It’s a big secret that many lawyers don’t want you to know, but YES, you CAN represent yourself in a car accident claim. While there are certain situations where the experience and knowledge of a successful car accident attorney in the San Fernando Valley is a must, a car accident victim can definitely represent him or herself in some car accident claims. Read on to learn when it is a DIY project or when it is time to hire a lawyer.
Even though thousands of people are injured in slip and fall accidents and it might seem obvious to you, if this happened to you or a loved one, that the person responsible for taking care of the premises was at fault, sometimes proving liability is not that clear cut. Each year, countless individuals are injured,…
DetailsBeing hit by a car while walking down the street or across a crosswalk is a terrifying experience, and unfortunately, one that is not all that uncommon in the San Fernando Valley. Indeed, the Center for Disease Control shares that over 4,700 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2012, and another 76,000 pedestrians were injured. According to the CDC, “this averages to one crash-related pedestrian death every 2 hours, and a pedestrian injury every 7 minutes. Pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to be killed in a car crash on each trip.”
While pedestrian accidents injure men and women of all ages, certain demographics are more at risk for being hit by a car while walking. These include:
DetailsMany people are familiar with the catastrophic trucking accident that left comedian Tracy Morgan severely injured and in a coma. Five months later, Tracy is still fighting to recover. According to a recent Associated Press news report, the former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” star suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the June 7 crash, along with a broken leg, nose and ribs. Several other passengers in the car were injured, and one was killed. Truck accidents are a serious and life threatening reality of our roadways, no matter where you live.
Brain trauma can occur as a result of an impact to the head or sudden acceleration/deceleration within the cranium. In addition to the damage caused at the moment of injury, brain trauma causes secondary injuries. Indeed, TBI can cause a host of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral effects, and a person’s recovery can range from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. In Tracy Morgan’s case, his attorney shared that it is not certain if the comedian would ever be his former self again because of his severe brain injury.
DetailsIt’s that time of year again, when holiday parties abound and the number of buzzed drivers or intoxicated drivers on the roads increase, putting many innocent pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists, and motorists at risk. We may know that a person who gets behind a wheel after drinking and causes an auto accident can be held liable for the damages they cause, but what about the person or business who supplied the driver with the alcohol?
According to the California Supreme Court, social hosts who charge a cover to attend their parties can potentially be held liable for injuries caused by their drunken underage guests. Social host liability imposes liability on social hosts as a result of their serving alcohol to adults or minors. Persons subject to social-host liability in civil lawsuits are generally those that provided alcohol to the obviously intoxicated or to minors who subsequently are involved in vehicle crashes or other activities causing death or injury to third parties. A social host is most often a private individual who serves alcohol in a non-commercial setting.
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Los Angeles personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg is a frequent author on Uninsured/Underinsured (“UM/UIM”) motorist topics. As such, regular advice is given out on many UM/UIM circumstances. Surprisingly, most questions from other lawyers do not involve substantive UM/UIM issues. Rather, the questions inevitably involve UM/UIM “procedure.” There is a good reason—- the UM/UIM statutes…
DetailsA new study released by UC San Diego reveals that “minimally buzzed” drivers – including those with a very low 0.01 blood-alcohol level (which is well below the legal limit of 0.08) are often to blame for fatal car crashes. According to the author of the study, “there is no blood-alcohol content so low that it’s safe to drive.” The holiday season often sees an increase in “buzzed” driving resulting from the number of work parties and family and friend gatherings. Many San Fernando Valley drivers think it is okay to drive after “just one drink” but as this study shows, that is not always the case. If you or a loved one is injured by a buzzed or drunk driver, know that the law is on your side.
The study examined over 570,000 fatal auto accidents and the research clearly shows that drinking and driving at any blood-alcohol level is dangerous and associated with greater accident severity, causing many implications for driver, passengers and the legal system.
DetailsRed-light running is a serious intersection safety issue in the San Fernando Valley and across the nation. Indeed, a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that in the last period of time surveyed, there were more than 2.3 million reported intersection-related crashes, resulting in more than 7,000 fatalities and approximately 733,000 injury crashes. Over 700 deaths were caused by a driver running a red light. In other words? The auto accidents that result from a driver running a red light are serious. If you or a loved one have been injured in such an accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
Sadly, one in 3 people claim they personally know someone injured or killed in a red-light running crash. This number is way too high and serves as a reminder of the importance of driving safely and following the rules of the road.
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Woodland Hills personal injury attorney, Barry P. Goldberg, is careful when advising accident victims that think that their case is a “slam dunk” on liability. In fact, claimants should be aware that if the case goes into active litigation the insurers will hire experts to suggest that the accident did not happen the way it…
DetailsThere is no denying that in the San Fernando Valley, we love our dogs. From dog-friendly businesses to outdoor dining areas, packed dog parks, and more, it is clear that we live in one animal-friendly city. Unfortunately, along with all the love and laughter a treasured pet brings, there can be some downside — in the form of aggressive, vicious dogs. And sometimes, these dogs bite people.
Maybe it was your child that was the innocent and unsuspecting victim of a brutal dog bite attack in the San Fernando Valley. According to the CDC, about 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs every year, with children accounting for half of this number. At least one in every five of those bitten require medical attention. If a child is involved, it is often more crucial to obtain medical treatment in order to ensure that the child is not at risk for long-term damage, whether it be emotional, physical, or mental.
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