Woodland Hills personal injury lawyer Barry P. Goldberg is a student of all things insurance. When it comes to this topic the average person turns off immediately and just somehow trusts that the person they buy the insurance from, and then the insurer, will somehow take care of everything. In California, it is the rule…
DetailsThe recent news of a serious hit-and-run collision between a produce truck and a MetroLink train in Southern California has prompted many to ask: what are a driver’s obligations after an accident? How is someone charged with committing a hit-and-run?
In the MetroLink accident, a train traveling to Los Angeles at 80 miles per hour collided with a pickup truck pulling a trailer. The driver had turned onto the tracks (likely by accident), then jumped out of his vehicle and walked away before the accident occurred. No one was killed, although dozens of people were injured.
Woodland hills personal injury lawyer Barry P. Goldberg encourages mediation in almost every case he handles. In California, what is said and communicated in the mediation context is privileged and cannot be used in subsequent matters. Many attempts have been made to circumvent the privilege without much success. Recently, another attempt to use evidence or…
DetailsMany statistics and reports show that using seat belts when driving or riding in an automobile saves lives. Indeed, the numbers are encouraging: for those in the front seats, wearing a seatbelt correctly can reduce the risk of moderate to critical injury by up to 50%. For those in the back seats, rear seat belts…
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Woodland Hills personal injury lawyer Barry P. Goldberg cringes when interviewing a client and hearing the response “I have Full Coverage.” While it certainly beats “I have no coverage” or “I have minimum coverage”, it really provides less information than clients think. In fact, there is no accepted array of automobile insurance that qualifies as…
DetailsYoung drivers ages 16 to 19 years of age have the highest annual crash rates of any other age group, nationwide. Indeed, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for this group is 3 times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over.
Common causes of teen auto accidents include traveling with too many people in the car, lack of seatbelt use, and distracted driving. A closer look at these causes reveals that one in four teens reports either driving or riding in a car without using a seatbelt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that wearing a seatbelt is the number one way to prevent serious injury or death in a motor vehicle accident. Young drivers are also more likely to drive while distracted by texting, playing loud music, or speaking with other passengers.
Additional causes of accidents in this age range include inexperienced driving techniques; traveling late at night or early in the morning; or driving under the influence. Split-second decisions such as driving too fast, overcorrecting after turning, or making sudden turns in intersections or in front of traffic are likely to lead to car accidents. With time, these risks may decrease.
DetailsThousands of people are injured each year in San Fernando Valley in “slip and fall accidents,” which may be caused by slipping or tripping on uneven ground, a wet floor, or on unstable stairs. Who is at fault? Property owners are required to act carefully so that the fall was not likely to happen, and visitors or passers-by are equally responsible for acting with care and avoiding a fall.
If a property owner is to be held responsible for injuries suffered in a slip and fall or a trip and fall, the owner must have caused the condition, such as the uneven ground, the wet floor, or the unstable stairs. A property owner could also be held responsible if he or she knew about the dangerous condition, such as the ground, floor, or stairs, and did nothing about it. Finally, the third way a property owner might be held responsible is if what is known as a “reasonable” person caring for the property would have discovered the dangerous condition and removed or repaired it.
DetailsNo one expects to have a slip and fall or trip and fall accident but unfortunately, these types of accidents can happen anywhere: in the grocery store, at home, or at work, to name a few places. Anything from debris to uneven and wet flooring can create the perfect storm for this kind of injury.…
DetailsIf you find yourself involved in a fender-bender while you are driving in Woodland Hills, you may wonder if you need to tell the Department of Motor Vehicles or your insurance company. The law in California is clear: if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident in California, you must report the accident to the DMV, regardless of whether you are at fault for causing the accident. The police and/or your insurance company will not do it for you. Consulting with an attorney who focuses on auto accident claims can be a smart move to make sure you comply with California law.
You can report the accident to the DMV by completing the “SR 1” form on the DMV’s website (also found here) or by speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Woodland Hills who will file it on your behalf. The form asks for information about you and the other driver, including name, address, and vehicle description. You will also fill in information about insurance coverage at the time of the accident.
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Woodland Hills personal injury lawyer Barry P. Goldberg understands that most people are nervous about meeting a lawyer for the first time because most people have been able to avoid legal disputes most of their lives. When you have met a lawyer, it is usually for “bad news” and is (almost) always expensive. Besides that,…
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