On the surface, it probably seems like the widespread use of self-driving cars would simplify life in a lot of ways. When those same autonomous vehicles crash, however, assigning blame is inherently complex. Because autopilot technology is so new, there are few precedents regarding liability for associated wrecks. Just last month, however, prosecutors in Los Angeles County made headlines for filing felony charges against a man who was behind the wheel of a Tesla Model S … [Read more...]
Who Might Be Liable for an Electrical Accident?
Electrical accidents are often devastating. Shocks can cause long-term damage that require ongoing rehabilitation, while sparks can result in third-degree burns. Thankfully, injured parties—or their surviving loved ones—are usually entitled to compensation. Before they can seek compensation, however, they must determine who was to blame. Let’s take a look at the various parties that are most often liable for electrical accidents: 1. Construction Contractors When … [Read more...]
5 Steps to Take Following a Drunk Driving Accident
When someone gets behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, they’re putting not only themselves at risk but also everyone on the road around them. In the United States alone, someone dies in a drunk driving accident every 52 minutes. If you were struck by an impaired motorist, you’re probably entitled to compensation. While filing a claim won’t erase what happened, it could yield the funds needed to carry on and achieve some sense of normalcy in the … [Read more...]
What to Look for in a Pedestrian Accident Attorney
From drunk drivers to reckless motorcycle riders, there are all kinds of traffic hazards that can seriously hurt—or even kill—people on foot. Across the United States, roughly one pedestrian is killed every 88 minutes. An additional 137,000 pedestrians need emergency care for non-fatal accident-related injuries annually. If you were seriously hurt in a pedestrian accident, it’s imperative that you turn to the right attorney for legal counsel. Not all personal injury firms are … [Read more...]
Motorist in Self-Driving Car Faces Felony Charges for Vehicular Manslaughter
Because self-driving technology is so new, there are few precedents regarding liability when an autonomous vehicle crashes. Prosecutors in California are taking action after a fatal collision, however, and have made a landmark move by filing vehicular manslaughter charges, which may pave the way for handling similar scenarios in the future. On Dec. 29, 2019, Kevin Riad was driving a Tesla Model S when the vehicle sped off the freeway and ran a red light before colliding with a … [Read more...]
What to Ask During Your First Meeting with a Personal Injury Attorney
Before you hire a personal injury attorney to assist with your claim, it’s important to confirm their credentials. Have you actually found the best person for the job, or are they merely the first professional you came across when you started searching for representation? Thankfully, determining if you’ve found the right lawyer is fairly straightforward. By asking strategic questions during your initial consultation, you’ll be able to tell by the end of the meeting whether you should proceed … [Read more...]
What Kinds of Factors Will Affect the Outcome of My Car Accident Claim?
Because tort proceedings are inherently complex—and no two accidents are exactly the same—there’s no way to predict a claim’s outcome with 100 percent certainty. That doesn’t mean, however, that a seasoned attorney can’t make an educated guess about the direction a car accident case might take or how much it might be worth. In fact, making such guesses is the foundation on which every successful personal injury firm is built. When working on contingency, a lawyer must be able … [Read more...]
Hurt in a Bus Accident? 5 Steps to Take Right Away
Collisions involving school buses were responsible for more than 100 traffic fatalities in 2019. Because of its sheer size, a bus can cause immense devastation when it collides with a passenger vehicle. In addition to school buses, this is true for city buses, charter buses, and shuttle buses. Fortunately, if you were seriously hurt in a bus accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Whether you were traveling in the bus, driving your own car, or crossing the street at the … [Read more...]
5 Pieces of Evidence to Support Your Distracted Driving Accident Claim
Distracted drivers are responsible for over 3,000 traffic fatalities—and many more injuries—every year. Put another way, those who take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, or their focus off the traffic put both themselves and people around them at risk of serious injury and even death. Thankfully, if you were struck by a motorist who was not paying attention, you’re probably entitled to compensation. In order to recover it, though, you’re going to have to prove … [Read more...]
How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
Assigning a dollar amount to a car accident claim is riddled with challenges. Not only are legal proceedings inherently unpredictable, but there are also a dozen or so variables that can influence the value of any given claim. As if that weren’t complicated enough, each party will undoubtedly apply their own unique formula when it comes time to quantify the non-economic damages. Despite these issues, though, the parties involved are more likely than not to come to an … [Read more...]