Woodland Hills Personal Injury Attorney Barry P. Goldberg has seen time and time again the devastating effects of collisions caused by uninsured and underinsured drivers. According to the Insurance Research Council, as many as one in eight drivers on the road in the United States are driving even without the most basic insurance. In California,…
If you were injured in an accident that was not your fault, whether it was an auto accident, slip and fall accident, or dog bite accident, you may been wondering if you need to hire an attorney to help you file your claim. The answer: not always. Read this post to learn more about when hiring a personal injury attorney is the best choice for your accident claim.
If you’ve decided to seek legal counsel, selecting one personal injury lawyer over another can be a frustrating task, especially if this is your first time hiring an attorney. Like many accident victims, you will want a professional who has the experience and expertise in getting clients the best possible compensation.
Make sure that your lawyer has the following qualities:
Motorcycle accidents are fairly common in the US. And unfortunately, many of them are deadly. According to a recent survey by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 4500 motorcyclists were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2014. While helmets and proper driving practice can help decrease these accidents to an extent, truth be told, it is likely almost impossible to completely eliminate them.
Motorcycle accidents are also more severe than other auto accident for several reasons, including the lack of vehicle lack safety equipment such as seatbelts, airbags, and steal frames. This can result in a range of injuries, from mild road rashes to more severe brain injuries. Keep reading to learn more about motorcycle accidents and financial recovery.
1. Road rash
Motorcyclists who drive with their skin exposed are vulnerable to abrasions from the pavement. Of course, even in sturdy clothing, the gear may still get ripped due to pressure or torn upon collision. This can allow the skin to get scrapped too. The resulting wounds may wind up scarring, which can last forever.
Recently, a Chinese tourist was struck and killed in a pedestrian accident near the beach. The driver was an 85-year-old man who veered off the road and hit the man who was walking on the sidewalk. The car landed on its roof in a parking lot after hitting a short cinder block wall. Sadly, the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The senior driver was hospitalized with injuries that were not life threatening.
Senior Drivers and Auto Accidents
While generally speaking, seniors are safe drivers compared to other age groups (particularly teen drivers), certain age-related conditions and limitations can also mean their reaction times are slower. We all remember the tragic case of the elderly man who drove down Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, running over and killing ten innocent bystanders. However, most older drivers do recognize and avoid situations where their limitations put them at risk. They drive less after dark, during rush hour or in bad weather, and avoid difficult roads such as highways and intersections.
Woodland Hills Personal Injury Attorney Barry P. Goldberg is always looking for sources of additional recovery in all serious motor vehicle accident cases because most negligent drivers simply do not carry enough liability insurance. One way to obtain a much larger insurance policy is to inquire whether the at-fault driver’s employer is liable under the…
Woodland Hills personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg is often confronted with situations where there are multiple sources of insurance recovery for his clients. Many clients do not realize that the “Collateral Source Rule” may reward them for having their own insurance— even if that may involve a “double recovery.” Recently, the collateral source rule…
Woodland Hills personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg is seeing more and more serious pedestrian accidents at crosswalks. In fact, Mr. Goldberg recently posted articles on the most dangerous intersections for pedestrian accidents in Woodland Hills. However, nearby Canoga Park is notorious for many serious and even fatal auto versus pedestrian accidents. A common question…
Earlier this month, The Law Firm 500’s list of fast-growing law firms in the country was released and local Woodland Hills personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg ranked NO. 63! The law firms on this list were evaluated and ranked in order, based on gross revenues of the previous three years. Mr. Goldberg and his team of legal professionals have achieved record-setting levels of success for their clients, many of them local residents of the San Fernando Valley, and Mr. Goldberg is honored and humbled by the acknowledgment.
Small things can have a big impact; especially when it comes to following traffic laws. A slight mistake can put your life in danger — and the statistics support this frightening fact.
Each year, around 37,000 individuals die in auto-related accidents in the US and over 2.35 million suffer injuries and/or are disabled. While milder injuries and road rashes can be treated, major injuries—including brain trauma—can cause permanent disability.
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Here’s what you can do to reduce the chances of auto accidents.
Hit and run accidents can happen to anyone, including motorcycle riders. Recently, a 60-year-old Pasadena man was killed in a motorcycle accident that officials believe involved a hit-and-run driver. According to the local newspaper, a preliminary investigation showed that a Tesla four-door sedan was heading north at night at a high rate of speed when it crashed into the motorcycle at a busy intersection. Devastatingly, the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. In an even more tragic turn of events, the driver of the Tesla abandoned his car and fled on foot, not stopping to see if anything could be done to help the motorcyclist.
Fleeing the scene of an accident in which you were involved is against the law. If a driver hit you or a loved one and “ran off”, you have legal rights and may be able to recover financial compensation for your injuries and property damage. An experienced hit and run accident attorney will be able to explain your options in detail.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the California Highway Patrol, more than 100 people died and 3,500 were injured due to motorcycle accidents in the greater Los Angeles area in 2013, the most recent year for which we have statistics. We have discussed the dangers of motorcycle riding in and around the San Fernando Valley in detail. Learn more about motorcycle safety tips here.
Liability Issues
Many hit and run accidents, especially those that occur late at night, involve speeding, drunk driving or drugged driving, and/or other forms of reckless driving. In the case of fatal car accidents caused by driver negligence, families of deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver (or company employing the driver, if the driver was “on the job”). In a wrongful death lawsuit, a family member can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship. Talk to an experienced accident attorney to determine if you are able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Next Steps After Fatal Hit and Run
If your loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident, including one that involved a hit and run driver, know that the law is on your side. Reach out to Woodland Hills attorney Barry P. Goldberg today for a free consultation to discuss your next steps.