to demonstrate that the injury was caused by the defendant’s action or lack of action.
What is the potential impact of comparative fault in California?
Comparative fault laws in California allow personal injury victims to recover damages based on their percentage of fault in the accident.
For a victim to recover full compensation, they must not be found guilty of any wrongdoing that may have led to their injuries. In California, a victim who is claiming comparative fault must be less than 50% liable for the accident that led to their injuries.
Then, their compensation will be reduced by the percentage of their fault.
The defendant will likely try to downplay their fault and play up the victim’s fault. This can be prevented by working with a personal injury lawyer to ensure your side of the story is properly told in court.
Potential damages in a San Luis Obispo personal injury lawsuit
Some damages may include economic losses, such as medical bills and lost wages.
Other injuries are mental and do not have easy-to-read bills attached to them, such as pain and suffering. These include emotional trauma, loss of companionship, and depression.
In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the defendant’s conduct was especially reckless, malicious or willful, going beyond mere negligence.
Our San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyer will not only fight to get you maximum compensation for your physical injuries but also any emotional trauma or reduced quality of life.
Our hope is that knowing your case is in the hands of professionals who will fight for you can help ease some of your anxiety. We ensure that insurance companies will not take advantage of you by offering settlements that don’t even cover your economic damages.
Work with us to get the maximum compensation to get your life back.
How long does it take to settle a personal injury claim?
Insurance companies settle some personal injury claims within a couple of weeks, while others can take years to settle.
During these cases, you will have multiple appointments with your lawyer to discuss strategy and decisions.
It’s essential to remember that any claim for damages can take a considerable amount of time. You must be patient and maintain your composure throughout the entire process of working with an attorney.
The personal injury lawyers at Ernst Law Group understand the challenges these cases present, which is why we’re always available to support our clients throughout the process.
Get in touch with a San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyer today
Ernst Law Group’s personal injury lawyers are ready to help you reclaim the peace of mind that your accident has cost you. Our personal injury lawyers can handle a wide range of cases, including car accidents, construction accidents on both personal and public property, slip and fall injuries, dog bites, product malfunctions, and dangerous road conditions, among others.
With our decades of expertise and location-specific knowledge, we are the best option for your needs.
Our attorneys can offer you a free, no-obligation case analysis of your situation. To schedule an appointment with one of our San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyers, contact us today.
Commonly asked personal injury questions
There are several reasons why victims may benefit from hiring a personal injury lawyer.
The most important reason to hire an experienced personal injury attorney is that it allows you to focus on your personal recovery instead of worrying about the many details involved in filing your legal claim for damages.
Our lawyers will take care of all the paperwork, document gathering, and investigatory work.
Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately after the accident is critical because the sooner they can get to work on your case, the more likely it will be that you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
A personal injury lawyer is more likely to get you more compensation than you can get on your own.
Finally, a personal injury lawyer will prevent the defendant’s legal team from bullying you or shifting blame.
Other lawyers know that they can boss around individuals without representation, shift the blame onto them, or get away without paying them a fair settlement. When you work with a personal injury attorney, you can prevent this from happening.
Working with a personal injury attorney is a long-term commitment. Some cases can take years to resolve, so you have to choose someone whom you trust. It’s also important that you feel comfortable speaking with your attorney since you’ll likely spend a lot of time working with them throughout your claim.
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, you should ask them several questions:
- How long has this personal injury attorney been practicing law?
- What personal injury cases have they handled before?
- Have they ever worked with clients from your background (occupation, age, gender)?
- What is their success rate?
- How challenging do they foresee your case being?
- Are they willing to put you in touch with previous clients?
- How many cases do they take on annually?
- Who can you call in the office to ask questions throughout the case?
It is extremely important that you do not make any statements, officially or otherwise, to your insurance company or the other party’s insurance company without your lawyer’s permission.
Insurance companies are looking out for themselves. They are simply trying to get you to make a statement that benefits their case and prevents you from getting a personal injury settlement.
Do not make any statements over the phone or in person.
Insurance companies will record these conversations and use them against you in court. Instead, tell them that they can contact your lawyer for additional information. Get their contact information and direct your lawyer to answer their questions.
This will prevent you from accidentally saying anything that could invalidate your case.
It depends. Only some personal injury cases require police presence.
For example, car accident cases almost always require police to contain the scene, help clear debris, and take statements. They will also issue an accident report.
However, other personal injury claims relating to minor incidents such as slip and falls where no illegal acts caused the injury likely don’t require police to attend to the scene. Similarly, medical malpractice injuries likely do not require calling the police.
When the personal injury is more serious, police will often be notified to look into whether or not the personal injury was caused by some sort of criminal act.
Call your attorney first, and they can advise you on how best to proceed with contacting the police.
If anyone is in a life-threatening situation, call 911 and request emergency services.
Under California’s personal injury law, you have two years to file a lawsuit after sustaining personal injuries.
After this time, you will no longer be able to file a lawsuit and be heard in court.
This means that when your case is urgent in nature, it’s important that you file your personal injury lawsuit before the two-year statute of limitations expires. Otherwise, you won’t be able to seek compensation for your injuries and losses.
If you’re going after someone in court for personal injury damages, your lawyer will start this process by submitting an initial statement that includes facts about what happened and what damages were caused.
The other party can then file their own response with a Statement of Defense.
At this point, the other party will likely offer settlement options to the victim to attempt to avoid court.
If a trial is necessary, you will take your evidence to court. This involves presenting evidence of damages and negligence, having witnesses testify, and providing specific details about the case to a judge and/or jury.
This is why a personal injury case can take years to be settled, as court dates can be delayed, and you must work with multiple schedules.
