• Reducing Your Risk for a Motorcycle Crash

    Motorcyclists face unique risks on the road, because they are often not highly visible to other drivers. As a motorcyclist, there are a few strategies that you can use to reduce your risk of an accident that might cause you to seek the services of a personal injury lawyer serving Riverside, CA.

    This video discusses some of the most helpful tips for reducing the risk of an accident while riding. The most important tip is to assume that you are not seen by other drivers so that you have a plan to get out of potentially dangerous situations safely. Watch the whole video for more collision prevention guidelines, and don’t hesitate to speak to an attorney if you have been the victim of injuries related to a motorcycle accident.

  • Tips for Protecting Your Right to Compensation After a Car Accident

     

    Car accidents are a common occurrence on the road, but they can be a big disruption in your life when they lead to injuries and significant damage to your property. If you have been in a car accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation, which you might seek with the help of a personal injury lawyer serving Riverside, CA . While auto insurance is designed to cover the costs of injuries and property damage, insurance companies will often try to settle at the lowest cost possible, leaving you struggling to pay medical bills or have your car properly fixed. Below, you can see what you will need to do to ensure that you are able to file a personal injury case after an auto accident when insurance is not enough to cover the damage.

    Personal Injury Lawyer in Riverside

    Keep an Accurate Record of the Accident

    It is a good idea to keep a disposable camera or charged cell phone handy so that you can take pictures of the scene of the accident, which will be reliable in backing up your recollection of the accident. You might also talk to witnesses, file a police report, and make a statement with your insurance provider as soon as possible to establish an accurate record for your case.

    Never Admit Fault

    You should speak carefully after a car accident, because a simple statement may imply that you are at fault for the accident, and this could be used against you as you look for compensation to cover your expenses. You’ll also want to stand firm in following appropriate procedures after the accident, even if the other driver offers to settle under the table or suggests skipping a call to the police.

    Seek Medical Attention

    Even if you do not have severe injuries, you should see a doctor after a car accident. Injuries like whiplash may not have substantial symptoms at first, but they can worsen and cause long-term complications that will cause medical expenses to stack up.

  • Common Causes of Indoor Slip and Fall Injuries

    Slip and fall attorneys see a lot of personal injury claims that could have been avoided if building owners had been more dutiful. Most slip and fall injuries are caused by negligence by the owner or operator of a public or private space. If you’re aware of these common causes of indoor slip and fall injuries, you may be able to avoid personal injury. Slip and Fall Attorneys in Riverside, CA

    Wet Floors or Worn Carpeting

    One of the most common reasons that people seek a slip and fall lawyer is for a personal injury that occurred as a result of slipping on a wet floor. If a floor has just been mopped, waxed, or if something has been spilled on it, a business is required to put up a cautionary sign or barrier. When a business owner or employee fails to put up a sign, or uses too much or an inappropriate type of wax or cleaners on a floor, they’re liable for any personal injury claims or slip and fall accidents that occur as a result. Another common cause of a slip and fall accident is carpeting that is worn, damaged, frayed, ripped, bulging, or has holes. Damaged carpeting is a huge liability if a slip and fall injury occurs.

    Dangerous or Damaged Staircases

    Staircases can be dangerous even when they are in perfect condition, and many things can make a staircase even more dangerous. A slip and fall accident can occur if a staircase has poor lighting, a missing or damaged handrail, is too steep or the steps are too far apart, or the steps are broken, damaged, or worn down. Debris, obstacles, and spills on staircases can also cause a slip and fall.

    Poorly Maintained Escalators and Elevators

    Property owners are legally required to properly maintain elevators and escalators to ensure passenger safety. A slip and fall accident can occur if an elevator or escalator isn’t operating correctly and stops or jerks suddenly, resulting in a fall. Body parts, clothing, or footwear can also get caught in the machinery and cause injury.

  • How is Whiplash Treated?

