Frequently Asked Questions For A Personal Injury Lawyer
Do you have questions about your case? Wondering what steps you should take next? The Mason Law Firm is here to provide answers. At The Mason Law Firm, we understand that you might have a lot of questions after an injury. Below you will find questions our personal injury lawyer is frequently asked.
We’re here to help you, your friends or family members navigate through the legal system, no matter your personal injury case. We will aggressively represent you to ensure each one of our clients is getting the care they need while going through a personal injury claim.
The Mason Law Firm exists to help you deal with the legal headaches and to provide you with the correct information you need to navigate through your claim. You can rest assured that you are in good hands. Mason Rashtian will work tirelessly to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve.
1. Do I need a lawyer for my accident, or can I handle the insurance claim myself?
You may be able to handle it yourself if the claim involves only vehicle damage, no injuries, and no dispute about how the accident happened.
However, if you were injured, the decision becomes more complicated. The insurance company may accept that a crash occurred but dispute fault, whether the crash caused your injuries, the treatment you needed, or the value of your claim. In that case, it is worth speaking with a personal injury lawyer.
If you choose to handle your claim, be especially careful about settling while you are still receiving treatment or do not yet know whether you will need future care.
Before representing injured people, I (Mason Rashtian) defended personal injury claims for insurance companies and their insureds. I can review the facts with you and give you an honest assessment of whether hiring a lawyer makes sense. Call The Mason Law Firm at 661-270-5677 for a free consultation.
2. How do I choose a personal injury lawyer in Santa Clarita?
Look for a lawyer who regularly handles your type of injury claim (personal injury) and can explain how they would investigate the accident, evaluate your medical evidence, and deal with the insurance company. Ask who will actually work on your case and what experience they have with disputed fault, settlement negotiations, and litigation.
At The Mason Law Firm, Mason Rashtian focuses exclusively on injury cases. He has litigated personal injury claims since 1997, including nearly a decade defending insurers and their insureds. Today, he personally manages every case and knows his clients by name.
A useful consultation should leave you with a clearer understanding of how the lawyer would approach your facts, not just a list of awards or promises about the outcome.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: How to choose a Personal Injury Lawyer: McDonald’s or Spago?
3. Does it help to hire a personal injury lawyer who used to defend insurance companies?
It can. Before representing injured people, Mason Rashtian defended personal injury claims for insurance companies and their insureds. That experience helps him recognize where an insurance company may challenge fault, question whether an injury was caused by the accident, point to gaps in treatment, or dispute the value of a claim.
For clients, the benefit is a lawyer who can anticipate those arguments and address them with evidence. His background offers a useful perspective, though no lawyer can guarantee a particular result.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: What the Insurance Company Knows That You Don’t (Because I Used to Work For Them)
4. Will I work directly with Mason Rashtian on my case?
Yes. The Mason Law Firm is a small firm consisting of Mason and his assistant, Nicole. Mason handles case strategy, and both he and Nicole know their clients and communicate with them directly. Clients can reach the firm by phone, text, or email.
When comparing lawyers, ask who will make decisions about your case, who will speak with the insurance adjuster or defense lawyer, and whom you can contact when you have a question. You should know who will be working on your case before you hire the firm.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: How to choose a Personal Injury Lawyer: McDonald’s or Spago?
5. Do I need to hire a personal injury lawyer near where my accident happened?
Not necessarily. What matters is whether the lawyer has experience with your type of case and can handle it effectively in the county where a lawsuit may need to be filed.
The Mason Law Firm is based in Valencia, in the Santa Clarita Valley. Mason Rashtian has represented injured clients throughout California, from Sacramento to San Diego. During your consultation, ask whether the firm handles cases in the county connected to your claim and how it would manage your case from its Valencia office.
6. I felt fine after a car accident, but my neck or back started hurting days later. Do I still have a claim?
Possibly. Pain after a crash can appear later, especially with neck injuries such as whiplash. A delay in symptoms does not automatically rule out a claim, but the insurance company may question whether the accident caused them.
If you develop pain, get a medical evaluation. Tell the medical professional when your symptoms began, describe them accurately, and mention any relevant prior injuries or conditions. Keep a record of your symptoms and medical visits. A personal injury lawyer can then review the medical evidence and assess any dispute over what caused your injuries.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: Why You Feel Fine After an Accident, Until You’re Not
7. I saw my regular doctor after the accident but forgot to mention the crash. Is that a problem?
It could complicate your claim. If you saw your doctor soon after the accident but the visit note does not mention it, the insurance company may question when your symptoms began or whether the crash caused them. However, one omission does not decide the entire case.
At your next visit, tell your doctor that you forgot to mention the accident. Explain when it happened, what symptoms you noticed, and when each began. Be accurate about any prior injuries or symptoms, too.
Do not ask your doctor to make the earlier note appear to say something you did not tell them at the time. A personal injury lawyer can review the full medical timeline and help address the omission.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: Why You Should Tell Every Doctor About Every Injury After an Accident
8. The other driver admitted fault. Why is the insurance company still disputing my claim?
The other driver’s admission can be important evidence, but it may not resolve every part of your claim. The insurance company may still dispute how the collision happened, whether it caused a particular injury, whether treatment was necessary, or how much compensation is owed. California’s negligence jury instruction California’s negligence jury instruction treats fault, causation, and harm as separate questions.
Keep the police report, photographs, witness information, repair documents, and medical records. Mason Rashtian’s experience defending insurance claims helps him identify what the insurer is disputing and what evidence may address it.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: How Does Insurance Work if the Other Driver Is at Fault?
9. Should I give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement?
You are not required to give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement. So, you can report the accident without agreeing to a recorded interview.
If you decide to give a recorded statement, keep in mind the adjuster may ask detailed questions before you know the full extent of your injuries. Best practice is to ask what information the adjuster needs and consider speaking with a personal injury lawyer before agreeing to a recorded statement.
However, dealing with your own insurance company is different. Your policy may require you to cooperate with its investigation, which could include giving a statement. Review your policy and get advice from a personal injury lawyer before giving a statement to your own insurance company. The California Department of Insurance advises drivers to notify their insurer and explains that it may request a written or recorded statement.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: Should You Call the Other Driver’s Insurance Company After a Car Accident?
10. What if the driver who hit me has little or no insurance?
You may still have options. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on an applicable auto policy may provide compensation if the other driver has no insurance or too little to cover your injuries. MedPay or health insurance may help with medical bills. Depending on the facts, another person or business may also be responsible.
Coverage depends on the policies and the circumstances, including who owned the vehicle and who was driving. Bring your auto insurance declarations page to a consultation so a lawyer can start identifying the available coverage. The California Department of Insurance explains that uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and medical payments coverage are distinct types of auto insurance.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: Why You Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
11. Can I bring a claim if I had neck or back pain before this accident?
Yes, you may be able to. A prior condition does not automatically prevent a claim. In California, you may seek compensation if the accident made that condition worse, even though you cannot recover for the condition as it existed beforehand. See California Civil Jury Instruction 3927.
The key question is what changed after the accident. Your earlier medical records, new or increased symptoms, treatment, and changes in your ability to work or manage daily activities may help show the difference. Tell your treating providers and lawyer about the prior condition. An accurate account of how you were doing before and after the accident gives them a better basis to evaluate your claim.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: How Pre-existing Medical Conditions Affect Personal Injury and Accident Cases.
12. Can I bring a slip-and-fall claim if nobody saw me fall?
Yes, you may be able to. An eyewitness can help, but one is not required to show what happened. Photographs of the hazard, an incident report, surveillance footage, people you told shortly afterward, and medical records may all help establish the circumstances of your fall.
The central questions are what caused you to fall and whether the property owner or another responsible party failed to use reasonable care. California’s premises liability instruction also requires a connection between that failure and your injury.
Photograph the area if you can, report the fall, and ask promptly that any surveillance footage be preserved. The condition may be cleaned up, and video may be overwritten.
Best practice would be to consult with a slip and fall lawyer, i.e. one who handles slip and fall cases.
Before opening The Mason Law Firm, Mason Rashtian worked for insurance companies, and in his capacity as an insurance defense attorney, he represented defendants in slip-and-fall cases (premises liability), including Ralphs Grocery Stores, management companies and general contractors.
Since founding The Mason Law Firm, Mason only represents Plaintiffs, and in that capacity, he has represented countless clients who sustained injuries from falling in grocery stores and retailers (Ralphs, Walmart, the 99 Cent Stores, Lowe’s, Target, and Albertsons), and in stairwells and common areas of business and apartment complexes.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: Slip and Fall Accidents in Santa Clarita: What You Need to Know Before You Talk to Anyone Else
13. Who may be responsible if I was injured while riding in an Uber or Lyft?
It depends on who caused the crash. The rideshare driver, another motorist, or both may be responsible.
The available insurance also depends on the driver’s status in the app. In California, specific rideshare insurance requirements apply while a passenger is in the vehicle, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. The California Public Utilities Commission explains these coverage periods.
Save your trip receipt, screenshots showing the ride details, the driver’s information, photographs, and any messages in the app. Those records can help establish that you were on an active trip and identify which policies may apply.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: What Uber and Lyft Don’t Want You to Know After a Rideshare Accident in California
14. Can I make a claim if a dog bit me in California and the owner says the dog never bit anyone before?
Yes. Under California Civil Code § 3342, a dog owner can be liable for a bite that occurs in a public place or while you are lawfully on private property, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. So, an owner’s claim that the dog was previously gentle does not, by itself, defeat your case.
If bitten by a dog, it is crucial to immediate get medical care, photograph your injuries, and record the owner’s name and contact information. Where the bite happened and the surrounding circumstances still matter, so a lawyer can review those details with you.
As a Santa Clarita dog bite lawyer, Mason Rashtian has represented numerous clients who were injured, both minors and adults, in dog bite cases.
For a detailed discussion, please visit our blog entitled: Dog Bites Are On The Rise With Delivery Drivers in Los Angeles
15. How long do I have to make a personal injury claim in California?
For many personal injury cases, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit. That rule comes from California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.
Claims against a public entity can have a much earlier deadline. A personal injury claim generally must be presented to the entity within six months. Presenting that claim is a separate step from filing a lawsuit, and a further deadline may apply afterward. See Government Code § 911.2.
Other exceptions may also affect the time available. Have a lawyer review the facts promptly rather than relying on a general deadline to decide when to act.
Contact Us Free Of Charge
At The Mason Law Firm, we will meet with you to discuss your potential claim free of charge. We know the small list above is not comprehensive, so if you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us at 661-270-5677 or send us an email.
We help those injured in all of Los Angeles County, including Santa Clarita Valley, and the San Fernando Valley.