Capitola Personal Injury Attorneys
Capitola Personal Injury Information
Paul D. Van Der Walde, the founder of Van Der Walde & Associates, has devoted his practice to helping those injured due to the negligence of others for the past 15 years. Van Der Walde & Associates has a long history of helping victims who have been involved in all types of serious injury matters, as well as the loved ones of wrongful death victims in Capitola, California.
Our skilled Capitola CA personal injury attorneys have compiled the following information for individuals who may have a personal injury case in Capitola. If you have any further questions regarding personal injury litigation, or have in fact been in an accident in Capitola, and you believe that the injury you suffered was caused by another party’s negligence, please contact the Capitola personal injury lawyers at Van Der Walde & Associates for a free consultation. Our Capitola CA personal injury attorneys can help you! Contact us today at (877) 862-6288!
What can a Capitola personal injury lawyer do for you?
A Capitola personal injury lawyer’s main purpose is to fight for financial compensation on behalf of clients who have suffered serious injuries as the result of the negligence of another. Some injuries associated with a personal injury lawsuit may be physical, such as brain trauma or fractured bones, while other injuries may be emotional, mental, or psychological. These injuries may result from a wide variety of accidents, such as automobile accidents, dog bites, premises liability accidents, or defective products.
Under California State law, a personal injury claim is only legitimate when it can be proven that the victim’s injuries were the result of the intentional actions or negligent behavior of another person or entity. Therefore, not every serious injury which is sustained can result in monetary compensation being recovered; meaning that even the most successful and experienced personal injury lawyer in Capitola can’t help someone who has been injured if there was no negligence involved.
Why should you hire a Capitola personal injury attorney?
If you have been injured by another person’s negligence in Capitola, and you have evidence which can be used to prove this, your Capitola personal injury case may seem fairly simple and straightforward. In fact, many personal injury cases get very complicated, especially when there are factors including injured victims, medical bills, and insurance companies involved. Every Capitola, California personal injury case has four elements, each necessitating a qualified personal injury attorney to fully delve into them in order to create a solid case on your behalf. The four elements are: Negligence, Causation, Damages, and Money.
Below, we will take a look at each element in a bit more detail.
Negligence in a Capitola Personal Injury Lawsuit
Whether or not there was actual negligence involved in an accident or injury is one of the most important parts of any Capitola personal injury case. Facts and evidence must be show to prove that negligence took place, so just saying you were injured because of someone else’s recklessness is not enough. As the plaintiff, you have to be able to prove negligence in order for a personal injury claim to be valid. This is where the proficiency of a Capitola personal injury attorney can be extremely important. A skilled lawyer will know which questions should be asked and will have the available resources which are necessary to thoroughly investigate and gathering important case related evidence. This evidence will be critical in winning a personal injury lawsuit – and receiving rightfully deserved compensation.
Causation in a Capitola Personal Injury Lawsuit
Only proving that the party acted in a negligent matter is not enough. The second element of a personal injury lawsuit is causation. After proving that the at fault party did, in fact, act in a negligent manner, you must next prove that the party’s negligent or reckless behavior actually resulted in your injuries, which requires concrete evidence. Proving causation is one of the most difficult parts of a personal injury case, which is why you should hire a skilled Capitola personal injury attorney who will be able to gather the crucial evidence and prepare the arguments to prove your case.
Damages in a Capitola Personal Injury Lawsuit
The third element of a personal injury claim are damages. Damages are a general issue, which encompass financial compensation for the pain and suffering endured by a victim of an accident. Pain and suffering may include the inability to participate in normal daily activities, depression, anxiety, the loss of enjoyment of life, and the loss of companionship in cases of wrongful death suits. For obvious reasons, it is difficult to assign a fixed dollar amount to these types of injuries. But note that, in personal injury cases, the law forces at fault parties to pay for more than just medical bills and lost wages. Therefore if an accident victim has suffered serious pain and suffering which has negatively affected their life, they are entitled to receive compensation in the form of damages.
There is no set amount that a plaintiff will receive in damages, and the amount is typically up for debate in personal injury cases. It is a complicated process, trying to determine how much money a person should be rewarded when their husband or wife has been killed as the result of another person’s negligence, as different people will have different answers.
In this situation, it is extremely important that you hire an accomplished Capitola personal injury lawyer who has the knowledge to present your case in a manner which best explains the pain and suffering which has been experienced, and how it has negatively impacted the quality of your life. Your lawyer will be able to name an amount which is fair, and then convince the judge, jury or other final decision maker that the amount should be awarded.
Money in a Capitola Personal Injury Lawsuit
The final element of a solid Capitola personal injury claim is money. It is very important, that after proving negligence, causation and damages, that you are made aware prior to the end of the case, whether or not the at fault party actually has the money require to compensate.
Spending weeks or months involved in a personal injury claim, going to court, negotiating – these are all meaningless if the at fault party does not have any insurance, money or assets with which to pay to the injured party. It would certainly be a shame if the jury awards you 400,000 dollars in your Capitola personal injury claim, and you then find out that there is no money, insurance or assets.
By hiring a skilled Capitola CA personal injury lawyer at Van Der Walde & Associates, you don’t have to worry about something like this taking place. Our skilled attorneys know how to find assets and insurance policies that less trained lawyers may not. We may also be able to find other individuals or parties who were somehow involved in causing your injury, making them partially responsible as well. They may also have policies or assets that we can thoroughly investigate in order to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
To schedule a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your Capitola personal injury case, please contact Van Der Walde & Associates at (877) 862-6288.

