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When Might Uninsured Motorist Coverage Apply?

June 30, 2020 by

Because California is a tort state, negligent drivers are financially accountable for the damages they cause in accidents. The victims of these accidents usually seek compensation by bringing a third-party claim against the insurance company of the liable party. California requires passenger-vehicle motorists to carry liability insurance for both bodily injury and property damage. That doesn’t mean, however, that all drivers maintain an active policy. For this reason, it is advisable to … [Read more...]

6 FAQs About Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Unsafe Lane Changes

June 26, 2020 by

Although it’s fairly easy to hear motorcycles in traffic, it’s hard to see them. And since the average driver isn’t listening for hazards but, rather, looking for them, riders are incredibly vulnerable to motorcycle accidents — especially when other drivers fail to exercise reasonable care. To exercise reasonable care means to follow the speed limit, abide by all applicable traffic laws, and generally drive in a predictable manner. It also means checking for motorcyclists before changing … [Read more...]

7 FAQs About Premises Liability Wrongful Death Claims

June 23, 2020 by

Losing a loved one is never easy, but it can be especially devastating when negligence is to blame. After a wrongful death, it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that the deceased would still be here today if only the responsible party had exercised reasonable care. While filing a wrongful death suit won’t bring the victim back, it could at least yield the funds that surviving family members need to rebuild their lives in the wake of the loss. If your relative died from injuries sustained … [Read more...]

Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Lawsuits in California

May 11, 2020 by

In the state of California, wrongful death plaintiffs typically have two years from the date on which the victim passed to file a lawsuit. If the cause of action was not immediately apparent, however, this deadline may extend to two years from when it was discovered (or should have been discovered). Since there are a few exceptions that can shorten the time limit considerably, though, it’s advisable to consult a wrongful death attorney as soon as possible if you believe your family has … [Read more...]

7 FAQs About Slips and Falls Caused by Spilled Liquids

May 8, 2020 by

Slips and falls have the potential to cause serious injuries including bone fractures, head trauma, and spinal cord damage. When a facility that caters to customers in-house—a bar, restaurant, or grocery store, for example—fails to clean up spilled liquids in a timely manner, they expose everyone on site to an injury risk. Thankfully, those who do get hurt may have legal recourse. If you slipped at a business establishment because employees failed to mop up or mark off a spill, here’s what … [Read more...]

6 FAQs About Slips & Falls Caused by Inadequate Lighting

May 6, 2020 by

If you slipped and fell on someone else’s property because the lighting was inadequate, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. Property owners and occupiers have a legal obligation to maintain their premises to a reasonably safe standard, and failing to ensure adequate lighting often constitutes a breach of this duty. Serious injuries can happen when property owners fail to provide sufficient lighting in parking lots, entranceways, hallways, stairwells, and other high-traffic … [Read more...]

What Does Maximum Medical Improvement or Permanent and Stationary Mean?

May 4, 2020 by

Maximum medical improvement (MMI) means a patient has reached a point in their recovery where their condition is unlikely to improve over the next year with or without treatment. Permanent and stationary (P&S) means roughly the same thing. Below we’ve answered a few questions about MMI and P&S: How Might P&S Affect My Disability Payments? If you are receiving temporary disability benefits due to a work-related injury, those payments will probably stop once you reach P&S. … [Read more...]

How Might Black Box Data Contribute to My Car Accident Claim?

May 1, 2020 by

If you were hurt in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, there’s a good chance at least one of the vehicles involved was equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). Also known as “black boxes,” these devices track a number of operational specifics, and more than 9 out of 10 passenger cars and light-duty vehicles manufactured after 2012 have one. Big rigs are also equipped with EDRs, among other recording devices. Because of the metrics they record, black boxes often allow investigators to … [Read more...]

Statute of Limitations for Injury Lawsuits Against Government Entities in California

April 29, 2020 by

Bringing a personal injury claim against a government entity is not the same as bringing a claim against a private citizen or business. One key difference is the deadline that applies to filing the lawsuit. This deadline is often referred to as the “statute of limitations.” The typical statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years from the date of injury or one year from the date when the injury was discovered, or should have reasonably been discovered. But if you want to … [Read more...]

3 FAQs About Truck Accidents Caused by Brake Failure

April 27, 2020 by

Commercial trucks are just like any other piece of complex machinery in that their parts can and do malfunction on occasion. When a critical safety component fails—such as the truck’s brakes—there’s a high chance that a devastating and potentially fatal accident will result. If you were injured or lost a family member in such a collision, there are several parties who may be liable for your damages. Read on to learn the answers to some frequently asked questions about truck accidents caused … [Read more...]