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Welcome to the Michael Waks Blog

Can Facebook Ruin Your Personal Injury Case?

June 2, 2016 by

The internet is not private.  If you are an accident victim making a personal injury claim, you can be sure the insurance company is searching the internet for evidence to use against you.  As a personal injury attorney, I have seen claims reduced or denied based upon information an insurance company found on someone's social media page. According to the American Bar Association, courts are generally rejecting the idea that someone's social media accounts are … [Read more...]

Personal Injury Attorney: Can I Sue More than One Person?

May 19, 2016 by

Accident victims in California can pursue a damage claim against those who hurt them.  Victims can file a personal injury lawsuit, while family members of a deceased victim can make a wrongful death claim.  The purpose of a lawsuit is to receive compensation for financial losses, such medical costs and loss of income due to injury, and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. The toll a personal injury can have on a victim and his or her family can be … [Read more...]

Announcing Essay Contest For Students Living With A Disability

May 19, 2016 by

Attorney Michael D. Waks is offering a $1,000 award to the winner of the Michael D. Waks Essay Contest. High school seniors and college students attending a 2-year or 4-year accredited university or college, in California, living with a disability, are invited to participate. ”As a Long Beach personal injury attorney for over 30 years, I have represented young clients living with disabilities caused by auto accidents.  I have seen how difficult it has been for them to move forward with … [Read more...]

Does Siri Cause Auto Accidents?

May 17, 2016 by

Using hands-free devices gives drivers a false sense of safety.  When you ask Siri, or your car's voice-activated system, to do something, no California laws are being broken, your eyes are on the road and your hands are on the wheel.  But in fact, using hands-free devices while driving, creates a significant danger. As a car accident lawyer, I have seen a spike in distracted driving accidents. A recent study conducted by AAA California shows the use of hands-free … [Read more...]

What Does Premises Liability Mean?

May 16, 2016 by

What Does Premises Liability Mean? by Michael Waks Premises liability is the personal injury law that comes into play when a person is hurt on someone else’s property because there was a dangerous condition. When owners fail to take proper care of their property, they are responsible if someone is injured. Learn more about premises liability in California in this presentation. … [Read more...]

Can a Car Accident Cause Fibromyalgia?

May 10, 2016 by

Fibromyalgia is an incurable medical condition that causes sufferers to experience widespread musculoskeletal pain.  According to the Mayo Clinic, fibromyalgia affects the way pain signals in the brain are processed, amplifying painful sensations.  Fibromyalgia symptoms commonly begin after someone experiences a trauma, such as the physical trauma caused by an auto accident.  As a car accident lawyer, I have seen some of my clients struggle to contend with this terrible … [Read more...]

Types of Slip and Fall Injuries

May 5, 2016 by

When property owners do not properly maintain their indoor and outdoor spaces, visitors to the property are vulnerable to getting hurt.  Slip and fall accidents occur because property owners or tenants choose poor flooring materials, don't clean spills on a timely basis, leave debris in walkways, or leave unsafe conditions unfixed.  As a slip and fall lawyer I have represented clients injured by falling through termite ridden steps, slipping on unmarked waxed floors and tripping over a low brick … [Read more...]

Who is At Fault for a Rear-End Car Accident?

May 4, 2016 by

One of the most common types of auto accidents in California is a rear-end collision.  When a rear-end crash happens, the driver in the rear vehicle is usually presumed to be at fault and therefore his or her  insurance company pays for losses of the people in the car that was hit.  As a car accident lawyer I help the driver and passengers in the vehicle that was rear-ended get compensated for their economic and non-financial losses. But occupants of the … [Read more...]

New Help for Spinal Cord Injury Victims

May 3, 2016 by

One of the most serious injuries someone can endure in an auto accident or a slip and fall accident is injury to the spine.  When the spine is fractured or compressed, it typically does not heal and the accident victim can end up partially or fully paralyzed.  The cost of care can total in the millions, and a patients's quality of life can be forever diminished.  Unfortunately, as a personal injury attorney, I have seen this happen too many … [Read more...]

California Has the Highest Pedestrian Accident Death Rate

May 2, 2016 by

In 2014, approximately 700 pedestrians died in motor vehicle accidents in the state of California. Almost exactly the same number of pedestrians were killed in the state in 2013.  Even as the overall number of people killed in motor vehicle collisions has declined, there has been a significant increase in pedestrian accident deaths nationwide. Some states have a higher pedestrian death rate than others.  The LA Times reports California was the state with the highest number … [Read more...]