Preventing Against Bike Accidents

California’s temperate climate and large network of roads and highways make a great combination for riding your bicycle almost any day of the week — but being careful pays off.  Not all drivers or even other riders provide as much courtesy as they should to others on the road.

In the San Fernando Valley, drivers are required to share the road with cyclists, whether they like it or not. To keep the roads safe, here are a few common scenarios cyclists and drivers should be alert to:

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Personal InjuryBy Barry Goldberg

Cycling Accidents in the San Fernando Valley

The CDC reports that while only 1% of trips taken in the United States are by bicycle, cyclists face a higher risk of crash-related injury and deaths than occupants of motor vehicles do.  Each year, more than half a million emergency room visits are attributed to bicycle-related injuries.  Major risk factors of bike and cycling accidents in the San Fernando Valley include:

(1) age – adolescents age 15 to 24 and adults over age 45 have the highest bicycle death rates,

(2) gender – men are much more likely to be killed or injured than women, and

(3) location – most deaths occur in urban areas and at non-intersection locations.

If you are injured in a bicycle accident, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney about your injuries and your legal options can bring peace of mind as you begin your recovery.

Types of Bike Accident Injuries

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Personal InjuryBy Barry Goldberg

Suing a Drunk Driver

Spring often means an increase in parties (St. Patty’s Day, anyone?), sporting events, and other occasions where alcohol is present. This can also mean that more people leave these parties and drive while under the influence or intoxicated, which is against the law and one of the biggest contributors to car accidents in the San…

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg

Preparing for a Car Accident

No one expects to get into a car accident, but being prepared in case one happens is a great way to ease anxiety and ensure your recovery is as smooth as possible.  Below are some tips to keep in mind before and after a car accident in Woodland Hills…

Before the accident

– Keep a safety kit, with first-aid and safety equipment, in the car.

– Keep important documents, such as your insurance documents, car registration, emergency numbers, and a pen and notepad, where you can find them.

– Finally, keep your cell phone charged.  If you are stuck on the side of the road without a phone nearby, you want to make sure you have access to your insurance company and loved ones without fear of your phone batteries failing.

After the accident

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg

Do Not Delay on Filing a Personal Injury Claim

If you have been involved in a Woodland Hills car accident, you may wonder what happens next, legally speaking.  Perhaps you are unsure how long you have to bring claims against the person who hit you.  Or whether you will be found partially at fault for causing the accident.  In general, the statute of limitations in California is two years for a personal injury claim, although there are exceptions that an experienced personal injury attorney can discuss with you.  This means that if you injured in a car accident on January 1, 2015, you must file your civil lawsuit for damages on or before December 31, 2017.

Filing an Accident Claim Sooner than Later

Of course, you probably do not want to wait that long if you don’t have to. Memories fade, witnesses move away, and physical evidence can deteriorate even in two short years.  Having access to witnesses with compelling testimony and helpful physical evidence may be vital to proving your case.  Thus, to have the best chance of succeeding with your claims, you’ll want to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

In some cases, accident victims may not know right away that they have been injured.  For example, you may be involved in an accident, and then discover two months later that you have severe back pain.  If you visit a doctor and he or she believes the car accident caused the back pain, you may be able to bring a claim for damages for the back pain injury.  Be aware that your time to do so starts at the point you discover the injury, and then you have one year to bring a claim.

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg
Personal Injury Attorney

Hire a Lawyer—or Go It Alone?

Woodland Hills personal injury lawyer Barry P. Goldberg meets with hundreds of prospective clients who have questions whether it makes sense to hire a lawyer or “do it on your own.”  Most often, the decision focuses on the amount in controversy.  If the amount in dispute is $10,000, or less, a prospective client can usually…

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UncategorizedBy Barry Goldberg

Head Injuries and Financial Recovery

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Woodland Hills, you may have suffered a head injury and not even known about it because not all head injuries involve an obvious open wound.  If you think you’ve been injured after an auto accident, it is important to seek medical attention.  Additionally, you may want to consider contacting a personal injury attorney, as you may be entitled to compensation.  Consider doing so promptly, as statutes of limitations for personal injury claims apply.  Generally speaking, in California, you have two years from when your auto accident occurred to sue the responsible parties, although there are exceptions that shorten the timeline.

Head injuries are generally grouped into three categories. Symptoms can include headaches, nausea, confusion, restlessness, and memory loss.

Examples of Head Injuries

Head injuries may include:

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg

Dog Bite Injuries and Your Financial Recovery

The United States is home to close to 80 million dogs, which means the chances are high that each of us will encounter “man’s best friend” at some point in our lifetime, if not on a regular basis.  While most dogs are harmless, some are not. These vicious dogs can cause long-lasting physical, emotional, and mental injuries to the innocent victims whom they attack.

If you or your child has been attacked or bitten by a dog, know the dog’s owner may be subject to criminal penalties and/or civil fines and litigation. On the civil side, each state addresses “dog bite liability” differently, with some states requiring that the dog have bitten another person at least once before the current victim is allowed to sue.  This is not the law in California.

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Dog BiteBy Barry Goldberg

Colder Weather Brings Certain Auto Accident-Related Risks

Winter can bring challenging travel conditions for pedestrians and drivers alike.  Darker days, colder weather, and frazzled and fatigued travelers may all contributed to a greater number of accidents on the road. This is true even in Southern California, where are winters only seem to last a few short months! During colder months, pedestrians are more likely to find themselves injured by walking outside on a slippery sidewalk or being hit by a careless driver. Indeed, one leading cause of accidents in the San Fernando Valley involves drivers who strike a pedestrian who is crossing the street.  Other reasons for pedestrian accidents include jaywalking and texting or using phones while crossing the street.

When walking on a sidewalk or crossing a wet street, pedestrians need to be especially careful to walk slowly and put away their electronic devices.  Pedestrians can also protect themselves by following the old adage, “look left, right, and left again,” before crossing the street.  Crossing wide streets in sections, by use of a center divider or median, is also wise.  If you find yourself walking in a parking lot, such as near a shopping mall or event center, pay attention to your surroundings, as parking lots accidents happen more often than you might think.  It is recommended that you stick to marked sidewalks and paths that are visible to drivers.  Remember, just because you can see a car or a driver does not mean they can or will see you.

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Car AccidentBy Barry Goldberg