The time it takes to settle or litigate an accident case depends upon the complexity of the case and the extent of your injuries. Generally, Mr. Pico waits until a client has finished treatment before he begins negotiating with the insurance company. He wants to make sure all of your medical expenses, other bills, and evidence of your pain and suffering are included in your claim.

After he begins negotiating, the case may settle very quickly, i.e., within two to three months. However, if your case is very complex or the opposing side is unwilling to settle, then he may have to file suit, which can greatly extend the time involved.

No, your legal fees will come out of your final settlement.

Unfortunately, a case’s worth are evaluated by how much your medical bills are, and if you don’t have any medical bills we can’t get compensation for you.

Yes, of course. But, we may need to send you to a specialist.

Unfortunately, insurance companies kind of run on their own time table. The best thing that you can do is call them yourself.

Not really, but if we contact you please get back to us as soon as possible. Sometimes we can’t settle your case without your help.

2 Years, the statute of limitations on Auto Accidents is 2 years from the date of the accident.

Mr. Pico is a personal injury attorney. He specializes in accident and injury law, representing people who have been injured through someone else’s negligence.

There is a wide variety of ways in which people are injured through the negligence of others.

The following is a list of some of the most common ways in which people are injured. He handles these types of cases all the time. If you have a question about whether he can represent you for your type of injury, send us a message or call us.

 Motor Vehicle Accidents

 Slip and Fall

Wrongful Death Claims

 Burn Injuries

Electrical Shock and Electrocution

 Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries

Paraplegia

 Quadriplegia

 Other Catastrophic Injuries

 Defective Products Claims

 Medical Malpractice

 Legal Malpractice

 Dog Bites

When someone else causes you injury, you have a right to be compensated for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other related expenses. A personal injury attorney will be able to help you receive the maximum compensation for all the above damages.

An attorney who specializes in accident and injury law will better be able to determine the value of your claim. Further, they will have the resources and experience to investigate the accident, gather the necessary records and evidence, obtain essential expert witnesses, and negotiate with insurance companies or opposing counsel.

An attorney can also file a lawsuit and litigate on your behalf if the opposing party is unreasonable and unwilling to settle.

Tristan Pico focuses exclusively on accident and injury law. Successfully serving California since 1975, his paralegals, and assisting staff is highly experienced and knowledgeable in representing clients who have been harmed through the fault of others. They work together to get you the help that you need and the compensation that you deserve.

Yes. He makes home and hospital visits because he understands that it may be

difficult, if not impossible for you to travel when you are seriously injured. Meeting

with a client and their loved ones early in a case bring emotional relief and comfort

at a time of great stress. It also allows a case to proceed with all deliberate speed.

Mr. Pico works on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay anything to him up front. His fee is based on a percentage of what he recovers for you. If he does not win your case, then he receives no fee. Thus, it is in his and your best interest to recover as much as possible. You are on the same team.

His typical contingency fee is one-third of the total settlement. This percentage is common among personal injury lawyers. This percentage is increased for litigation.

The fee for medical malpractice cases is regulated by state statutes and cannot be negotiated.

In addition to fees, clients are responsible for costs. These costs include, but are not limited to, paying to obtain copies of medical records, police reports, and expert opinions. Mr. Pico may advance some costs. These costs will be reimbursed from settlements and judgments.

Mr. Pico has a great working relationship with many medical providers throughout the Inland Empire and along coastal California. He will try to refer you to a medical provider located near you. Often, he can refer you to someone who will treat you on a lien basis. This means you won’t have to pay for your medical care until you are compensated for your injury. However, if you are already under the care of a medical provider, he will be happy to work with them.

Yes, Tristan Pico will do everything possible to make sure that your bills get paid. All your past and future medical bills will be included in your claim against the insurance companies. Additionally, he will include any non-medical bills that you have incurred for your injuries. For example, after your injury, you may have to hire someone to do work that you would normally do yourself. We will also work with your medical providers to try to prevent them from billing you until your case is settled.

Sometimes, when an at-fault party has little or no insurance and no available assets they may be covered under another’s person’s insurance policy, such as an employer’s insurance policy. Mr. Pico will help you understand these issues.

Your own insurance policy may also contain uninsured motorist coverage (UM) or under-insured motorist coverage (UIM), in which case, your own insurance may compensate you for the damages caused by the at-fault party. Mr. Pico will be able to help you through these complex issues.

1st: At the scene of the accident:

Get the names of any witnesses. If there are any witnesses to your accident or injury, get their names, addresses, and phone numbers. This contact information will enable your lawyer to contact them later and use them for witness statements to help prove your case.

Take photographs as soon as possible. Photograph your injury, any damaged property, the location of the accident, and anything else that might be useful in proving your claim. Such photographs can be extremely beneficial in conveying the extent of your injuries or revealing the cause of the accident or injury.

Document what occurred. Write down how the accident or injury occurred while your memory is still fresh. Additionally, make detailed timelines of the events occurring before and afterward and document your pain and suffering. However, be sure to only address such writings to your attorney so that they will remain privileged and confidential.

Also, write down any missed work and lost wages and ask your employer for a verification letter.

2nd: When you are hurt:

Seek medical treatment immediately. Many insurance companies will use the fact that a person waited to get treatment as an indication that they were not really hurt.

Many injuries do not manifest themselves until sometime after an accident. Even minor soreness can be an indication of a more serious injury. It is beneficial to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Getting treatment immediately will help us establish the severity of your injuries. We can always provide you with a referral.

Communicate with your medical provider. The number one thing that insurance companies consider when they evaluate your claim is your medical records. Therefore, it is extremely important that you communicate the full extent of your injuries to your medical provider. At each visit, list all your injuries from head to toe. For example, don’t forget to mention your injured wrist, just because your back hurts more on the day of the appointment. Let your doctor know if your injuries are affecting your ability to work or participate in your normal daily activities. If any of your injuries are not getting better, let your doctor know so that they can have appropriate tests done or refer you to an appropriate specialist. Communicating with your medical providers not only helps document your injury, but it will also help your medical providers treat you and get you better!

Do not create gaps in your medical treatment. If you stop treatment for a time and then go back, the insurance company will argue that the later treatment is for an unrelated injury, or they will argue that your injury is not very serious. So, make sure to go to all your appointments and receive treatment until you fully recover. If you are not getting better, let your medical provider know so that they can refer you to a specialist.

Use your health insurance if you have it. If you have health insurance, it is usually to your benefit to use it. If your health insurance pays for your medical bills, then more of the compensation we obtain from the insurance company can go to you instead of paying for your medical bills. Some health insurance companies will claim a right to be paid back, but California law limits their ability to do so. However, if you don’t have health insurance, let us know so we can refer you to a medical provider who will treat you on a lien basis.

3rd: Communicating about the accident:

Don’t talk to the opposing insurance company or accept any checks. If an insurance adjuster calls you, tell them you have a lawyer, and that all communication should go through your lawyer. An insurance company may want to take statements from you, which can later be used against you. We will prepare you for and be present at any such recorded statement; so that the truth gets told and you are not misled. Furthermore, don’t accept any checks or other forms of payment from the insurance company for your personal injury. Doing so may prevent you from recovering any additional settlement money.

Keep your lawyer informed. Keep your lawyer up to date on your treatment status. If you are referred to another doctor, let your lawyer know. This way, records can be requested early so your settlement is not delayed and we won’t miss any important detail relating to your claim. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, let us know immediately so we can answer them or otherwise appropriately assist you. Lastly, tell us if your contact information changes, because there may be times when we need to reach you immediately.