Experienced California Kern County Personal Injury Attorney
Suffering an injury because of someone else’s negligence can be a nightmare. You end up missing work, but the medical bills and other expenses keep coming. You deserve fair compensation, but the pressure is on to settle quickly, for less than what you are rightfully owed. At McKnight and McKnight Law, APC, our personal injury attorney has recovered millions for injured clients and has built a long-standing reputation in Bakersfield for hands-on, results-driven representation that puts local families first.
Our personal injury attorney offers a free initial consultation to answer your questions about your accident and to explain your rights in California. He represents people throughout Kern County, including Bakersfield, Arvin, Delano, Wasco, Shafter and Ridgecrest. Please call our firm, McKnight and McKnight Law, APC, at 661-578-5669 or contact us by email to get started.
Protect Your Claim After An Accident
The steps you take immediately after an accident can strongly affect both your medical recovery and your personal injury claim. To help protect your rights, it is important to:
- Seek medical attention immediately: Even if symptoms seem minor, injuries such as concussions, internal trauma and soft tissue damage may not appear right away. Prompt treatment also creates critical medical documentation.
- Document the scene thoroughly: Take photographs of the vehicles, roadway, visible injuries, weather conditions and anything that may have contributed to the accident. Collect witness names and contact information.
- Do not sign anything from the insurance company: Early offers are often lower than what the case may truly be worth, especially before future treatment costs are known.
- Stay off social media: Photos, comments and activity updates can later be used by the defense to challenge the seriousness of your injuries.
- Speak with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement: Insurance adjusters may ask questions in ways that shift blame or reduce the value of your claim.
Taking these steps early helps preserve evidence, strengthen your case and position you for the fullest recovery available under California law.
We Cover A Full Range Of Personal Injury Cases
Our attorney knows California personal injury law inside and out. Our firm represents people in all types of accidents, including:
- Auto accidents: We handle all aspects of the claims, from the property damage aspect to medical bill recovery, for victims of distracted driving collisions and hit-and-runs
- Truck accidents: These complex claims may involve commercial carriers, federal regulations and multiple liable parties.
- Unsafe products: It takes aggressive legal guidance to make a manufacturer admit their product was defective.
- Unsafe premises: Slips and falls due to common hazards and negligent security claims are unfortunately common.
- Brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries have devastating consequences, and compensation needs to cover long-term care, lost earning capacity and more.
- Oil production accidents: Oil companies move quickly to protect themselves and control their losses after an accident.
- Construction injuries: Unsafe site conditions and third-party negligence may give rise to a personal injury claim.
- Fatal accidents: We help families pursue wrongful death claims after the loss of a loved one.
- Dog bites: Scarring, infection and emotional trauma after a dog attack deserve compensation.
To recover the full compensation you are due, you should discuss your case with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Cases
What seems initially like a straightforward personal injury case often turns out to be more complex. Instead of trying to handle it yourself, speak with our experienced lawyer today. Please take a look at the questions below to find answers to commonly asked questions.
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
There are no upfront costs involved in hiring a personal injury attorney. These cases are taken on contingency fees, which means that you do not pay us anything unless we recover compensation for you. When we win a jury award or negotiate a favorable settlement, we take our fee from the compensation you receive. If we do not get compensation for you, you pay us nothing.
Wouldn’t it be faster to just take the insurance company’s first offer?
It would likely be faster, but not better. Insurance companies are not here to serve you. They are a business, and they are here to make money. Their first offer may be far less money than what’s fair.
Remember that you may need compensation for a range of losses, including medical bills, lost income, lost benefits, pain and suffering, property damage and possibly more. Insurance companies are not just going to hand out that amount of compensation without a fight. You need an attorney to protect your interests.
Will I have to go to court for a personal injury case?
The overwhelming majority of cases settle out of court, using negotiation, mediation services or another method of alternative dispute resolution. Most of the time, neither side in a lawsuit wants to go to trial, because it is time-consuming and costly for all parties involved.
However, when the opposing party, usually an insurance company in these cases, refuses to offer a fair settlement, your case may need to proceed into the court system. Our attorney has the experience and tenacity it takes to fight an insurance company in court. We know what type of evidence we need to make a strong case for full and fair compensation for our clients.
Free Consultation With Our Bakersfield Personal Injury Attorney
To discuss your case with a California personal injury attorney, call 661-578-5669 or fill out the contact form on this website. Hablamos español.