Walnut Creek Personal Injury Attorneys
O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley LLP is a personal injury law firm serving Walnut Creek and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Our injury lawyers represent clients in a wide variety of personal injury claims including:
Personal Injury Lawyers Committed to Helping our Clients Restore Their Financial and Emotional Health
Our goal is to bring justice to those harmed by the wrongdoing of others. We do this by seeking full compensation for their losses. Our injury lawyers retain the finest engineers, physicians and other experts, so that we can obtain the highest possible recoveries. We are proud to help keep the justice system strong, by protecting the rights of the individual. As results-driven attorneys, we bring a strong combination of education, experience, and practical knowledge to the representation of our clients.
If you have been seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact a personal injury attorney at the law offices of O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley today. We provide free consultations in order to evaluate your case and discuss the legal options available to you.
Personal Injury Lawyers with Trial Experience
The partners at O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley have more than 90 years of experience in the courtroom. As former Contra Costa County prosecutors, Tom O’Connor, Jason Runckel and Dan O’Malley have tried over 250 jury trials. That courtroom experience gives us a unique advantage over the average attorney. Our courtroom skills not only come into play if your case goes to trial, but our reputation in the courtroom allows us to negotiate better settlements for our clients in the cases that don’t go to trial. View Recent Verdicts and Settlements
As a retired Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge, Dan O’Malley gives our clients the truly rare advantage of a former Judge working on their cases. He has tried cases as an attorney and presided over them as a Judge. His relationships with District Attorneys and Judges in the Bay Area are second to none. He knows how to control the courtroom, and employs knowledge from both sides of the bench as a trial attorney on your behalf.
Free Consultation
When you contact O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley for a free consultation, you will gain all the advantages of our attorneys’ experience and knowledge. We won’t be satisfied until you have enough information to be comfortable with your situation.
If you need an experienced personal injury attorney, whether it be for a car accident, catastrophic injury or wrongful death, we will handle your case from the initial consultation until the case is closed. If you have a legal question, or have been injured by someone else’s negligence, contact us to schedule a time to speak with one of our attorneys.
Call: (925) 939-5600
Recent Successes
How much is my personal injury claim worth?
If you have been seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation. The following factors will impact the value of your personal injury case:
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are the losses you suffered due to the defendant’s negligence. Compensatory damages fall into the following categories:
- Special damages (economic damages) such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income (including future earnings)
- Property loss or damage
- Costs associated with a disability
- Funeral costs
- Legal fees and court costs
- Travel expenses
- General damages (non-economic damages) such as:
- Emotional Distress
- Mental anguish
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of consortium
- Lost quality of life
Punitive Damages
In cases where the defendant’s conduct is found to be particularly negative or careless, they will be required to pay punitive damages, with the purpose of punishing the negligent party for their irresponsibility.
Fault
If you, as the plaintiff, show yourself to be irresponsible with your time following the injury, or are even slightly responsible for the accident causing the injury, your damages award will be considerably reduced.
Policy Limits
The term “Policy Limits” refers to the maximum coverage of the defendant’s insurance policy. It is possible to obtain in excess of the policy limit by going to trial, or going after the defendant personally.
Choice of Attorney
The attorney you choose can greatly affect the value of your personal injury claim. Reputation in court is particularly important, because if an insurance company knows an attorney is not afraid of going to trial, they will often offer a better settlement to avoid losing a much higher judgment in court.
The Stages of a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit you will typically need to complete the following stages before the case lands in civil court:
Seek Medical Care Immediately
Find a Good Attorney
This is especially important if you have suffered substantial injuries and/or other losses.
Investigation
Your lawyer will investigate your claim to include:
- Asking questions to determine the facts of the case.
- Obtaining medical records, including bills that relate to the injuries suffered in the accident.
He/she will review this information to determine whether you have a case.
Filing the Lawsuit
Once the lawsuit is filed it typically takes one or two years before the trial would start in a personal injury case.
Discovery
Each side investigates the other side’s legal claims and makes requests the opposing side to include:
Documents
- Answers to questions
- Depositions from important witnesses
- Settlement Discussions
After discovery, attorneys from both sides will discuss and settlement, or choose mediation. If an agreement cannot be reached, the case will go to trial.
Going to Trial
A trial date is set for hearing arguments before a judge and jury. Personal injury trials can be over in just one day, or last up to a week or longer.
Verdicts
See a sampling of our recent verdicts and settlements
Blog
Read articles from our law blog
Video
Learn more about O’Connor, Runckel & O’Malley through our videos
Contact
Contact us now to discuss your case
Testimonials
- Best attorney around
Best attorney around As Seen On AVVO Posted by a Personal Injury client Thomas O’Connor is simply the best attorney around. He is dedicated, knowledgeable and very experienced. I would trust him with anything. He is on your side and will give it to you straight so you know… Read more: Best attorney around - Karen F.Karen F. Fairfield, CA As Seen On Yelp My husband and daughter were involved in a terrible car accident in May of 2016. He was left with some memory loss, bruised spinal cord and concussion.My daughter luckily was ok with the exception of a bump to the head.… Read more: Karen F.
- Kathy S.Kathy S. As Seen On Yelp My experience with Dan, Liana, and the whole team was as good as it gets! They answered every question I had and believe me I had a lot. Dan definitely was worth the money as he navigated through the legal system. I… Read more: Kathy S.
VIDEO OVERVIEW
Learn how the law office of O’Connor, Runckel and O’Malley can help you by watching this short video.
Walnut Creek Accident Lawyers
Motor Vehicle Accidents (Auto Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Truck Accidents)
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident due to another’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Our attorneys possess the specialized knowledge needed to win maximum compensation in complex cases.
Wrongful Death
A wrongful death is a death caused by a negligence of another. Families and children who have lost a loved one due to a wrongful death are guaranteed the right to seek compensation.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents have a much greater potential for serious injury or death than do automobile accidents. Bicycle accident injuries are often catastrophic; including, brain and spinal cord injuries; fractures; abrasions; and internal and soft tissue injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI) may face a long rehabilitation process and may not be able to return to work. An experienced traumatic brain injury attorney will ensure their clients receive the treatment they need, and the financial compensation they are due under the law.
View court verdicts and settlements to see amounts recovered on behalf of our clients.
Call (925) 939-5600 today for a free initial consultation with a personal injury attorney.
We serve clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area including San Francisco, Contra Costa, Oakland, Alameda, Walnut Creek, Concord, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Danville, Richmond, Martinez, Orinda, Lafayette, Oakley, Pinole, San Pablo, Clayton, Benicia, San Ramon, Vallejo, Santa Rosa, Fremont, Hayward, Pleasanton, San Mateo, Daly City, Oakland, Richmond, Pacifica, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Redwood City, San Anselmo, San Bruno, San Carlos Napa, Sonoma, Vacaville, Fairfield, Pleasant Hill, Moraga, Clayton, Albany, American Canyon, El Cerrito, Dublin, Livermore, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Sausalito, South San Francisco, East Palo Alto, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Fairfax Union City, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, Bayside, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Foster City, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Half Moon Bay, Healdsburg, Kensington, Larkspur, Martinez, Mill Valley, Milpitas, Mountain View, Newark, Novato, Brisbane, Burlingame, Campbell, East Bay, Silicon Valley, and Napa Valley, Oakley, and Discovery Bay, as well as Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Alameda, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma counties.
