Law Offices of Vondra & Hanna

You might be surprised to find a call coming in from an unknown number after an accident. A pleasant-sounding person introduces themselves as an insurance adjuster. They say they want to help get everything straightened out, and would you mind giving them a statement about what happened? Of course you want to help, but should you give one? If you’ve been involved in an accident in Victorville, CA, find out what to do from a personal injury lawyer.

It may be necessary to give a statement to the opposing party’s insurance company to get the compensation you deserve. However, giving a statement, especially a recorded statement, can be a risky business. If the adjuster is from your own insurance company, your policy may require cooperation as part of your contractual obligation. Even so, you should proceed with caution.

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Soft tissue injuries are among the most common outcomes of a car crash, and even though they may not be as visible as broken bones, these injuries can cause significant pain and disruption to your daily life. If you’ve sustained a soft tissue injury in a crash, you have legal options for seeking compensation. A personal injury attorney from our team will help protect your rights under California law.

Soft tissue injuries affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your body. They include sprains, strains, contusions, and whiplash. Symptoms may not appear immediately and can worsen in the days following a crash, and you’re likely to experience pain, stiffness, limited range of motion, or ongoing discomfort that interferes with work and personal activities.

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Accidents often involve more than one contributing factor, and it’s not uncommon for multiple parties to share responsibility. If you were partially responsible for an accident, that does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. A personal injury attorney in Victorville, CA, can ensure you have all the information you need to confidently move forward with your case. 

Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, you can recover damages even if you are found to be 99 percent at fault for the accident. The amount you recover will be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility. For example, if your total damages equal $100,000, and you are determined to be 40 percent at fault, your compensation would be reduced by 40 percent, resulting in a $60,000 recovery. This approach allows for a fair distribution of financial responsibility based on each party’s role in the incident.

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In the aftermath of an accident, it is easy to assume that the journey to recovery will be swift and easy. But we know that this is not always the case. At the Law Offices of Vondra & Hanna in Victorville, CA, a personal injury attorney from our team will work with you to make sure your personal injury claims fully account for both current and future expenses. Estimating the cost of future medical care can be overwhelming, but our team is here to lighten the load and support you on your path to affordable recovery. 

Involving Medical Professionals to Assess Future Needs

A key part of estimating future medical expenses is obtaining input from healthcare providers who are familiar with your condition. Treating physicians, surgeons, specialists, and physical therapists can provide detailed assessments about your long-term prognosis. These professionals help identify what types of treatments you will likely need in the future, such as surgeries, rehabilitation, medication, or durable medical equipment. An attorney can then review these documents to help determine the long-term cost of recovery, which will be considered in your claim. 

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In the aftermath of an accident, it is easy to assume that the journey to recovery will be swift and easy. But we know that this is not always the case. At the Law Offices of Vondra & Hanna in Victorville, CA, a personal injury attorney from our team will work with you to make sure your personal injury claims fully account for both current and future expenses. Estimating the cost of future medical care can be overwhelming, but our team is here to lighten the load and support you on your path to affordable recovery. 

Involving Medical Professionals to Assess Future Needs

A key part of estimating future medical expenses is obtaining input from healthcare providers who are familiar with your condition. Treating physicians, surgeons, specialists, and physical therapists can provide detailed assessments about your long-term prognosis. These professionals help identify what types of treatments you will likely need in the future, such as surgeries, rehabilitation, medication, or durable medical equipment. An attorney can then review these documents to help determine the long-term cost of recovery, which will be considered in your claim. 

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Even a small trip or slip can lead to significant injuries, but if someone else is at fault, proving your case can be challenging. If you have had an accident in Victorville, CA, hiring a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible is essential. They can help obtain the evidence required to prove your case and ensure that you receive fair compensation according to California law.

What Must Be Proven in a Slip-and-Fall Case?

Slip-and-fall cases in California fall under premises liability law. This means that the property owners are held responsible for any unsafe conditions that injure legal visitors. To successfully claim for compensation, the following must be proven:

  • There was a duty of care to you
  • There was a breach of the duty 
  • You were injured as a direct result of the breach

Any evidence which proves any or all of the above will help to strengthen your case.