    Whiplash is one of the most personal injuries that is seen by car accident lawyers near Riverside, CA . A whiplash injury occurs when a car is rear-ended or side-swiped and the driver or passenger’s head is suddenly and forcefully jerked forwards and backwards or side to side. The injury causes damage to the tendons, ligaments, and muscles in the neck, resulting in neck pain and stiffness.

    Watch this video to find out how whiplash injuries are treated. It is important to seek professional medical treatment as soon as possible in order to validate the personal injury claim filed by your auto accident attorney.

  • What To Do if You Are the Victim of a Catastrophic Injury?

    If you are the victim of a catastrophic personal injury near Riverside, CA , you should immediately seek an experienced personal injury lawyer. If someone else is liable for the cause of your injury, you can file a personal injury lawsuit asking for reimbursement for physical, financial, and psychological damages that you have sustained. A personal injury can occur at work, in a private residence, at school, or in any other public or private space.

    The first thing that you should do after suffering from a catastrophic personal injury is to seek medical attention. After your initial medical services are rendered, you must follow your doctor’s advice to the letter, and seek any rehabilitation or follow-up care necessary. You should also visit a psychologist, therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist for as long as is recommended. You should ensure that every expense that occurs as a result of your injury is well documented.

    After you receive an initial medical evaluation, you should hire a reputable personal injury attorney. You and your attorney will participate actively in the investigation into liability for your injury, and the total damages resulting from your injury.

    Catastrophic Personal Injury Lawyer in Riverside, CA

  • Steps to Take After an Auto Accident

    If you have suffered from a personal injury in an auto accident, the first things that you should do are to seek medical attention and contact an auto accident lawyer serving Riverside, CA . A car accident lawyer can protect your rights and ensure that you are reimbursed for medical expenses and other damages. Here are the most important steps that you should take after an auto accident that causes personal injury.

    Auto Accident Lawyer in Riverside, CA

    Call 911 and File a Police Report

    The first thing that you should do after an accident, even a minor fender bender, is to call 911 to report the accident and be evaluated for injuries. Many car accident injuries don’t cause symptoms until days or weeks after the accident, so it’s crucial that you are checked by an EMT or medical professional immediately even if you don’t think that you are injured. Otherwise, there will be no proof that your personal injury was caused by the auto accident. You must also file a police report, as most insurance companies require one in order for you to pursue an insurance claim. It will also be incredibly helpful to your personal injury lawyer.

    Take Photos and Exchange Insurance Information

    The next thing that you should do is take clear, comprehensive photos of the accident scene. Photograph the damages caused to all of the cars involved, as well as any road signs, road hazards, or traffic lights that influenced the accident. You should also take photographs of tire skid marks that may prove liability, as well as any personal injuries sustained at the scene.

    Hire an Automobile Accident Lawyer

    If you sustained a personal injury in the accident, you should hire an automobile accident lawyer as soon as possible. A personal injury attorney who has experience with car accident injury claims can be very valuable if you need to prove liability or seek reimbursement for damages. Your car accident lawyer will communicate with insurance claims agents, doctors, and other attorneys on your behalf. He can also help you reach a settlement for physical, psychological, and property damages.

  • How Can You Prove Fault in a Slip and Fall Case?

    slip and fall attorney riverside ca A slip and fall attorney near Riverside, CA, advises clients that this area of personal injury law is complex. Even if someone is responsible for keeping his or her property safe and fails to do so, a successful personal injury claim must go even further. An injury lawyer must prove that a property owner knew or should have known about dangerous conditions that caused the fall . Read on to find out more about how a personal injury lawyer must show a property owner’s duty to keep premises safe, prove that dangerous premises caused injury, and demonstrate financial damages.

    Show Duty

    When it comes to a slip and fall case, an injury lawyer first needs to show that the property where you were injured had an owner who owed you a duty of care. This first step is usually easily satisfied. A property owner has a duty to maintain a safe premises for any guest or visitor. For example, a grocery store owner must maintain a dry parking lot free of slippery ice and water.

