Latest News

After being in a personal injury incident, it’s normal for survivors to contemplate whether it’s worth pursuing a legal case. It may feel hopeless and not worth the headache. Researching some pain and suffering settlement examples in California can help victims feel more confident about filing their claim.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer That California Residents Trust

For decades, the personal injury attorneys at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor have worked tirelessly to secure the compensation our clients deserve. We don’t believe in giving up or settling for less than what’s fair, which should include compensation for your pain and suffering.

Our team works to resolve legal matters as efficiently and quickly as possible, so our clients can move on with their lives. However, we aren’t afraid to go to trial if necessary. After suffering through a traumatic event, you deserve to work with a lawyer who treats you with empathy and respect, and advocates for a fair settlement that covers all of your losses, not just economic.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

A personal injury is a broad category of incidents that were the fault of another party. They can include:

• Car accidents. In 2023, there were 4,061 fatal car accidents in California. Accidents and liability can range in severity, making it essential to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you understand what options are available to you.
• Premises liability. These cases happen when an owner or occupier of a property fails to safely maintain it. It can include accidents where grocery store shoppers slip on spilled liquids, or hotel visitors fall down stairs due to broken handrails.
• Product liability. These cases happen when a product is defective, either in its design or manufacturing. It can also include false marketing, such as a cleaning product with incorrect instructions, leading to hazardous exposure.
• Workplace injuries and illnesses. In 2023, there were 63,900 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in California’s private industries.

How Compensation Is Determined in California

Courts determine compensation based on the losses suffered by the victim after the incident. They allow recovery for two main types of damages:

1. Economic damages. These damages are based on the monetary losses suffered after an incident. It can include your medical bills, lost income due to missing work from your injury, and damage to your personal belongings during the incident, such as your clothing or cell phone.
2. Non-economic damages. These damages cover emotional losses, such as pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Pain and suffering can include physical pain and conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD. Combined with economic damages, this can make your compensation request substantial.

It’s important to have clear documentation after your incident to prove pain and suffering damages. This not only includes physical evidence, but detailed notes written by you about your injuries and how they have affected your life.

Keeping a detailed journal with dates and times of the losses you’ve incurred can help show courts the severity of your pain and suffering. Track disruptions to your life, such as lack of sleep, grief, humiliation, or strained relationships, since your injury. Log all of the hardships that have occurred as a direct result of the negligent act.

Cases We’ve Fought and Won Compensation For

Because of the wide range of incident types and specific details of cases, the amount of compensation you may receive can vary drastically, and pain and suffering can contribute considerably to a maximized settlement. At Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, we’ve been able to fight and secure substantial settlement amounts for our clients, including:

• $500,000 for a client who developed a rare blood clot in his carotid artery after a car moved into his path while he was biking in Malibu
• $1,410,203 for a client who was struck by an elderly driver and, after a jury verdict and comparative negligence reduction, recovered nearly a million dollars despite a pre-trial maximum offer of $200,000
• $7,094,003 for a client who suffered third-degree burns over a significant portion of his body from an arc flash while evaluating a switchgear at Qualcomm, resulting in permanent injuries
• $285,000 for a client who fractured his foot and required two surgeries after a dog escaped its cage and attacked him while he was conducting a real estate appraisal
• $500,000 for a client who was shot in the pelvis during an armed robbery outside his apartment
• $2,000,000 for an elderly client who suffered multiple fractures after an 18-foot decorative arch fell on him at a festival in Orange County

Even our lower-value settlements have helped our clients seek brighter futures after their incidents. Our team understands that a fair settlement should not only cover your economic losses, but also the pain and suffering you have endured.

FAQs

What Are Punitive Damages?

Punitive damages are a third type of damage that can be pursued in specific cases where the wrongdoer acted with extreme malice, negligence, oppression, or fraud. These damages are meant to further punish the wrongdoer and deter any similar behavior from happening in the future. Your lawyer can help you determine if punitive damages apply in your case.

How Long Do I Have to File My Personal Injury Claim in California?

Victims generally have two years to file their personal injury claim in California. While this timeline may seem long, it’s critical to act quickly after an incident. Evidence tends to fade fast, such as witness memories or footage of the accident. Your losses will continue to pile up the longer you wait.

What Is California’s Comparative Negligence Rule?

California courts use a comparative negligence rule to assign a percentage of fault to everyone involved in the incident. Any money awarded to the victim is reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if you were speeding before your car accident, you may be assigned 30% fault. If the driver who hit you was texting, they may be assigned 70% fault. If you won a $100,000 settlement, it would be reduced by 30%, making your compensation $70,000.

