 Auto AccidentsSpinal InjuriesWrongful DeathTrucking AccidentsDefective ProductsDog BitesMotorcycle Accidents
If you have been in a car or truck accident, you may recover money from one or more insurance companies. You must act quickly after an accident occurs because what you do can impact your potential damages. You must make sure that if you are experiencing pain you see a medical doctor, chiropractor, or other trained medical professional immediately after the accident, and continue to seek consistent medical attention after an accident until medically released from care. Failure to do so will give the insurance carrier an argument that you really were not injured since you did not seek medical care immediately and consistently after the accident. The fact is that many injured persons feel reluctant to seek medical care immediately or consistently after an accident because they think the pain will go away, only to find two to three months later that the pain has not gone away, or has even worsened. In those cases the insurance carrier often denies the claim and accuses the person of faking their symptoms. Furthermore, by not seeing a medical professional immediately, you delay your treatment and potentially risk further injury. Remember, even minor soreness can be an indication of a serious injury in some cases. An experienced personal injury attorney will make sure that you do not lose your legal rights to compensation, and guide to through the medical process to make sure your primary treating physician is providing you the proper and appropriate medical attention, including the proper diagnosis, treatment plan, assessment of etiology for your injuries and symptoms, prognosis, and specialist referral if necessary. Automobile accidents can lead to a tidal wave of legal issues, medical issues, insurance forms, reports, medical bills, etc. Contact us immediately after an accident, and we will take care of all of them for your, and answer your questions clearly and concisely so that you can relax and worry about getting properly treated instead of having to deal with an insurance adjuster. Important Things You Should Do When an Accident Has Occurred:
Return to the list of our services Motor vehicle accidents and slip and falls frequently cause severe spinal injuries. Spinal injuries involve damage to vertebrae, innervated facets, intersegmental ligaments, or intervertebral discs that in turn encroach, impinge or displace the spinal cord or the exiting nerves or nerve roots from the spinal cord. The mechanism of injury, etiology of symptoms, effects of pre-existing degeneration and effects on your activities of daily living are just a few of the highly complex medical and biomechanical issues raised in spinal injury cases. These issues are often resolved by using magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic studies (MRI’s) to objectively verify the nature of your spinal injuries. For example, an MRI may show damage to a specific cervical disc level that is causing the impingement or encroachment to your spinal cord or existing nerves roots, which in turn is causing symptoms of pain radiating down into your arm. Qualified medical providers and experts, often specialists in neurological spine injuries, can accurately diagnose, assess, and treat such injuries. An attorney that has extensive expertise and experience in litigating spinal injuries will utilize the most recent biomechanical and medical research to objectively establish mechanisms of injury and other crucial elements in your case. Symptoms vary but serious neck injuries usually involve radiating pain from the neck down into a shoulder, arm or finger(s), including possible loss of feeling, sensation, numbness and tingling, or even the inability to move your arm or hand. Symptoms of lower back injuries typically include radiating pain from the low back down into the buttock, thigh, calf, feet or toes. Don't take a chance. These injuries are very serious and you should see a highly qualified doctor immediately. Insurance carriers will not be sympathetic to paying you for serious spinal injuries, and will not aid or assist you in obtaining the evidence you need to establish a serious spinal injury even when they know what you need to do. If you have any of the above stated symptoms we strongly recommend you immediately call one of our highly trained attorneys who has extensive insight and knowledge regarding spinal injuries, and who will discuss the legal ramifications of your medical condition, and how to successfully manage your case and maximize your recovery.
