Side-impact car crashes, also known as “T-bone” or “broadside” collisions, occurs when a vehicle is hit on its side by another vehicle. Side-impact crashes are extremely dangerous.

They have caused 29% of all passenger-vehicle deaths in the U.S. in 2009 and produce a high rate of severe injuries so it’s important you contact an experienced auto accident attorney who can help you with your case and get you the compensation you deserve.

The reason for more severe injuries in such collisions is because the sides of vehicles have a small amount of space to absorb the energy of the other vehicle. Additionally, the force of side-impact crash often pushes the struck vehicle into the path of other vehicles, causing further collisions, damage and injuries.

In most cases, broadside collisions are preventable and are typically caused by negligent and reckless driving such as running a red light or stop sign, failing to yield the right of way during a turn, engaging in distracted driving behavior, racing through a yellow light or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even though many vehicles are now designed with side airbags and reinforced side doors, the odds remain high that you will suffer a serious injury that could potentially result in multiple surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, long term medical treatment and extremely high medical bills. Because of that, proving fault is extremely important. (more…)

Stockton Car Accident Attorney Helps With Lyft & Uber Car Accidents

As technology continues to infiltrate our lives in more and more ways, we often forget to question the dangers and legal repercussions of such innovative and disruptive technologies like Uber, Airbnb and other sharing economies. Such dangers like driver DUI’s, harassment and assault, felon drivers and the sort are around us everywhere but what about fault in Uber or Lyft car accidents.

If you’re a passenger in an Uber or Lyft car and you get injured, be rest assured that both companies usually take exceptionally great care to guarantee everything goes by protocol and you, as a customer, are taken care of. It serves them best if they keep up to par with exceptional customer service to guarantee their share in the marketplace. (more…)

Without an experienced Stockton injury lawyer it is difficult to navigate the legal aspects of a personal injury claim and determine the exact course of action. Most people are not aware of all possible remedies available to them. However, the law of remedies provides a multiple avenues for the recovery of an injured passenger.

First, if you were injured as passenger in a car accident remember, you cannot be put at fault for the collision. California is a pure comparative fault state. This means that anyone who was injured in a car accident can recover against the at fault party comparative to the fault assigned to that party. To rephrase, if a person who was injured in a car accident has been determined to be 40% at fault for the collision, that individual will still be able to recover for his or her damages, however the recovery will be reduced by 40%, the percentage of fault assigned to that injured individual.

When it comes to passengers who are injured remember, they are not driving, so they cannot be put at fault for the collision. Therefore, it will likely be a clear liability case against one of the drivers. (more…)

Much of California is rural and though you may reside in a large metropolitan city, to drive to nearly any destination in the West is to travel through extensive farmland. The scenery may be beautiful, but it can be dangerous and costly should any large livestock meander into your path. If you have been in an accident involving a livestock, speak with an auto accident lawyer in Stockton.

Any animal kept by humans for commercial purposes is considered livestock. And although they all range in size and weight, colliding with a livestock at the maximum state speed of 70 mph can do serious damage to your vehicle and any person inside. For example, there are over 5 million cows in the state of California, each with an average weight of 2000 pounds. Hitting an animal of this magnitude could be fatal. Other types of livestock that could be involved in an accident are:

• Cows (avg 2000 lbs)
• Horses (avg 1520 lbs)
• Pigs (avg 690 lbs)
• Donkeys (avg 645 lbs)
• Llamas (avg 365 lbs)
• Goats (avg 175 lbs)

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Biking is an efficient way to get around. Not only is it healthy for you, but it’s also great for the environment. However, biking on surface streets alongside cars and trucks is a daunting task that takes an extra layer of protective action. It’s no secret that bikes don’t have the assurance of a protective metal bubble around them. When accidents happen, there’s nothing to brace the impact. Because of speed, accidents between bikes and motorists are often followed by injuries or in a worst case scenario, fatality. If you or someone you know has been hit by a car while riding a bicycle, speak with a Stockton auto accident lawyer for legal representation. (more…)

There are a lot of cars on the California roads and as the population increases, so do car accidents. In fact, in 2007 alone, 4,000 people died on California roads and highways. The grieving process alone for losing a loved one in an automobile accident is difficult alone but trying to cope with the thought that the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence is even more devastating. If you or someone you know lost a loved one due to the irresponsibility of someone else, you could potentially pursue a wrongful death claim. Immediately seek advice and consultation from an experienced Stockton auto accident attorney.

While there is no amount of money that can bring a loved one back, California law allows victims to receive compensation for financial burdens and in some cases, the emotional suffering. Although each case is different, some of the compensation that is available to surviving family members are: (more…)