Poway Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were seriously injured because of someone else's negligence, you may be facing medical treatment, time away from work, and expenses you did not have before the accident. You may also be getting calls from an insurance company while you are still trying to understand how your injuries will affect you.

Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire represents people injured in Poway in car and truck accidents, falls, dog attacks, medical malpractice cases, and other incidents caused by negligence. Since 1978, our attorneys have represented injured clients throughout San Diego County and recovered over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements.

A Poway personal injury lawyer from our firm can investigate who was responsible, determine what compensation you can pursue, and handle the legal claim for you.

Call (619) 236-9363 or contact us online for a free consultation.

“There's really no secret about what I do…I really do care for my clients; each case gets the same kind of attention my family would get.”

Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr.

How Can We Help After an Injury in Poway?

After an accident, you may have an insurance adjuster asking questions before you have finished medical treatment. Bills may be arriving while you are missing work, and you may not know whether the settlement being discussed will cover the treatment you still need.

Our attorneys can:

• Investigate how your injury happened and who was responsible;
• Obtain accident reports, photographs, video, medical records, and other documentation;
• Locate and interview witnesses;
• Identify additional parties that share responsibility;
• Work with medical specialists, accident reconstructionists, economists, and other experts;
• Document lost income and other financial losses;
• Determine the cost of future treatment and care;
• Handle communications with insurers and defense attorneys; and
• Take your case to court if a fair settlement cannot be reached.

We also look beyond the person directly involved. A crash involving someone driving for work could involve an employer. A defective vehicle component could lead to a claim against a manufacturer. An injury on unsafe property could involve an owner, tenant, property manager, or maintenance company.

What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do We Handle in Poway?

Our Poway personal injury lawyers represent people injured on local roads, at businesses and private properties, and while receiving medical care.

Cases we handle include:

• Car accidents, including crashes on Poway Road, Scripps Poway Parkway, Pomerado Road, Twin Peaks Road, and Community Road;
• Truck accidents;
• Motorcycle accidents;
• Pedestrian, bicycle, and e-bike accidents;
• Uber and Lyft accidents;
• Slip and fall and premises liability claims involving unsafe property conditions;
• Dog bites and animal attacks;
• Medical malpractice, including diagnostic, surgical, medication, and other preventable errors;
• Product liability;
• Catastrophic injuries; and
• Wrongful death.

Each type of case raises different questions about who was responsible and what information is needed to prove it. Our attorneys investigate those issues and pursue claims against the people and companies responsible for the harm.

Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases

Our Poway personal injury attorneys represent clients dealing with injuries ranging from fractures that require surgery to permanent brain and spinal cord damage.

Common injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and cognitive impairment;
• Spinal cord injuries resulting in loss of movement or sensation;
• Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs and fractured vertebrae;
• Broken bones and complex fractures;
• Internal organ damage and internal bleeding;
• Serious burns and permanent scarring;
• Amputation and crush injuries;
• Knee, shoulder, and other joint injuries;
• Nerve damage; and
• Torn muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

For serious or permanent injuries, we also look at what you will need later, including future treatment, rehabilitation, assistance at home, and how your injuries affect your ability to work.

Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?

You do not need to know whether the law calls what happened negligence, premises liability, product liability, or medical malpractice before you talk to an attorney. The starting point is what happened and whether another person or business was responsible for your injuries.

You could have grounds for a claim if:

• A driver ran a red light, rear-ended you, or crossed into your lane;
• A business knew about a dangerous condition and failed to correct it or warn customers;
• A dog bit you while you were lawfully on public or private property;
• A defective product injured you;
• A healthcare provider's error caused additional harm; or
• A family member died because of another party's negligence or wrongful conduct.

You also need to have suffered an actual loss. That could mean medical expenses, missed income, physical pain, disability, or other harm.

Responsibility is sometimes disputed. The other party might deny doing anything wrong or argue that you contributed to the accident. A Poway personal injury attorney can review what happened, determine what additional information is needed, and explain whether the facts support a claim.

Not sure whether you have a case? Call Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire at (619) 236-9363 for a free case review.

What Compensation Can You Pursue After a Personal Injury?

If you need another surgery, cannot return to the same job, or require help with tasks you handled before the accident, your claim needs to account for those losses as well as the expenses you have already incurred.

