Oxnard is a city in Ventura County, California, of around 208,000 people. It’s part of the Greater Los Angeles area and boasts a vibrant economy and culture. Founded in 1903 by Henry T. Oxnard, the city was built around a factory Oxnard and his brothers built in the 1890s to process sugar beets. The factory and beautiful surroundings attracted immigrants and Americans from far and wide, and when the Union Pacific railroad put in a new rail line to service the growing commercial activity, the town grew up around it.

Since then, Oxnard has grown as a commercial, agricultural, and cultural hub of the Ventura/Thousand Oaks/Oxnard metro area. Naval bases at Point Hueneme and Point Mugu brought more new industry to the area after World War II, thanks to Oxnard’s large deep-water port, including aerospace, telecom, and large-scale manufacturing companies. The vibrant industry and agriculture of the area mean that businesses like the area. The natural beauty of nearby locations like the Channel Islands National park and Oxnard’s beaches mean Oxnard has something for tourists and locals alike.

Have you been in an accident in Oxnard that was caused by another party’s negligence? Did this accident end in serious injury for you or someone you love? If so, you may be eligible for compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. The attorneys at OnderLaw can assist you with filing a claim and getting the help you need after a serious injury.

Call us today for a free consultation and let us help you get restitution for your injuries and move on with your life.

How Can a Lawyer Help with My Personal Injury Claim?

Filing a claim for compensation may seem as simple as filling out an insurance form, but there are many possible obstacles to overcome, and having a lawyer assist with your claim can give you an advantage in several key ways.

We work hard, so you don’t have to. Building and filing a comprehensive claim for compensation takes an eye for detail and a lot of time. If you’ve just been injured in an accident, you certainly have better things to do with your time than interviewing witnesses and taking calls from insurance adjusters. When you have an attorney from OnderLaw assisting you, we take on any and all work associated with obtaining compensation for you, including building your claim, gathering evidence and documents, interviewing expert witnesses, and composing a strong demand letter. We handle the logistics of your claim so you can get back to recovering from your injury or helping your family through this ordeal.

Skills and experience. Filing a claim requires adherence to a number of statutes and dates, as well as knowledge of the claims process and familiarity with the parties involved. An experienced attorney can do more than write a strongly worded letter. We can provide a roadmap for obtaining compensation that is backed by years of experience. We can help you avoid legal pitfalls and novice mistakes that may get your claim delayed or denied and make sure the work is done right the first time.

We’re known around here. It may seem hard to believe, but reputation is a factor in injury claims. Those who deal with personal injury claims and related laws are a small community, and chances are we’ve dealt with the insurance company that is handling your claim for compensation before. A demand letter on our letterhead may carry more weight than a demand letter written by an individual, and it can mean the difference between getting a fair settlement offer and getting nothing at all.

Get all the compensation you’re owed. Estimating the amount of compensation to demand based on the facts of your accident and injury can be difficult. Losses like medical bills or property damage are easy to tally, but when it comes to non-material losses, such as mental anguish or loss of enjoyment of life, you need an experienced hand to guide you. A reputable attorney can review past cases and fall back on their experience to help you reach a number that compensates for all your losses, not just the ones you can see.

Insurance company tactics. Insurance adjusters are skilled at making you believe they have your best interests at heart when in reality, they are simply protecting their customer from liability and looking after their own bottom line. They are paid to find a reason to reduce or deny your claim, and they aren’t always totally honest when they do so. They may try to convince you that your claim isn’t worth the amount you’re requesting or that the information you provided does not adequately support your claim. They may advise against hiring an attorney because they know that they have a better chance of getting you to accept a paltry settlement if you represent yourself. A good attorney will take the lead on dealing with the insurance companies and make sure they don’t try to intimidate or mislead you.

We don’t mind going to court. A good attorney will prepare your claim from the start as if they plan on going to trial. Even though the large majority of claims are settled out of court, handling your claim as if it’s going before a judge or jury from the outset means we are always prepared to reject a low settlement offer and prove your case in court. This can change the cost-benefit equation for an insurance company. Court is expensive, and the costs of litigation can often be more expensive than the cost of a fair settlement. This gives you an advantage in negotiations and may mean more compensation in your pocket.

Common Injury Claims in Oxnard

Here are some of the more common types of accidents and claims we handle in Oxnard and the surrounding areas:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

The busy streets of Oxnard and the surrounding area are prime spots for vehicle crashes. Some common claims for vehicle accidents include:

Premises Liability Accidents

Accidents on another person’s property can range from slipping on a spill to falling into an unsecured swimming pool. Other types of accidents include the following:

Workers’ Compensation Claims

With Oxnard’s large number of industrial and commercial businesses, workplace accidents are commonplace and cover a wide variety of possible claims, including:

  • Commercial vehicle accidents
  • Machinery accidents
  • Offshore rig accidents
  • Slip and fall claims
  • Falling object claims
  • Falling from heights claims
  • Repetitive motion injury claims
  • Industrial accidents
  • Toxic exposure claims
  • Construction site accidents

Nursing Home Abuse Accidents

California’s growing aging population and the frequent short-staffing of facilities mean that nursing home abuse is more common than it should be. There are many types of claims that may arise in nursing homes, such as:

  • Financial abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Psychological abuse
  • Physical abuse
  • Malnutrition/dehydration
  • Incorrect medication claims
  • Preventable illness claims
  • Slip and fall claims
  • Neglect
  • Abandonment

Common Types of Injuries from Accidents in Oxnard

Even a minor accident can end in serious injury. Here are some injuries we see regularly in various types of claims:

Motor Vehicle Injuries

A car or truck does not need to be traveling at high speed to cause an injury. We see many different types of injuries from motor vehicle crashes, such as:

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Spinal cord injury/paralysis
  • Broken bones
  • Whiplash
  • Concussion
  • Internal organ damage
  • Lacerations
  • Amputation
  • Sprains and strains
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Burn injuries

Premises Liability Injuries

Something as simple as an unsecured rug or a step down that isn’t properly marked can cause various types of injuries, as can other hazardous conditions on the property, including:

  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Sprains and strains
  • Dislocations
  • Lacerations
  • Internal injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Dog bites
  • Escalator/elevator injuries

Workers’ Compensation Injuries

You deserve to be able to work in a safe place, but even under the best conditions, preventable accidents can still happen and may cause the following injuries:

  • Broken bones
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Sprains and strains
  • Burns
  • Lacerations
  • Amputations
  • Repetitive trauma injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Hearing loss
  • Internal injuries
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Toxic exposure illnesses, such as mesothelioma or pneumoconiosis
  • Soft tissue damage

Nursing Home Abuse Injuries

It may seem hard to believe, but in most cases, injuries inside nursing homes are more common than injuries to the elderly in the community. Some common injuries include:

  • Neglect
  • Abandonment
  • Preventable illness
  • Stolen property
  • Bedsores
  • Bed Rail injuries
  • Abuse trauma
  • Malnutrition/dehydration
  • Broken bones
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Emotional distress
  • Psychological trauma

What Compensation Can I Obtain?

The amount of compensation you’re due is calculated by reviewing what actual losses you’ve suffered as a result of your injury. Generally, the more serious your injury, the more compensation you should demand from the responsible party.

Compensation depends on the extent of certain specific losses or damages. The three main types of damages are economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic damages, or special damages, are any losses that have an actual dollar value attached, such as:

  • Lost wages. If you’re forced to take time off from work due to your injury and lose income as a result, you can recover compensation for any lost pay now or in the future.
  • Medical bills. A serious injury often results in expensive medical care. You can be compensated for any hospitalization costs, emergency room fees, ambulance fees, cost to purchase medical devices, prescription medication, office visits, or rehabilitation.
  • Property damage. An accident that ends in serious injury can also end in damage or destruction of property. You might be able to be compensated for repairing or replacing any damaged personal property.

Non-economic damages, or general damages, are any losses that are not easily quantifiable and include the following:

  • Pain and suffering. Compensation for pain and suffering is meant to make up for the psychological and emotional toll of going through the traumatic experience of a serious injury.
  • Loss of consortium. You can receive compensation for losing the companionship and support of a loved one due to a serious injury.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life. A serious injury can often leave you unable to enjoy the activities you once cherished. You can obtain compensation for this loss.

Punitive damages are not compensatory but are intended to punish the wrongdoer. They are only awarded in cases of extreme malice, oppression, or fraud and carry a much higher burden of proof than compensatory damages.

California Accident Statistics

Here are some statistics on some of the more common accidents in Oxnard and elsewhere:

  • Per the IIHS, California led the nation with 3,316 fatal vehicle crashes in 2019.
  • The Department of Labor states that the total dollar amount issued to cover medical bills and compensation for workers’ compensation claims thus far this year in California is over $657 million.
  • Per the National Floor Safety Institute, half of all accidental deaths in the home are caused by falls.
  • Falls are the leading cause of hospital visits in the United States.

Statute of Limitations in California

California law stipulates that you have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for compensation after an injury. For most injuries and accidents, this limit is two years from the date of the injury or one year from the date the injury was discovered.

For medical malpractice claims, the limit is one year from the date of the injury.

For any lawsuits filed against government agencies, the statute of limitations is six months from the date of injury.

Resources for Accident Victims in Oxnard

When you’ve been injured, you likely need the help of emergency services. We’ve included the contact information of some local agencies to help you.

Local Hospitals

St. John’s Regional Medical Center

1600 N Rose Ave, Oxnard CA 93030

805-988-2500

Community Memorial Health System

2361 E Vineyard Ave, Oxnard CA 93036

805-981-5011

Local Law Enforcement Offices

Oxnard Police Department

251 S C St, Oxnard CA 93030

805-385-7600

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office

800 S Victoria Ave, Ventura CA 93009

805-654-2380

California Highway Patrol Ventura

4656 Valentine Rd, Ventura CA 93003

805-662-2640

Oxnard Department of Motor Vehicles

If your accident involves a car or truck crash, you should report it to the local DMV office as soon as possible, and remember to get a copy of the report for your records.

Oxnard DMV

4050 Saviers Rd, Oxnard CA 93033

800-777-0133

Call OnderLaw Today for a Free Consultation

If you’ve been injured, don’t wait any longer to get the help you need. Call the attorneys of OnderLaw for a free consultation, and let us help you move on with your life after an accident or injury. Call today.