San Jose Personal Injury Representation
High-Quality Legal Guidance for Clients
Accidents happen, but a serious personal injury can change your life. At Habbas & Associates, our goal is simple: to provide the legal guidance our clients need and deserve. As personal injury lawyers in San Jose, we can help you pursue compensation for your accident, including reimbursement for medical bills, lost wages, hospitalization costs, and more. Developing an effective personal injury case isn’t easy, but with the help of our skilled legal team, you have a better chance of achieving the result you need.
Over the years, our firm has recovered more than half a billion dollars in compensation for injured clients. We have refined our legal skills to create the most effective strategies for our clients. Together, we can use them to help you.
A personal injury case generally involves these elements:
- Proving that you sustained an injury and/or other economic damages
- Showing that another party—such as a driver or company—was negligent
- Demonstrating a link between your damages and the negligence
Learn more about how a San Jose personal injury attorney can help protect you from the negligence of others. Call (888) 387-4053.
- Bicycle Accidents
- Birth Injuries
- Brain Injuries
- Burn Injuries
- Car Accidents
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Construction Accidents
- Defective Products
- Dog Bites
- Drunk Driving Accident
- Motorcycle Accident
- Negligence
- Other Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Premises Liability
- Slip and Fall
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Truck Accidents
- Wrongful Death
When to Hire a San Jose Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence, whether from a car accident, medical malpractice, premises liability, product defect, or another scenario, it’s best to hire a personal injury attorney as soon as possible! Even if you feel like your claim is straightforward, a simple situation can quickly become complicated when dealing with big insurance companies.
Other reasons you may need to hire a personal injury lawyer include:
- Catastrophic Injuries—Injuries that result in long-term disability or permanently change your quality of life demand maximum compensation. You have costly medical expenses and loss of income that need to be covered, and sadly, many insurance companies will try to minimize your claim so they can avoid a big payout.
- Complex Liability—Injury cases that involve shared fault, commercial insurers, or government entities are inherently complicated. You will have to argue liability effectively to recover the compensation you deserve.
- Insurance Pushback—If the at-fault party’s insurer is trying to pressure you into accepting an offer that is less than fair, claims you share fault, or pushes back in any regard, you need to have an attorney by your side to protect your rights!
Don’t just hire any San Jose personal injury attorney to fight for you. Turn to a reputable, prestigious firm that has demonstrated its commitment to clients time and again.
Testimonials
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"He answered all of our questions every time we had one and that's why we are so happy and blessed to have Habbas and Associates on our side. I strongly recommend them."Feliciano & Maria Verzosa
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"The experience I had with Laura was exceptional and will 100% refer her and Habbas to anyone seeking an attorney for an accident. She made the experience a great one."Juan A.
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"We are extremely happy with the seamless experience that they provided. All in all, you'd wish you never have to run into any injury situations but if you do then Habbas law firm is the place to go."Neil T.
Legal Process of Personal Injury Lawsuits in San Jose, Ca
The legal process for personal injury lawsuits in California follows a fairly structured path. Here’s a breakdown of the major steps involved:
- Initial Incident and Medical Treatment: After an accident, the injured person should seek immediate medical care to assess and document injuries. Medical records are vital for proving the extent of harm later.
- Consultation with a Personal Injury Attorney: The injured party meets with a personal injury lawyer to evaluate the strength of the case. Most attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win.
- Investigation and Claim Filing: The attorney investigates the incident, gathers evidence, and may file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance. The goal is often to reach a fair settlement before going to court.
- Filing the Lawsuit: If no settlement is reached, a formal lawsuit is filed in civil court. The defendant is served legal papers detailing the claims against them.
- Defendant’s Response: The defendant has 30 days to respond, either by answering the complaint or filing a motion to dismiss. They may also present defenses or counterclaims.
- Discovery Phase: Both sides exchange information through documents, written questions, and depositions. This phase can take months and helps each side build their case.
- Pre-Trial Motions and Settlement Talks: Attorneys may file motions to resolve issues or dismiss the case entirely before trial. Many cases settle during this phase through negotiation or mediation.
- Trial: If no settlement occurs, the case goes to trial before a judge or jury. Each side presents evidence and arguments, and the court decides who is at fault and what damages are owed.
- Verdict and Judgment: If the plaintiff wins, the court orders the defendant to pay damages. If the defendant disagrees with the outcome, they can file an appeal.
- Appeals (if applicable): Either side may appeal if they believe legal errors affected the trial’s outcome. Appeals focus on legal issues, not re-evaluating evidence or witness credibility.
In California, personal injury claims must generally be filed within 2 years from the date of the injury (shorter if against a government entity).
Compensation Available to Injured Victims
In a personal injury lawsuit, compensation (called “damages”) is meant to make the injured person "whole" again. In California, there are three main types of damages you can pursue:
Economic Damages (Special Damages)
These cover actual financial losses resulting from the injury. Examples include:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage (e.g., damage to your car)
- Rehabilitation or therapy costs
- Household help or caregiving services due to injury
These are usually backed by documentation like bills, receipts, and pay stubs.
Non-Economic Damages (General Damages)
These are for non-financial, emotional, or psychological impacts. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship or consortium (for spouses)
- Scarring or disfigurement
These are more subjective and often debated during settlement or trial.
Punitive Damages
These are rare and not meant to compensate the plaintiff, but to punish the defendant for particularly reckless or malicious behavior.
Examples of when punitive damages might apply:
- Drunk driving
- Intentional assault
- Fraud or gross negligence
In California, punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of the defendant's wrongdoing.
Get Started On Your Case Today
If you’re ready to contact a lawyer, pick up the phone and call our office to schedule your first consultation. When you meet with us, we can help you understand the unique circumstances surrounding your injury and create an individualized strategy to help you recover full and fair compensation for your injury and other damages. To better serve those in need, we also have offices in Modesto, Sacramento & Oakland.
Don’t hesitate to contact our firm! Call today and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our award-winning attorneys to learn more about how we can help you.
They do everything possible to help you get through tough times.Daniel L.
Whether you have questions or you’re ready to get started, our legal team is ready to help. Complete our form below or call us at (888) 387-4053.