• What to Do If You’re Injured in a Slip and Fall?

    Property owners have a responsibility to exercise reasonable caution regarding the condition of their property. If you slip or trip and fall on someone else’s property, it is possible that a personal injury attorney could file a lawsuit on your behalf. An injury lawyer located in Riverside, CA, could help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related losses. To preserve your legal rights and help your personal injury attorney build a case, there are a few steps you should take immediately after an accident.

    Accident Lawyer at Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler

    Document the Evidence

    Depending on how seriously you are injured, your first step might be to call 911 to request an ambulance. However, if you are able to do so, it’s best to document the evidence as soon as possible after falling. If you have a cellphone with you, take pictures of your injuries and the scene. Make sure to get pictures of any hazardous areas, such as broken handrails, loose floorboards, or similar problems. This physical evidence can prove invaluable when your accident lawyer files a claim. Make a note of the date and time of the accident and write down a few notes about how the incident occurred.

    Report the Incident

    Inform the property owner or manager about the accident as soon as possible, preferably before you leave the scene. Ask the owner or manager to create a written report of the incident and request to have a copy.

    Talk to Witnesses

    If there were any witnesses to your accident, ask them to share their full names and contact information with you. You might also obtain a written and signed statement from these witnesses about what happened. However, this is not necessary; your personal injury attorney can interview them later.

    Get Medical Attention

    If you’ve sustained a serious injury such as head trauma, you should call for medical attention immediately after falling. Otherwise, go to the nearest ER or urgent care center as soon as you’ve documented the incident. Even if you think your injuries are not too serious, getting medical attention promptly can help support your case. Be sure to tell the doctors and nurses that you were injured in a fall.

  • What Happens in a Personal Injury Trial?

    After sustaining injuries due to someone else’s negligence , you can retain the services of a personal injury attorney with offices in Riverside, CA. Your personal injury attorney might file a lawsuit against the negligent party to demand compensation for your losses. If the case goes to trial, your accident lawyer will make an opening statement, present evidence, and question witnesses to prove your losses and the other party’s negligence. The case may be resolved with a jury verdict or a settlement.

    For more on what happens leading up to the trial, watch this video or consult your personal injury attorney. The professional in this video explains that your attorney will begin the process by submitting a notice of representation to the negligent party and possibly to his or her insurance company. Then, your lawyer will review all relevant evidence to prepare your case.

  • How to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

    If you’re looking for a personal injury attorney in the Riverside, CA area, you might have slipped and fallen on someone else’s property, been struck by a negligent driver, or been attacked by someone else’s dog. A personal injury attorney can handle all of these types of cases and many more. It’s best not to hire the first injury attorney you come across. Spend a little time researching the attorney’s background and get the most out of your initial consultation by bringing a list of relevant questions.

    Injury-Attorney

    Understand the Value of Experience

    There are plenty of personal injury lawyers out there, but not all of them have years of experience in and out of the courtroom. Look for a personal injury attorney who has at least a couple of decades of experience. Experienced lawyers understand the fine art of negotiation during settlement talks and they know the tactics the other party might try to use in the courtroom. Seasoned attorneys can provide you with the one-on-one service you deserve and the personalized guidance you need to move forward with your life after the accident.

    Schedule an Initial Consultation

    When you’ve identified a personal injury attorney who might be right for your case, schedule an initial consultation at the law office. This brief consultation should be free of charge and without any obligations. It’s a chance to meet each other, discuss the case, and consider the details of retaining legal counsel. Bring a list of questions you have about your case and the attorney’s qualifications.

    Explore the Attorney’s Track Record

    During your consultation, feel free to ask the injury lawyer about past cases he or she has handled that were similar to yours. It’s acceptable to ask for an estimate of how many cases the law firm has handled over the years and how much money in jury awards and settlements the law firm has recovered for clients.

    Ask About the Fee Schedule

    Before hiring the personal injury lawyer, you should have a clear understanding of the legal fees involved. It’s generally best to find a lawyer who works on contingency, which means that he or she will not recover a fee unless there is a favorable resolution to your case.

  • What Are the Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

    Motorcycle accidents have a higher potential for serious personal injury or death than many other types of automobile accidents. This is because motorcycles leave riders much more vulnerable to injury when they are struck or lose control. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident or any other type of vehicle collision, contacting an auto accident lawyer near Riverside, CA, is an important step you should take to protect your rights and seek reparations for injuries that may have occurred. Regardless of the cause for your accident or the party at fault, working with a car accident lawyer is a smart move that will ensure your case is treated properly under California’s personal injury law.

    Causes of Motorcycle Accidents by Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler

    Poor Handling

    Motorcycles are unique vehicles that handle very differently than enclosed vehicles. One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents is poor handling, either through rider inexperience, unexpected occurrences such as animals, people, or obstacles in the path ahead, and changes in weather that make driving and handling more hazardous. As a driver, it’s important to understand that motorcycles are less stable in poor conditions, and provide extra space and time for riders to stop and maneuver to avoid an accident. If you own a motorcycle, ensuring you have the skill and strength to handle it is vital to your safety.