Choose an Experienced Personal Injury Law Firm in California

California residents choose to work with Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor because of our years of professional experience, competency, and compassion. We know how devastating a personal injury can be for victims. Reach out to us today to schedule your confidential consultation. During your appointment, your lawyer will be able to explain California’s complex laws and your options so you can take back control of your life.

When consumers purchase products, they have a reasonable expectation that those goods are safe to use. Defective, poorly designed, or improperly labeled products can all cause serious injuries. If you’ve been hurt by a defective item, you might be wondering how to file a product liability claim in California. The process can be more complicated than you might think.

Immediate Steps to Take After an Injury

If you’ve been injured due to a defective product, the steps you take immediately following the incident can have an impact on your eventual claim. Before doing anything else, you should:

• Seek medical attention. You should always prioritize your health and safety. Additionally, the medical records produced during your care can be used as evidence in your claim.
• Preserve the product. Don’t dispose of or attempt to fix the defective product. You may need it as evidence.
• Document everything. If you can, take photos of the product, surroundings, and your injuries before you get them treated. Write down all the details of what happened while they’re still clear, and be sure to keep any correspondence with doctors or the company.

How to Initiate Your Claim

Once you’ve sought medical care and documented the incident, it’s time to consult a product liability attorney. An experienced attorney can evaluate the particulars of your case and let you know whether you have the basis for a solid claim. If you do, your attorney can help you:

• Determine liability. Sometimes, it’s not clear which party is liable in a product liability claim. The manufacturer is often to blame, but the retailer or distributor may also be held liable in some circumstances.
• File paperwork. California places strict statutes of limitations on filing product liability claims. Be sure to start the process of completing and filing your paperwork as quickly as possible to avoid running up against those deadlines.
• Engage in discovery. Both sides have to exchange relevant information and evidence during a process known as discovery. You can make requests for documents, interrogatories, and depositions of any parties involved, including witnesses.
• Evaluate evidence. Bring all the evidence you collected in the initial stages to your attorney for evaluation. They may want to see your medical records, the product itself, and any correspondence with the product manufacturer or retailer.
• Determine damages. You’re probably aware that you can be compensated for medical bills and lost wages stemming from the use of a defective product. However, your attorney may be able to identify potential damages that you might otherwise overlook.

Settlement Negotiations

Courtroom trials are expensive and can take a long time to complete, so claimants and plaintiffs generally prefer to settle claims outside of court. This process involves ongoing settlement negotiations, which your lawyer can often perform on your behalf. Your lawyer can use all the evidence you gathered and evaluated in earlier steps to build a case for what damages you should be awarded and how much they are worth.

What Happens if My Case Goes to Trial?

In some cases, claimants and plaintiffs are unable to come to a settlement agreement, and the case must go to trial. When that happens, your attorney can present your case before a judge and jury, and the opposing party can present their defense. The jury or judge then determines liability and renders a verdict.

How a Lawyer Can Help

In 2024, personal injury and product liability case filings increased by 78%. The range of compensation packages awarded was significant, with some as low as $840 and others as high as almost $374 million. The average payout in 2020 was $2,448,978.

These claimants didn’t get the compensation they deserved alone. They worked with product liability lawyers who were able to identify all potential damages and utilize their knowledge to fight for better compensation from the insurance companies. You stand to gain significantly from hiring a lawyer.

FAQs

What Is the Product Liability Law in California?

The product liability law in California holds manufacturers, distributors, and retailers strictly liable for any injuries that occur due to defective products. Liability is determined by the product’s condition rather than the seller’s fault, and the product liability laws cover everything from design defects to manufacturing flaws and a failure to warn of potential dangers.

What Are Typical Claims for a Product Liability Case?

Typical claims for a product liability case are focused on manufacturing, design, and marketing defects. Manufacturing defects occur when an error in production leads to a dangerous product being sold to consumers. Design defects involve inherently unsafe products. Marketing defects include a failure to provide adequate instructions or warn consumers of potential dangers.

What Is the Time Limit for Product Liability Claims?

The time limit for product liability claims in the Golden State is two years for personal injury and three years for property damage. These statutes of limitation begin when you discover the injury or damage. However, if the injury isn’t immediately apparent following the incident that caused it, you may only have one year from its discovery to file your claim.

What Are the Steps to Follow in Filing a Product Liability Claim?

The steps to follow in filing a product liability claim are seeking medical care for any injuries caused by the product, documenting the incident, keeping the defective product, and hiring a product liability attorney. Your attorney can help you with building a case and pursuing a settlement or, if necessary, litigating the case in court.

Hire a Product Liability Lawyer

Now that you have a better idea of how to file a product liability claim in California, it’s time to take action and hire a product liability lawyer. The team at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor can help. We’ve been in practice for more than 40 years, and in that time, we’ve used our in-depth understanding of California product liability laws to help our clients win their cases and recover hundreds of millions in damages. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.

