Chula Vista is the second-largest city in San Diego County and is considered one of the richest cultural, economic, and environmentally diverse areas of the U.S. The city was incorporated in 1911 and lies within the metropolitan area of San Diego. In the early years, it was the world’s leading lemon producer, but freezing weather and a drought in 1910 damaged production. Chula Vista is Spanish for “beautiful view” and was named for its scenic location between the San Diego Bay and coastal mountain foothills.

The city is home to a year-round Olympic Training Center, and in 2018, the city council approved a deal for the University of Saint Katherine to plan a satellite campus on the east side of the city. Ideal weather and 56 parks help create a family-friendly atmosphere. Residents and tourists enjoy 32 acres of water rides, slides, and fun at Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark. A nature center, historical museum, and interactive aquarium are just some of the attractions in Chula Vista. The city has planned a 500-plus acre Bayfront development with residential and world-class waterfront resorts. The development should establish thousands of new jobs and provide conference and visitor amenities to attract more tourism to the city.

The area is growing and thriving. Unfortunately, you may have been injured in an accident in Chula Vista that was caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness. If you have been involved in an accident, you may wonder what comes next. You have several options to protect your rights and seek compensation for any medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

You may be owed money for damages that result from a car accident, truck accident, dog bite, or nursing home abuse. After a severe injury in Chula Vista, you could be left with significant emotional stress and the inability to work. At OnderLaw , we recognize there is a human story behind each personal injury. Since founding the firm in 2002, our lawyers have secured over $3.5 billion in compensation for our clients.

Don’t delay. Call our office today for a free consultation. It’s important you start to protect your rights today.

A Lawyer Can Help After an Injury in Chula Vista

When you’re injured in an accident, it can have a lasting impact on your life. If you were severely injured, you may require extensive treatment and long-term rehabilitation. After a particularly serious injury, some people don’t fully recover. When you hire a personal injury lawyer from OnderLaw in Chula Vista, you and your family have the best chance to recover fair compensation.

A skilled attorney can collect the necessary evidence and information from accident reports to support your claim. They can also conduct an independent investigation. Oftentimes, the other party’s insurance company will refuse to pay or will offer a very low settlement.  Every insurance company’s goal is to settle claims for as little as possible. One of the easiest ways to do this is to deny your claim entirely or pin as much blame on you as possible.

The at-fault party’s insurance company may reach out immediately. However, any settlement they offer immediately is likely much less than fair compensation. In other words, you need an attorney to help protect your rights and stick up for you against the insurance company’s sneaky tactics.

It is also important to note that not every lawyer has the skills to represent you in a personal injury claim. You want a lawyer who has specific experience in this field and with whom you feel confident. Don’t trust your case to just anyone. The attorneys at OnderLaw will work hard to protect your interests. We have a long track record of successful verdicts and settlements. Call OnderLaw today for a free consultation.

Common Injury Claims in Chula Vista

Personal injury claims can be made after an accident or injury in a variety of instances. Some of the more common situations include:

The attorneys at OnderLaw have experience handling a wide variety of injury claims in Chula Vista, including:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Personal and commercial motor accidents happen each day across San Diego county. Vehicles can include:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Commercial vehicle accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Recreational vehicle accidents

Some of the common types of accidents our attorneys have handled include:

  • Rear-end collisions
  • Side-impact collisions
  • Head-on collisions
  • Rollover accidents
  • Sideswipe accidents
  • Single-vehicle accidents
  • Multiple-vehicle accidents
  • Rideshare collisions
  • Distracted driving accidents
  • Drunk driving accidents
  • Intersection collisions
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents

Worker’s Compensation

Nearly all employers in California are required by law to have a worker’s compensation insurance policy, no matter how large or small the company. If an employee is hurt at work or gets sick because of work, the state mandates that employees pay worker’s compensation benefits.

