A contingency fee means your attorney’s fee is contingent on the outcome of your case. Instead of billing by the hour, the fee is a percentage of any settlement or verdict recovered. If there is no recovery, no attorney’s fee is owed.

This fee structure plays an important role in leveling the playing field. Personal injury cases are typically defended by well-funded insurance companies, large corporations, and government entities that can afford to hire teams of defense lawyers on large retainers and high hourly rates, sometimes exceeding $1,000 per hour. Most injured people could not realistically afford to pay those same rates out of pocket while a case is pending.

A contingency fee allows ordinary working people to pursue valid claims without having to fund a legal battle upfront. It aligns the client’s interests with the attorney’s, because the firm is paid only if it succeeds, and it allows cases to be evaluated on their merits rather than on a client’s ability to pay.

After a car accident, take the following steps if you are able:

• Seek medical attention immediately. If anyone is injured, call 911 right away.
• Cooperate with law enforcement and obtain the police report number.
• Take photographs of the vehicles, the scene, visible injuries, and any road conditions, and gather contact information from witnesses.
• Report the crash to your own auto insurance company, regardless of who you believe was at fault.
• Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters for the at-fault party before getting legal advice.
• Contact an experienced Agoura Hills car accident lawyer to understand your rights and next steps.
• Taking these steps helps protect your health and preserves important evidence that may be critical to your claim.

In most California car accident cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is set by statute and missing it can permanently bar your claim.

If the crash involved a government entity or public employee, the deadline can be much shorter and may require a government claim to be filed within months, not years. Because deadlines vary based on the facts of each case, it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to make sure all applicable time limits are met.

The compensation available after a motor vehicle accident depends on the facts of your case, but may include:

Medical expenses for past and future treatment

Lost wages and reduced earning capacity

Pain and suffering

Property damage

Future medical care

Pain and suffering is a common, everyday term for what the law calls non-economic damages. These damages compensate you for losses that do not come with receipts, but that are often the most significant part of an injury. Non-economic damages may include physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life, inconvenience, and the ways an injury affects your daily activities, relationships, and independence. They recognize that an injury can change far more than just your medical bills.

Property damage compensation typically covers the cost to repair your vehicle or, if it is a total loss, the fair market value of the vehicle. It may also include loss of use while your car is being repaired or replaced, such as rental car expenses, as well as damage to personal property inside the vehicle.

An experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer can evaluate all categories of damages in your case and work to ensure the full impact of the crash is properly documented and pursued.

A wrongful death claim arises when a person dies as a result of another party’s negligence or misconduct, such as a fatal motor vehicle collision or unsafe property conditions. California law allows certain family members to seek compensation for the losses they suffer because of the death.

In addition to economic losses like funeral and burial expenses and the loss of the decedent’s financial support, wrongful death claims also include non-economic damages. These damages compensate surviving family members for the human losses that cannot be measured in dollars, including the loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, guidance, and emotional support the deceased would have provided. They recognize the profound impact a death has on the lives of those left behind.

At Effres & Effres, we approach wrongful death cases with the compassion, respect, and seriousness they deserve, while working to hold responsible parties accountable and pursue full and fair compensation for the family.

Effres & Effres offers the resources of a large firm with the personal attention of a boutique practice. Through multi-generational success, our firm has built the financial strength, experience, and access to experts necessary to pursue serious injury cases at the highest level, without the heavy advertising overhead common to large firms.

As our resources have expanded, our contingency fee percentages have remained consistent. By maintaining a focused practice and avoiding high-cost advertising and marketing, we are able to deliver experienced, hands-on representation while keeping our fee structure fair and aligned with our clients’ interests.

Most personal injury cases are resolved through settlement rather than trial. Some cases proceed to trial when a fair resolution cannot be reached.

At Effres & Effres, we prepare every case as if it will be decided by a jury, and we take on cases only when we are willing to take them to verdict if necessary. In personal injury litigation, negotiations are driven by leverage. A plaintiff’s leverage comes from the ability and willingness to present the case to a jury if the at-fault party and its insurer do not offer a fair settlement.

Because we are known by defense attorneys and insurance carriers as trial lawyers who will actually take cases to verdict when required, cases are often taken more seriously during settlement discussions. That trial-ready reputation frequently increases the likelihood of resolving a case fairly without the need for trial, while ensuring we are fully prepared to advocate for you in court if settlement efforts fail.

The timeline for resolving a car accident case varies based on several factors, including the severity of the injuries, the course of medical treatment, whether liability is disputed, and the available insurance coverage. Some cases resolve within a few months, while others take longer.

In cases where a fair resolution cannot be reached early, filing a lawsuit may be necessary. Litigation can extend the overall timeline, but it is sometimes the only way to obtain full and fair compensation. In appropriate cases, courts may also grant trial-setting preference based on factors such as the nature of the injuries or the age of the parties, which can significantly shorten the time to trial.

Our goal is always to secure the best possible outcome for our clients, not the quickest settlement, while moving the case forward as efficiently as the facts and circumstances allow.

With more than 40 years of experience, Effres & Effres combines seasoned legal judgment with compassionate, client-focused representation. We are a family firm dedicated to justice, with deep roots in Agoura Hills and the surrounding communities we serve.

Our practice is built on long-standing relationships, credibility with courts and opposing counsel, and a commitment to treating every client with respect and care. Clients work directly with their attorney, not through layers of staff, and every case is prepared with the expectation that it may ultimately be decided by a jury.

We take pride in serving our local community and nearby areas with the same level of attention, preparation, and advocacy that has defined our firm for generations.