Have you or a loved one been hurt in an accident in Stockton caused by the carelessness of another person? If you have been the victim of an accident in Stockton, you may feel stressed and confused about your next steps.

It is important that you know that you have several options to choose from, including the ability to file a personal injury claim for injuries you sustained in car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, accidents on other people’s property, and rideshare accidents. You may be entitled to compensation for medical treatment, loss of earning capacity due to an injury or disability, and property loss, as well as pain and suffering.

An experienced attorney can be of great benefit to you. They can help you gather the necessary information to prepare your claim and can file your claim for you. Though you can go through the process of filing a personal injury claim on your own, a skilled lawyer can mean the difference between winning or losing your case.

Founded in 2002 by James G. Onder, OnderLaw is dedicated to serving those injured and seeking justice in the Stockton area. Our firm has been recognized for excellence by several top legal companies such as Super Lawyers, The American Trial Lawyers Association, The American Society of Legal Advocates, and more.

If you have been hurt in an accident in Stockton or the surrounding area, do not delay in contacting our office today to schedule a free consultation.

About Stockton

The county seat for San Joaquin County, Stockton is the 13th largest city in California and is home to a diverse population of over 310,000. The city is full of green, with more than 100,000 trees, and has been dubbed the “Best Tree City” by Sunset Magazine.

The city of Stockton is flourishing, and the population continues to grow with each passing day. The city is in close proximity to many attractions such as the California Coast, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite National Park. Additionally, there are many opportunities for recreational activities in Stockton with its professional sports teams, an Olympic-sized ice rink, and the Delta waterway.

Stockton is the home to several notable higher education institutions such as The University of the Pacific, California State University Stanislaus-Stockton, San Joaquin Delta Community College, Humphreys University and School of Law, to name just a few.

Many people have chosen Stockton to be their home in The Golden State, and it is easy to understand why. The city offers a fantastic quality of life and has many characteristics and attractions that make it a great option for those seeking to find a balance between city life and living in nature.

How a Stockton Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

A personal injury attorney can be an asset to you and your case. When you hire OnderLaw, we can help you gather documents, medical information, and other details that are relevant to your case in order to file a claim. Additionally, we can negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies to demand a more significant payout. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to a considerable amount more than what was initially offered by the insurance company.

Unfortunately, insurance companies are not trying to pay you the full amount of compensation owed to you. Instead, they are seeking to profit off you and your case, which is why they will attempt to offer you as little as possible in damages following your accident. Without a lawyer, it can be difficult for you to negotiate the amount of compensation owed to you. This can leave you unable to afford medical bills and other expenses associated with the accident.

With a skilled lawyer from OnderLaw on your side, you can rest easy knowing that the more difficult and confusing aspects of filing a personal injury claim are taken care of by an attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced with these types of cases.

Have you been injured in an accident in Stockton? Trust in the lawyers at OnderLaw to provide you with top-notch legal representation.

Common Injury Claims in Stockton

At OnderLaw, our lawyers are experienced in a multitude of personal injury claim types, such as:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Accidents involving motor vehicles are a common occurrence in Stockton. Some of the most common types of accidents we see include:

Premises Liability Accidents

Should a property owner or manager fail to take the necessary steps to ensure that their property is hazard-free, their negligence may lead to someone becoming severely or fatally injured. Some of the most common premises liability claims we handle include:

  • Brain injuries
  • Workplace accidents
  • Wrongful death
  • Burn accidents
  • Construction site accidents
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Poor security accidents
  • Accidents which occur at school
  • Dog bite accidents
  • Elevator/escalator accidents
  • Theme park accidents
  • Snow and ice accidents
  • Accidents involving inadequate maintenance
  • Water leaks or flooding accidents
  • Accidents involving exposure to toxic fumes or chemicals

Worker’s Compensation Accidents

If you were injured at work, it is likely that your employer has workers’ compensation insurance coverage. These policies have you, the injured worker, in mind. Through these policies, you are able to receive compensation for your injuries to help facilitate medical treatment and receive a portion of lost wages if you were injured while working. Any of these types of accidents may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits:

  • Motor vehicle accident (car, truck, or commercial vehicle)
  • Slip-and-fall accident
  • Accidents involving flying objects/falling debris
  • Accidents involving heavy machinery
  • Accidents involving exposure to hazardous fumes or chemicals
  • Workplace accidents involving physical violence or conflict

Nursing Home Abuse Accidents

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is a common occurrence. Many nursing homes operate as franchises, and as such, aren’t able to provide their workers with appropriate pay for the work they’re engaging in. This insufficient pay can lead to apathy and negligence on the job. Some of the most common types of nursing home abuse that occur are:

  • Misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of illness
  • Delayed or neglected diagnosis for illness
  • Delayed or neglected diagnosis for injury
  • Financial exploitation of residents with access to wealth
  • Abandonment or neglect
  • Dehydration and malnutrition
  • Slip-and-fall accidents which may result in severe or fatal injury
  • Physical or sexual abuse
  • Psychological or emotional abuse

Common Injuries Suffered in Accidents in Stockton

When another person fails to exercise caution and good judgment, their poorly executed actions may lead to an accident that severely injures the other party involved. The injuries that result from an accident may be life-altering not only for the injured party but their family as well.

The injuries sustained in an accident can lead to the injured party losing their ability to work and provide for themselves and their families. Additionally, they may not be able to afford the medical bills and other expenses that may come up as a result of the accident.

The injured party and their family should not be held financially responsible for these costly bills. The at-fault party should be held responsible for the expenses and other losses of the victim.

Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries

If you were wounded in a car accident in Stockton, you might have suffered severe injuries, such as:

  • Lacerations or abrasions
  • Scrapes
  • Head or neck injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Soft-tissue damage
  • Sprains or strains
  • Concussions
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Spinal damage
  • Paralysis
  • Broken bones
  • Burn injuries

Premises Liability Accident Injuries

If you were injured on someone else’s property, your injuries may be severe. Some of the most common injuries that result from premises liability accidents are:

  • Head and neck injuries
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Sprains or strains
  • Dislocated joints
  • Drowning
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Concussions
  • Burn injuries
  • Dog bites
  • Lacerations
  • Fractured or broken bones

Worker’s Compensation Accident Injuries

The injuries you may sustain while on the job may have devastating and lasting effects on your life. Some common workplace injuries include:

  • Brain injuries
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Sprains or strains
  • Concussions or brain injuries
  • Dismemberment or amputation
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Burn injuries

Nursing Home Abuse

Though it’s hard to think about, nursing home abuse is a reality these days. If someone you love has been abused in a nursing home, they may have sustained some of these injuries:

  • Bruises
  • Infections
  • Bedsores
  • Choking
  • Sexual or physical abuse
  • Overdose or missing doses of medication
  • Head or neck injuries
  • Fractured or broken bones
  • Slip-and-fall injuries
  • Abandonment
  • Dehydration or malnutrition
  • Emotional turmoil as a result of neglect

What Compensation Am I Entitled To?

The amount of compensation owed to you depends on several factors. One of the most important considerations in determining benefits owed in a personal injury case is the severity of your injuries. However, compensation for victims of accidents caused by someone else’s negligence is calculated by determining the extent of their economic damages and non-economic damages. Punitive damages are less common, but may also be sought in some cases.

Economic Damages

Economic damages consist of the expenses you have incurred and the expenses you may be responsible for in the future as a result of your accident.

  • Medical bills and expenses — these expenses include all the money spent toward healing. This includes medical bills, copays, prescription costs, and other expenses related to your medical care. Copies of medical bills and receipts are good ways to track these expenses.
  • Lost earnings — all money lost as a result of your inability to work due to an accident. This includes time missed due to recovery, appointments, or lost earning potential due to disability. Your past pay stubs and time cards can be used to calculate any lost wages.
  • Damaged property — personal items that were damaged or destroyed as a result of your accident. This includes vehicles and belongings. If you have the original receipt for the item, that’s good. If not, find out what it will cost to replace the item or get an estimate for necessary repairs.

Non-economic Damages

Non-economic damages include all non-monetary, intangible suffering. This includes:

  • Physical pain —pain that results from injuries related to your accident.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life — loss of the ability to participate in recreational or other activities you enjoyed before your accident.
  • Emotional trauma — emotional turmoil that results from your accident, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Mental stress — the knowledge of living with an injury, the changes it may make in your life, or the potential financial woes you may experience as a result of your accident.

There are several ways to document these types of damages. For example, it is important for you to keep track of receipts for any treatment you received in your pursuit of emotional recovery. Journaling and other forms of record-keeping may be helpful in securing the full amount of compensation available to you for these damages.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are a tool the courts use to punish and discourage malicious intent or reckless behavior. Awarded in a small number of specific cases, they can only be awarded when substantial evidence proves the other party acted with malice or negligence.

California Accident Statistics

Accidents occur in the state of California and across the nation each day. Here is a quick snapshot of the statistics in California:

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were a total of 3,606 deaths as a result of motor vehicle collisions in California in 2019, with single-car collisions and multi-car collisions representing 56% and 44% of all accidents respectively.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded a total of 483.3 non-fatal workplace accidents across private, state, and local government sectors in 2019. In the same year, the Department of Industrial Relations reported a total of 451 fatal workplace accidents that took place in the state of California, with men making up 414 of all total deaths.

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Lawsuit in Stockton

In California, the statute of limitations for victims seeking to file a personal injury claim is 2 years from the date the accident occurred. Should you miss the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit, your case may be dismissed by the court. If that takes place, you will lose your right to pursue compensation through the court system. That is why it is critical for you to seek legal counsel as soon as possible so that you can have the best chance of recovering compensation for your injuries.

For government claims, in California you have up to 6 months from the date the accident occurred to file a lawsuit against the appropriate government entity.

Resources For Victims in Stockton

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Stockton, these resources may be useful to you:

Hospitals in Stockton

Dameron Hospital

Address: 525 Acacia St, Stockton, CA 95203

Phone: (209) 944-5550

St. Joseph’s Medical Center – Stockton

Address: 1800 N California St, Stockton, CA 95204

Phone: (209) 943-2000

San Joaquin General Hospital

Address: 500 W Hospital Rd, French Camp, CA 95231

Phone: (209) 468-6000

Law Enforcement in Stockton

Stockton Police Department

Address: 22 E Market St, Stockton, CA 95202

Phone: (209) 937-8377

Stockton Department of Motor Vehicles

Department of Motor Vehicles – Stockton

Address: 55 S Lincoln St, Stockton, CA 95203

Phone: (800) 777-0133

OnderLaw is Your Go-To for Legal Representation After an Accident

If you have been injured in an accident in Stockton, look no further than OnderLaw to help you negotiate for the full amount of compensation you deserve after your accident.

Call us to schedule a FREE consultation. Our firm does not receive a single dime from you unless we get compensation for you. Our skilled and experienced attorneys are prepared to help you get the money you deserve to help you get back to your life.