Slip and fall accidents can occur at any time. You might be at your favorite boutique in Old Town Pasadena or visiting a friend’s apartment building. Whatever the case, victims of slip and falls often find themselves at a loss for what to do next. It is essential to know the steps to take after a slip and fall injury in Pasadena, CA, to protect your health and rights while maximizing your ability to obtain compensation.

Seek Medical Attention

Your health is always the number one priority following a slip and fall injury. You should seek medical treatment immediately, even if your injuries appear to be minor.

Seeking medical attention from a physician or other healthcare professional can help ensure your well-being and create medical documentation that directly ties your injuries to the slip and fall accident. Your medical records function as key evidence that demonstrates how the property owner’s negligence caused your slip and fall injuries.

Report the Incident

Slips and falls are common in the workplace, particularly in the construction industry. There were 79 fatal occupational falls, trips, and slips in California in 2023. The statistics are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics. These incidents accounted for 18% of all fatal work injuries in California for the year. A total of 46,653 people died in 2022 from falling at home or work in the U.S.

After addressing your immediate medical needs, report the incident to the property owner, manager, or on-duty supervisor. If your accident took place at a business establishment, like a grocery store or restaurant, request a copy of the incident report. If it happened in a rental property or public area, ensure the landlord or the appropriate city department is notified. Having a formal report is critical if your case goes to trial.

Document All Evidence

Photographic evidence is one of the greatest ways to help you prove your slip and fall case. Take pictures of the area where the accident occurred. Capture images of all features that increase your risk of falling, such as wet floors, broken staircases, poor lighting, or other hazards. If possible, take the pictures immediately before the property is repaired or cleaned.

Also, get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw what happened. The testimony of witnesses helps establish your version of events and challenges the property owner’s denial of responsibility.

Understand Slip and Fall Laws in California

California’s slip and fall laws are part of a larger area of law known as premises liability. Property owners and managers have a legal responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe. Property owners must promptly repair hazards and routinely inspect their premises, alerting visitors to any dangers they cannot fix right away. Generally, you must prove the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous conditions to prevail in a claim.

Pasadena follows the state’s comparative negligence rule, so if you are partially to blame for your fall, your award could be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if you were texting and walking when you slipped, you can still recover damages, but not as much as you would otherwise be entitled to.

Hire a Slip and Fall Lawyer

Many victims wonder if they need to hire a slip and fall lawyer for their accident. In fact, a slip and fall claim is more complicated than it might seem. Insurance companies typically seek to reduce claims or deny them outright, saying injuries are minor or blaming the victim.

A Pasadena slip and fall attorney provides full support from evidence collection to insurance negotiations and courtroom representation when needed.

About Us

At Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor, our dedicated and compassionate legal team has served the Pasadena community and those surrounding areas for decades. We are a local law firm with integrity, heart, and a track record of results that represent injury victims and their families when someone else’s negligence changes their lives.

When you sustain injuries from a slip and fall or car accident, we take action to ensure you receive justice and rightful compensation. If your slip and fall case proceeds to litigation, it may be heard at the Pasadena Courthouse, part of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, located on Hill Street in downtown Pasadena.

FAQs

What Is the Average Payout for a Slip and Fall in California?

Compensation for slip and fall cases in California varies widely, as it depends on individual case circumstances. It will depend on the extent of your injuries, medical expenses, time off work, and the future life-altering consequences of your injuries. Settlements and verdicts depend on the particular details of your case and the specific damages you have incurred.

What Are the Steps in a Slip and Fall Case?

The first step in a slip and fall case involves assembling evidence, including scene photos and witness statements, together with medical records. The injured person submits their insurance claim to the property owner’s insurance provider. Should negotiations fail to produce a settlement, the case must go through litigation stages involving discovery and negotiations before potentially reaching trial.

What Is the Most You Can Get From a Slip and Fall Settlement?

California has no statutory maximum for slip and fall settlements. Several large dollar verdicts and settlements have emerged from catastrophic injury cases that resulted in paralysis or permanent disability and wrongful death. An experienced slip and fall attorney can seek to maximize the recovery by fully documenting the extent of current and future damages.

Are Slip and Fall Cases Hard to Win?

A: Slip and fall accidents can be difficult to prove. This is because the plaintiff must provide evidence that the property owner or manager was negligent. In other words, the hazard must have been present, the owner knew or should have known about it, and the owner’s actions were the proximate cause of the accident.

Contact Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor Today

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident, contact Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor right away. Contact us today to get started.

Experiencing a personal injury can be a traumatic event, often giving victims post-traumatic stress disorder and life-altering injuries. Understanding the California personal injury statute of limitations is essential for anyone who has suffered injuries due to another party’s negligence.