    Inattentiveness

    Car and truck drivers often cause motorcycle accidents. When driving a traditional vehicle, many drivers unintentionally ignore the presence of two-wheeled vehicles, such as bicycles and motorcycles, or misjudge the likelihood of a collision. This most frequently occurs at intersections and when making turns or lane changes, when drivers often miss or misjudge the presence of pedestrians, bikes, and motorcycles. The best way to avoid this issue as a driver is to be aware of your own tendency toward ignorance; as a motorcyclist, slowing down when a car in front of you signals to turn or change lanes and assuming they do not see you is the safest way to avoid a collision that could cause serious personal injury.

  • Reducing Your Risk of a Rear-End Collision

    Automobile accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injury cases handled by accident attorneys in Riverside, CA. The majority of accidents are caused by distraction and negligent behavior, meaning that these situations are highly preventable.

    This video discusses several of the causes for rear-end collisions, as well as how you should modify your own driving behavior to avoid them. Understanding how changes in speed and vehicle distance affect accident likelihood can help drivers navigate more safely. Reducing your risk for an accident will also help you reduce your risk for facing a personal injury claim; if you are involved in any collision that causes injuries, it’s best to discuss the situation with a car accident lawyer promptly to determine your options. An auto accident lawyer will examine factors such as driver behavior, road conditions, and more to help you best present your case.

  • Answering Common Questions About Truck Accidents

    Vehicular accidents occur every day, causing property damage, injury, and even death. When a truck is involved in an automobile accident, the consequences are often much more severe, due to the vehicle’s larger size, mass, and momentum. A personal injury lawyer near Riverside, CA, can help you understand your legal options following any type of truck accident.

    auto accident lawyer

    What Vehicles Are Considered Trucks?

    Truck are commercial vehicles used to carry goods or other materials. While tractor-trailers are the most common and most visible example of a truck that may be involved in an accident, truck accidents can also involve tankers, delivery trucks, cement trucks, and any other vehicle that requires a commercial drivers’ license to operate. If you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, it’s best to work with an accident lawyer to ensure you receive the compensation you are due.

    What Are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

    Like other types of auto accidents, truck accidents may have one or several causes. Larger vehicles such as trucks have more limited capabilities in terms of maneuverability and stopping distance than passenger vehicles, as well as several blind spots. In many cases, the behavior of passenger vehicles is at least partially responsible for a truck accident. However, issues such as operator negligence, truck driver fatigue , bad road conditions, and poor vehicle maintenance also frequently play a role in truck accidents.

    What Happens if I Am Partially Responsible for the Accident?

    During a legal case involving a truck accident, the degree of fault of each party will be determined. Even if you are partially responsible for the accident, you may still be eligible for recompense based on the percentage of responsibility held by the truck driver or his company. Your auto accident lawyer will carefully review your actions and the actions of the driver, as well as the road conditions and vehicle conditions at the time of the accident, to show that you are eligible for at least some percentage of recompense for any personal injury or property damage suffered during the accident.

  • Take These Steps After a Slip and Fall Accident

    Falls are one of the leading causes of emergency room visits in the United States, and they are often attributable to neglected property maintenance or poor walkway design. If you do suffer a fall, you may be entitled to compensation from the owner of the property where the injury took place, but you will need to take several key steps to ensure that you are able to build a successful personal injury case following your slip and fall accident near Riverside, CA. Read on to see what you should do after you sustain injuries from a fall in a public place or on someone else’s property. Slip and Fall Accident

    Seek Medical Attention

    Falls can lead to serious injuries, so you will not want to hesitate to seek medical attention. When you visit the ER or urgent care center, be sure to get thorough documentation of the visit so that you can discuss the exact nature of your injuries with an attorney later on.

    Report the Incident

    While your medical care should take priority after a fall, it is important to report the incident to the appropriate parties. If your fall occurs in a store, speak to the manager and ask to see security footage if it is available.

    Document as Much as Possible

    In addition to reporting your slip and fall injury to a property owner or manager, you will want to gather as much documentation of the event as possible. If there are witnesses to your fall, try to get their contact information so that you might use their testimony later on. You should also keep thorough details of any medical care following the accident, as the costs of your care will be highly influential in determining your settlement.

    Talk to an Attorney

    Even if you are not sure who may be at fault for your fall or you do not know if you have a case, it is best to speak to an attorney about your accident. You should not have to be held financially responsible for medical care and time lost at work when you suffer an injury caused by negligence, so schedule a free consultation with a local personal injury attorney to see how you may seek compensation.

  • Looking at the Causes of Truck Accidents

     

    If you suffer an automobile accident in Riverside that involves a commercial truck, there are many possible causes for the accident that might be considered during a personal injury case. While truck drivers are supposed to be among the most skilled and cautious drivers on the road, they are often held to unrealistic standards when it comes to the number of hours worked in a shift and the timeline of a given delivery. As a result, truckers often end up driving more hours than they should in a workday, which can lead to fatigue and distraction on the road.

    When it comes to truck accidents , there may be more parties at fault than the driver himself. Trucking companies may be pursued in personal injury cases when the cause of the accident was related to improper maintenance, faulty equipment, or failure to follow inspection protocols. Regardless of the specific causes of your truck accident, you should not hesitate to discuss the collision with a personal injury lawyer to explore whether or not you might seek financial compensation for your injuries or the death of a loved one in a truck accident.

    Truck Accidents

     

  • 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.