BIOMECHANICAL STUDY DIAGRAM: INJURY MECHANISMS TO DISC DURING SIMULATED WHIPLASH CONDITIONS [USING HUMAN DONOR SPECIMANS] Return to the list of our services Sometimes a loved one is killed because of someone else's negligence. Even if the person or business responsible for the death is punished for a crime, the wrongdoer may still be financially responsible for causing your loved one's death. Survivors can be compensated under a variety of circumstances. Wrongful death cases are treated differently than other cases due to California’s statutory scheme, and therefore we highly recommend that survivors of a deceased spouse seek legal counsel regarding any wrongful death case before discussing the matter with the wrongdoer or an insurance carrier. Return to the list of our services
Big trucks (18-wheelers, dump trucks, cement trucks, etc.) cause serious injuries and death in accidents. Truck drivers are often too tired to drive and/or are violating the law. In other cases, accidents happen because of defects in either the truck or the road. These accidents can often involve highly technical accident reconstructions and/or investigations. We strongly recommend that in such cases you always consult an attorney before discussing the case with the culprit’s insurance carrier. If you have been hurt by a product, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries. Companies have a duty to make products that are safe for you to use. However, sometimes they put making money ahead of your safety. They often have very aggressive lawyers, highly technical engineering and safety experts, and large insurance companies on their side to protect them when things go wrong. These cases can become incredibly complex as they can raise issues regarding design engineering, manufacturing engineering, safety engineering, industry standards, and other forensic issues about the functionality of the specific product. You need someone strong, competent and qualified to fight for your rights and counter the defendant’s attorneys and experts. If you or a loved one has been hurt by a product you should discuss the matter in depth with a qualified and experienced attorney. Return to the list of our services
There are specific statutes under California law that deal directly with dog bites. The dog owner is usually liable whether or not he knew the dog might bite. However, the dog owners frequently claim that the injured party provoked the dog, or was in some other way comparatively negligent. Dog owners often have home owner's insurance or other assets that will pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering. Dog bites can leave scarring and scar revision by a qualified plastic surgeon with the appropriate assessment of future medical scar revision, as well as other important medical evidence, are often at issue in dog bite cases. If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, seek medical help immediately. Be sure to take photographs of the injuries and obtain contact information for any witnesses to the attack. Make sure you discuss the matter with an attorney as soon as possible so as to preserve any evidence, and assess any comparative liability and other issues that are often raised in these types of cases. Return to the list of our services
The California vehicle code provides unique and special treatment to the owners and operators of motorcycles. Motorcyclists have advantages that other vehicle operators do not receive under California law. These cases also often require an accident reconstructionist when there is a contested version of the facts. Motorcycle accidents often involve very serious injuries, and may require highly trained and specialized head trauma medical specialists, neurologists, and/or orthopedic surgeons for fractured skulls, closed head trauma, fractured ankles, legs, ribs and arms. Road rash (abrasions caused by contact with asphalt) is also common in these cases and may take a long time to heal. Anyone involved in a motorcycle accident should call an attorney as soon as possible and have the attorney discuss their rights as a motorcyclist and assess the best possible plan for legal recovery. Early and effective treatment could save a lifetime of pain for such injuries. INSURANCE COVERAGE: Be sure you purchase “uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage” as it is critically important in a large percentage of cases, and costs very little compared to the benefit you receive. Unfortunately, many California drivers have little or no insurance. All insurance packages must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in California. This coverage pays for your damages when the at-fault driver in an accident either has no auto insurance, or not enough to fairly pay for all of your damages. Buy as much as you can afford. You will thank our firm when an uninsured drunk driver hits you and you incur half a million dollars in medical bills [drunk drivers and uninsured drivers cause a disproportionate percentage of accidents]. When buying motor vehicle insurance, also be sure to obtain medical-pay coverage. This will cover portions of any medical bills incurred as a result of the injuries caused in an accident, including payments to some medical providers who refuse to take health insurance payments or liens. The premiums will be a bit more, but the protection is worth it. Finally, if you did not have insurance at the time of the accident and you were the driver or owner of the vehicle involved, you may not be able to recover some portion of damages under California law. However, this does not mean that you cannot make a claim. You still have most of the legal rights that insured drivers and owners have. In such cases you should talk with one of our attorneys who can help and assist in determining your rights in your case. |