It’s normal to want to seek legal justice and compensation for your pain. While money cannot change what happened, it can lift some of the financial burden.

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys

Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor is a California-based personal injury law firm dedicated to achieving positive results for our clients. We understand the lifelong trauma involved with serious injuries, so we work to protect the legal rights of California residents. We provide flexible appointment options and focus on clear communication to guide clients through the California personal injury laws.

Our team includes:

• Gregory R. Vanni, managing partner and former president of the Pasadena Bar Association
• Kevin K. Callahan, partner and president-elect of the Pasadena Bar Association
• Daniel P. Powell, partner and member of multiple trial lawyer associations
• Michael P. O’Connor, trial attorney
• Raffi H. Ohanian, who focuses on catastrophic injuries, product liability, and toxic torts

Understanding California’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, it’s required that most personal injury claims be filed within two years from the date of injury. For those filing claims against government agencies, such as in car accidents involving a city bus, you’ll have six months from the date of the injury to file a claim with that specific agency.

California courts strictly enforce these deadlines; if you fail to file within the designated timeframe, it will most likely mean a case dismissal.

The Importance of Filing Early

For those involved in a personal injury incident, filing promptly is vital to your case’s success. A major reason for this is the preservation of evidence. Over time, physical evidence at the scene of the injury can be altered or lost.

For example, skid marks may be cleaned away or property repaired, which can get rid of proof of negligence. Photos and videos taken shortly after an incident are far more reliable than those captured weeks later.

Witness memories also fade. Eyewitnesses may forget key details or become unavailable as time passes. Statements recorded soon after the incident tend to be more accurate.

Because of government delays, early filing can enable you and your attorney to quickly gather comprehensive medical documentation. It also helps when consulting accident reconstructionists or medical professionals who can provide testimony.

Court schedules and procedural requirements can add extra time to a case. Starting the claim process early can prevent additional delays related to discovery and motions. This reduces the risk that your case may miss important deadlines. Be sure to hire a Pasadena personal injury lawyer to manage these crucial deadlines during your case.

Why Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer From Our Firm?

Our team has decades of experience in securing favorable outcomes for our clientele. We customize our strategies to fit every unique case. Our attorneys represent individuals injured in a wide range of cases, including:

• Traffic and transportation accidents. In California, there were 4,428 traffic deaths in 2022.
• Defective products. Tom Beck and Greg Vanni secured a $23.2 million recovery in one case, which was partly settled and partly decided by a jury verdict.
• Dog bites. This is more common than you’d think, with 48,596 California emergency room visits for dog bites in 2022.
• Traumatic brain injuries. Kevin Callahan secured a $412,000 settlement against the City of Sierra Madre, along with a trial verdict against a neighboring property owner. These were for a traumatic brain injury sustained when our 75-year-old client tripped on an uplifted sidewalk caused by a nearby tree.
• Construction site incidents. In 2023, there were 78 fatalities on construction work sites in California.
• Slip and fall injuries. Dan Powell and Michael O’Connor won a $7,094,003 verdict for a client burned by an electrical arc flash, resulting in permanent injuries.

FAQs

Q: Can the Statute of Limitations Be Extended in California?

A: In some cases, the deadline to file can be extended through a process called tolling. Tolling means that the time during certain situations does not count toward the statute of limitations. For example, if the person filing the claim is a minor, the deadline is paused until they turn 18. Tolling makes sure people who cannot file claims immediately still have the opportunity to seek compensation within a fair timeframe.

Q: What Types of Evidence Are Important in Personal Injury Cases?

A: Important evidence in personal injury cases includes photos and videos of the accident scene, which help show how the incident occurred. Police or incident reports provide official accounts of the event. Medical records document the injuries and treatments received. Witness statements and expert testimony can explain the details of the incident.

Q: Can I Settle a Personal Injury Claim Out of Court?

A: Most personal injury cases in California are resolved through out-of-court settlements, which means both parties agree to resolve the matter without going to trial. Settlements can happen through private negotiations or alternative dispute resolution methods, like mediation, arbitration, or conciliation. These processes are generally less costly than a trial. Your attorney can evaluate any settlement offers to be sure they fairly cover your damages before you agree.

Q: What Should I Do Immediately After an Accident?

A: Prioritize your health and safety by seeking medical care right away, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Internal injuries can take longer to appear. Report the incident to authorities if necessary, and document the scene with photos. Collect contact information from witnesses and other parties involved. Do not admit fault or apologize. Contact a personal injury attorney promptly to discuss your legal options.

Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys

You and your loved ones deserve justice. Let our skilled team take over the legal process so you can focus on healing and emotional well-being.

If you have suffered an injury and are considering pursuing legal action, contact Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor. Our team provides clear guidance on the statute of limitations and the legal steps you must take. Reach out today to discuss your case in California.