The benefits can include medical care, temporary disability or permanent disability benefits, death benefits, and return-to-work supplements. If a disagreement arises between you and your employer, a personal injury attorney can help protect your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation. These policies pay benefits if you were hurt in a:

  • Car, truck, or commercial vehicle accident while you were working
  • Accidents from flying objects or falling debris
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Accidents with heavy machinery
  • Exposure to hazardous materials
  • Hearing loss from noise exposure
  • Repetitive trauma injuries
  • Workplace accidents with another employee involving violence or conflict related to the job

Premises Liability Accidents

When an accident or injury is caused by the unsafe or defective condition of the property, it is covered by premises liability insurance. Property owners must keep their property in a reasonably safe condition. Failure to do so may result in a finding that they were negligent under the premises liability laws of California. Some of the common premises liability claims we handle include:

  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Elevator accidents
  • Ceiling collapse
  • Defective stairs
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Fire safety and building code violations
  • Dog or animal bites
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • School accidents
  • Theme park accidents
  • Construction site accidents
  • Accidents from poor security

Nursing Home Abuse

The laws in California mandate that nursing homes are properly licensed, inspected, and certified through several state and federal agencies. Despite this stringent oversight, nursing home abuse and neglect can occur. The nursing home resident, their family, or their heirs if the victim died, may bring action against the nursing home. Some of the common types of nursing home abuse include:

  • Neglect
  • Dehydration or malnutrition
  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Psychological abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Misdiagnosed illness or injury
  • Financial exploitation or fraud
  • Abandonment
  • Slip and fall
  • Delayed/neglected diagnosis for illness
  • Delayed/neglected diagnosis for injury

Common Injuries After Accidents in Chula Vista

If you were hurt in an accident, you may experience a lasting injury that impacts your life and the lives of those you love. The law provides for the at-fault party to be held accountable for their actions. Some of the common types of injuries in Chula Vista include:

Injuries from a Motor Vehicle Accident

Motor vehicle accident injuries in Chula Vista can range from minor to severe and can include:

  • Scrapes and lacerations
  • Muscle sprains and strains
  • Tendon and ligament damage
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Broken bones
  • Burns
  • Concussion
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Paralysis
  • Organ damage
  • Disfiguring injuries and scars
  • Limb loss
  • Knee injuries
  • Crush injuries
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Common Workers’ Compensation Injuries

Injuries at work can have a life-long impact and may result in an inability to return to work. You may also suffer an injury that requires you to change jobs. Some common workplace injuries include:

  • Sprains and strains
  • Overuse injuries, such as carpal tunnel
  • Contusions
  • Fractures
  • Brain injuries
  • Concussion
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Burns
  • Amputations
  • Crush injuries
  • Electric shock
  • Soft-tissue injuries

Common Premises Liability Injuries

Injuries on someone else’s property may result from improperly maintained structures or equipment. These injuries could be severe. Some of the more common ones include:

  • Lacerations and scrapes
  • Dog bites
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Dislocated joints
  • Drowning
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Burns
  • Fractures
  • Sprains and strains
  • Internal injury and organ damage

Common Nursing Home Injuries

Nursing homes must meet strict regulations, but elder abuse continues to happen. It’s difficult to think of your loved one suffering at the hands of their caretaker. Some of the common injuries they may endure include:

  • Medication overdose
  • Medications not given
  • Neglected infections
  • Bedsores
  • Sexual abuse
  • Severe bruises
  • Fractured bones
  • Slip and fall
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Choking
  • Emotional trauma
  • Mental abuse
  • Dehydration
  • Malnutrition

How Is Compensation Determined?

In California, the court separates compensation into three categories. You may be awarded damages in one, two, or all three categories depending on your situation. The categories of compensation include economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are often the first consideration in a personal injury claim. These are the actual financial losses that have occurred because of your injury.

Medical expenses – This includes all healthcare expenses related to your injury. It’s crucial to document all expenses and keep your medical records to show how your injuries have impacted your life. The cost of mental health treatment is also part of your economic damages. If you have expenses that are related to treating depression, anxiety, or PTSD, keep those records as well.

Income – These are financial losses that are related to your employment that occurred because of the accident. This includes lost time at work for recovery or attending appointments. Your lawyer will help calculate your lost earning potential if you have a permanent disability. Lost income also includes future lost earning capacity. If a permanent disability does not allow you to return to work, or you have to transition to a new line of work, the lost income will be taken into account.

Property damage – Economic damages include any personal items or personal property that was damaged or destroyed during the accident.

Non-Economic Damages

The court considers these damages for subjective, non-monetary losses related to the accident and injuries. These include:

Physical pain and suffering – You may be awarded monetary damages for pain suffered from your injuries.

Emotional trauma – This may include depression, anxiety, fear, or PTSD. It is an emotional trauma that resulted from your injury.

Mental stress – After a significant injury, you may experience financial worries that come from job loss or the strain of living with a chronic injury.

Loss of enjoyment – After a significant injury, you may be unable to do the things you used to enjoy. For example, if you can no longer take part in your hobbies, such as playing a musical instrument or riding horses, you may be compensated for that loss.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are awarded in rare instances. The award is used to curb malicious or significantly dangerous behavior and may act as a deterrent for future offenses. A jury may include this award if there’s clear and indisputable evidence that the other party was reckless, negligent, or intentionally caused damage.

Accident Statistics in California

Accidents in which people are injured happen every day across California and in Chula Vista.

Data from the National Safety Council (NSC) show there was an 8% increase in traffic deaths in 2020 over 2019. This occurred in a year when pandemic lockdowns caused people to drive 13% less than they did in 2019. This is the highest year-over-year jump the NSC recorded in 96 years.

The latest data from the California Office of Traffic Safety 2020 annual report showed a 5.1% decrease in accidents across the state from 2018 to 2019. Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities dropped as drug-impaired driving fatalities rose.

The State of California Department of Industrial Relations released their annual report in April 2021, which showed there were 451 fatalities at work in 2019, an increase of 29 deaths from 2018.

There are nearly 4.5 million dog bites each year in the U.S. One in five of those bites gets infected. In 2018, 27,000 people needed reconstructive surgery because of dog bites. From the late 1980s to 2019, the number of multiple dog attacks on a person rose from 11% to 29%.  According to State Farm data reported in the San Luis Obispo Tribune, California is the No.1 state for claims they paid out for dog bite injuries.

Chula Vista Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury

In California, you have a limited time to file a personal injury accident lawsuit for compensation. This includes:

  • Two years from the date of the injury for nearly all lawsuits.
  • Two years from the date of death in a wrongful death lawsuit. If the person died six months after an accident, but the injuries from the accident caused the death, the clock starts from the date of the person’s death and not the date of the accident.
  • One year after you discovered a medical malpractice accident, and not more than three years after the date of the injury.
  • Six months to file a lawsuit against a city, county, or state government agency involved in an accident in which you were injured.

If you don’t file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit within these time frames, the law does not allow the court to hear your case. This is why it is crucial that you engage a personal injury attorney after you’ve been injured in an accident. Your attorney will help gather evidence to support your claim and can argue with the insurance company about your compensation. At the same time, we can preserve your right to go to trial by filing a lawsuit, even if settlement negotiations are ongoing with the insurance company. Waiting too long to get a lawyer involved may mean evidence is lost. Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after any injury in Chula Vista.

Resources in Chula Vista for Accident Victims

If you or a loved one has been hurt in Chula Vista, the following resources may help you get assistance.

Hospitals

Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista

Address: 435 H Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Phone:   (619) 691-7000

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Address: 751 Medical Center Ct., Chula Vista, CA 91911

Phone:   (619) 502-5800

UC San Diego Health – Chula Vista

Address: 959 Lane Avenue, Chula Vista, CA

Phone:   (619) 502-7730

Rady Children’s Hospital

Address:  386 E. H Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Phone:   (858) 966-1720

Law Enforcement

If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact the police department to file an official accident report. In Chula Vista you will file the report with one of these two locations:

Chula Vista Police Department

Address: 315 4th Avenue, Chula Vista, CA, 91910

Phone:   (619) 691-5151

Chula Vista Police Department

Address: 201 Fourth Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91915

Phone:   (619) 691-5151

Department of Motor Vehicles Chula Vista

If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, you will need an official copy of your accident report. You’ll find a link to report your accident and request a copy of your accident report on the Chula Vista police website.

https://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/police-department/services/request-a-copy-of-a-report

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late. Call OnderLaw for Help Today

If you’ve been injured in an accident that was not your fault, or you’ve lost a loved one from someone else’s negligent behavior, call the Chula Vista personal injury attorneys at OnderLaw . Our compassionate legal team will provide personalized attention and support throughout your case. We have extensive experience, and you never pay for your initial, free consultation.

When you hire us, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you are not charged for any legal service until we win your case. Call us today to discover how we can help protect your rights and get compensation for you.