Callahan & Blaine, PC represents injured people throughout Orange County and across the state as personal injury attorneys in California. Tustin residents hurt on the I-5, the SR-55, or on local property have a firm nearby that is built for trial.
Common Causes of Personal Injury in Tustin
Most personal injury claims in Tustin follow a preventable collision or a hazard that a careful party would have addressed. Traffic on the I-5 and the SR-55, heavy surface streets such as Red Hill Avenue and Tustin Ranch Road, and pedestrian activity around The District at Tustin Legacy all contribute to serious injury incidents across the city. The most common causes our team handles include the following.
- Car accidents and other motor vehicle collisions, often on the I-5 and the SR-55
- Large commercial truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bus and public transit accidents
- Premises liability, including slip and fall injuries
- Wrongful death
Two of these categories generate the most claims in the city, and each has its own page for a closer look at how these cases are built. You can read more about our work on Tustin car accident claims and truck accidents in Tustin.
Types of Injuries Our Tustin Attorneys Handle
Accidents in Tustin produce injuries that range from short-term harm to permanent, life-altering conditions. Our team handles the full range, with the depth of preparation that catastrophic claims require. Traumatic brain injuries can affect memory, speech, and motor function, and many require lifelong care. Spinal cord injuries can lead to partial or complete paralysis and the need for extensive rehabilitation and home modification. We also represent people who have sustained severe burns, broken bones, internal organ damage, and soft tissue injuries. For a deeper look at two of the most serious categories, see our pages on brain injuries in Tustin and spinal cord injuries.
California Personal Injury Laws That Affect Your Claim
California law shapes what you can recover and how long you have to act. Three rules matter most in a Tustin personal injury case.
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule. You can recover damages even when you are partly at fault, and your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If you are found to be twenty percent at fault for a crash and your damages total one hundred thousand dollars, your recovery is reduced to eighty thousand dollars. But what happens when the at-fault party is a public agency rather than a private driver? That situation carries a much shorter deadline, which is covered next.
The statute of limitations for most California personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury, under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. In a wrongful death case, the two-year period runs from the date of death. When the claim is against a government entity, such as a public bus or a hazard on public property, you must first present a written claim to that agency within six months under the Government Claims Act. You can review the state deadlines directly through the California Courts Self-Help Guide. Missing a filing deadline is irreversible, so you should act promptly.
Compensation Available to Tustin Injury Victims
Tustin personal injury victims may pursue both economic and non-economic damages, whether the claim resolves through a settlement with the insurance carriers or through a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses tied to the injury. These include medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket costs connected to the incident and the recovery that follows.
Non-economic damages account for harm that does not arrive as a bill. These include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Insurance carriers routinely undervalue these losses, so an attorney calculates the full value of a claim with support from medical and economic professionals before any number is accepted.
How a Tustin Personal Injury Attorney Strengthens Your Case
An attorney raises the value of a claim by building evidence the insurance carrier cannot dismiss and by preparing every case as though it will be tried. Our process begins with a full investigation of the accident and the preservation of evidence, medical records, and witness accounts. We then calculate the complete value of your damages with economic and medical professionals, negotiate directly with the insurance carriers, and prepare the case for trial when a fair settlement is not offered.
Edward Susolik
CEO, President, and Senior Trial Attorney
Edward Susolik leads Callahan & Blaine, PC and heads the firm’s complex litigation and insurance practice. He has been named to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 attorneys in Southern California for many consecutive years. He and the firm’s trial attorneys prepare catastrophic injury cases for trial rather than treating settlement as the only outcome.
With decades of courtroom success across California, our attorneys are prepared to fight for the outcome you deserve.
Why Choose Callahan & Blaine, PC for a Personal Injury Claim in Tustin
Callahan & Blaine, PC has represented injured people throughout California since 1984, more than four decades of trial work. The firm is built on a roster of more than thirty experienced litigators who prepare each matter for trial, which is what gives clients leverage in settlement discussions with insurance carriers. Our team handles catastrophic injury claims with the medical, economic, and investigative resources these cases demand, and we maintain steady communication with every client through the conclusion of the matter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tustin Personal Injury Claims
The answers below address the questions Tustin injury victims ask most often.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Tustin, California
Most California personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. If your claim is against a government entity, you must present a written claim within six months. Because missing a deadline can end a claim permanently, you should speak with an attorney promptly.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was Partly at Fault for the Accident
Yes. California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, so you can recover damages even if you share fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If you are found to be twenty percent at fault, your recovery is reduced by twenty percent.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover in a Tustin Personal Injury Case
You may pursue economic damages such as medical bills, future care, lost wages, and property damage, along with non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. The full value depends on the facts of your case.
Do I Need an Attorney to File a Personal Injury Claim
You are not required to have an attorney, but insurance carriers have significant resources and routinely work to reduce what they pay. An attorney investigates the incident, calculates the full value of your losses, and prepares the case for trial, which strengthens your position in settlement discussions.
How Much Is My Tustin Personal Injury Case Worth
The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injury, the cost of current and future medical care, lost income, and the impact on your daily life. Our team works with medical and economic professionals to calculate the full value before any settlement figure is accepted.
Contact Callahan & Blaine, PC to Submit Your Potential Case
Callahan & Blaine, PC has represented injured people throughout Orange County and across California since 1984. Our trial attorneys prepare each Tustin personal injury case with the investigation, medical support, and courtroom readiness that serious claims require, and we keep clients informed at every stage.
If you or a family member has been injured by the negligent actions of another party in Tustin, California, the sooner your case is reviewed, the more can be done to protect it. Contact us to submit your potential case and a member of our team will follow up with you.
