No 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,…
DetailsDrunk driving accidents needlessly cause thousands of injuries each year in California and throughout the United States. According to one study, alcohol was responsible for more than half of traffic fatalities in California. Indeed, that same year, more than 33,000 people were injured in auto accidents caused by drunk drivers. If you or someone you know was injured or killed in a vehicle accident and one or more of the drivers was intoxicated, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
In California, driving with a blood alcohol content (“BAC”) of .08% or greater is illegal. Most of the time, depending on a person’s weight, a person drinks more than they think they have and reaches that illegal limit quickly — and still gets behind the wheel. Federal statistics for fatal car accidents from 1994 through 2008 shows that even a small amount of alcohol (.01%) in the bloodstream, or half a beer, can increase accident severity significantly. The study found that even where people consumed a low level of alcohol and considered themselves “buzzed,” accidents were more severe. The more alcohol in the bloodstream, the faster the drivers went. And, these drivers were more likely to hit another vehicle and were less likely to wear a seat belt.
DetailsMotorcycle accidents in the San Fernando Valley can occur when you least expect them, which is why being prepared makes sense. Half of motorcycle accidents are not significant, and a rider can walk or ride away–and half result in long hospital stays or even death. Certain factors, such as being a newer rider with fewer than five months of experience, or riding a new bike for the first time, can increase the likelihood of getting hurt.
Riding carefully with awareness is key. In fact, statistics have shown that completing safety trainings can significantly reduce the likelihood of accident or injury among motorcycle riders. Here are common causes of motorcycle accidents in the San Fernando Valley, and what you can do to prevent them:
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Woodland Hills personal injury lawyer, Barry P. Goldberg, is consulted on all types of injury circumstances ranging from the standard car accident case to the more unusual—health club injuries, race track injuries and sports injuries. Common among the more unusual circumstances is that the promoter or owner of the activity secures a “Release of Liability”…
DetailsCalifornia, like many other states, has recognized the great dangers inherent in “distracted driving.” Annually, distracted driving accounts for 6,000 fatalities nationwide. Texting, in particular, takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds, and most auto accidents happen with less than 3 seconds of reaction time, according to California’s Office…
DetailsDog bites are considered a serious public health problem throughout California and the country because of the risk of severe injury involved. Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that almost 900,000 people in the United States require medical treatment for dog bite-related injuries each year. What’s more, approximately 27,000 of those victims suffer disfiguring injuries.
Along with physical injuries, dog bites can result in long term emotional pain and suffering. It’s true that these emotional scars can have a powerfully disabling effect on victims and last longer than many types of physical pain. Children are victims of almost half of the dog bites that take place across the country, and can be particularly susceptible to emotional trauma.
If you’re in an auto accident, you may have many questions. Questions like: who will pay for my injuries? Or the damage to my car? The answer can depend on who is at fault and whether you or the other driver has insurance. It helps to know about the two major types of automobile insurance so that if you are in an accident, you are familiar with the next steps.
Liability insurance means that if the accident was your fault, your insurer will pay the other driver for property damage and injuries up to the policy limit. If the other driver is at fault and has insurance, the other driver’s liability insurance will pay for damage to your car and personal injuries up to the policy limits of the other driver’s policy.
DetailsWoodland Hills Accident Attorney, Barry P. Goldberg, has long been a proponent of persuasive visuals even at the earliest stages of a claim. Not only do insurers react to what they can actually see, visuals create a more memorable presentation than argumentative words from an attorney or dry descriptions from a doctor. Without visuals, it is simply case 1,000,001 and is not individual or memorable. Our law firm looks for persuasive visuals in every case.
Sometimes ordinary photographs provide enough of a visual impact to compel a favorable recovery. One of the first things that is acquired in almost any accident case is photographs from all sources. Cell phone photographs now provide easy access to injury photos, property damage photos and scene photos. Our Woodland Hills law office has obtained amazing photos from police photographers that are often overlooked by experience counsel and insurers. Normally, photos are not provided from a simple request for the police report. However, in an obscure corner of the report there is an indication by a check mark whether photos were taken. If so, we recommend ordering those photos immediately. The photos are usually of a very high quality and show intense circumstances and very relevant physical evidence.
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