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Have you or someone you know had a child who was involved in a pedestrian accident in Victorville, CA? A personal injury attorney may be able to help you understand how the law deals with pedestrian accidents involving children.

Different Standard of Care in the Case of Children 

The “standard of care” is a legal measure of how people are expected to behave based on what a reasonable person would do in similar circumstances. A pedestrian would, for example, be expected to look both ways before crossing a street or to wait for a “walk” sign at a crosswalk.

However, a different standard of care is applied to minors involved in pedestrian accidents, since children cannot be expected to have the same level of caution as an adult would because of their age, knowledge, and experience.

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If you have been injured in a car accident caused by distracted driving, you may be able to file a lawsuit for damages. Here is some advice from a personal injury lawyer in Victorville, CA, on some of the issues to consider.

What Counts as Distracted Driving?

Under California law, every driver has a duty to operate a vehicle responsibly. Any activity that impedes the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely is considered distracted driving. Distracted driving could be caused by something obvious such as texting or interacting with a navigation system. It could also be something as simple as eating or interacting with another passenger.

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Airbags protect passengers during a collision or car accident. They work with seatbelts and save thousands of lives annually. However, if used or installed improperly, they can also cause injury and even death. That is why regulators issue an order for a recall when they discover defective airbags.

51 million units recalled

In a report last September 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a recall for airbags manufactured by ARC Automotive Inc. and Delphi Automated Systems LLC. Manufacturers such as GM, Stellantis, Volkswagen and Hyundai have used some of these defective airbags.

The recall was issued when NHTSA identified faulty airbags with ruptured inflators as the cause of at least nine injuries, including two deaths. This recall is reminiscent of the massive 100 million airbag recall of the now-defunct Takata Corp.

Check your vehicle

If you think the recall affects your vehicle, visit the NHTSA website and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). You should be able to see if your car is part of the recall order. If it is, you should receive a letter informing you of a recall. However, letters sometimes go missing, so you should check the website personally. If the recall affects your vehicle, contact your dealer to get it repaired for free.

In case of an accident

If you have already been in an accident and discovered you had a faulty airbag, you may be entitled to compensation. Consider talking to a legal professional who can advise you on what to do next.

Driving at any time is risky, and people typically don’t want to give up the convenience of on-demand transportation just because a crash could someday occur. Instead, they may want to engage in harm reduction by learning more about their risks.

Statistically, there are certain times when crash risk is higher than others. Drivers who are aware of statistical trends can make better choices about how and when they drive. Although some decisions, such as when professionals have to arrive at work, are not under their control, motorists do have the ability to make plans that minimize their crash risk by limiting their time on the road when conditions are most likely to result in a wreck.

What do statistics show are the most dangerous times for people to drive?

After the sun sets

The National Safety Council (NSC) helps guide public policy and household safety by gathering and analyzing injury and fatality information. The NSC has found that the nighttime is the most dangerous time for people to be on the road. Many of the worst crashes occur after the sun sets. Teens, pedestrians and cyclists may all have more risk after dark. Factors including fatigue, visibility issues and increased risk of encountering drunk drivers all contribute to nighttime collision risk.

During the afternoon rush hour

The NSC also notes that the roads can be particularly dangerous between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weeknights. Fatigue after a long day at work, frustration over rush hour traffic jams and even the decision to stop at happy hour on the way home can all contribute to the possibility of a crash occurring during a professional’s afternoon commute home.

Holidays and the weekends closest to them

Quite a few people travel by motor vehicle to attend family holiday celebrations. They may be in unfamiliar areas, distracted by their children or under the influence of alcohol. As such, the overall risk of a drunk driving crash is substantially higher around the holidays. Plenty of crashes related to distraction also occur. Those traveling on the holidays or the weekends closest to them often need to plan carefully to limit their risk of a preventable crash on their way to or from holiday celebrations.

While people cannot necessarily stay off the road when crash risk is highest, they can be more attentive if they know that their crash risk is higher than usual. Ultimately, learning more about motor vehicle collision trends can be beneficial for those trying to avoid crashes or seek compensation after a collision.