If you have been injured in Santa Cruz or the surrounding area due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another party, you have the legal right to pursue a claim for your damages. Our firm assists victims in navigating the recovery process based on the specific facts of their case.
You have the legal right to be represented by counsel whose role is to advocate for your interests and pursue the recovery available under California law. Our firm focuses on providing evidence-based representation to navigate the complexities of your claim.
Over $2B+ in Reported Recoveries For Clients*
Helping You Navigate the Financial Aftermath of an Injury
Attorney’s fees are owed only if there is a recovery.
*Past results depend on the specific facts of each case and do not guarantee a similar outcome.
At Jacoby & Meyers Injury Lawyers, our dedicated Santa Cruz personal injury lawyers help you navigate the complicated legal process and address communications with insurance companies so you can focus on your healing and your family.
We understand the stress and worry that can follow an accident. We are here to advocate for you and help you move forward.
Call us at (408) 341-6883 or visit our contact page today to schedule a free initial consultation. We will listen to you, answer your questions, explain your options, and discuss next steps regarding your potential claim.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle
At Jacoby & Meyers, our Santa Cruz personal injury attorneys have been helping injured Californians for decades. During this time, we’ve assisted clients involved in a wide range of incidents, including:
- If you have been injured in a vehicle collision, the Santa Cruz car accident lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers provide representation to navigate the insurance claim and litigation process. We focus on identifying liable parties and documenting damages to pursue a recovery available under California law.
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and falls
- Dog attacks
- Construction accidents
- Brain injuries (TBI)
- Uber accidents
- Lyft accidents
- Wrongful death
- and more
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What To Do If You Are Injured In a Santa Cruz Accident
There are many types of personal injury cases, and the appropriate steps to take after an accident depend largely on the circumstances. However, certain actions can help protect your health and your ability to pursue a claim.
Some of the things you should consider doing after an accident are:
- Immediately seek medical attention. Even if you don’t think your injuries are serious, get evaluated. Many injuries are not apparent immediately but can cause long-term pain and disability.
- Follow your doctor’s orders and stick to your treatment plan.
- Report the incident by notifying the proper authorities and the owner or manager of the property, if the accident occurred on private property such as a business or another person’s home.
- Document everything. Take photos or videos of your injuries, the accident scene, and anything that seems relevant to the accident.
- Keep a journal and document how your injuries impact your life, including your pain level each day.
- Be cautious on social media. The things you post may be used against you to try to deny or devalue your claim.
- Consider speaking with an attorney before providing statements to an insurance company.
- Contact an experienced Santa Cruz personal injury lawyer to discuss your situation.
These tips, along with guidance from counsel, may help protect you and your rights.
Proof You Need in a Santa Cruz Personal Injury Claim
To be successful in a California personal injury claim, you must generally establish these elements:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care. (For example, in California all drivers owe a duty of care to act reasonably and responsibly to avoid harming others. That includes driving safely and obeying traffic laws.)
- The defendant breached that duty of care by their negligent or wrongful actions.
- The defendant’s negligent or wrongful actions caused your accident.
- You suffered actual damages because of the defendant’s breach of duty.
The duty of care is the foundation of your California personal injury case. An experienced Santa Cruz personal injury lawyer can help identify and present relevant evidence to support these elements.
Some common types of evidence your attorney may use to prove your claim include:
- Photographs and video evidence that document the accident scene and your injuries. This may include nearby surveillance camera footage that captured the incident or the moments just prior to or after the incident.
- Medical records that detail your injuries.
- Police reports of an accident scene or of an incident reported to the authorities.
- Eyewitness testimonies that provide an account of the incident and potentially provide an unbiased account of what happened.
- Expert witness testimony that may be used to support your claim. Expert witnesses could include medical professionals, accident reconstructionists, and others, depending on the facts of your case.
- Medical bills and invoices or receipts for out-of-pocket expenses incurred because of the accident.
- Information related to the defendant’s actions. This could vary widely depending on the type of personal injury case you have.
Knowing where to look for evidence and how to collect it can play an important role in the outcome of a claim.
The Santa Cruz personal injury lawyers at Jacoby & Meyers utilize over 50 years of experience to identify and preserve evidence in support of your claim. Our focus is on building a comprehensive case to pursue a recovery that reflects the documented value of your damages under California law.
You Should Act Promptly After a Personal Injury Incident
In California, personal injury claims are subject to a statute of limitations, which establishes a legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Failure to initiate legal action within this timeframe generally results in the loss of your right to pursue a recovery. Because deadlines vary—specifically for claims against government agencies or in medical malpractice—it is important to confirm the timeline applicable to your case.
In California, the general statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. However, there are exceptions to the two-year rule.
If you file a claim against a government entity in California, you have a much shorter deadline, and you must follow a specific procedure for filing your claim.
The two-year statute of limitations could be tolled or extended under a few circumstances.
Consulting with a qualified Santa Cruz personal injury lawyer can clarify the deadline applicable to your case.
Another reason you should act quickly is that important evidence to support your case can be lost or diminished over time. It is vital to collect and preserve that evidence as soon as possible.
The dedicated personal injury attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers Injury Lawyers immediately investigate accidents, analyze causation and fault, and gather documentation to support a client’s claim.
Contact a Santa Cruz Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another party, you have the legal right to pursue a claim for your damages. California follows a pure comparative negligence standard, meaning that if you are found to be partially at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Our firm focuses on identifying all contributing factors to advocate for an outcome based on the facts of the incident.
Working with an experienced Santa Cruz personal injury lawyer can help you understand your options and pursue your claim. At Jacoby & Meyers, we have been representing injured Californians for more than 50 years.
Call us at (408) 341-6883 or complete our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation.