EFS Law Center Personal Injury Help
Find answers to common questions about personal injury claims, legal rights,
case timelines, and how EFS Law Center can help you after an accident.
We immediately begin investigating your accident, gathering evidence, and communicating with insurance companies on your behalf. You’ll have a direct line to our team for updates and questions — you’re a client to us, not a file number.
Most personal injury cases settle without a trial. But we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, because insurance companies negotiate more fairly when they know we’re not afraid to go in front of a jury. If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we’re ready to fight for you in court.
Most cases settle once you’ve finished medical treatment and we understand the full extent of your injuries — often between several months and a couple of years. Cases involving permanent injuries, disputed liability, or a trial can take longer. We’ll keep you updated at every stage.
Be careful. Cashing a check — or signing a release that comes with it — can end your claim permanently, even if your injuries turn out to be worse than expected or you have costs you haven’t discovered yet. Talk to us before you cash anything.
No — not without talking to an attorney first. Adjusters are trained to get you to say something that can be used to minimize or deny your claim. Let EFS Law Center handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf.
Depending on your case, you may be entitled to medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, property damage, and — in wrongful death cases — funeral costs and loss of companionship.
It depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, your medical treatment and prognosis, lost income, and how clearly liability can be established. We can’t give you an honest number without reviewing your specifics, but after we do, we’ll give you a realistic assessment of what your claim should be worth.
You work directly with an experienced trial attorney, not a call center or a rotating cast of case managers. Founding attorney Edward Shkolnikov has built his reputation trying cases, not just settling them quickly — which means insurance companies know we’re prepared to go the distance if that’s what it takes to get you a fair result.
That’s exactly what the free consultation is for. Bring whatever information you have — photos, police reports, medical records — and one of our attorneys will assess your situation and tell you plainly whether you have grounds to pursue a claim.
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if we win your case. There are no hourly rates, no retainers, and no out-of-pocket costs. If we don’t recover compensation for you, you owe us nothing.
No. Every consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation. We’ll review the facts of your accident, tell you honestly whether you have a case, and explain your options — in person or by phone.
Yes. Property owners and landlords have a legal duty to maintain safe, habitable conditions, and a known or ignored bed bug infestation can be grounds for a premises liability claim covering medical treatment, damaged property, and related damages. This is a practice area EFS Law Center handles regularly.
Generally, that the property owner knew (or reasonably should have known) about a dangerous condition and failed to fix it or warn you. Wet floors, broken stairs, poor lighting, and uneven surfaces are common causes. Documentation of the hazard and prompt medical care both strengthen these claims.
Likely yes, if another party’s negligence contributed to your injury — a distracted driver, a vehicle that failed to yield, or a dangerous road condition, for example. These accidents often cause serious injuries, and California law protects your right to seek compensation from the at-fault party.
Yes, rideshare accidents often involve multiple layers of insurance (the driver’s personal policy and the rideshare company’s commercial coverage), and coverage can depend on whether the app was on, whether a ride was accepted, and whether a passenger was in the car. These cases need to be handled carefully to make sure you’re pursuing the right policy.
Yes. If you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you can file a claim through your own policy. If not, there may be other avenues for recovery depending on the circumstances. Either way, an uninsured driver doesn’t mean you’re out of options — call us before you assume there’s nothing to be done.
You can likely still recover compensation. California follows a “pure comparative negligence” rule, meaning you can recover damages even if you were mostly at fault — your award is simply reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Even if you think you contributed to the accident, it’s worth having your case evaluated.
You still have options. Many doctors will treat accident victims on a lien basis, meaning they’re paid out of your eventual settlement rather than upfront. This is one of the areas where having an attorney matters — it gives providers confidence they’ll be paid once your case resolves.
Yes. Many serious injuries — soft tissue damage, concussions, spinal injuries — don’t show symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor promptly protects your health and creates a medical record linking your injuries to the accident, which matters if you later file a claim.
Get medical attention first, even if you feel fine. Then, if safe to do so: call the police, document the scene with photos, get contact and insurance information from everyone involved, and get witness names and numbers. Avoid discussing fault at the scene, and contact EFS Law Center before giving any statement to an insurance company.
Generally, two years from the date of the injury under California’s statute of limitations (CCP § 335.1). If your claim is against a government agency (a city, county, or public entity), you typically must file a formal claim within just six months. Deadlines can shift depending on your case, so don’t wait to talk to an attorney.
Insurance companies have adjusters and lawyers working to pay you as little as possible. An experienced attorney levels the playing field — handling negotiations, gathering evidence, and calculating the full value of your claim — so you can focus on recovering. At EFS Law Center, our clients typically walk away with far more than they would have negotiating alone.