HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED
A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER?

Personal Injury or Accident Claims You Want to Make

If the amount in dispute is less than the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court (presently $7,500) you may want to represent yourself.  If more than $7,500 is in dispute but you are willing to give up the excess you may also sue in Small Claims Court.  Note that if the other party makes a counter claim against you for more than $7,500 then Small Claims Court cannot hear the case.  For further information about Small Claims Court see the California Court's Self-Help page.  

For larger amounts of money you will likely need professional assistance.  Yes there are services available that will help you fill out paperwork but they cannot appear for you in court nor are they trained to properly advise you on a wide range of matters than come up during litigation.  Do you really want to entrust your case to someone who is unqualified?

Regardless of the amount of the claim you are making, the insurance carrier has professional adjustors and attorneys who handle these claims for a living and who will be working hard to minimize the cost to the carrier of your claim.  You should seriously consider obtaining proper legal counsel.  The Law Offices of John A. Sullivan stands ready to help you with your claim.

Claims Made Against You

The first notice that a claim is being made against you might be a letter from an attorney or the other party or perhaps a legal document served on you by a process server.  First, do not immediately contact the attorney or other party to tell them you are in the right.  Generally civil matters do not require you to be given the equivalent of Miranda rights.  But I can almost guarantee you that anything you say can and will be used against you.  Second, if you have insurance, immediately report the claim by telephone and in writing to the insurance carrier. Always keep detailed notes and copies of all documents.  Third, if you have insurance, discuss the case with the adjustor who will represent you.  If the carrier does anything other than agreeing to take care of the claim entirely, you may need immediate professional assistance.  Fourth, if you have no insurance, and are being sued as an individual, you can represent yourself in court.  If you are a corporation, you generally must have an attorney.  Should you represent yourself?  The general rule is that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client and a fool for a lawyer.  The same rule will likely apply to you.  Litigation is usually too complicated for a lay person to be on the same footing as a lawyer.  The one exception is Small Claims Court where lawyers are not permitted unless they are one of the parties.

If you are uninsured and are sued for a personal injury claim the Law Offices of John A. Sullivan can assist you.

If you are looking for an attorney or lawyer because you have been injured in a car accident or other personal injury, The Law Offices of John A. Sullivan is the law office for you.  

The Law Offices of John A. Sullivan represents clients throughout the State of California with emphasis on the following: 

Amador County:  Amador City, Jackson, Ione,  Pine Grove, Pioneer, Plymouth, Sutter Creek or Volcano; 

Calaveras County:  Angel's Camp, Arnold, Copperopolls, Mokelumne Hill, Mountain Ranch, Murphys, San Andreas, Tamarack or West Point.

El Dorado County:    Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Diamond Springs, Placerville, Pollack Pines.

Sacramento County:  Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova or Sacramento.

San Joaquin County:  Escalon, Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, Stockton or Tracy.