Whether you are injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, or a workplace accident, you may face tremendous medical bills and need to take time off from work. If your injuries were caused by someone else, you are likely entitled to receive compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Meanwhile, if your injuries were sustained on the job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. At Krolikowski Law, our Orange County personal injury lawyer may be able to represent you in a lawsuit or claim. Attorney Adam Krolikowski also can assist Southern California employees in litigation related to sexual harassment or wrongful termination. He strives to help people with complex cases that other attorneys will not take. Attorney Krolikowski has compiled over 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of accident victims and employees.
Most personal injury lawsuits in California are pursued under a theory of negligence. This means that the plaintiff will need to prove that it is more likely than not that the defendant owed a duty to use reasonable care, but the defendant did not live up to that duty. The plaintiff also must show causation and damages. If the plaintiff was partly at fault, their damages may be reduced by their percentage of fault, but they can still recover some compensation as long as they were not completely at fault.
Car accidents can result in serious injuries, including broken bones, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord damage. Most car accidents are caused by one or more negligent drivers. Drivers can breach the duty to use reasonable care by speeding, drunk driving, tailgating, failing to obey signs and signals, and making unsafe lane changes, among other behaviors. If a personal injury attorney in Orange County can establish a driver’s negligence, a victim should be able to recover compensatory damages. These are damages meant to put the victim back in the position in which they would have been had there been no accident. Damages usually include items such as medical bills, lost income, the costs of future treatment, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Truck AccidentsTruck accidents are often devastating, due to the weight and size of a commercial truck. A truck driver may cause an accident by making a wide turn, speeding, failing to adequately secure cargo, overloading cargo, driving while intoxicated or on drugs, driving while fatigued, or failing to follow industry regulations. Sometimes there are multiple accident victims, each of them claiming against the truck driver’s insurance policy, which has a limit. It is important to investigate the accident and determine what all the contributing causes were. Other parties that may bear responsibility include the trucking company, a truck manufacturer, a mechanic, and a third-party loader. A trucking company may be held vicariously liable for a truck driver’s negligence or directly liable for its own negligent hiring, training, or supervision.
Bicycle AccidentsUnder the California Vehicle Code, bicyclists have mostly the same rights and responsibilities as people who drive cars and trucks. When a driver of a larger vehicle fails to act in a reasonably safe manner, an Orange County personal injury attorney can help a bicyclist hold them accountable for their negligence. A bicyclist has no protection against the force of a larger vehicle and may suffer serious injuries. Some ways in which a driver may cause a bike accident include driving while distracted, failing to obey traffic signs, opening a car door without looking and causing a dooring accident, or failing to give a bicyclist sufficient space.
Pedestrian AccidentsIf you are a pedestrian who was seriously injured by a driver of a motor vehicle, you may have a basis to sue for damages. Under California Vehicle Code 21950, drivers must yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the road within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Violating this rule likely means that a driver was negligent and at fault for an accident. Unfortunately, some pedestrian accidents claim the life of a victim. Their family can bring a wrongful death claim in these tragic circumstances.
Premises LiabilityIf you were injured due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, an Orange County personal injury lawyer may be able to recover compensation on your behalf from the property owner or occupier. A property owner owes a duty to use ordinary care in the management of property in order to avoid exposing visitors to an unreasonable risk of harm. A property owner or occupier may be liable if they had actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition (or created a dangerous condition) but failed to repair it or provide adequate warnings. When an owner fails to make reasonably regular inspections, this leads to an inference that the dangerous condition existed long enough for the owner to discover and fix the dangerous condition.
Police Officer and Firefighter InjuriesThe jobs of firefighters and police officers are considered inherently dangerous. People in these professions may sustain injuries in high-speed car accidents, falls, fires, and gunfights, among other incidents. Generally, under the California Fireman’s Rule, a public safety officer cannot sue someone for an injury that occurs in the line of duty. However, there are exceptions. Under Civil Code 1714.9, police officers and firefighters can bring civil lawsuits if an injury was caused by an intentional act, the actions that caused the injuries occurred after the defendant knew or should have known that a public safety officer was there, or the defendant knew or should have known of a public safety officer’s presence but violated laws or regulations designed to protect the officer.
Workers' CompensationIf you were injured or made sick on the job, you likely are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The California workers’ compensation system is a no-fault system. You can obtain benefits without showing your employer’s fault for your injuries. Likewise, your employer cannot reduce your benefits if you were partially or fully to blame for your work-related injuries. Benefits include medical care and temporary or permanent disability benefits. If your spouse died on the job, you may be eligible for death benefits.
Employment LawEmployees should not lose their jobs because of unlawful discrimination or harassment. The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) is the state anti-discrimination law. It prohibits discrimination based on many protected traits, such as color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, and age (40 or older). We handle wrongful termination claims under this law and under Government Code 12940. We also handle sexual harassment lawsuits under Civil Code 51.9, which confers generous protections.
Discuss Your Case with an Experienced Orange County AttorneyIf you were injured through the fault of someone else in Orange County, you should contact personal injury lawyer Adam Krolikowski to discuss your rights. He can help you devise a strategy to pursue all the compensation to which you may be entitled. At Krolikowski Law, we also represent workers’ compensation claimants and employees who are seeking to enforce their rights in the workplace. Contact us at (949) 269-1869 or via our online form.
You were hurt in an accident, have medical bills, and are still in pain. We can help you by presenting your claims to the insurance company and by litigating your claim to protect your rights to recovery.
California law protects injured workers by mandating rights regarding medical coverage and disability payments. We are experienced with the claims process and will litigate to ensure your right to workers compensation benefits.
Employees have rights to be free from sexual advances, or visual, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace. Sexual harassment can be stopped by using your voice and enforcing your rights.
Being fired in retaliation for complaining about sexual harassment, discrimination or dangerous conditions at work may be referred to as wrongful termination. The law provides remedies for persons fired in violation of the law.
Growing up in Huntington Beach, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. After graduating with honors at UCI, I knew I wanted to stay and practice law in California. I accepted the opportunity to complete my legal education in the State Capital of Sacramento at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. In addition to my studies, I also played rugby and became President of the McGeorge Ducks Rugby Football Club. After graduation, I passed the California State Bar Examination on my first attempt and immediately began litigating civil cases with a reputable plaintiff's firm in Sacramento. Now, with over twenty years of practice as a litigator, I am well prepared to help you with your case in state or federal courts. I lead a team of attorneys and paralegals ready to ensure you have access to care you need for your injuries, the most up to date legal research, and quality presentation of your claims to the appropriate forums in order to obtain the recovery you are entitled under the law.
We will appear in any and every court in California, state or federal, to enforce your rights.
We have a track record of winning briefs for legal issues for mediation, arbitration, trial, appeal and law & motion hearings.
The law helps the vigilant before those who delay. We will move for the swiftest justice possible for your case.
We actively participate in the legal community and are not strangers in the courthouse. Pick a guide who knows the terrain.
The Krolikowski Law Firm uses up to date technology and research tools to handle your case, keeping clients a step ahead.
All clients have their attorney's cell phone. If you need an answer, The Krolikowski Law Firm is always a text message away.
Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer | Santa Ana Workers’ Compensation Attorney | Krolikowski Law
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