    Prove Causation

    Next, a personal injury lawyer needs to prove that the property owner’s failure to maintain a safe space directly caused your personal injury. This step is trickier, and opposing counsel will fight your slip and fall lawyer every step of the way. For example, you may slip and hurt your ankle on an extremely icy sidewalk or a stairway that has fallen into serious disrepair. While the property owner has clearly failed to maintain safe premises, his or her lawyer could argue that your ankle injury is actually attributable to a sports accident incurred years ago.

    Demonstrate Damages

    After your slip and fall lawyer proves causation, he or she will also need to demonstrate damages. Damages are a set amount that a personal injury victim is entitled to in order to compensate her for the accident. For example, a victim is generally entitled to be reimbursed for medical bills, any missed work or lost future wages, and general pain and suffering.

  • Possible Causes of Trucking Accidents

    Trucking Accident Lawyer in Riverside, CA A car accident lawyer near Riverside, CA, handles cases of auto collisions involving commercial trucks . Sadly, trucking accidents almost always result in serious personal injuries, simply because trucks are enormous vehicles. When a trucker loses control, the results can be devastating. If you are hurt in a trucking accident, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. Continue reading to find out why trucker fatigue, speeding, and distracted driving cause trucking accidents.

    Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of trucking accidents. As a personal injury lawyer knows, state and federal laws regulate the number of hours each trucker can drive per day. Unfortunately, many trucking companies and drivers ignore these rules. Another cause of trucking accidents involves speeding. Truckers are almost always in a hurry to get to the next destination, and truck drivers often seriously exceed the speed limit, causing major auto accidents. Distracted driving is another cause of personal injury and visits to personal injury law firms, and may occur if a driver uses a cell phone to talk or text, or adjusts the ratio.

  • Auto Accidents in California [INFOGRAPHIC]

    Even though driving a car is something many people do every day without incident, accidents can happen at any time. There were roughly 3,000 fatalities due to auto accidents in California in 2013, an increase of over one percent from the previous year. If you or someone you love has been injured or even killed as a result of an auto accident, you need an accident lawyer near Riverside to represent you and your rights. Accidents can be caused by negligence, unsafe driving conditions, alcohol or drug impairment, and more. Take a look at this infographic to learn more about the statistics and changes in car and motorcycle accidents in California. Please share with your friends and family, and remember to stay safe on the road.

    Infographic on Auto Accidents in California

  • Advice for Avoiding Motorcycle Injuries

    Advice for Avoiding Motorcycle Injuries A personal injury attorney handles many motorcycle injuries each year. Sadly, motorcycle accidents sometimes have the most serious personal injuries. Unlike a passenger in a vehicle, a motorist has little protection during a car accident. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle or any other kind of auto accident, contact an auto accident lawyer to find out if you may have a claim for damages. Continue reading to learn how.

    Be Aware

    All too often, an accident attorney handles motorcycle accident cases that could have been avoided if the motorists had been paying more attention. If you ride a motorcycle, it is especially important to always be aware of your surroundings. A split second can make the difference between life and death. As you drive, always look for signs that indicate a car may be turning ahead of you. For example, if there is a gap in traffic and a car is waiting at an intersection, make sure to slow down, cover your brakes, and be prepared to act. A gap in traffic indicates that someone can drive through that gap, even if you do not see a vehicle.

    Be Cautious

    Auto accident lawyers also regularly handle cases of drivers and passengers hurt because someone was speeding. Speeding is one of the most common causes of personal injury accidents, and motorcyclists are no exception. Whenever you are on the roads, ride at a pace where your reaction time and ability to react to sudden situations fit within your range of vision. By staying at an easy pace, you can be prepared for any obstacles in the roadway, including stalled cars and potholes.

    Be Watchful

    A personal injury firm warns all potential clients to be watchful of blind spots at all times. A blind spot is the small area on either side where a driver’s mirror does not naturally reflect. In these spaces, a motorcycle or vehicle driver is completely blind, because it is impossible to see surrounding motorists. Before changing lanes, always look completely over your shoulder, and never rely on a mirror alone.