Why choose Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger?

Our Sacramento law office has been representing injury victims for almost 60 years. We have successfully recovered over $1 billion for our clients. We care about our clients and work hard to get them the compensation they are entitled to.

Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney

Item: Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger
Rating: 5
Author: Robin

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Sacramento, CA

Serious injuries can create a great deal of stress physically and emotionally, in addition to being financially draining for both you and your family. If an injury is caused by no fault of your own, but due to the negligence of another, you may have the legal right to seek compensation for your suffering and medical bills.

Call the law office of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger and speak to an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Our team of accident lawyers offer free case evaluations and work on a contingency fee basis. We can explain your legal rights and work towards getting you the compensation you deserve.

Why Choose Our Personal Injury Law Firm

Experience: Our Sacramento law office has been representing injury victims for almost 60 years.
Results: We have successfully recovered over $1 billion for our clients. Our track record speaks for itself.
Compassion: Our law firm will not hesitate to take your case to trial in order to secure the compensation you are entitled to.
No risk: You will not owe a single legal fee if we do not win your case.

Types of Injuries We Handle

There are a wide variety of injuries that could result in a personal injury claim. Our Sacramento attorneys handle virtually all facets of personal injury law, including cases such as:

Aviation Accidents
Bike Accidents
Birth Injuries
Broken Bones
Burn Injuries
Car Accidents
Child Injuries
Construction Accidents
Defective Products
Defective Medical Devices
Dog Bite Injuries
Kaiser Permanente
Medical Malpractice Claims
Motorcycle Accidents
Nursing Home Abuse
Pedestrian Accidents
Premises Liability
Public Transportation Accidents
Spinal Cord Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Truck Accidents
Tourist Injuries
Wrongful Death Cases

Do You Need a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer?

Insurance companies can lend peace of mind when injuries occur, but unfortunately, they often deny responsibility and payment on injury claims or attempt to settle for a much lower amount than what the case is worth. A Sacramento injury attorney has experience dealing with insurance companies and can help you avoid these situations by accurately determining the compensation you are owed and negotiating fair compensation.

Every exchange with the insurer will be handled for you and if necessary, you will have a legal advocate in court to fight for your rights and protect your interests. Without an attorney, you may be forced to settle for much lower compensation offered by the insurance companies.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

At our law firm, we take personal injury cases on a contingency basis only. That means you incur no risk when hiring our experienced attorneys — if you don’t win, neither do we. Some law firms charge their clients a retainer fee, plus a bill of however many hours they worked on the case. We want you to feel confident in our services and therefore take 100% if the risk when accepting your case.

Our Successful Personal Injury Case Results

Our achievements include multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, totaling over $1 billion recovered on behalf of our clients. Some of our most notable case results include:

$52M Jury Verdict: Propane Explosion Causing Wrongful Death & Personal Injury
$17M Jury Verdict: Mason G. v. Bell Sports Inc. – Product Liability Causing Brain Injury
$12.2M Jury Verdict: Pedestrian Injured by Dangerous Roadway Causing Brain Injury
$8.8M Jury Verdict: Auto Accident Causing Brain Injury
$38.6M Jury Verdict: Myrick v. Hansa – Failure To Diagnose Stroke
$23.2M Jury Verdict: Rogers v. AMC Clinic – Obstetrical Negligence Leading to Cerebral Palsy
$15M Settlement: Cyclist v. Forest Products Distributor – Big Rig Negligence

What Will a Personal Injury Attorney Do for You?

A personal injury lawyer will be responsible for all aspects of your case. They will ensure that you take the steps necessary to maximize your claim after a serious injury.

There are several steps you can take after sustaining a personal injury to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. You should

Report the incident immediately. This may involve calling 911 or letting a supervisor/manager know about the injury.
Receive prompt medical attention. After a catastrophic injury, do not delay seeking medical attention. Let a doctor fully diagnose your injuries and create a treatment plan. Your attorney will ensure you are properly evaluated by trusted medical professionals.
Preserve any evidence from the case. Do not throw away any clothing or anything else involved in the incident that may contain evidence from the incident. If possible, take photographs at the scene of the incident. Get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses. Your attorney will use this evidence and gather more through investigation for your case.
Continue medical treatment. Never stop following your doctor’s orders and go to all follow-up doctor visits. If you discontinue treatment before you are fully recovered, you may hamper your ability to receive maximum compensation.

What is the Timeline for a Personal Injury Case?

There is no set timeline for a personal injury case. Each case is different. Some are settled out of court, while others will go to a jury trial. The case will take as long as necessary to ensure you are properly compensated. Much of the timeline revolves around investigating the incident and negotiating a fair settlement. If you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, for example, an investigation may take longer due to the company’s vast amount of resources and insurance coverage. Contact us for a case review to discuss how long your personal injury case may take.

What Kind of Compensation Are You Entitled to in a Personal Injury Claim?

There are various types of compensation that a person may be entitled to if they are injured due to someone else is negligent or careless actions. This includes both economic and non-economic damages. Our Sacramento personal injury lawyers can work to recover the following:

Economic damages are often referred to as “special damages.” These damages are typically calculated by adding up all of an injured victim’s quantifiable financial losses. This can include things like medical bills and lost wages. This can also include a loss of future earnings due to a person’s inability to work at the same level they were able to prior to the injury.
Non-economic damages are often referred to as “general damages.” These damages are typically harder to calculate than economic damages because they usually do not involve direct bills or receipts. You may hear these damages referred to as pain and suffering. Economic damages may include compensation for physical disfigurement, physical impairment, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship, and more.
Punitive damages may also be awarded if the defendant’s actions constituted gross negligence or were intentional. These damages are meant to punish the defendant and prevent them from acting in a similar manner in the future.

How Much is Your Injury Case Worth?

One of the most common questions a person has after being injured due to someone else’s negligence is, “How much am I entitled to for my injuries?”

There is no set amount of money that a person is awarded for an injury case. Every case is different, and the total amount of compensation awarded depends on several factors. When determining how much my personal injury claim is worth, insurers (or the jury) will have to examine the severity of a person’s injury, how long it will take for the victim to recover, whether there is any lasting disability or disfigurement, total medical expenses, and more.

Are There Caps On Damages for Sacramento Personal Injury Cases?

Each state is responsible for setting limits on personal injury cases. Some states place caps on how much compensation in person can receive. In California, however, there are generally no limits on how much money a person can receive for either economic or non-economic damages. The exception to this is non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, which have a $250,000 limit in place.

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

California, along with all other states, has a statute of limitations law that regulates the amount of time an injured victim has to file a lawsuit. While it is impossible to list the time limits for every type of injury case, in general, the state allows two years from the date of the injury to file suit (California Code of Civil Procedure sections 312-366).

How Liability Works in California

When it comes to liability, California follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule. The statute outlining this rule states that, “Everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by his or her want of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person” (CIV §1714). This means that the victim, or plaintiff, can share liability if they are partially to blame for the injury. This can often be the case in auto accidents and other motor vehicle accidents.

If the plaintiff is proven to hold some level of liability, the total amount of compensation awarded can be reduced by the amount that is equal to the percentage of fault. For example, if a victim was speeding even slightly when hit by another driver who ran a stop light then the victim may share a small percentage of liability, such as 10 percent. The plaintiff’s total damages would then be deducted by 10 percent. If the damages amounted to $10,000 then $1,000 would be deducted under the comparative negligence rule.

While this rule must be followed in Sacramento civil courts, it may not affect a settlement with an insurance company. If negotiating a settlement, an insurance adjuster may raise the issue of California’s comparative negligence rule, but a personal injury attorney can ensure the maximum amount of compensation is recovered. Receiving a maximum settlement can help you recover your losses and help protect your future.

Contact a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney Today for Legal Advice

If the negligent or reckless actions of another has left you or a family member with catastrophic injuries, contact the law offices of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger. We have a team of highly effective Sacramento personal injury attorneys who will pursue compensation on your behalf in a timely manner. Your case will be handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning unless we win, you will not owe legal fees. We also offer free consultations — call (415) 981-7210 or fill out our online contact form to schedule one today and discuss your legal options.

“This firm showed genuine care in the way they handled my case. Thank you to Spencer Pahlke for taking your time and helping me in my time of need. I would recommend them to my friends and family.” – Robin