Compensation can address:

• Medical expenses for emergency care, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and other treatment;
• Future medical care;
• Lost income;
• Reduced future earning capacity;
• Property damage;
• Other accident-related expenses;
• Physical pain and suffering;
• Emotional distress;
• Loss of enjoyment of life;
• Permanent disability, scarring, or disfigurement; and
• Loss of consortium.

California also permits punitive damages when the defendant's conduct meets the requirements of Civil Code § 3294. These damages are reserved for conduct involving oppression, fraud, or malice.

What Should You Do After an Accident?

You may already be home from the hospital or several days into your recovery by the time you start looking for a lawyer. You can still take steps to protect yourself and preserve useful information.

• Continue your medical care. Attend follow-up appointments and tell your providers about new or changing symptoms.
• Save what you have. Keep photos, video, witness information, reports, medical paperwork, receipts, and insurance correspondence.
• Keep records of missed work. Pay stubs, schedules, and employer records can help document lost income.
• Be careful with insurance requests. Do not guess about fault, sign a broad medical authorization, or agree to a settlement you do not understand.
• Stay off social media when it comes to your accident and recovery. Posts, photos, and comments could later be reviewed in connection with your claim.

If surveillance footage could have captured what happened, an attorney can request it before it is overwritten or deleted.

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in California?

California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Other deadlines apply to certain claims. Under California Government Code § 911.2, a personal injury claim against a government entity generally must be presented within six months after the claim accrues. This could apply when an injury involves a public vehicle, dangerous condition on public property, or another government-related issue.

Medical malpractice has separate filing rules. California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5 generally requires an action to be filed within three years after the injury or one year after the plaintiff discovers, or through reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury, whichever occurs first, subject to statutory exceptions.

Identifying the type of claim is important because the wrong assumption about a deadline could prevent you from pursuing it.

What if You Were Partly Responsible for Your Injury?

California's pure comparative negligence rule allows an injured person to recover compensation even when they share responsibility for what happened. The recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault.

For example, if your damages total $200,000 and you are found 20% responsible for an accident, your recovery would be reduced to $160,000.

Insurers and defendants can dispute how responsibility should be divided. Photos, video, witness accounts, reports, and information from the accident scene can help establish what happened.

Why Choose Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire?

Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire has represented injured individuals and families throughout San Diego County since 1978. We were among the first contingency fee law firms in Southern California, and our attorneys have recovered over $2 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients.

Decades of Personal Injury and Trial Experience

Our attorneys have handled cases involving car and truck accidents, catastrophic injuries, dangerous products, medical malpractice, unsafe property conditions, and wrongful death.

Several cases handled by Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire have also established legal precedents in California. Our attorneys have spent decades in California courtrooms taking on defendants ranging from individual drivers and property owners to healthcare providers, corporations, manufacturers, and government entities.

Results in Serious Injury Cases

Our results include:

• $20.3 million jury verdict involving a van rollover that left our client quadriplegic;
• $14.5 million settlement for catastrophic injuries caused by a gas explosion;
• $6.25 million settlement following a head-on highway collision; and
• $2.59 million prelitigation settlement for catastrophic injuries in a vehicle collision.

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® have recognized Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire with Tier One rankings in San Diego for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. Early in our firm's history, American Lawyer Magazine also named us one of 20 outstanding new law firms in the nation.

The Attention You Receive Matters Too

You should know what is happening with your case and have the opportunity to ask questions as they come up. Our attorneys explain your options, keep you informed, and make sure you understand the decisions being made throughout your case.

"The group of attorneys at this firm are not only competent, experienced, and thorough, but they are also kind, caring, and patient. They make sure that everything is explained thoroughly and do not get impatient when questions are repeated or the client needs further explanation. If I ever need an attorney in the future, this will be the first firm that I call."

— Maria P., Verified Client Testimonial

Talk to a Poway Personal Injury Attorney About Your Case

If you were injured because someone else failed to act safely, you have questions that deserve answers. You need to know who was responsible, what your claim should account for, and how to deal with the insurance company while you recover.

Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire can investigate your accident and pursue compensation for the losses you have suffered. Call (619) 236-9363 or contact us online for a free consultation with a Poway personal injury lawyer.