Tamara is a certified copywriter and editor with over four years of experience writing legal content for some of the U.S.' best-known law firms, marketing agencies and legal service providers. She has crafted thousands of practice pages, FAQs, blog posts, case studies and long-form articles on topics such as personal injury law, mass torts and criminal law.
Tamara Armstrong
Tamara is a certified copywriter and editor with over four years of experience writing legal content for some of the U.S.' best-known law firms, marketing agencies and legal service providers. She has crafted thousands of practice pages, FAQs, blog posts, case studies and long-form articles on topics such as personal injury law, mass torts and criminal law.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Reviewed
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Santa Ana boasts a unique blend of historical significance and modern vitality. Its diverse neighborhoods, thriving arts scene and Mediterranean climate make it an attractive place to live and visit.
However, accidents and injuries can happen anywhere, and Santa Ana is no exception. A slip and fall, car collision or unexpected incident can seriously disrupt your life. That’s why we have compiled a list of top personal injury lawyers in Santa Ana with a proven track record of advocating for injured individuals.
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Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Santa Ana
Compare Top Personal Injury Attorneys
Other California Personal Injury Lawyers
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in California
When you or a loved one is injured, getting legal advice from a qualified personal injury lawyer in Santa Ana can be essential for understanding filing deadlines and other California-specific laws and regulations.
California Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is a legal time limit determining how long you have to file a lawsuit after an accident and injury. In California, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit if someone else caused your injury carelessly or recklessly. The clock starts ticking from the moment the incident happens.
However, if you have suffered an injury and are considering taking legal action, talk your case through with a personal injury lawyer. Specific situations could shorten or lengthen the time available to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you file too late, your case may get thrown out, leaving you unable to recover compensation.
California Personal Injury Laws
Various unique California personal injury laws could impact your case. Here are just a few examples of laws that differ from those of other states:
Dog Bite Liability
In California, unlike some other states, individuals bitten by a dog do not have to prove the owner’s negligence to recover compensation. The owner will most likely be liable for damages regardless of whether:
- The dog had injured someone before
- The owner knew or didn’t know that the dog might act aggressively
- The owner did or didn’t take precautions to prevent dog bites
Exceptions include the victim trespassing or provoking the dog attack.
Personal Injury Recovery Caps
In California medical malpractice cases, non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are currently capped at $350,000, but this amount will increase by $40,000 each year until it reaches a cap of $750,000. If a wrongful death is involved, the current cap is $500,000 but this is also on a schedule of increases, going up $50,000 per year until it reaches $1 million.
In car accidents, uninsured drivers may typically not recover any non-economic damages regardless of who is responsible for the crash. However, drivers without car insurance may recover non-economic damages if the person causing the accident is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Identifying Fault in California
California uses the rule of pure comparative negligence to determine fault. Under this legal doctrine, each party’s degree of fault for the accident or incident is assessed, even if they’re the injured victim. The compensation is then adjusted depending on the parties’ degree of fault. In practice, this means a driver with $100,000 in damages who is found to be 30% at fault for the crash can only recover $70,000 in compensation.
If you are partially responsible for your accident, having a seasoned personal injury lawyer in your corner can be critical, as the other side may try to push the blame for an accident on you and argue that you have a higher percentage of fault. An attorney can level the playing field and ensure you are treated fairly.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
When you’re injured due to someone else’s carelessness or recklessness, a personal injury lawyer can guide you through the legal process and ensure your rights are protected every step of the way. They can:
- Investigate your accident and determine who is responsible
- Represent your best interests in negotiations with an insurance company
- Gather evidence such as witness statements and medical records
- Assess the worth of your claim
- Represent you at trial
Handling a car accident claim on your own can be challenging. Insurance adjusters often aim to minimize payouts, or they may deny compensation altogether. However, a skilled personal injury lawyer in Santa Ana can negotiate with the insurance company and fight hard for fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and anguish and more.
How to Find the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Santa Ana, CA
Finding an excellent personal injury lawyer involves a little homework. While our list is a great starting point, here are some additional steps you can take to find the best personal injury lawyer for your case.
- Ask friends and family for referrals. Word of mouth can be an excellent shortcut for finding a successful personal injury lawyer. Ask your friends, family and co-workers for attorney referrals.
- Utilize the internet. Getting online can be a quick way to identify attorneys near you. You can also find client reviews, credentials, and other crucial information about attorneys on the internet.
- Schedule a free consultation. Many personal injury lawyers in Santa Ana offer free case evaluations, which can be the perfect opportunity to learn more about the attorney and law firm. Get the most out of the meeting by arriving prepared with your most pressing questions.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Santa Ana in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical analysis considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses and certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education and employment background
- Scholarly lectures and writings
- Awards and honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What percentage do personal injury lawyers in California take?
Most personal injury lawyers in Santa Ana work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay them upfront. Your attorney’s fee will be a percentage of the settlement or verdict amount you recover. If you lose the case, your attorney won’t get paid. However, consider that a personal injury lawsuit typically involves other upfront expenses, such as filing fees, costs for pulling documents, expert witness fees and more.
Typically, the personal injury contingency fee percentage is around one third of the amount you recover, although the exact percentage varies from one law firm to another. Before hiring an attorney, ask about their fees and additional expenses to avoid surprises.
Be aware that California law restricts the percentage an attorney may charge in a malpractice case to 40% for the first $50,000 recovered, 33% for the next $50,000, 25% of the next $500,000 and 15% of anything over $600,000.
What types of damages could I recover with a personal injury lawsuit?
A personal injury lawyer in Santa Ana could help you recover the compensation you need to get your life back on track after suffering a personal injury. You could qualify for damages including but not limited to:
Medical Expenses
Medical bills can stack up, especially if you suffer a serious or life-changing injury. If you win your lawsuit, you could receive all necessary medical costs, such as:
• Hospitalizations
• Surgeries
• Rehabilitation
• Medical devices
• Over-the-counter and prescription drugs
• Cost of ongoing care
Pain and Suffering
Depending on the scope of your injuries, you could be entitled to non-economic damages. Such damages can include, among others: emotional trauma, physical pain and anguish, loss of life quality and disability.
Loss of Income
Lost wages could make up a considerable portion of your settlement, especially if you are permanently injured. You could qualify for loss of income, future earning capacity and other damages.
This list is not exhaustive, and what you could recover will depend on your unique case and circumstances. An attorney can determine your damages and clarify your legal options.
How do you prove a personal injury case?
Proving a personal injury claim means showing that another’s careless or reckless conduct caused your accident and injury. To establish a case, you must collect and present the relevant evidence, such as:
• Photographs or videos of the accident scene
• Witness statements
• Accident reports
• Expert witness testimony (if required)
• Medical reports documenting your injuries and treatment costs
• Receipts and statements of your financial losses
A personal injury lawyer in Santa Ana can help you gather the necessary evidence and guide you through the legal process.
