Were You Injured in a Serious Car Accident? Don’t Rule Out Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

From pedestrians hit while crossing the street to catastrophic truck accidents, collisions with motor vehicles often leave innocent victims struggling with injuries. More often than not, these injuries require medical attention that typically result in expensive medical bills. Sometimes, these injuries are fatal. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2014, 32,675 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes on U.S. roadways. An additional 2.3 million people were injured in crashes in 2014.

As we have discussed, some injuries (such as whiplash, a serious condition resulting often resulting from car accidents) and other health conditions are not initially obvious because they may take a while to develop. As a result, some accident victims do not believe that they should file a claim to recover compensation for these injuries or, if they do file a claim, are not sure whether to include them in their request for compensation. Without the guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney in Woodland Hills, many injury victims do not consider the long-term health care needs their injuries may require, and this on-going cost should obviously affect how much compensation a victim seeks.

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg
Auto Accident Attorney Los Angeles

A Plaintiff without Medical Insurance Can Still Establish the Reasonable Value of Medical Services Rendered—- the Medical Bills are Admissible for That Purpose.

Woodland Hills personal injury lawyer Barry P. Goldberg is frequently challenged to establish the reasonable value of his client’s medical bills even though they are not paid by health insurance.  The “challenge” is presenting a trial without incurring large and arguably unnecessary expert fees merely to have someone testify that medical bills in a particular…

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Car Accident, Dog Bite, Motorcycle Accident, Pedestrian Accident, Personal Injury, Slip and FallBy Barry Goldberg

Shoulder Injuries Caused by Personal Injury Accidents

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the majority of us will suffer a shoulder injury during our lifetimes. Many times, these injuries are caused by auto accidents or slip and fall accidents. And while some of these will be relatively minor strains or separations, others will be more serious and result in long-term pain and suffering and medical care. If you or a loved one have suffered a shoulder injury in an accident in Woodland Hills that was not your fault and are struggling to work, or are entirely unable to work, talk to an experienced personal injury attorney about your legal rights.

Common shoulder injuries

The three most common types of shoulder injuries are:

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Personal InjuryBy Barry Goldberg

Car Accidents on the Rise: Defensive Driving Tips to Consider

With all of the increases in technology (cars can park — and drive! — themselves!), one might think that our roads have become a safer place for us to travel on. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Auto accidents are on the rise and if you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Woodland Hills that was not your fault, know that California law is on your side.

This isn’t just a local problem. Roadway deaths have been spiking sharply upward across the country. In fact, the National Safety Council recently shared that U.S. traffic fatalities have “increased every month for six straight months.” National traffic-related deaths through the first quarter of 2015 are up by a whopping 11% over the same four-month period in 2014. Scary, especially if you have teens or new drivers on the road. Teen drivers are particularly at risk for being involved in auto accidents for a variety of reasons, including their lack of experience and tendency to be more distracted while driving.

Why the increase in auto accidents?

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg

How to Protect Yourself from Truck Accidents During the Holiday Season

With the holidays just around the corner, more and more shipping trucks will be on the roads delivering food, presents, decorations, and more. Combine that with more cars on the road, as many of travel to visit family and friends for holiday celebrations, and you have a potential recipe for disaster.

Last year, the American Automobile Association estimated that 46 million people travelled over the Thanksgiving holiday, many of them by automobile. And because so many people take to the roads over the long Thanksgiving holiday, as well as during Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years, the chances of being involved in a fatal or injurious car or truck accident increases. Drunk driving and/or drugged driving is also a major concern and is the leading cause of traffic accidents during the holiday season beginning with Thanksgiving and ending with New Years.

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg

Drugged Driving in Woodland Hills on the Rise

While we often hear about drunk driving and the damage it causes, there is another terror on the road, one that is not as well known but is on the rise: drugged driving.

According to a 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 9.9 million people aged 12 or older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the year prior to being surveyed. While the rate of drunk driving is still higher, at 11%, drugged driving is still a serious concern and a form of distracted driving that can cause injury, or even death. Illegal drugs aren’t the only concern when it comes to driving while under the influence. A 2013-2014 National Roadside Survey found that more than 22% of drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription, or over-the-counter drugs. Indeed, of these drivers who tested positive for drugs, 47% had used a prescription drug, 37% had used marijuana, and 10% had used cocaine. If you or a loved one was injured by a driver in Woodland Hills who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you may be able to file a claim to recover financial compensation.

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg

Tips for a Safe and Injury-Free Halloween

If you are like 64% of Americans, you will be celebrating Halloween this weekend. Halloween is considered by many to be a fun holiday, with an opportunity to dress up in a crazy / creative / unique costume and eat a lot of sugar! Indeed, Halloween is known by many, certainly children, for its trick or treating. And for good reason — we are projected to spend $2.1 billion on Halloween candy in the U.S. this year alone!

With 41 million potential trick or treaters between the ages of 4 and 15 expected to be out on the streets this Halloween, it is important for parents to keep a few safety tips in mind to ensure a safe holiday. While a day of fun for many, Halloween poses plenty of real dangers that lead to real injuries and real cases. Claims can range from pedestrian accidents to dog bites and premises liability. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that you and your family and friends stay safe this Halloween while out and about in Woodland Hills.

Tips for a safe Halloween

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Personal InjuryBy Barry Goldberg

Hands-Free Devices Cause Serious Distraction for Drivers

It seems that hands-free devices may not be the solution to our distracted driving they were once thought to be. A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows some startling — and frightening — numbers about the risks of using a hands-free device (such as a smart phone or tablet) while driving. While texting and driving has been getting a lot of bad press lately (and for good reason! The number of serious injuries and fatalities associated with texting while driving are astounding), it appears that even using your device in “hands-free” mode has its downsides. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Woodland Hills that was the result of a driver’s inattention or distracted driving, contact an experienced accident attorney to discuss your rights.

Hands-free devices cause distraction

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg